Lady Dragons Fall in Game 2 of Region III Softball Finals

Marshall Lady Mavericks Ballfield on Thursday, May 25, 2023 –

(Photo Album)

The Shelbyville Lady Dragons varsity softball team was eliminated on Thursday after a 4-0 run loss during Game 2 of a best-of-three game elimination series with the Como-Pickton Lady Eagles. The series was the Texas UIL Region III Final round of the state tournament which saw Class 2A schools pairing down from eight remaining teams to just four this week.

Game 2 was a defensive battle which saw only four total hits by both teams combined. Como-Pickton’s Mattison Buster gave up a single, walked only one batter, and struck out sixth during the win. For Shelbyville Lanie Bass gave up only three hits, struck out six, and walked three. The Lady Dragons uncharacteristically committed four defensive errors during the contest.

The Lady Eagles gained a 2-0 run lead in the bottom half of the third inning when Maggie Brown led off with an infield hit and later scored on a Lady Dragon’s throwing error. Gracie Thompson reached on an error and later scored to put the Eagles up 2-0 when Addi Monk singled to leftfield.

The Lady Dragons was able to get two runners on the basepaths during the top of the fourth inning when Nicole Harvey patiently drew a walk and then, three batters later, Taylor Jones was able to reach base on an infield hit with two outs. The Eagle defense was able to end the inning before either scored. They were able to set the Lady Dragons down this game in 1-2-3 fashion six of the seven innings they faced them this game.

The final two runs of the contest came during the bottom of the sixth when Mattison Buster reached on a walk to start the frame and Addi Monk drove her in with an RBI double. Monk later scored the game’s final run by racing home on a fielder’s error.

The loss finishes an impressive season for the Lady Dragons with a 25-16-1 overall record. Despite entering the State Playoffs as District 22 2A’s third seed, with a 8-4 record, they have shown vast improvement and battled it out to win four best-of-three game series over Lovelady, Evadale, Joaquin, and Hawkins before falling to Como-Pickton. The team is young, graduating two seniors, and is showing steady improvement for next season. The Lady Dragons, Shelbyville High School, Coaches Ryan Mason, Christian Clark, and Kerry Stone can be very proud of this year’s impressive playoff run.

The Lady Eagles are 37-2 this season. They are currently on a 26-game winstreak and have not lost since March 4. Their only two losses are to 3A schools Winsboro and Franklin prior to district play. They will next face the winner of the Region 1 final between Stamford and Forsan high schools.