Flashback Friday

Farmers to face same opponent as two years prior in state semifinal

Junior+second+baseman+Tommi+Ann+Goodman+turns+to+tag+a+Keller+runner+in+game+3+on+Saturday+in+Argyle.+The+Farmers+won+10-3+to+return+to+the+state+tournament.

Andrea Duncan

Junior second baseman Tommi Ann Goodman turns to tag a Keller runner in game 3 on Saturday in Argyle. The Farmers won 10-3 to return to the state tournament.

A sense of deja vu runs through the halls of the high school as the softball team gears up to face an old rival in the UIL state tournament this weekend.

Let’s flashback to two years ago for a moment. On May 25, 2013, the Farmer softball team has just clinched their first spot in the state tournament ever, downing crosstown rival Flower Mound Marcus 4-0. A tough unheard-of valley team known as the San Benito Lady Hounds will await the Farmers down in Austin. After a come from behind rally, the Farmers have stumbled upon a chance to win the state title, defeating San Benito 5-2.

Now back to 2015. The Farmers have just defeated area powerhouse, Keller Indians, to advance to the state tournament for the second time in the last three years. Once again they are set to face the San Benito Lady Hounds in Austin this Friday at 6 p.m. Per usual, the game, along with all other games in the state tournament, will be played at Red and Charline McCombs Field at the University of Texas.

Pitcher Maribeth Gorsuch said her experience from last weekend’s games against Keller as exciting.

“I was really nervous, but I knew we could do it,” Gorsuch said about the final strikeout against Keller. “I knew if I could throw strikes and move the ball, we could get her.”

San Benito has four seniors returning from the state semifinalist team in 2013, pitcher Crystal Castillo, second baseman Melanie Gonzalez, third baseman Ali Huerta, and shortstop Jav’ana Gonzalez.

Lewisville has six players returning from the 2013 state championship team. Among the newcomers for the Farmers is sophomore 1st baseman and pitcher Makayla Corbin.

Corbin said that this season has been unbelievable.

“[Going to state] honestly feels amazing,” Corbin said. “I had good expectations this year but the experience has been surreal.”

The city of Lewisville itself has a population [aprox. 95,000] almost four times larger than that of San Benito’s [aprox. 24,000]. Senior outfielder, and recent Northern Oklahoma signee, Summer Quiroga said this is an advantage in Lewisville’s favor.

“When it comes to softball, it is just straight softball,” Quiroga said. “But part of it is our crowd, because they get into the other teams’ head.”

Editor’s note: For those of you that can’t be apart of the Rowdy Crowd this weekend or simply can’t make the rematch of the century, the game will be broadcasted on Fox Sports Southwest, or available via live internet broadcast on FoxSportsSouthwest.com. Also check out the twitter pages @FARMERSsoftball and your very own @FarHarNews for play-by-play action and updates.