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SMITHVILLE — The Smithville Lady Tigers varsity softball team claimed the District 22-4A championship with a 10-5 win over Bellville Tuesday, April 15.
The win marks the program’s second district title in the last five seasons.
Bellville threatened early, putting two runners on with no outs in the top of the first, but junior pitcher Jessica Hinnant escaped the jam with a clutch strikeout to end the inning.
In the bottom half, Smithville struck first as junior Kenna Tiner ripped an RBI triple to make it 1-0. The Lady Tigers added another run in the second when sophomore Emery Bayer stole home for a 2-0 lead.
Smithville extended the lead in the third with back-to-back RBI singles from Tiner and sophomore Kenzly White, pushing the score to 4-0. The offensive momentum continued in the fourth as Addison Otto and Hinnant each delivered RBI singles to stretch the lead to 6-0.
Bellville got on the board in the fifth with an RBI single, then cut the deficit to one in the sixth by plating four runs on a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice bunt to make it 6-5.
The Lady Tigers quickly responded in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Raven Stanley sparked a four-run inning with a solo home run, followed by a groundout RBI and two more run-scoring singles from Tiner and White to make it 10-5.
Hinnant shut the door in the seventh with two consecutive strikeouts to secure the win. She finished the game with 15 strikeouts and five runs allowed. Tiner led the offense with three RBIs.
Smithville closed the regular season with a 225-1 overall record and a 9-1 district mark.
The Lady Tigers now turn their focus to the postseason, where they will compete in the bi-district round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Smithville faces La Marque at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at Sweeny High School in a one-game playoff.
