Despite the cold weather, the Deer Park Deer put on their annual Haynie Spirit Tournament this week and were able to get four quality games in.
Deer Park started with three consecutive wins before falling in the finale Friday for a 3-1 record over two days. Saturday’s game was canceled due to the weather.
On Thursday, Deer Park edged Shadow Creek 5-4 and took down Trinity 7-3. The Deer opened Friday with a 7-2 win over HCYA Warriors before dropping an 8-1 game to Region II semifinalist of a year ago, Bridgeland.
Deer Park opened the tournament with a dramatic comeback against the Sharks. The Deer (5-2) scored four times in the bottom of the fifth with Aleena Carrizales coming through with the game-winning sacrifice fly to score Izzy Mendoza. Mendoza tied the game two batters earlier with an RBI double. Journey Calderon hit an RBI double to begin the rally while Daylen Maldonado singled in a run. Calderon finished with two RBIs while Kayla Barras tripled.
Braelynn Jones picked up the win in the circle with two earned runs allowed over five innings with two earned and four hits. She struck out two and walked six.
Against Trinity, Deer Park came out flying with all seven runs over the first three innings.
Ava Garcia had two RBIs and a triple while Madison Macias doubled and also had two RBIs. Zoie Powell also drove in a run. Mariah Ramirez doubled and scored a run.
Madi Alvarado pitched four innings with five strikeouts. She allowed two earned runs on four hits. Natalie Martinez allowed an earned run in the final inning.
Deer Park stacked up 11 hits against the Warriors on Friday. Maldonado was 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Barras (2-for-3, one RBI) and Ramirez tripled. Powell had an RBI.
Alvarado went six innings with five strikeouts. She allowed two earned runs on four hits.
Deer Park was held to two hits and an RBI by Mendoza against Bridgeland. Barras stole two bases. Jones allowed four earned runs over 4 ⅓ innings. Alvarado came in relief for the final two outs.
Deer Park travels to Atascocita on Tuesday for a non-district battle of region powers at 6:30 p.m.
Deer Park’s Mariah Ramirez (2) reaches for a high five during the Haynie Spirit Tournament on Feb. 21, 2025. (Jose Palomo/SportCast Media)
