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Lady Tigers fall to Liberty in Area round
Catcher Morgan Graham made an incredible play in checking the batter at third and still being able to deliver a pass to Kayleigh Rountree (pictured here) to throw the runner out at second.
Dylan Busby | The Silsbee Bee
Dylan Busby dylan@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee SILSBEE — The Silsbee Lady Tigers’ softball season came to an end in the area round after Liberty swept the playoff series at Port Arthur Memorial High School. Liberty took Game 1 by an 8-2 score Wednesday, using a third-inning push to take control. Silsbee tied the game at one in the top of the third when Cadence Dougharty grounded into a fielder’s choice, bringing a run across. Liberty answered in the bottom half of the inning, taking a 2-1 lead on an error before pulling away later in the game. Madeline Byars took the loss for Silsbee. She pitched six innings, allowing eight runs, seven earned, on six hits. Byars struck out two and walked five. Kayleigh Rountree led the Lady Tigers at the plate from the No. 8 spot, finishing with two hits in two at-bats. Liberty completed the series Thursday with a 5-0 win in Game 2. Silsbee was held to two hits, with Rountree and Grace Rulon each collecting one. Eliana Oseguera went the distance for the Lady Tigers in the circle. She allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits over seven innings while striking out five and walking five. Silsbee battled through a difficult series atmosphere in the series. The Liberty baseball team traveled with the Lady Panthers after they failed to make the playoffs, the boys turns out made for much better cheerleaders than they did baseball players. The area-round loss closed the postseason run for the Lady Tigers, who advanced past the opening round before running into a strong Liberty team. Silsbee’s season ended with a competitive playoff appearance and another year of postseason experience for the program.
Raiders fall to Bullard
The Raiders put up a valiant effort in Lufkin, but failed to overcome Bullard’s bats going 1-2 in the bi-district series.
Brent Guidry | The Silsbee Bee
Dylan Busby dylan@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee LUMBERTON — The Lumberton Raiders saw their baseball season end in the first round of the playoffs after falling to Bullard in a three-game bi-district series. Bullard took the opener 4-0 despite a solid effort from Braxton Rinando, who had two hits in three at-bats and pitched the first five innings for the Raiders. Lumberton answered in Game 2 with a 2-1 walk-off win Saturday at Lufkin High School. The game was tied at one in the bottom of the ninth when Rinando doubled to bring home the winning run. Mason Castolenia worked a scoreless inning in relief. Kohen Sandberg tied the game in the fifth with a sacrifice fly, while Harwell, Luke Cody and Rinando each had one hit. Bullard controlled Game 3 with an 11-run first inning on the way to a 12-1 win Monday at Lufkin High School. Castolenia took the loss, while Ethan Megas gave Lumberton 3 1/3 innings of relief, allowing three hits and one run while striking out two. Castolenia led the Raiders at the plate in Game 3 with two hits in three at-bats from the leadoff spot. Cody drove in Lumberton’s lone run. The Raiders played error-free defense in the finale, with Talon White recording a team-high five chances in the field.
