Sep 09, 2010
Killer O's capture 5A state championship
June 7, 2010
AUSTIN — A few years ago, Jeff Bagwell, Lance Berkman, and Craig Biggio were referred to as the Killer B's for the Houston Astros.
Some have referred to Pearland's Jessica Bowden, Haley Beam, Jaclyn Bechtle, and Chelsea Bennett as the Killer B's for the Lady Oilers.
However, when the final out was made at the 5A state softball tournament at McCombs Field at the University of Texas in Austin, it was obvious that the Pearland girls consisted of more than just Killer B's.
One would have to insert Megan Coronado who scored the only run in the 1-0 win over Lewisville Hebron.
Another would have to insert Lauren Langner who made two incredible plays at second base against Hebron that kept the Lady Hawks from scoring.
Without those two players and others in the state semifinals -- there wouldn't be a state championship.
The players, coaching staff, parents, and fans would all have to agree that the reason why the Pearland girls returned home with the ultimate prize -- one that had been on their radar ever since last year's heartbreaking 1-0 loss in the state finals to Smithson Valley -- was because this year's team could be called the Killer O's. Every girl on the 2010 state championship team played a vital role in seeing their dream become a reality.
From those who were on the field of battle to those who were giving their full support from the bench -- it was an absolute total team effort and all of the girls had a significant role in bringing home the 2010 state championship trophy.
Head coach Laneigh Clark knew that facing Lewisville Hebron would be a big test and the Lady Oilers couldn't look past the Lady Hawks.
Both teams struggled on offense and everyone could sense that one mistake could cost a team the chance to move on.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when Megan Coronado reached base on an error. She ended up on second base after a throwing error, took third on another error and scored on a wild pitch, sliding under the tag of Hebron pitcher Heather Stearns which would turn out to be the game's winning run.
Hebron sophomore pitcher Stearns limited Pearland to a single hit by Leandra Maly. Sterns struck out eight.
“All things considered, she was the best pitcher we have faced this year,” Clark said. “You hate to see the game decided on a wild pitch, because she really did a fantastic job. But we’ll take it.”
The Lady Oilers countered with Jessica Bowden who allowed only three hits while striking out six and walking only one. Both teams left four runners on base.
Pearland celebrated after getting the final out, but knew that there was still one more game to fulfill their dream so things settled down pretty quickly.
Pearland 4 - Austin Bowie 0
The championship game featured two teams who already had faced one another earlier in the year. Pearland blanked Bowie 1-0 at an early season tournament.
The game was scoreless until the top of the fourth when Pearland scored a run.
Brooke DuBois reached base on a single and then moved to second on an illegal pitch. Jaclyn Bechtle followed with a single putting runners on second and third. Haley Beam delivered a single to left to plate DuBois for a 1-0 lead.
Austin Bowie, who beat Tomball 9-1 in the semifinal matchup thanks to the aid of 16 illegal pitches called by the umpire against the Tomball pitcher, found themselves victims of four called illegal pitches resulting in a pitching change that began to rattle the Lady Dawgs.
Pearland added a run in the top of the fifth and two more in the sixth for a 4-0 lead while Jessica Bowden was limiting Bowie to five hits while striking out five with only two walks.
Megan Coronado led off the fifth with a single and was sacrificed to second by Leandra Maly. Bechtle smashed a double down the left field line that sent Coronado across the plate for a 2-0 lead.
The final two runs for Pearland came in the top of the sixth when Chelsea Bennett hit a one-out single to right. Sara Clements was safe on a throwing error sending courtesy runner Tori Graves to third and Clements to second.
Coronado slapped a double to left to score Graves and Maly smashed a double to left to score Clements for a 4-0 cushion heading into the final two at bats for Bowie.
With three outs to go, Bowden fanned lead-off hitter Jaime Edwards. Maly then came up with another breath-taking diving grab for the second out. Bowden then walked Maddie Lionberger before offering up a pitch to Rachel Chavana who hit a soft fly to centerfield where Clements could swoop in at the final second to grab the ball before it hit the turf for the final out.
The game was highlighted by the Killer O's who saved their best game of the year for the state finals.
- • Senior first baseman Megan Coronado was 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.
- • Junior Leandra Maly was 1-for-3 with one RBI and was sensational from left field as she made two highlight reel catches including one that resulted in a double play to first base after a perfect throw to Coronado.
- • Junior Brooke DuBois had one hit and scored after reaching base on a walk.
- • Senior Jaclyn Bechtle, who was named MVP for the tournament, was 3-for-4 with one RBI while making some clutch plays at shortstop.
- • Junior Lauren Langner made made two incredible catches in the semifinals and was also stellar at second base with a couple of outstanding plays.
- • Sophomore Haley Beam was 1-for-4 with one RBI single and also was strong at third base.
- • Junior catcher Chelsea Bennett was a beast behind the plate while going 2-for-4 at the plate. She also cut down a runner trying to steal second base at a crucial time in the game.
- • Junior center fielder Sara Clements also produced a highlight reel of excitement as she made an incredible catch to snag a ball before it hit the ground and then she made a sliding catch on the final out of the game to send the Pearland players and fans into a frenzy of celebration.
- • Sophomore Courtney Sams also made a couple of key grabs in right field.
When it was all over - the Pearland Killer O's completed their unfinished business from a year ago and are now the 2010 5A state champions. Pearland finished with a school-record 37-6-1.
Pearland won 26-of-their final 27 games including 10-0 in the post-season.