Lady Cat's Historic Comeback Falls Short as Season Ends Against South Grand Prairie

ABILENE, TX—The Central Lady Cats bowed out of the 2018 playoffs after dropping a hard-fought game 4-2 to the South Grand Prairie Lady Warriors.

“This is a never say die group,” Central head coach David Millsap said. “I knew they were there going to come out and play much better today because that’s what they’ve done all season. I’m extremely proud of them.”

The Lady Cats went down 3-0 in the first inning as freshman Ashton McMillan allowed three runs on three hits. McMillan was unable to get out of the first inning, going two-thirds of an inning before making way for fellow freshman Bailee Fulps.

In the top of the second inning, Fulps would cut the Warrior lead to 3-1 with an RBI single to score McMillan.

Fulps would make it all the way to third and the Lady Cats had the bases loaded before Kaleigh Ochinang grounded a ball to South Grand Prairie’s second baseman Mallory Stone and appeared to beat out the throw for an RBI single, but the first base umpired deemed it an out and caused an uproar from Central coaches, fans and players alike.

The call brought life back into the Lady Cat dugout as the Central girls realized they were on the verge of an historic comeback.

“That call really got them going,” Millsap said. “They realized they were one step away from tying the game. We were right there. They kept it going. They kept the energy. They responded, you could see it in their eyes.”

Maddie Stewart laced a one-out double to right-center field and McMillan drove her in with another double to narrow the deficit to 3-2 heading into the bottom of the third inning.

Natalie Castillo would come around to score to make it 4-2 after Alanna Islas barreled over Central’s Emily Sanchez, who dropped the ball as a result.

McMillan was on the hook for the loss for Central. The freshman recorded a strikeout in her two-thirds of an inning.

Fulps, in five-and-a-third innings, showed strong command of her pitches by retiring 15 of the 17 batters she faced and allowing one run on three hits for the Lady Cats.

“Bailee has been steady all year,” Millsap said. “She may not be as flashy as Ashton. She doesn’t roll up a whole lot of strikeouts, but she keeps us in it. We know that we can count on her. We know that she’s going to hit her spots. It’s a pleasure to have that and know if you need call on her, she’ll keep you in a game.”

Victoria Gonzalez started in the circle for South Grand Prairie but did not pick up the win because she went just two-and-a-third innings where she allowed two runs on four hits with a strikeout for the Lady Warriors.

Natalie Castillo picked up the win in four-and-two-thirds innings where she was perfect and did not allow a baserunner for Central while striking out two batters.

Fulps, McMillan, Stewart and Kayla Subia accounted for the four Lady Cat hits. Fulps and McMillan were the only ones to tally RBIs for the Lady Cats.

Stone lead the way offensively for the Lady Warriors by going 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.

The Lady Cats finish another historic season 13-10-2.