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Shiner softball team and coaches celebrate their 1-0 victory over Grapeland
for the Class 1A State Championship on Saturday in Austin.
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Victoria Advocate photo
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CLASS 1A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Shiner 1, Grapeland 0
Typically, in a state championship game, a team typically leans on their seniors
to come up with big, timely hits.
For Shiner, it was a pair of young players stepped up for their lone run.
Freshman Kristin Schacherl and junior Ryah Michalec hit consecutive doubles in
the sixth inning to bring in the only run as Shiner beat Grapeland 1-0 and claim
the Class 1A state championship at McCombs Field on Saturday.
"We came out on top and it's just an amazing feeling," Michalec said.
The game was scoreless headed into the sixth inning and with the sun getting
high in the sky and temperatures rising, fatigue was a factor.
"I thought she started to get a little bit tired, just as Ashley (Shimek) did,"
said Shiner coach Brandon Siegel about Grapeland starting pitcher Summer
Groholski.
"I could see that she was slowing down a lot," Schacherl said.
Schacherl led off the sixth and quickly fell behind Groholski with two strikes
to no balls.
Schacherl launched the third pitch from Groholski to left field, making it a
tough play for Sandiettes' left fielder Kaylee Gayle.
Gayle went back and stretched out for the ball, but it hit her outstretched left
hand and popped out, allowing Schacherl to take second base. It put a runner in
scoring position with no outs.
"I knew that my team needed it and I was proud of myself for hitting it that far
and getting a double," Schacherl said.
Michalec followed Schacherl in the batters box and boomed a ball to deep left
field that appeared to be headed over the fence, but the ball hit the fence for
a double and Schacherl scored the go-ahead run.
"We all just jumped up and just yelled in the dugout, we were so excited," said
Shiner starting pitcher Ashley Shimek.
Added Schacherl: "I was just so happy that I got in and that Ryah hit me. It was
such a great feeling that I was the only run that scored."
Although the Lady Comanches stranded two runners in the inning, the damage was
done and Shimek went back to the pitchers circle with a lead and six outs to go
for a state title.
Senior pitcher Ashley Shimek was named the Most Valuable Player after pitching a
complete game two-hitter and striking out five Sandiettes. Shimek was a perfect
24-0 this season.
The game was a pitcher's duel throughout as Shimek and Groholski combined to
allow three hits going into the sixth inning.
"We got a couple of timely hits and that was the difference in the ball game,"
Siegel said about the pitcher's duel.
Shimek retired the side in both the sixth and seventh innings, to preserve the
win for the Lady Comanches. Shimek didn't give up a hit after the third inning
and didn't allow a Grapeland base runner after the fourth.
Shiner was making its ninth state tournament appearance in the last 15 years and
for Siegel, it was his second state championship in four seasons.
"It'll never get old," said Siegel about winning a state championship.
It was a sweet ending for Shimek, Holly Haas and Amber Ramirez, the three
seniors on the Lady Comanches squad.
"We've had such an amazing time this year and had so much fun together and got
closer to all the younger girls," Shimek said after her final game as a Lady
Comanche. "It's been amazing."
Added Siegel: "It's almost hard to put into words that senior class doing what
they did. It's a great way for them to go out."
The graduating seniors made three state tournament appearances and won two state
titles.
"Not many kids get to experience this and I'm lucky," Shimek said.
Haas got the first Shiner hit in the fourth inning with a single as the Lady
Comanches managed only seven base runners.
The table was set for Shiner to take control in the fifth, but a call went
against Shiner and the game remained scoreless.
Jordan Pietsch led off the fifth inning by reaching on an error. Grapeland
second baseman Julie Riess couldn't coral the ground ball and the Lady Comanches
had a runner on with no outs.
After a sacrifice bunt and a groundout the go-ahead run was 90-feet away with
Shimek at the plate.
Shimek quickly got ahead two balls to no strikes, and Groholski's third pitch of
the at-bat appeared to hit Shimek's shoulder, but the home plate and third base
umpires ruled she came around on a check swing.
Shimek fouled off the next pitch down the first-base line and was put out by
Shelby Bruner.
One inning later the Lady Comanches came up with the winning run.
"It's the best feeling in the world, I couldn't be happier," Schacherl said.
Class 1A State Final
Shiner 1, Grapeland 0
R H E
Shiner 000 001 0 - 1 3 0
Grapeland 000 000 0 - 0 2 3
Game Highlights:
WP: Ashley Shimek (24-0); LP: Summer Groholski, 27-9.
Shiner Highlights: Shimek 7 IP, 5 K; Kristin Schacherl, 1-for-2, RS;
Ryah Michalec, 1-for-3, RBI; Holly Haas, 1-for-2.
Official UIL Box Score
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BaerCom - Shiner, Texas 2011