Foster Falcon's Flight
Path to State: Foster Falcons Softball
Ashton Jeanlewis
Jun 1, 2018, 6:42 pm
Foster defeated district rival Angleton Wildcats to advance
The Foster Falcons are headed to the State Tournament after years of being on the cusp of success. The state bid couldn't have come in a sweeter fashion defeating district rival and state ranked Angleton Wildcats, a team they split their season series with. The path to the state tournament is arduous and every team has a unique path here's a look at the Foster Falcons a perennial power finally breaking through with a shot at gold.
Pre-District
Following a 38-4 season last year that ended in the regional final loss versus Dripping Springs the Foster Falcons got off to another hot start. The first ten games of the season saw the Falcons toss four shutouts with a 7-3 record losing to the #1 team in 6A Softball Katy Tigers. Claiming 17 wins before the start of 27-5A softball district play was a precursor to another big year for the Falcons lead by returning starter Kacie Pryor a dynamic hitter and strikeout pitcher.
Combined with the powerful, consistent hitting of Bria Tovar, Cici Matta and Lia Castillo the Foster Falcons racked up runs 94 in the first 20 games of the season. Everything was coming up Foster after tournament and pre-district season riding a four game win streak into district play.
District Play
The Foster Falcons although challenged throughout the years by some stout Angleton, and Victoria teams has really been the pre-dominant power in 27-5A. It took a full two weeks into district play for the Falcons to actually surrender a run, that singular run came in the only loss of district for Foster to fellow state ranked program Angleton.
Following that loss the Foster defense would only surrender three more runs one from Calhoun, and the other two in a victory over Angleton. The final five games of district play featured a great showing from Foster as Kylie Neel Amanda Allen, and Kaitlyn Reinecke saw an up tick from their usual hitting combining for 11 RBI's in the final five games of district. That production carried over to the post season as Foster claimed the number one seed out of District 27-5A.
Post Season
Domination is an understatement of a term to describe what Foster has done in the playoffs. The Falcons didn't surrender a run until the fourth round of playoffs vs Carroll. Their Top 10 state ranking is well earned with an offense that scored 65 runs in ten playoff games. Cici Matta has been on another level leading the team in RBI's and extra base hits even racking up a five RBI game vs Carroll in a 14 run win. The Falcons pitching depth has been on display as well with senior Kacie Pryor and freshmen Amanda Allen who have combined for 70 strikeouts in the playoffs.
Up Next: State Semi-Final
#3 Foster Falcons
vs
#1 Arlington Heights Yellowjackets
When: Friday June 1st at 9AM
Where: University of Mary Hardin Baylor McCombs Field
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.