Two of the state’s best sophomore pitchers, Maribeth Gorsuch [0.65 ERA and 227 strikeouts] and Mansfield Timberview’s Mariah Denson [1.48 ERA and 231 strikeouts], will fight for a slot in the upcoming UIL regional semifinals tonight.

The Farmers [28-7] with a .331 team batting average and 7.3 runs per page, will travel to Arlington to bat against Timberview [25-6] at 7:30 p.m. The second game will be on Saturday at home at 4 p.m. and, if required, a tie-breaker will follow directly at 6 p.m.

“Our expectations are to win and go to the next round,” junior Gaby Vasquez said. “Hopefully, that leads up to state.”

Senior Kacie Saucedo said that the team’s motivations lay heavily on the promise of a positive end-note for the senior girls.

“A lot of the girls always say, ‘We’re doing this for the seniors,’” Saucedo said. “‘We need to play our hardest, get on our ball and do this.’ [It’s] not just for the name that we have on our jersey.”