After facing some of the most proficient teams throughout the season, the Lewisville High School Softball team overcame their opponents, bringing them straight into the University Interscholastic League State Championship playoffs. The team faced odds and surprises getting into the championship. On April 10th, Lewisville lost to Flower Mound High School, who were subsequently ousted from the playoffs by Keller on May 15th. After defeating Denton Guyer in an intense regional semi-final series, Lewisville shocked the crowds again and despite a tendency to strand runners, beat Keller in the regional finals. The odds didn’t faze junior Lewisville pitcher Maribeth Gorsuch after her victory in the state semifinals.
     “Coming into this game, I didn’t think about any other game but this game,” Gorsuch said. “Not tomorrow’s game, not Keller’s game, but this game right here.”
     Prior to Gorsuch’s arrival in 2013, Lewisville had not won a playoff game since 1999. Then as a freshman, Gorsuch elevated Lewisville into UIL 5A champions. While taking some credit, Gorsuch modestly deflects the success and shares it with her team.
     “Each and every one of the girls take some of the credit too,” Gorsuch said. We won as a team, we lose as a team. It’s not one person. It’s the whole team.”
     The whole team did work hard to return to the state championships, according to Lewisville Head Coach Lori Alexander.
     “It was a season full of work,” Alexander said. “Day in and day out, we were at the grind. We knew we could make it back and we did. We gave ourselves a chance to win.”
This chance was an opportunity of a lifetime. Lewisville was ready for the state finals, along with a surprise police motorcade escort.
     “I didn’t even know until it happened,” said pitcher Maribeth Gorsuch. “We got a police escort all the way out of Lewisville, so it was awesome. We felt special.”
     In addition to the special experience, many students and faculty from Lewisville ISD drove down to Austin to show their support, and listened to the players sing their school song to the crowd after the semifinal victory against San Benito. However, their next opponents from Katy High School proved more difficult. Throughout the finals game, Katy was able to hit and steal bases frequently, also resulting in a disputed call about whether or not Katy managed to slide into 2nd base in time. Nevertheless, Katy managed to get runners around, and took the lead 1-0. Lewisville Junior Lindsay French responded with a base hit, and allowed Lewisville to get a run to tie the game. The game continued to be neck and neck, escalating to a 2-2 tie which lasted until the 7th inning. Katy finished with a dramatic ending in the bottom of the 7th, and managed to have a runner sprint into home, winning 3-2. Despite the emotional setback, Lewisville was proud of their accomplishment, and has plans to prepare to be back next year.
    “We fell a little short,” said Head Coach Alexander. “We should be back. I expect us fully to be back. I’m only losing two seniors so I feel we’ll be right back here next year.”