FRISCO – Taylor Jones threw a five-hitter as Plano East continued its improbable playoff run with a 5-0 win over Flower Mound Marcus in the decisive game of a best-of-3 Class 5A Region I final.
Jones won for the second straight day as Plano East (25-15-1), the fourth seed from District 8-5A, earned its first trip to the state tournament since 1995.
"The playoffs are a whole different season," Jones said. "We just seem to have meshed at the right time and want to keep this roll going. It's just so exciting."
Plano East scored twice in the third inning. Chandler Cink got a lead-off walk, was sacrificed to second and moved to third on Lauren Peterson's single. Both runners scored on Rachel Scott's single when the ball eluded Marcus left fielder Jennifer Beardsley and rolled to the fence.
MIKE STONE / Special to DMN
Plano East coach Karen Kalhoefer is doused with water by her team after it defeated Flower Mound Marcus to advance to the state tournament.
It was one of three errors for Marcus, which also was hurt by walks and wild pitches. Plano East took a 4-0 lead in the fourth, again combining two hits with Marcus miscues when both runs scored on wild pitches.
Plano East's defense was air-tight behind Taylor, who yielded five singles. She walked one and struck out four.
Marcus' best scoring opportunity came in the third when it loaded the bases with one out on singles by Kalie Hildreth, Beardsley and a walk to Devon Wallace. But Jones struck out Heather Foust, and Sarah Draheim grounded to short to end the threat.
Marcus threatened again in the fourth when starting pitcher Danielle Blocker singled, stole second and moved to third on a ground out. But Hailey Winter bunted back to the mound and Hildreth hit a soft liner for the third out.
Marcus never got a runner past first base the rest of the way as Jones retired 12 of the final 14 batters she faced.
"We just couldn't get the bats going," Marcus coach Christy Tumilty said. "But you have to give Taylor credit. She's an excellent pitcher."
