McKinney -- It has been an exciting softball season in District 10-A and with so many outstanding young athletes in the district, that trend is likely to continue.  Just the fact that the Sam Rayburn Lady Rebels and the Dodd City Lady Hornets squared off again in a Region II-A Quarterfinal contest is proof of the caliber of play in District 10-A.

After the best-of-three season opener scheduled for Friday evening was cancelled due to rain, the Lady Rebels and the Lady Hornets met Saturday for a one game, winner-take-all showdown at McKinney North High School.

Dodd City junior hurler Sarah Smeltzer and Sam Rayburn freshman pitcher Cassidy Hall held the batters in check in the first inning.

That all changed in the top of the second inning when Alaina Kissinger singled and stretched it into a two-bagger. Kissinger worked her way over to third base and raced home after a dropped third strike forced a throw to first base.

Sam Rayburn threatened again in the top of the third when Jaiden Pelton led off with a single and later stole second. Smeltzer got a strikeout, but Maddison Foreman walked and a single by Kaleigh Titsworth loaded the bases with only one out.  The next batter grounded out and Dodd City was one out away from escaping the jam when a passed ball allowed Foreman to score.  Leading 2-0 and with runners at second and third, Kissinger launched a shot into deep right field only to be robbed by a leaping catch by Dodd City sophomore Haley Young.

The next 12 batters were retired in order as the two pitchers dueled.

After a scoreless sixth inning, Dodd City kept Sam Rayburn off the bases in the top of the seventh, which gave the Lady Hornets one last at-bat with the season on the line.

The first batter grounded out to the pitcher and the second batter grounded out to second base.  Young reached on an error and Briann Hilliard took one for the team to put runners at first and second and bring the winning run to the plate.  A hard shot by Alex Hilliard went off the pitcher's glove but a nice play by the Sam Rayburn second baseman gave the Lady Rebels their third out and the quarterfinal victory.

Hall finished with no hitter, striking out eight and giving up no walks.

Smeltzer struck out 10 batters, gave up four hits and issued one walk.

The Sam Rayburn Lady Rebels advance to face Hubbard in a Region II-A Semifinal contest.

This was retiring Dodd City head coach Vicki Rogers's last game, but she was grateful for the exciting season a young Lady Hornets team put together.

"I couldn't be prouder of the Lady Hornets," Coach Rogers remarked. "Sam Rayburn will represent our district well and Blue Ridge is still playing, too.