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Softball roundup: Run taken away from Flower Mound after appeal leads to controversial Plano East win

DENTON — Sarah Morales drove home the winning run with a one-out single in the top of the eighth as Plano East rallied for a controversial 3-2 win over Flower Mound in Saturday’s completion of a one-game Class 5A Region I quarterfinal at Denton Guyer.

It looked like Flower Mound (24-12) had won its third game in as many tries against Plano East (32-3) when Kelly Powell appeared to score from second on a one-out single by Emilee Burkhardt in the bottom of the seventh. Powell slid home as catcher K.K. Stevens applied the tag after a strong throw from center fielder Chandler Cink.

The home plate umpire initially ruled Powell safe, setting off a wild celebration by Flower Mound and its fans. But after an appeal by Plano East, it was ruled that Powell missed the plate and she was called out, setting up Morales’ heroics in extra innings.

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Plano East, the No. 13 team in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association national rankings, will play Lubbock Coronado in the regional semifinals.

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Flower Mound led, 2-0, in the top of the fourth Friday night when the game was suspended because of lightning and rain. But Plano East wasted no time getting on the scoreboard when play resumed.

Winning pitcher Holly Kern doubled on the first pitch she saw and came around to score on a two-out single by Jacque Anthony. Plano East tied the score, 2-2, in the sixth when Rachel Scott reached on an error and came around to score on a single by Stevens.

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Class 5A

Temple 7, McKinney Boyd 2: Temple scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to rally from a 2-1 deficit and win a one-game 5A Region II quarterfinal.

Class 4A

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Rockwall 6, McKinney 4: Freshman Kayla Vandergriff pitched a complete game and drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to lead Rockwall (25-10) past McKinney (22-16) in a one-game 4A Region II quarterfinal.

Ashton Atwell opened the 10th inning with a double to right-center field, and Hayley Baker’s bunt single gave Rockwall runners at the corners with no outs. Vandergriff followed with a groundout to score Atwell with the go-ahead run, and Sharon Maguire’s RBI double added an insurance run.

The victory for Rockwall was its third this season over District 10-4A rival McKinney. Rockwall’s victory put it in the regional semifinals for the third time in the last four seasons, and it will play Forney in the next round.

Vandergriff, who struck out nine, enabled Rockwall to get to extra innings by pitching out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the ninth. After a strikeout, Vandergriff got a forceout at the plate for the second out, then ended the ninth on a come-backer.

Baker’s single scored Atwell to give Rockwall a 1-0 lead in the second, and Carlie Jenkins made it 2-0 by tripling and then scoring when the relay throw was bobbled. McKinney rallied to take a 3-2 lead in the third, highlighted by a two-run single by April Rousey.

Rockwall tied the score, 3-3, in the top of the fifth when Cyndi Bertrand doubled and scored on Bailey Wallace’s single. McKinney answered in the bottom of the inning, taking a 4-3 lead on Chelsea Thomas’ two-out RBI double.

In the top of the seventh, Rockwall loaded the bases with no outs. After a popout to short right field and a strikeout, a passed ball on a 2-2 pitch allowed the tying run to score for Rockwall.

McKinney loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Vandergriff ended the threat with a strikeout.

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Forney 7, Elgin 6: Brooke McCarroll and Krista Williams hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning, and Forney hung on to win Game 2 and sweep the best-of-3 4A Region II quarterfinal series.

Forney (28-6-2), the state’s second-ranked 4A team, scored four runs in the top of the seventh to build a 7-1 lead. Elgin, ranked fifth in the state, scored five in the bottom of the seventh before its rally ended.

Ennis 8, Pflugerville Hendrickson 2: Ashley Deutsch hit a grand slam in the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie, then added a two-run single later in the game as Ennis won Game 3 of a best-of-3 4A Region II quarterfinal series. Ennis (33-3-1), the state's top-ranked 4A team, will play Frisco Wakeland in the regional semifinals.

Frisco Wakeland 11, Wylie 0: Hannah Newcomb went 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs and also pitched a two-hit shutout as Wakeland (30-6) won a one-game 4A Region II quarterfinal.

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This is the fifth year in a row that Wakeland has reached at least the regional semifinals. Darian Dunn was 3-for-4 with a home run.

Birdville 3, Burleson 1: Susan Welborn pitched a five-hitter and struck out 12 as Birdville (29-6) won a one-game 4A Region I quarterfinal.

    Class 3A

Celina 6, Sanger 0: Alexis Elizondo hit a grand slam, and Shayna Moore pitched a shutout as defending 3A state champion Celina (22-10) completed a two-game sweep of a 3A Region II quarterfinal series. Celina will play Henderson in the regional semifinals.

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Paris North Lamar 1, North Forney 0: North Lamar won a one-game 3A Region II quarterfinal and advanced to play Pilot Point.