Heartstopper: Kayden Trevino's game-winning home run sends Calallen softball to state

CUERO — Needville made sure that starting pitcher Makala Smith and the Blue Jays were very selective in which Calallen players they chose to challenge Thursday in a one-game Class 4A softball regional final.

But through a flurry of walks, that kept Wildcats on the basepaths, Smith navigated 6 ⅔ innings successfully and had Kayden Trevino down to her final strike in a tie game.

Trevino took Smith's final offering over the fence in left field for a game-winning, three-run home run that propelled Calallen to a 4-1 victory and back to the UIL State Softball Tournament, giving the Wildcats a chance to defend their title in Austin next week.

"I was thinking it was a lot of pressure, but I knew I could do it," Trevino said. "I thought I hit it, and I was trying to run as fast as I could so we could win. I didn't really think I hit it out until I saw the girls running to home plate, waiting for me."

Trevino was mobbed at home plate as the Wildcats celebrated their fourth regional title overall and third in Class 4A.

"Kayden has put the dagger in on some of the hardest games for us this year," Calallen coach Teresa Lentz said. "Her fight and determination to make adjustments at the plate is amazing. That is why we need her so bad. I'm so proud of her, she is a hard worker and a great kid and she came up big for us."

Duel in the circle

Jordyn Thibodeaux and Smith each matched each other in the circle as the teams were scoreless in the first two innings.

Needville broke through with three hits in the third inning, the last an RBI from Josey Cantu to give them a 1-0 edge.

Calallen answered back, taking advantage of two walks and an error on a hard-hit ball from Megan Geyer, to pull even in the bottom half of the frame.

While Smith kept Calallen hitless into the fifth inning, the Blue Jays pitcher walked eight through six innings, including slugger Alaunah Almaraz three times.

"We were upset they were pitching Alaunah (Almaraz) outside," Trevino said. "They thought they could get the other girls out, but all we had to do was put our bats on the ball."

Thibodeaux worked out of a two-on, one out jam in the sixth as the Wildcats got the lead runner on a sac bunt attempt to help the cause, keeping the game tied at 1-1 and setting the table for the seventh-inning heroics.

More: Key pieces: How Calallen softball's depth has proved pivotal in another playoff run

Finding a way

Megan Geyer started the game-winning rally with a shot back up the middle, with one down, and then Needville chose to walk Alaunah Almaraz for a third time in the contest.

Audryna Almaraz belted a shot deep to the outfield for the second out and Trevino worked a full count before her game-winner.

"The awesome thing about our team is there is so many threats," Lentz said. "So many people the opposition doesn't think will come through, will come through. Our silent killers. I'm not surprised because of how hard they work.

"You can stay away from one, but you can't stay away from everybody."

Overcoming the challenge

Last year, Calallen made its run through Region IV and to its first state title as a second-place team.

This year, the Wildcats wore a bullseye as the defending state champion, but found a way to fight their way back to Austin.

"I think it was more of a challenge, and one that we took on," Trevino said. "People thought we got lucky last year so this year we have to prove to them it wasn't luck."

Lentz said she was proud that the team was able to overcome the challenges to navigate through the region again.

"The girls have stepped up to every challenge, come through and had the understanding that it takes playing our best and staying together to get it done," Lentz said. "We've been working on building off last season. I see it in practice and in where we were last year at this time and even three weeks ago.

"We are hopefully snowballing in the right direction and hopefully we can continue to do it."

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Kayden Trevino's game-winning home run sends Calallen softball to state