SHINING ON THE DIAMOND

After splitting two games with arch-rival Whitney, Clifton Lady Cubs face crucial District 17-3A showdown series with West in search for return trip to the playoffs

Hoping to moving into the driver’s seat to earn their second straight trip to the playoffs, the Clifton Lady Cubs knew they would have their hands full in their crucial two-game home-and-home series against District 17-3A arch rival Whitney.

Needing extra innings to produce their wildest win of the 2024 Texas high school softball season, the Lady Cubs rallied for four runs in the top of the eighth inning, then held on for a hard-fought 9-6 road victory over the Lady Wildcat March 26 before taking a break for the Easter weekend.

“Our ladies showed a ton of heart,” Clifton softball head coach Tim Vannatta said. “After leading the entire way through just for Whitney to fight back and tie the score in the bottom of the seventh was tough. But we responded with by scoring four more runs in the eighth and held off another Whitney rally in the bottom of the inning. I am very proud of how we kept our emotions in control to get this huge win.”

Playing only one game last week before taking six days off for the Easter weekend, the Lady Cubs (3-3 in district, 8-8 overall) returned to action by wrapping up their two-game, home-and-home series against Whitney (2-4, 10-14-1) Tuesday with the Lady Wildcats earning the split with a 7-3 avenging victory over Clifton.

“The game last night was tough in the same way our last four games of the season will be,” Vannatta said. “I feel Whitney, us and West are very evenly matched teams. I think the team that makes the least mistakes defensively will win the games between us three. I like our chances in that situation, but we have to put it together on the field, which I totally expect to happen.”

In game one at Whitney, the Lady Cubs jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage, and scored another run on the third to expand the lead. But the Lady Wildcats capitalized on four Clifton errors to respond with two runs in the bottom of the third to tie the score.

Rebuilding a three-run lead, the Lady Cubs score once in the top of the sixth and two more in the seventh to take a 5-2 advantage needing just three outs to secure the win. But once again, Whitney rallied by scoring three runs with two outs to force extra innings.

In the eighth inning, senior Laylah Gaona, freshman Natalia Gaona, senior Dixie Mayfield and sophomore Addison Martin opened the frame with four consecutive hits as all four came around to score. The Lady Cubs held Whitney to only one run in the bottom of the eighth to secure the wild win. From the circle, Laylah Gaona allowed only one earned run on four hits while striking out three and walking two.

“Laylah pitched the whole game and threw one of her best games to date,” Vannatta said. “Several ladies had key two-out hits during the game. Defensively, we stumbled a little bit tonight to give up five unearned runs, but we made several plays to close out the game. None were bigger than the running layout catch Amy Rodriguez made for the final out of the game.”

In game two against the Lady Wildcats last Tuesday, Whitney capitalized on two Clifton errors to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the third inning, then added three more in the sixth. The Lady Cubs rallied for three runs in the bottom of the sixth, but it proved to be too little, too late.

Holding down third place with four games remaining in the regular season schedule, the Lady Cubs will host the district runner-up West Lady Trojans (5-1, 15-9-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in the first of a two-game, home-and-home series which will conclude at 7 p.m. next Tuesday in West. League-leading and 11th-ranked Grandview (6-0, 15-2) will play a pair against cellar-dwelling Keene (0-6, 2-18), while Whitney will play a two-game set against Maypearl (2-4, 8-7-3).

“We are in great shape for a playoff spot as of now,” Vannatta said. “Our goal was to, at the least, finish one spot higher than last year. We finished in third place last year, so we still have some work to do.”