HS Softball Playoffs: Conroe Completes the Sweep Over Klein Oak to Claim Area Title

SPRING, TX -- The Conroe Tigers kept their winning ways alive by defeating the Klein Oak Panthers 12-1 to complete the Area Round sweep and advance to the upcoming Regional Semifinals.

Even with the game being forced to reschedule due to weather on Friday, the Tigers came prepared for battle, as demonstrated by the explosive hitting.

It took three innings to find their rhythm, but a solo run in the bottom of the third was a jumpstart that got Conroe moving in the right direction on the scoreboard.

Meanwhile, the Panthers were struggling to overcome the imposing pitching and defensive play of Conroe. Eva Lantagne was her dominant self on the mound, while the rest of the Tiger defense stretched and made plays on any incoming swings.

In an exclusive interview with The Woodlands Online Sports, Conroe Head Coach Rachelle Harris praised her star pitcher and the constant work put in by the surrounding defenders.

“Eva brings her own dominance to the game. She has such a presence when she knows that the defense is there, on top of knowing that the game is as important as it is,” said Harris. “It's exciting to see her evolve through this whole year. That’s all she does, is step up.”

The only meaningful resistance put up by the Klein Oak bats was two hits through seven innings that resulted in a single run.

The slim production from Klein Oak meant the Tiger batters were free to build their momentum when the time came for them.

Conroe’s third-inning run led into a burst of scoring that culminated in four runs being added on in the fourth. The distance was massive, given Conroe’s control on defense, but the major push to finish through the end came with the game nearly over.

A last-minute surge through the finish line saw the usual suspects of players like Addison Mason build the insurance runs in the closing moments.

“The girls want to be better than just okay,” said Harris. “You can feel that within them. When they score, they do it because they want to push themselves. It’s all about the passion and the love they have, because they’re hard workers.”

Conroe’s passion for scoring led to a lopsided finish and a 12-1 margin of victory over the Panthers, which rewards the Tigers with another accomplishment on the season and a jump over the Area Round hurdle that has held the team back for multiple seasons.

“It was a team win today. Everybody stepped up and did their job over the expectations,” said Harris. “Despite a small lead or a big lead, they kept finding ways to push themselves, and that’s what we've been trying to instill in these players.”

The Regional Semifinals await Conroe, with their upcoming opponent as the Wylie Pirates.