The varsity softball girls advanced to their third round in playoffs, falling to district rival Leander in a double header, Friday, May 9.

“It was probably one of the hardest experiences,” junior Morgan Ritter said. “We were so close to beating them and Leander is our rival school so it was just hard.”

The team lost the first game 11-1 in the 5 p.m. match-up, but played a much closer second game. After taking a 2-1 lead in the fifth, Leander answered with two additional runs to close out the series with a 3-2 win.

Despite the losses, softball had a remarkable ride this season. The girls finished district 6-6 to take the fourth and final playoff spot, making playoffs for the first time since moving to 4A.

“We were relieved because we were really close to not making it this year,” Ritter said. “It’s an exciting experience and we really wanted to be a part of it.”

In the first round April 25, the girls faced Crockett before a home crowd. The bats came alive as the girls crushed the Austin school, 10-0.

With the bi-district win under their belts, the girls played Lanier in the second round, May 2. They scored in every inning but the seventh, including four runs in the sixth. With 21 hits, the varsity team won 13-5. The win pitted them back again district rival in the third round.

The team finishes the season 17-16 overall, and is already planning for the move to 6A next year.

“We’re excited for the freshmen that’ll come in,” sophomore Baylee Pearce said. “We grow close to where we feel like a family, and it really helps.”