Softball Roundup: Decatur, Grandview advance to state; Denton Guyer eliminates Keller

SOFTBALL ROUNDUP

Denton Guyer (37-1) d. Keller (34-11)

Freshman Finley Montgomery scattered five hits and struck out five as Denton Guyer downed Keller 8-0 in the third and deciding game of the Class 6A Region I Final series on Saturday at Southlake Carroll High School.

The Wildcats return to the state tournament for the first time since bowing out in the state semifinals in 2010. Guyer will face Cypress Bridgeland (36-7-1) at 7 p.m. on Friday at the University of Texas at Austin.

Guyer exploded for six runs in the bottom of the first inning, highlighted by a two-run single by Gracie Willis. The Wildcats added two in the sixth on an RBI single by Erin Peterson and a sacrifice fly by Avery Jefferson.

Keller handed Denton Guyer its first loss of the season in Game 1 on Wednesday scoring four times in the bottom of the seventh and walking it off in the eighth in a 5-4 victory.

Marissa Espinoza and Kaiya Fabela both had two run doubles to tie the game in the seventh.

After Guyer went three up and three down in the top of the eighth, Carley Genzer reached base for Keller in the bottom half of the inning and was sacrificed to second. Jorey Hood, a Hardin-Simmons signee, laid down a bunt for a hit and Genzer rounded third and scored after the throw to first base.

Sadie Beck pitched all eight innings for Keller to pick up the win.

Guyer bounced back to even the series with a 3-0 win on Friday in Game 2.

Montgomery, who pitched 3 2/3 innings in Game 1 allowing two hits, was stellar going the full seven scattering three hits and striking out three.

Oregon commit Kaylynn Jones scored a run in the first and hit a two-run homer to deep right in the fifth.

Decatur (30-8-1) d. Burkburnett (36-10-1)

After getting shut out 4-0 in Game 1 against Burkburnett in the Class 4A Region I Final series, Decatur rallied to post two tension filled shut outs of its own on Saturday in Games 2 and 3 to advance to the state tournament at UT-Austin next week.

It will be Decatur’s third trip to the tournament and the first since 2019. The Eagles also reached the state semifinals in 2002, but have yet to claim a state title.

The Eagles will meet Corpus Christi Calallen (28-6-2) in the semifinals at 4 p.m. on Thursday. The 4A title game is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Macey Jones took the loss in Game 1, but had a stellar day on Saturday with two complete games.

The Eagles won Game 2, 7-0, with Jones allowing only two hits and recording nine strikeouts without walking a batter. Decatur blew the game open with four runs in the top of the third to take a 6-0 lead.

Kenna Chaney singled twice and had two RBI in four plate appearances. Ryanne Murphree, Abby Steele and Abby Mosley also recorded base hits.

In Game 3, Jones was just as dominant, scattering five hits and striking out eight, again with no walks.

The Eagles scored twice in the third and added three more in the fourth. Catcher Madi Moreland, who went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, put a stamp on the win with a leadoff, solo home run to center in the seventh.

Grandview (39-3) d. Franklin (38-8)

Top-ranked Grandview was pushed to the limit by No. 3 Franklin, but the Zebras pulled out a 10-8 win in Game 3 of their Class 3A Region III Final series over the Lions on Saturday at Lake Belton High School.

Grandview will make its second trip to the state tournament at UT-Austin and will face Kingsville Santa Gertrudis Academy (39-5) in the semifinals at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. The 3A championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday.

Grandview scored five times in the bottom of the second inning highlighted by a two-run double by Kylie Grafa.

Franklin scored four times in the top of the third, but Sydney Mann’s two-out, two-run double pushed the lead to 8-4 after three. The Lions pulled to within 8-7 in the sixth, but every time Franklin would make a run Grandview responded.

Franklin scored twice in the sixth inning in Game 2 at Baylor University on Thursday to win 5-3 and even the series at one game a piece.

In Game 1 on Wednesday, Bella Jeter homered twice and freshman Madi Doty scattered five hits, striking out 12, as Grandview downed Franklin 6-1.

Jeter, a junior, hit a two-run bomb in the third and added a three-run blast in the fifth. It was Jeter’s 15th home run of the season and ninth in eight playoff games.

Kierstyn Moore went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Doty, who struck out the side three times on the mound, was 2-for-3 at the plate.