The Americas Trailblazers incredible season came to an end after they lost 7-5 to the O’Connor Panthers in the Texas UIL 6A Softball Semifinals Friday afternoon at Red and Charline McCombs field in Austin Texas.
Americas got on the board quickly in the first inning as Christalynne Sepulveda hit a RBI single and Sabrina Carrillo hit a two run RBI double. Trailblazers Pitcher Mia Perez quickly shutdown the Panthers batters and just like that, Americas had a 3-0 lead after the first with all the momentum going their way.
Things changed in the bottom of the second when Americas had an error that cost them two runs and their lead was cut to one after the second inning but the momentum started to swing in favor of the Panthers.
In the bottom of the third inning, O’Connor would add two more runs as Jada Munoz and Sammie Portillo would each get an RBI giving the Panthers a 4-3 lead.
Even though the Trailblazers had give up four consecutive runs, the team didn’t seem phased at all as they got the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning with no outs. Americas would tie the game when Panthers Pitcher Sammie Portillo would walk in a run. Then the Trailblazers would get a sacrifice fly that would give them a 5-4 lead in the middle of the fourth.
In bottom of the fourth, O’Connor would tie the game when Leighann Goode hit a RBI double but then Jada Munoz would give the Panthers the lead after she blasted a two run home run that gave O’Conner a 7-5 lead.
The 7-5 score would end up as the final as Portillo would shut down the Trailblazers for the final three innings as she had eight strikeouts in the game.
With the loss, the Trailblazers amazing season comes to an end but they have accomplished a lot this season. Coach Roxanne Luna guided the team to a 35 game winning season and they got to the State 1-6A Semifinals which is a feat that only one other school from El Paso has done, and that is the 1993 and 94 Bel Air Highlanders.