Courtesy Photo - David Beans Studio (www.davidbeansstudio.net)

The Lady Jackets would not be denied or would they let Aledo stand in their way to their first State playoff berth in the history of CHS softball.

The Lady Jackets defeated Aledo 4-0 last night before a standing room only crowd at Mansfield High School.

"Heck no, we were not going home with a loss," first baseman Brittany Braswell said. "This meant too much."

Sophomore pitcher Katie Cowan started the night off right striking out two of four Lady Kat batters in the first inning. Cowan finished the game with seven strikeouts.

Cleburne made their presence known in their half of the first inning, when Skye Stamey fouled off at least six balls before Lady Kat pitcher Whitney Canion walked her. Shortstop Janaye Richardson singled after third baseman Amberly Waits got on first on a fielder's choice. Canion then struck out the next two batters, but in the process she pitched more than 25 pitches.

Cowan and company shutdown the Lady Kats in the second with Cowan allowing only one basehit before retiring the side.

The Lady Jackets scored their first run of the night after Canion walked outfielder Jenna Richardson and gave up a base hit to Kylie Beard. The Lady Kats committed the first of three errors when Aledo's first baseman Amanda Watlington dropped the ball to allow Stamey to get on base and Jenna Richardson to score.

Cleburne scored again in the third behind an Aledo miscue that led to Sam Oleksak scoring from third base. The Lady Jackets scored twice in the seventh to end Aledo's hopes of a state championship.

Janaye Richardson said one of the team's goals was to come back after the loss to Aledo in the championship game and beat for the state playoff berth from Region 1. (Cleburne finished the season tied for first with the Lady Kats.)

"It was great to win this game," Janaye Richardson said. "We worked hard and we beat them."

Coach Teri Rabe said the goal all season was to make it to the state tournament.

"If they can play like they did tonight, I think we have a really good chance to win it."

The Lady Jackets face for the first playoff game at state the winner of the Justin Northwest and McKinney North best 2 of 3 match-up played tonight and Saturday in Coppell.

Stats: Katie Cowan - seven strikeouts and a double; Janaye Richardson - two singles and 2 RBIs; Jenna Richardson - a single and a walk; Amberly Waits - a double; Kylie Beard - a single; Skye Stamey a single and an RBI; Sam Oleksak - a single; and Brittany Braswell - a single.