Borden County defeats Hermleigh in regional finals

LUBBOCK — Hermleigh’s players left Lubbock Christian University disappointed, but head coach Heath Gibson said he was proud of them.
The Lady Cardinals (14-7) led 7-2 going into the fifth inning before Borden County (25-4) rallied to tie the game at 7-7 to send the Region 1-1A softball championship series into extra innings. Borden County scored three runs in the ninth inning to advance to the Class 1A state tournament with a 14-12 win.
“I’m proud of my players,” Gibson said. “After the loss in Game 1 Thursday, a coach wants his team to show fight and they did. We played good defense. I’m proud of how they bounced back. Lillyan (Digby) hit a home run for the second straight game and then she was walked for the remainder of the game. Kiki (Gonzales) hit a clutch 2-run home run and sent the game into extra innings. We had our chances to win in the seventh and ninth innings, but we couldn’t get a two-out hit.”
Digby was walked four times after hitting the home run in the third inning. In the ninth, Borden County head coach Peter Benavidez instructed Katie Gray to walk Digby and Gonzales. The strategy worked. Gray retired the next two batters to end the threat.
“Lillyan is a good power hitter,” Benavidez said. “I wanted to walk Kiki in the seventh, but Katie wanted to pitch to her. Kiki hit the home run and we went to extra innings. I walked both players because of respect in the ninth. We were able to get the outs we needed and won the game.”
Benavidez said he knew winning the regional championship would not be easy.
“Hermleigh was no slouch and a very good team,” he said. “Lillyan and Kiki were coming up in the ninth and I didn’t want to make the same mistake like I did in the seventh. It worked out loading the bases. Hermleigh fought until the end of the game.”
Benavidez said reaching the state tournament in the team’s fifth season is a proud moment.
“They thought we would not have enough girls to keep playing,” he said “The girls never gave up and we now have the foundation. We have young girls playing in leagues at Snyder, Big Spring and Lamesa during the summer. Softball is here to stay in Borden County.”
Hermleigh scored one run on an error in the bottom of the second inning. Borden County answered with Rayme Jones’ 2-run single in the third inning.
Hermleigh regained the lead at 7-2 in the bottom of the inning on Lillyan Digby’s 2-run home run and Ciera Digby’s RBI single. Two runs also scored on errors.
Borden County tied the game at 7-7 in the fifth inning. Gray and Kami Key hit RBI singles, Myka Blissard had a sacrifice fly and Brooklyn Cheatham hit a 2-run single.
Haddie Flanigan and Gray each hit RBI singles as Borden County regained the lead in the seventh inning. The Lady Coyotes added a run on a passed ball and an error to built an 11-7 lead.
But the lead didn’t last as Hermleigh scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game. An error allowed two runs to score and Gonzales’ 2-run home run tied the game.
Borden County scored three runs in the ninth, highlighted by Gray’s RBI single and Harley Merrill’s sacrifice fly.
Hermleigh scored one run on an error in the bottom of the inning, but Gray retired the final two batters to end the game.
“It is difficult to win a regional championship and get to the state tournament,” Gibson said. “You can’t relax in a regional finale and no lead is safe. Borden County deserves credit for getting the big hits.”
Hermleigh will lose three seniors, Brishaya Sneed, Morgan Digby and Kami Smith, who Gibson said set the foundation for the program’s recent success.
“They did so much for the program and me for the last four years,” he said. “I never could repay them. They are three of the best players that anyone can find and led a group of younger players back to the regional finale. We have young players who started and matured with other young players in the dugout waiting to step on the field. This is not the end of Hermleigh softball.”

Borden County    002    050    403—14 20 8
Hermleigh    015    100    401—12 14 3
Borden County hitters — Katie Gray 5 singles, 3 RBIs, 1 stolen base; Brooklyn Cheatham 4 singles, 2 RBIs; Haddie Flanigan 4 singles, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base; Harley Merrill 2 singles, 1 RBI; Kaitlyn Cribbs 2 singles; Rayme Jones single, 2 RBIs, 1 stolen base; Kami Key single, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base; Tatum Treadwell single, 1 RBI; Myka Blissard 1 RBI.
Hermleigh hitters — Kiki Gonzales single, double, home run, 3 RBIs; Brishaya Sneed 2 singles, 1 RBI; Brittany Smith 2 singles, 1 RBI; Ciera Digby 2 singles, 1 RBI; Morgan Digby 2 singles; Lynzie Stewart 2 singles; Lillyan Digby home run, 2 RBIs; Sandra Carr 1 RBI; Kami Smith 1 stolen base.
Borden County pitchers — Harley Merrill 7 hits, 6 runs, 2 earned runs, 4 strikeouts, 1 walk in 3 innings; Katie Gray 7 hits, 6 runs, 5 earned runs, 7 strikeouts, 6 walks in 6 innings.
Hermleigh pitcher — Morgan Kariainen 20 hits, 14 runs, 10 earned runs, 1 strikeout, 3 walks in 9 innings.