By JONATHAN HULL
Sports Editor
FORSAN — Four years ago, the Forsan Lady Buffaloes were just an upstart softball program, not even aligned within a district.

A short time later, they're contending for a state title.

The Lady Buffs claimed a Class A, Region I title Saturday, earning a berth into the state tournament at McCombs Field in Austin. Forsan (24-10) makes its bid for the championship game at 11 a.m. Thursday, when it faces Iola's Lady Bulldogs (28-4) in the state semifinals.

"I'm amazed and excited. This has been a goal of mine for many years. To finally get to this point is kind of surreal," said Forsan Head Coach Shanna Roberts. "I'm just really excited to be going to Austin."

Two years ago, Roberts was sitting in the dugout after a Lady Buffs practice and speculated the team could be in this exact situation this season. She notes that several pieces just fell into place at the right time to make it all possible.

"We've gradually added some players each year that have helped us out a lot offensively and defensively," said Roberts. "I don't know that we can get a whole lot better than what we are right now. I really feel good about this team."

The Lady Buffs are entering the postseason as battle-tested as anyone else in the tournament, thanks largely to how the last two playoff series they've been in have turned out.

After winning Game 1 over Marfa, 4-3, Friday, the Lady Buffs found themselves entrenched in a classic with the Lady Shorthorns in Game 2 Saturday. It took 14 innings to decide the outcome with Marfa coming out on top after Cortnee White hit a walk-off home run for a 4-3 victory.

The loss could have been the crushing blow for the Lady Buffs. Instead, they responded with a quick 8-0 lead in the third and decisive game, eventually holding on for an 8-3 victory and a berth to the state tournament.

"I don't know that we can ask for a better way to come into the playoffs," said Roberts. "This team has had to really step up and overcome some tough losses in the last two weeks. The girls just met the challenges laid out for them. Fourteen innings with Marfa was intense. We lost the game on a home run and that can be devastating for some teams. Instead, I think we stepped up and came back even stronger."

However, it was the series with Albany that Roberts believes was the turning point for the Lady Buffs.

Albany — ranked No. 2 in the state when the series occurred — edged the Lady Buffs, 4-3, in the first game. Forsan rallied on the second day of the series, sweeping two games from Albany, 6-5 and 6-2, to keep their state title hopes alive.

"I think it was the loss to Albany that really turned us around," said Roberts. "We could have laid down, but we came back and played two good, close ball games. I think we grew up a little after that series."

Following the decisive win with Marfa, three Lady Buffs — Sandi Golleher, Alyx Pappajohn and Haylie Burleson — made their way home to walk the stage as a 2009 graduate of Forsan.

"It was awesome getting to walk the stage knowing we had made it to state earlier in the day," said Burleson. "They even said something about graduation about it. It was amazing."

Superintendent Randy Johnson couldn't contain himself. Before all the graduates had even began the procession into the high school gym, Johnson got on the microphone and announced to the crowd the Lady Buffs were headed to the state tournament.

Salutatorian Tori Gauer then added in her speech about the Lady Buffs making their way to Austin.

"It's amazing being a high school graduate and still getting to be apart of something at Forsan," said Golleher.

All three Lady Buffs seniors were a part of the team when it first started in 2006. Then, a chance to play for a state title wasn't even discussed.

"We said at the beginning of the year we wanted to go to state. We set a goal and accomplished it," said Golleher. "We have two more games, so we're just taking it one game at a time. Emotionally, we're all just excited. I didn't know if this was actually possible, but now that we're here it's just really amazing to be a part of it.

"I didn't really think it was possible, either," added Burleson. "Everyone said we were good enough and it turned out we are. I think we've got a really good chance of winning it all."

First the Lady Buffs must make it past Iola, which is the top-ranked team in this year's field.

Iola defeated the No. 1 team in the state in two of the last three rounds of the playoffs. In the regional quarterfinals, the Lady Bulldogs took down Shiner, then followed it up with a win over Mart in the Region IV finals.

"I don't really have an idea of how we'll match up with Iola. I just hope we go out, play our game and don't play with a lot of nervousness," said Roberts. "Hitting wise, I've got nine good hitters than can put the ball in play at any time. I'm really hoping we continue to hit the ball and score some runs."

The Lady Buffs aren't satisfied with just making it to state, though. However, they do consider it a major achievement just to be playing this late in the season.

"I think we'll be disappointed to lose the first game," noted Roberts. "Just to be there, though, is very exciting for us. This team sets the standard for the other teams coming up in the program. I think we're going to win. I'm going into state expecting us to win. Hopefully, we won't be disappointed."

Should Forsan win Thursday, it would face the winner of the other Class A semifinal game between Lindsay (24-8-2) and Alto (28-7). Of the four schools in the bracket, only Alto has been to the state tournament before, having qualified three previous times.

Alto won a Class 2A state title in 1999, defeating Coahoma, 5-3, for its only championship in program history.

The Class A finals would be played at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.