As Coppell coach Ashley Minick gave her last post-practice talk to the Coppell softball team on Wednesday before the Class 6A playoffs, there was a sense of excitement throughout the Cowgirls. Players were cheering, dancing and blowing on noisemakers. 

All the anticipation was for the Cowgirls’ first playoff game since 2019, where they were Class 6A Region 1 area finalists. Of the Cowgirls, only senior center fielder Adrianna Erichsen and senior shortstop Ellebelle Zimmerman were present on the 2019 team. 

Coppell (20-7, 10-4 in District 6-6A) plays Allen (19-11-2, 8-4 in District 5-6A) in a best-of-three Class 6A Region 1 bi-district playoffs series. The Cowgirls host Game 1 at Coppell ISD Baseball/Softball Complex on Thursday at 7:15 p.m. Game 2 is  Friday at 7:15 p.m. at Allen and Game 3, if necessary, is Saturday at 1 p.m. at Allen.

“We’re all really excited because most of us haven’t been to playoffs before so it is that new feeling that gives us a little more drive then the other teams since it’s all new to us,” Coppell junior catcher Medleigh Danchak said. “We’re really excited and since we’re not used to this, it’s going to give us an even greater push to win. It’s very exciting for the first game to be a home game. Friday’s game was a good preview for this week because that was a big game for us and, having that atmosphere, it’s going to be bigger and even better so we’re all really excited for that.”

Allen senior shortstop Sami Hood, a Wichita State signee, leads the way for the Eagles. Per The Dallas Morning News, Hood has a 0.484 hitting average, 47 runs, 45 hits, 56 RBIs, 26 stolen bases and 18 home runs. Hood is one home run short of a single-season Dallas-area home run record, which was set in 2011. Thirty-one of Hood’s 45 hits have gone for extra bases. Hood averages a home run once every five official at-bats, not including walks, but she hasn’t homered in her last three games.

According to senior Kat Miller, she will be the Cowgirls starter in the circle. Miller will try to keep Hood from breaking that record as she has a 2.80 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 135 innings. Miller has 18 victories on the mound. At bat, Miller is hitting a 0.426 batting average.

“They have really good hitters,” Erichsen said. “We’re really confident right now because we ended district on a high and we’re going to keep using that going into playoffs and hopefully go far. Personally, I’m so excited and I can’t wait for the playoffs to start.” 

Follow Meer (@mahfuz_meer) and @SidekickSports on Twitter.