By Thomas Jones, Sports Editor

Westlake did much more than clinch a playoff spot this weekend.

After trouncing Akins in Friday’s regular-season finale, the Chaps (22-12-1 overall, 9-5 in district) ensured District 25-5A’s third spot with a thrilling 4-3 win in a seeding game against Austin High Saturday at Noack Field.

The win helped Westlake avoid No. 3 Smithson Valley in the first round. Instead the Chaps will begin the postseason at home Friday at 7:30 p.m. against New Braunfels, the No. 20 team in the Texas Girls Coaches Association Class 5A poll. The teams will complete a best-of-three series Saturday in New Braunfels.

 

Westlake wasted little time in securing a playoff spot. The Chaps tallied 15 hits in a 13-2 win over last-place Akins (3-23, 0-14) at Butler Field, including doubles by Hannah Slovacek and Alex Guilbeau.

Maisie Gwynn earned the win as the Chaps clinched a tie for third place in 25-5A with Austin High.

 

Westlake then avenged a one-run loss to Austin High early in the week with a 4-3 win, the Chaps’ third one-run game of the week.

Unlike a pair of 4-3 losses to open the week, this victory included a piece of timely hitting by Westlake. Austin High (14-14, 9-5) scored two runs in the sixth inning to tie the score at 3-3, but Rosie Maddox triggered Westlake’s response with a leadoff single in the seventh. After a bunt base hit by Gwynn, Anne Lucado advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Chap coach Haley Gaddis then inserted pinch runner Michelle Blake at third base for Maddox, and the move paid off when Blake raced home on a wild pitch by Austin High reliever Vern Garcia.

Westlake’s offense helped the team overcome five fielding errors. Leadoff hitter Adriana Martinez went 3-for-5, and Gwynne went 3-for-3. As a team, the Chaps tallied nine hits.

Five of those hits came in the first three innings as Westlake chased Austin High starter Emma Anderson from the game with three runs.

Slovacek scattered seven Maroon hits across seven innings to secure the complete-game win.