T-M clinches No. 2 seed
By Matt Cardenas
Last week, the Tuloso-Midway softball team wrapped up their district season with a 5-4 loss to district champion Moody and a 2-1 win over Flour Bluff.
The girls will head to the playoffs with the district's No. 2 seed.
"We've come a long way from the beginning to now," said Coach Sally Lozano. "It was a tough loss to Moody, but overall we did a great job."
The Cherokees gave the state-ranked Lady Trojans a run for their money in the loss. The Cherokees opened things up with an early 3-0 lead and out hit the Lady Trojans 11-10 by the end of the night. However, Moody would regain control of the game to take a 5-3 lead after five innings.
Kirsten Schwirtlich hit a solo-home run in the bottom of the sixth to start a rally, but the Lady Trojans defense didn't allow any other T-M players to get on base in the final two innings.
Destiny Rodriguez would take the mound Saturday against Flour Bluff to relieve Schwirtlich, who has pitched the majority of the season.
"I wanted to see Destiny pitch and give Kirsten a break, since she has a bad back," said Lozano. "But both of them warmed up just in case. I think Destiny did a great job for us."
Rodriguez would give up an early run in the first, but would have control of the game the rest of the way.
T-M would break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth off a sacrifice fly, giving them the 2-1 victory.
The Cherokees head to the playoffs despite losing six seniors from last year's district championship team.
"Coming into this year losing six seniors, a lot of people didn't expect us to do that well," said third baseman Jessica Garcia. " I heard talk of us not making the playoffs. But I think our new girls stepped it up and just played Cherokee softball."
"We're a young team," said senior Ashley Valdez. "I think we're doing great right now. We're going to just keep working hard, and just keep winning."
The team will play an exhibition game tonight against Pleasonton High School, before they start their playoff run. Following that, they will have their Bi-District game against a team from the Valley that has yet to be determined.
"We're just going to take it one run at a time," said Garcia. "You only need one run to win, and we're just trying to win."