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Houston Second Baptist (18-5-1) claimed its first-ever state championship in softball in resounding fashion, trouncing Grapevine Faith 13-0 Saturday afternoon in the TAPPS Division 11 state title game at the WACO ISD Athletic Complex.
“SBS softball wins program’s first-ever state championship,” the school posted on its Twitter page. “The championship is coming back to H-Town.”
Second Baptist banged out 14 hits, including a pair of homers en route to a run-rule victory. Grapevine Faith was making its third state title game appearance over the last 16 seasons, having won titles in 2005 and 2012.
Rachel Riley allowed just two hits and struck out seven over five innings for the winners. Riley added a two-run homer in the first inning that set the tone for Second Baptist. The lead swelled to 6-0 in the second when MacKenzie Schmidt laced a bases-clearing double to right for three of her five runs batted in on the day.
Two innings later, Emma Garcia belted a grand-slam over the right center-field wall to end all the suspense. Houston Baptist ended the game with a sparkling double-play that moved players and coaches alike to storm the field in celebration.
“It’s over; SBS athletics wins the TAPPS Softball Division 11 state championship on this epic double-play,” reads another post on the school’s Twitter page. “They are state champs.”
Even in defeat, Grapevine Faith coach Kenny Bruce proudly saluted his team.
“There’s not a single player on my roster that has ever won a playoff game,” the first-year Faith Christian coach told the Star-Telegram. “What this team has done this year is unbelievable. They’ve loved each other every inning of every game and to the bitter end and I wouldn’t want to go to war with anyone other than these kids.”