A pair of losses to Ganado ended the postseason run for Groveton; still the Lady Indians ended the year as a 2026 state semifinalist.
The reigning state champion Maidens are ranked first in their district and 20th in the state after a 12-0 district run, which showed as they downed Groveton 5-0 on Wednesday and 6-1 on Thursday.
On Wednesday, Groveton kept in the game for 5 innings, holding Ganada to one run behind Abi Kayte Roberts’ efforts on the mound. She threw 8 strikeouts while giving up 9 hits and 3 walks on the day.
However, Ganado’s 9 hits translated to 3 runs in the sixth inning and another 3 in the seventh, while Groveton couldn’t cross the plate.
Ganado held the Lady Indians to 5 hits, those coming from Madisen Howard, Lainee Reed, Maryssa Rivers, Reaghan Benton and Kayleigh Albus.
In the second game of the best-of-three series, Roberts again had mound duty, and the game was tight through 4 innings with Ganado leading 2-1. However, a 4-run 5th inning, unanswered by Groveton, ended the Lady Indians’ trip to state.
Howard, Rivers and Albus all had hits, but the hot bat belonged to Abbey Thornton with 2 hits.
