Burnet softball wins area series, makes program history

The Burnet High School softball team defeated Smithville 3-1 in game two May 5 of the best-of-three area series to advance to the regional quarterfinals.

Next up is Salado, an old district rival, in a best-of-three series. Game one is at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 11, at Salado. Game two is at 7 p.m. at Friday, May 12, at Bulldog Diamonds. Game three, if necessary, will be announced at a later date.

This is the first time the Lady Dawgs have won two postseason rounds in the same season, which fulfills one of the players’ goals — to be the best team in program history.

“There’s dog in them and fight,” head coach Hailey Wooten said. “They made key plays in key moments.”

Journey Denton and Camrynn Guthrie each had RBIs, and Lexie Leatherwood scored the third run on an overthrow to third base in the sixth inning.

Burnet pitcher Presely Crawford struck out 12 in seven innings.

Wooten noted the Lady Tigers, who were playing for their season, didn’t make it easy.

“They definitely gave it everything they had,” she said. “They had a lot of pressure on their shoulders. And our defense was tested. They also made some really good plays.”

Kenzye Raiford had a “great stop” at second, and catcher Guthrie threw a perfect ball to second base to throw out the runner who was trying to steal.

“That out that Camrynn had was big,” the coach said. “That was their lead-off batter with no outs. To get her out and remove that runner was huge. Journey made a catch at center field that had she not, it would have tied the game.”

Offensively, the Lady Dawgs averaged one runner on base per inning.

“We couldn’t get them in,” Wooten said.

As for facing Salado, the coach said the two programs know each other well and fans are in for a treat.

“We have the exact same record,” she said. “It’ll be fun.”

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