Katy has been excited for this moment all year.

All year the Tigers have wanted a chance to get back to the playoffs, a chance to prove themselves and a chance to keep their season going.

That moment finally came for the Tigers and they didn’t disappoint, sweeping Dulles in the bi-district round behind two run rule wins, including a 14-0 win on Friday.

“We work extremely hard,” said junior third baseman Hailey Gore. “We’ve been striving to get here all year and it fuels us. We practice hard and then once we step on that field we instantly are in game mode. This team has been ready to go every game and we weren’t going to change that today.”

Katy took no time putting its foot on the gas, as Gore gave them the lead in her first at bat of the game on a double. Camryn Harrison followed that up with a double of her own that drove in a run and Ella-Kate Smith hit a single that made it 3-0 after one inning. Katy went on to score six runs in the second inning and five runs in the third, with the backups coming in to close the game out in the fourth and fifth innings.

Gore had four RBIs in the game, hitting two doubles and a three run home run and she also scored three runs, Smith led the team with five RBIs on two hits, including a grand slam in the second inning that helped break the game open. Ashtyn Reichardt drove in a run and scored three while Camryn Harrison drove in one run and scored twice while drawing two walks. Lauryn Soeken pitched three innings of shutout ball, striking out three while not allowing a hit and not walking a batter before Caylee Gayton closed out the game in the final two innings by striking out four and not walking any or allowing a hit as the two combined for a no hitter.

“Hailey has had a great season and she continued that today,” said Katy head coach Kalum Haack. “it’s been all year that she has proven herself. The hard work that she has put in over the summer and offseason has paid off. Hailey has stepped up as a leader as well and it’s just made her a better player both defensively and offensively.”

Katy will try to keep their same mentality as they enter the area round, as they advance to play Chavez, time and dates to be determined. The Tigers know first hand there can’t be any let up. That happened last year, and Katy was upset by Bellaire in the second round of the playoffs, the players have not forgotten that feeling.

“We want to just go out there and destroy this next team,” Gore said. “We know what we are capable of as a team and we just want to go out there and beat whoever is in our way. We aren’t going to make the same mistake as last year and we are super pumped up for this next one.”