Winters Claims First Playoff Win in 8 Years Thanks to Three-Run Double

SAN ANGELO, TX -- The Winters Lady Blizzards picked up the program’s first playoff win since 2011 with a 13-6 result over the Eldorado Lady Eagles in the Class 2A Bi-District playoff. The win was a massive weight lifted off Winters’ shoulders.

“It’s a huge relief. These girls have worked so hard for this,” Winters head coach Kendra Bryant said. “We’ve been saying since the beginning of the season that making it past the first round was our main goal. It’s super exciting.”

Winters and Eldorado were tied at four in the top of the third inning when Skylar Lee drove in three runs on a double to left field to give Winters the lead for good.

“That hit was huge,” Bryant emphasized. “She’s such a good player. She’s one of our leaders. When I need her to step up on offense or defense, she always comes through. That was an amazing hit. That’s all there is.”

The hit came on an eight-pitch at-bat for Lee.

“I had just kept hitting fouls. I was confident at the plate,” Lee said. “Each pitch, I kept inching closer to fair territory. In my head, I was like ‘I’m gonna crush it! I’m gonna get that hit!’ And I crushed it, brought in three runs and got a double.”

With Winters up 7-4, pitcher Miranda Rodrigues set out to pitch four consecutive scoreless frames and strike out five batters along the way. That run was credited to the momentum-shifting double from Lee and help from freshman center fielder McKenzie Ventress, who caught six fly balls and fielded a total of eight balls hit her way.

“I think it was seeing the outfield. I mean, McKenzie, the freshman, had a huge game today,” Bryant said. “For a freshman in center field, she did amazing. And I think knowing her defense was there to back her up helped calm [Miranda] down.”

Rodrigues would pitch a complete game, where she allowed six runs on 12 hits and two walks with seven strikeouts to pick up the win.

Lee and Saleen Jalomo were the heavy hitters for Winters on Tuesday, each collecting three RBIs. Jalomo finished 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored while Lee finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.

With the eight-year drought cast aside, Lee says Winters isn’t done quite yet.

“It’s exciting. It’s gonna be a good year for us,” she said.

Eldorado’s offense was helped by the top of their lineup in Christine Lindsey, Joselynn Massey and Desani Rios, who each tallied three hits.

Lindsey and Jackie Covarrubiaz each drove in a pair of runs for Eldorado’s cause.

Jayden Martinez took the loss for Eldorado after allowing seven runs on six hits and four walks.

Winters (18-7) will advance to face the winner of the Haskell/Petrolia bi-district playoff next week.