England's walk off home run sends Sam Houston to finals
Sam Houston's Kallie England is all smiles and head coach Beth Domingue celebrates in the background after England hit a walk-off 2-run home run on Saturday in the Non-select Division I semifinals at North Frasch Park in Sulphur. No. 1 Sam Houston beat No. 4 St. Amant 5-3 in eight inning to advance to the finals for the first time since 2015. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
SULPHUR – No. 1 Sam Houston's high-powered offense came alive at the right time Saturday to dethrone three-time defending Non-select Division I champion No. 4 St. Amant in extra innings 5-3 in the semifinals at North Frasch Park.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Aubrey Hobbs led off with a single, and Kallie England hit her fifth home run to send the Broncos to the finals in walk-off style.
With the Broncos' (29-2) 26-game win streak and a chance to play for a state championship hanging in the balance, Kailyn Mire hit a two-run home run, her first of the year, to left field to tie the game at 3-3 with one out in the seventh inning.
While they have averaged 11.4 runs and 10.8 hits a game, the Broncos managed just three hits after six innings against the Gators' Braylee Decoetau until Mire and England came up big.
It was the third consecutive season the teams ran into each other in the playoffs and Sam Houston's first postseason win over St. Amant since 2015. St. Amant won 9-8 in the quarterfinals last season and 4-0 in the finals in 2023. Sam Houston will play No. 3 Dutchtown on Sunday at 3 p.m. in for the Non-select Division I state title. Sam Houston's last state championship was in 2015.
After five scoreless innings, St. Amant took a 3-0 lead on a three-run home run to center field by Brooke Rabalais.
Sam Houston came up with three crucial double plays that spoiled scoring opportunities for St. Amant. Sam Houston turned its first double play in the opening frame when Ryleigh Moran lined out to pitcher Kailyn Mire, who doubled up Bailey Ducote at first base. In the second inning, the Gators got back-to-back singles, but the Broncos turned a 6-4-3 double play. The biggest one was in the eighth inning when Moran hit a line drive to shortstop Aubrey Portie, who caught Ducote off first base. Had the Broncos not turned the double play, the back-to-back singles by Kinley Meche and Rabalais that followed could have added to the Gators' lead.
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