By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

A day after easing the disappointment of Monday’s one-run district loss to Anderson with a positive pep talk, Westlake coach Haley Gaddis was in no mood for the same speech.

But her blistering comments only reflected the Chaps’ sudden precarious playoff perch following Tuesday’s 4-3 setback to Austin High.

“I ripped into them pretty good,” Westlake coach Haley Gaddis said after the game at Butler Field. “I was real positive [yesterday], telling them to keep their heads up. But I was definitely the bad cop tonight.

“We have to get it all together and get on the same page. We were in great shape as far as the playoffs go, but now we have a game that we must win. And we can’t take anyone lightly.”

The Chaps (20-12-1 overall, 8-5 District 25-5A) enter Friday’s regular-season finale against struggling Akins tied with Anderson and Austin High for third place in District 25-5A. Because those two teams play each other Friday, the Chaps would clinch a playoff spot with a victory. If Westlake stumbles against Akins, however, they would likely participate in a play-in game this weekend to determine the district’s fourth and final playoff seed.

That convoluted scenario stands in stark contrast to the Chaps’ situation last week, when Westlake entered the final three games of the season tied for second place in the district race.

“All we had to do was win out to get second,” Gaddis said. “Now, it’s just about getting in the playoffs and playing good softball.”

Westlake played good softball against Austin High, but not until the sixth inning. The Chaps scored three runs in the frame to cut into Austin High’s four-run lead, including two on a double into left field by Rosie Maddox.

However, Westlake stranded two in the stanza and went quietly in the seventh inning as Austin High (13-13, 8-5) stayed in playoff contention.

“We started to turn it on, but we have to learn to turn in on from start to finish,” Gaddis said. “These girls [the Chaps] can hit, and they’ve proved that. We’re hitting better than any team I’ve had since I’ve been here. But we didn’t get the key hits tonight.”

The timely hits belonged to the Maroons, who scored their four runs on just four hits through the first four innings. Austin High ended the game with six hits against the combination of starter Hannah Slovacek and Maisie Gwynne.

Lindsey Johnson delivered the biggest hit for the Maroons when she hammered a two-out double to the centerfield wall in the fourth inning.

In comparison, the Chaps had seven hits in the game against starter Emma Anderson and reliever Veronica Garcia but stranded six runners.

“I think [a lack of] timely hitting is the problem,” said Westlake shortstop Mackenzie Whyte, who went 2-for-4 and scored a run. “It’s a matter of one or two plays or hits that screw us over. It’s frustrating, but we have to shake this off and win the last game.”

 

District 25-5A standings 

                  Overall            District  

Bowie         30-3         13-0

Pflugerville 17-7         9-4

Westlake    20-12-1    8-5

Austin       13-13        8-5

Anderson    13-14    7-5

Bastrop       17-18    4-9

Akins          8-20      2-10

Connally       3-22    0-13

Through April 21