Sep 09, 2010
Coronado's clutch hit sends Lady O's to semifinals
May 19, 2009
PEARLAND — When Pearland's All-State first baseman Megan Coronado walked up to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning with the winning run at second base and two outs -- she did what one of the top players in the state was supposed to do.
It had been a tough night for Coronado who was 0-2 at the plate, but she knew that she had to put all that behind her and focus on getting the game winner.
"I knew that I had to put the ball in play," Coronado said after sending a 1-2 pitch off the centerfield wall for a walkoff game-ending double that sent Sara Clements across the plate for the 1-0 win.
Coronado was instrumental in the Lady Oilers ending the series against Clements last week when she slapped a bases-loaded single that got Pearland back in the game after being down 2-0. That led to three runs in the fourth frame that saw the Lady O's knock off one of the top teams in the area 4-2 for a sweep in the best-of-three-game series.
But the game against district rival Deer Park was a one and done contest with the winner advancing and the loser staying home.
Both teams had battled during the regular season in district play as Jaclyn Bechtle hit one of her 10 home runs of the season against Deer Park in the second round which stood for a 1-0 win and the District 22-5A championship.
So no one was really surprised that the game came down to the final out of the inning.
The Lady Deer threatened in the opening frame against Pearland's All-State pitcher Jessica Bowden who loaded the bases before picking up a couple of strikeouts and some good defensive plays.
Bowden allowed two hits in the first inning and then limited the Lady Deer to three hits the rest of the way while fanning six and walking none in a strong outing in the pitching circle.
Meanwhile, Pearland had plenty of chances to score, but just couldn't get the clutch hits they needed.
"We left seven runners on base while loading the bases twice," head coach Laneigh Clark said. "We were hitting the ball hard, but it was going straight to a defender and they did make some outstanding defensive plays to keep us from scoring."
Chelsea Bennett opened the seventh inning with an infield single, but was tossed out at second on a fielder's choice by Clements. Bowden laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that moved Clements to second with two outs.
Coronado then stepped up and hit the game-winner to end Deer Park's season.
Pearland got only six hits as Bennett was 3-for-3 while Bowden, Haley Beam, and Coronado picked up the other three hits.
But none as big as the one by Coronado.
The Lady Oilers advance to the Class 5A Region III semifinals and will face the Katy Lady Tigers in a best-of-three series. The first game will be at Katy on Thursday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. Game 2 will be at Pearland HS on Friday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. Game 3 (if necessary) will be at PHS on Saturday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m.