Mansfield Lake Ridge dethrones Deer Park, advances to 6A Texas UIL Softball State Championship

Junior outfielders Tia Warsop and Paris Johnson sparked a monster two-out rally that propelled Mansfield Lake Ridge past the defending state champs and into the Class 6A UIL Softball State Championship game

AUSTIN, Texas — Mansfield Lake Ridge faced a tough task when the team stepped onto the field to make its UIL Softball State Tournament debut.

The Eagles, who entered the UIL’s state-championship weekend still unbeaten during the playoffs, had to fight their way past defending Class 6A state champion Deer Park to prolong their historic season one more day.

With their backs against the wall, junior center fielder Tia Warsop and junior left fielder Paris Johnson — Oklahoma State and Texas Southern commits, respectively — ensured the Eagles would survive to play another day in 2022.

Johnson and Warsop sparked a monster comeback effort on the part of Mansfield Lake Ridge, which plated eight straight runs en route to an 8-4 win over Deer Park.

The victory sends the Eagles to the Class 6A state championship game, where they and San Antonio O’Connor will duel for what would represent the first UIL softball state title in either school’s history.

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Here are photos from the Deer and Eagles' Class 6A UIL Softball State Semifinal game on Friday night:

(All Photos by Andrew McCulloch)

PHOTO GALLERY — MANSFIELD LAKE RIDGE 8, DEER PARK 4