Lady Guard overwhelm Cypress Christian to win TAPPS 4A area playoff

Brook Hill softball did not score its customary 3-5 runs in the first inning of its TAPPS 4A area playoff game against Cypress Christian Monday afternoon at Schwab Field.

But the Lady Guard did score a combined 10 runs in the third and fourth to overwhelm CC 13-5 and advance Brook Hill (19-5-1) to the state quarterfinals.

The middle of the lineup did most of the damage as Taylor Schultz, AD Kuechle and Alyssa Duplichain all had two hits with four of those going for extra bases.

Meanwhile leadoff batter Maddie Parker helped the Lady Guard lead an assault on the basepaths as Brook Hill swiped eight bases, led by Parker’s three steals.

Brook Hill will now face Midland Christian Thursday in Weatherford with the winner going to the state semifinals in Sweeny.

Kasey Anderson got the victory in the circle, going four innings while allowing one run on one hit with one strikeout. Schultz and Duplichain followed her in relief to finish out the win.

Parker put Brook Hill in front with a run in the bottom of the first. The senior led off with a walk, and stole second and third before scoring on an error.

Cypress Christian tied the game with a run in the second, but there was no coming back from Brook Hill’s third and fourth inning onslaught.

The third inning began with a one-out single by Parker. Maddie Anthony walked to put runners at first and second and they pulled off a double steal to move to second and third.

Taylor Schultz smacked a single to center field, which scored both Parker and Anthony for a 3-1 lead. AD Kuechle followed by launching a deep fly ball over the center fielder’s head for an RBI triple to score Schultz. The hit parade continued with Duplichain doubling home Kuechle to make it 5-1. Duplichain stole third base and scored when Anderson reached on an error for a 6-1 lead.

Brook Hill’s bats went back to work in the fourth inning. Kaitlyn Juarez walked with one out followed by a walk to Parker. Anthony singled to left field to score Juarez and leave two runners on for Schultz, who powered a two-run double to left field for a 9-1 lead.

Kuechle followed with an RBI single to score Schultz and make it 10-1 with Duplichain delivering her second double of the game to score Kuechle for the 11-1 lead.

Cypress Christian pulled to within 11-5 in the fifth inning, but that was as close as Brook Hill would allow the visitors to get.

The Lady Guard tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fifth for good measure. Lexi Crenshaw doubled to lead off with Morgan Moss following with an RBI single. Moss stole second base and was sacrificed to third by Vanna Dean before Parker scored her with an RBI groundout..

That put Brook Hill ahead 13-5 with Duplichain doing the rest, pitching scoreless frames in the sixth and seventh to seal the win.

Lady Guard Stats

Cypress Christian     010   040   0  —  5   3   4

Lady Guard             105     520   x  —  13   10   3

Runs (13): Maddie Parker 3, Maddie Anthony 2, Taylor Schultz 2, AD Kuechle 2, Alyssa Duplichain 1, Lexi Crenshaw 1, Morgan Moss 1, Kaitlyn Juarez 1.

Hits (10): Maddie Parker 1, Maddie Anthony 1, Taylor Schultz 2, AD Kuechle 2, Alyssa Duplichain 2, Lexi Crenshaw 1, Morgan Moss 1.

Runs Batted In (12): Maddie Parker 1, Maddie Anthony 1, Taylor Schultz 2, AD Kuechle 2, Alyssa Duplichain 2, Kasey Anderson 1, Morgan Moss 1.

Doubles (4): Lexi Crenshaw 1, Taylor Schultz 1, Alyssa Duplichain 2

Triples (1): AD Kuechle 1