Bundrick’s hit sends Lady Blues to district title

Sarah Bundrick relishes the big-time moments. The junior continues to be one of the most consistent players in the district and it showed on Friday. After Bundrick delivered the walk-off hit that clinched the district title for the team last season, she came up huge once again in the district finale. A standing-room only crowd of softball fans came out to watch two teams ranked in the Texas GIrls Coaches Association Class 4A poll going at it. With the game tied at 4 in extra innings, the junior stepped into the box with a runner on second and two outs and came though. She lined a hard smash to left field that plated Nicole King in the eight inning for the eventual game-winning run. Graham had battled adversity on the road to seal a 5-4 win over Vernon, who went on to play in the state tournament a year ago. Sophomore pitcher Emma Southerland retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame to nail down the second straight district title for the Lady Blues. With two outs, Southerland got Caroline Taylor to pop out to first baseman Elizabeth Routon in four territory. Once the senior secured the ball in her glove, she was mobbed by the entire Lady Blues’ team. After Graham won the district championship a year ago under former head coach Philip Irby, Now head coach Adam Arrington stepped right in during his first season and made an immediate impact on his squad this year. Arrington credits the entire roster for barreling through three-ranked district teams to go undefeated in one of the toughest districts in Class 4A. “In softball, anything can happen. I told my team as long as they battle hard and play the game the right way, just competing every time you step in the box, then good things will happen,” Arrington said. “We started on Jan. 19 and set our goals for this year. They wanted to be district champions again and it’s nice to see that come true.” The Lady Blues roughed up Vernon senior pitcher Jade Guzman during the last meeting like nobody has all season and on Friday the offense was ready once again. Graham (20-7, 8-0) began with all of the momentum by scoring two first inning runs. King smashed a double into the left field corner that plated Aubree Beggs, on the throw home, King advanced to third but appeared to have injured her knee on the slide into the base. King scored on a Tatum Trester single, but was removed from the game after that. However, she would return later on. The Lady Lions were silenced by Southerland in the circle. The sophomore retired 14 of the first 16 batters she faced. For the rest of this story, subscribe to our print or online edition.