St. Joseph's Paige Terrell safely slides into second base, as the Lady Flyers put pressure on Beaumont Kelly on Thursday.
St. Joseph earns 5th straight state berth
Originally published May 5, 2011 at 8:09 p.m., updated May 5, 2011 at 11:25 p.m.
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CommentSpenser Strnadel has been a varsity starter for all four years of her softball career.
Each year, up to this season, she had been part of a team that had reached the TAPPS state tournament.
"All three years, we've gotten to the final four," she said. "It was disappointing working so hard and coming up short."
Strnadel helped make it four straight years at the state tournament with a key triple in the Lady Flyers 6-2 win over Beaumont Kelly on Thursday to secure their fifth straight regional title.
But the Lady Flyers have their sites set on the next semifinal round of state, against Fort Worth Nolan Catholic at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday in Waco.
"It would mean a lot to us. We're hoping for the best, we're going to try our hardest and leave it all on the field," Strnadel said.
It was St. Joseph's 17th straight victory going back to March. It was also the last home game for four seniors - Strnadel, Brianna Shimek, Stephanie Kasper and Fabiola Chinea.
At the center of the Lady Flyers offensive effort a second inning triple by Strnadel down the right field line that was thought to be foul but ruled fair.
"I wasn't sure if it was foul, but I just kept running," she said. "I guess I got lucky, it was right on the line. It was a confidence booster."
Lady Flyers coach Rudy Diaz said the ball hit off the right fielder's glove before hitting foul, with the defender in fair territory, making it a fair ball, he said.
"It was great timing," he said. "It was very close."
Strnadel finished the game 2-for-3, adding a single and a run.
The Flyers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the second inning. It was more runs than Holly Parenica needed, as she two-hit the Lady Bulldogs over seven innings and held them to just two runs.
"I saw it in her eyes today, she looked at me and said she was ready to go," Diaz said. "We could tell from the first pitch that she was on."
She also brought home two runs in the third on a double to help secure the game. She finished 1 for 3 with the bat.
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