Jensin Hall's gem lifts Heritage over Memorial in district softball championship
The Heritage softball team capped off a remarkable regular season with an 8-1 victory over Memorial in the district championship game on Friday night.
Heritage (24-1), the top-ranked team in Class 5A, was boosted by outstanding performances up and down the lineup - with none bigger than junior pitcher Jensin Hall, who spun a complete-game gem.
“I just use my teammates behind me,” said Hall after the game. “They’re so encouraging, and they always have been and I just use their support.”
“She has really stepped it up this year as a junior,” said Heritage coach Tim O’Brien. “Last year she was good, this year she’s even better. She’s got control of her pitches, that’s been the biggest difference. Just her control and the up and down pitches which has allowed her to get more strikeouts."
Memorial (23-7) came in with a run differential of 57-1 in their last four games, but they couldn't figure out Hall.
Elyse Leclair led Heritage at the plate with three hits, three runs scored and an RBI.
Hall and Vyanna Quezada also had big games at the plate, combining for three runs scored and an RBI.
“You have to look at it like it’s just another pitcher,” said Leclair after the game. “It’s just another game, you can’t be amped up and ready to swing at anything.”
The Coyotes started off quick with two runs in the first inning scored by Leclair and Quezada. The Warriors responded with a run of their own on an RBI hit by Alexis Taylor that scored Briana Gomez.
The Coyotes struck again in the third with another run scored by Leclair courtesy of Kaira Netzel.
The Coyotes tacked on three more runs in the fifth inning, with Hall, V. Quezada, and Leclair crossing the plate.
The Warriors had a chance to get back in the game with the bases loaded in the sixth inning, but Hall closed the inning with another strikeout.
Quezada hit a booming two-run homer in the seventh, bringing home Leclair for her third run of the game.
"This is a fantastic feeling, it’s a great feeling,” said O’Brien. “I just told the girls 2018 was the first time the school made the playoffs. We made the playoffs last year, went three rounds deep, and came in second. Lost to [Memorial] to get second place, so it feels good to come in tonight and finish 18-0. I couldn’t be more proud, more excited. I love these girls to death and they deserve every bit of it."
The Coyotes finish their regular season with 18 consecutive wins and a run differential of 181-12 over that span.
The Texas 5A softball playoffs begin on April 30.
