Senior pitcher Shimek leads Shiner
past Ganado for top seed in District 28-1A
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
VictoriaAdvocate.com Article | Shiner Lady Comanche Softball | Return to Shiner Comanche Sports Home Page
Ashley Shimek is a senior, but the 2011 season has been one of adjusting and learning.
Ganado's Ashley Bridges slides into home just in time to beat a tag from Shiner's Holly Haas during Monday's game at the O'Connor Sports Complex. Photos by Angeli Wright, Victoria Advocate
Shiner coach Brandon Siegel needed someone to take the ball in the pitchers circle and lead the team this season.
After playing shortstop for three seasons, Shimek got the call, and it's coming together at just the right time.
"She's developed a couple of more pitches and she's starting to understand the mind set of pitching," Siegel said.
On Monday, Shimek scattered seven hits and struck out 10 to help the Lady Comanches beat Ganado 4-3 and win the District 28-1A tiebreaker at the O'Connor Softball Complex.
The two teams share the district title, but the win gives Shiner a higher seed and a bye in the bi-district playoffs.
Shimek was the backup pitcher last season.
Shimek was thankful Siegel called upon her, and it's paid off.
Shimek has a 14-0 record and the Lady Comanches are ranked 20th in the latest Texas Association of Girls Coaches softball poll.
"He had confidence in me and I'm developing confidence in myself," Shimek said.
Shiner finished the regular season with a 7-1 district record and was tied with the Maidens for first place forcing a playoff.
Shiner's Amber Ramirez dives for a fly ball in the outfield during Monday's game against Ganado at the O'Connor Sports Complex. The Lady Comanches defeated the Maidens 4-3.
The teams split the season series and had to play a tiebreaker to decide the No. 1 seed.
Shiner earned the top seed and learned a lesson going into the playoffs.
"Our coaches tell us we're so talented, if we can just execute and have that intensity the whole game there's no doubt that we can go all the way," Shimek said.
Shimek has set the tone for the Lady Comanches both offensively and defensively and she did again Monday.
After giving up a run on a hit in the top of the first, Shimek led off the home half of the inning with a walk.
She scored to tie the game.
"If she leads off and has a good game, everybody else tends to roll and have a good game," Siegel said.
Leading off has also made Shimek a more cerebral pitcher.
"I know not to give them anything high or anything right down the middle because I know they'll be aggressive and hit it," Shimek said.
Although Shiner got an RBI double from Kristin Schacherl in the third inning, the Lady Comanches trailed by one run heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Shiner took advantage of three Ganado infield errors to take a 4-3 lead with the decisive run coming home on a wild pitch.
"We tend to make a couple of errors and we made those errors in the sixth inning and it cost us a couple of runs," said Ganado coach Malina Meng.
Shiner pitcher Ashley Shimek held Ganado to just three runs to win her 14th game and remain undefeated this season.
The Lady Comanches will play either Bosqueville or Iola in the area playoffs.
Ganado opens the playoffs against Milano, the third-place team from District 27-1A.
Meng said the teams have talked about playing in La Grange, but nothing has been finalized.
Shiner and Ganado were tied at two going into the top of the fifth.
Ganado pitcher Georgi Garza led off the inning with a triple and was brought home by an Alyssa Reyes sacrifice fly to right field.
Ganado led 3-2, but its defense cost them.
After Shiner infielder Ryah Michalec reached on an error to lead off the sixth inning, Rankin brought her in to tie the game at three.
Earlier in Juliana Rankin's at bat the Maidens appeared to have Michalec caught in a run down, but couldn't apply a tag.
Jordan Pietsch's infield fly wasn't caught, and the second error of the inning gave the Lady Comanches runners on the corners with one out.
Rankin scored on a wild pitch to give Shiner the lead.
Shimek retired the Maidens in order in the seventh.
"They have really good hitters and it's really intense," Shimek said.
Softball - District 28-2A Shiner 4, Ganado 3 Gan 101 010 0 - 3 7 3 Shi 101 002 x - 4 3 1 WP: Ashley Shimek (14-0), LP: Georgi Garza. Ganado Highlights: Garza, 6 IP, 3 H, 7 K, 2 for 4, RS; Lindsay Kocian, 2 for 3, RBI; Alyssa Reyes, 1 for 4, 2 RBI. Shiner Highlights: Shimek, 7 IP, 10 K, 7 H, RS; Amber Ramirez, 1 for 2, RS, SB; Kristin Schacherl, 1 for 3, RBI; Julianna Rankin, 1 for 3, RS. Records: Ganado, 18-14, 7-1; Shiner, 22-4, 7-1.
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