Maddie Azwa led on the board and in the circle as Round Rock beat Hays in a one-game playoff in Class 6A to reach the regional semifinals for the first time in 18 years.
Azua attacked, doubled and 13 hits Hayes to lead Round Rock to a 4-3 victory over Hayes in an eight-round regional quarter-final thriller Friday at West Lake High School.
“Maddy is our captain,” Round Rock coach Jennifer Pinter said. “The team is following her, and she put in an incredible effort tonight.”
Round Rock (23-7) earned a full team effort behind the Azua pitch. Hit the clutch by Maddie Woodul, Brantley Lavas, Bailey Morrison and several formidable defenses from the Lavas at Shortstop, Woodul on the left field and quarterback Megan Merwick also proved a pivotal role.
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But one of the biggest plays in the game came from Round Rock Mask Mallary Medina in a play she chose not to do.
Round Rock took a 4-3 lead with one win and two Hawks on the bases at the bottom of the eighth inning when MJ Johnson topped a slow cylinder in front of the board that crept into the third base line. Johnson probably made it to base and loaded bags into one of the Round Rock players trying to catch the ball and make a play, but Median waved coldly away from the players as the ball slowly rolled into the offending area. Johnson then returned to the board and crushed a linear motor into left field, where Woodul grabbed him. Azua then got the thirteenth and final blow to take the win.
“Malari is very smart behind the board, and that was one of the smartest decisions in the game,” Pinter said.
Hays (19-7) jumped on Azua early as Mia Liscano marched in the first half and Julissa Vasquez fell sharply into left field. Katie Noble drove a towering shot into the right midfield that hit the wall for two goals, and Liscano scored. Bella Gomez was held up to score for Vazquez, and the Hawks took a 2-0 lead before the standing crowd filled all the seats.
In the third inning, Round Rock answered. Morrison scored two separate goals, followed by Lavas with a hat-trick over the right player’s head and Morrison scored. Lavas scored as Azua blasted a 1-0 display onto the left center wall to advance the 3-2 Dragons. Shot from the thrust line, the ball continued to rise as it sailed down the field and shot up the wall.
“It felt great when I hit him, but I thought he might hit the wall,” Azua said.
Azoua hit seven hitters in her last four innings as her pace seemed to increase as the match went on.
Hayes trailed 3-2 to fourth when Noble advanced with a superb home shot past the Light Tower in left field to tie the score 3-3.
“Noble is a great hitter, and she’s a threat to every bat,” Pinter said. “She’s a great shooter, but she’s a better hitter.”
The teams remained tied 3-3 through the seven organizational rounds.
Round Rock had a single in the eight of the Lavas, and Azua slammed double down the left field line that sent the Lavas into third with no finishes. After the first hit, Kim Yepez smashed the thrust line held by third Hawk captain Julissa Vasquez and nearly doubled courtesy runner Cat Hobdy from second base. With two naysayers, Woodul triggered a sinking streak drive to center field that scored Yepez, but Hobdy was thrown to the board by Megan Kelnar, who fired an arrow at Hawk catcher Bella Gomez for a tagout at the board to finish the inning.
Hayes rushed in in the eighth half as Vasquez drove a deep shot that Merwick picked up against the fence for the first time. Noble then reached for a single for her third hit in the game, and Gomez walked over to get Johnson. That’s when strong play from behind the board helped Medina win.
Second seed Round Rock will face San Antonio O’Connor (27-1) in the Class 6A Zone 4 semifinals next week.
In other local events, Georgetown advanced to the Class 5A Region IV championship with a 3-1 victory over New Braunfels Canyon while Dribing Springs upset San Antonio McCollum 3-1. Taylor advanced to the Class 4A regional semi-final behind a Lindsey Odell throw as the Ducks beat Jabber 4-2. In Class 2A, Thorndale swept Latexo 1-0, 12-2 to take a lead while Hyde Park lost to the Houston Lutheran South 9-1 in TAPPS play.