Plano West Defeats Prosper in Sweep for Bi-District Championship
4/29/2023 5:00 pm
Plano West advanced yet another round in the playoffs, capturing the Bi-District Championship in a 2-game sweep of Prosper. The Wolves playoff berth is their first since 2018.
Game 1
The series began at home for Plano West. With spotty weather and a 30-minute lightning delay, the Wolves managed to run-rule Prosper in four and a half innings with a final score of 13 to 3. It was the Wolves who got on the board first, scoring three runs in the second. The runs were a collective effort with hits by Sophomore Kaaya Mehta, fielder's choice hits by Junior Carra Cleaves and Freshman Abby Cuellar, and a deep triple by Senior Adayah Wallace.
Prosper scored three runs of their own in the top of the third before a lightning delayed the game. After the break, the Wolves held prosper scoreless. They then scored another seven runs in the third to take the lead and never look back. Mehta drew a walk that scored a bases-loaded run. Then Cleaves singled on a 2-2 count to score another. Cuellar hit a sac fly for an RBI of her own. The onslaught continued with a 2-RBI double by Sophomore Izzy Dunn and a single by Senior Brooke Hilton that drove in another two.
Cleaves pitched the Wolves to victory. She pitched a complete game, surrendering three runs on five hits, striking out three and walking none.
Plano West tallied nine hits in the game. Dunn and Freshman Abby Chunn led the offense with two hits each for the night.
Game 2
Game 2 of the bi-district matchup presented significantly more drama than the game the night before. Freshman Marlee Flanigan started in the circle for the Wolves. Prosper showed some strong offense in the second, managing four hits that generated five runs to give Prosper an early lead. Junior MC Pollacia entered the game with two outs in the inning and induced a ground ball for the third out.
The Wolves came roaring back in the top of the third. Errors by Prosper, a walk, a single by Hilton, and a double by Freshman Abby Jennings generated four runs that put Plano West right back into the game. The Wolves crossed three more runs in the fifth with three walks and a bases loaded double by Chunn.
Prosper tied the game up in the bottom of the sixth. With the score sitting at an even 8 to 8, it was Mehta who put the Wolves ahead in the top of the seventh. She took one deep over the left centerfield fence, driving in two to put the Wolves on top 10 to 8. Cleaves entered the game in the seventh, recording the last three outs for the save. Pollacia got the win for the Wolves, allowing three runs and six hits over four and a third innings, striking out four.
On offense, Plano West collected eight hits. In addition to Mehta's long ball, Cuellar led the team going two for four at the plate.
Plano West won it's first bi-district championship since 2018. They advance to the Area round and will play the Arlington Colts.
