Wylie players gather around left fielder Carlee Casteneda (8) after her diving grab during Friday’s Crosstown Showdown at Wylie East.

The Pirates added another District 9-6A crown to their season, but Friday’s crosstown matchup required a gritty finish. Wylie escaped with a 3-2 victory in nine innings over Wylie East, a game that showcased resilience as much as talent and also brought Wylie’s winning streak to 15 games while ending the Raiders’ season.

Both teams played strong defense for most of the night, yet the game’s deciding moment came in the ninth inning. After a heads-up effort on the bases put a pinch-runner in scoring position, a throw attempting to get the lead runner at second sailed into center field, allowing Natalie Johannes to score the winning run. The Pirates withstood two late pushes from the Raiders and managed to stay composed until the final out.

Wylie East entered the game needing a win to continue its season after Rowlett’s big victory earlier meant the Raiders were in a must-win situation. Trailing 1-0 going into the bottom of the seventh, Wylie East answered with an RBI double by Kennley Gholson to tie the score. Wylie regained the edge in the top of the eighth when Emma Cook delivered an RBI double to put the Pirates back ahead.

The Raiders nearly swung momentum again when Gabby Flores dashed around the bases on a misplay and appeared headed for an inside-the-park home run, but she was held at third for a game-tying triple. Later, sophomore Katelyn Ashenfelter’s single and aggressive baserunning forced the defense into a hurried play; Johannes, running for Ashenfelter, scored on the throwing error that decided the game. Wylie’s coach credited Ashenfelter’s instincts for creating the opportunity.

The Pirates’ defense supplied several momentum-saving plays throughout the contest. Julia Barta’s RBI single in the first put Wylie on the board, and after an early misplayed fly encouraged the Raiders, the defense tightened. In the fourth inning, Carlee Casteneda made a diving catch to rob Ryan Collins of a potential game-tying hit — a play the coaching staff pointed to when describing the team’s playoff-level intensity. Wylie now turns its attention to the bi-district round, where the Pirates will face Royse City beginning Thursday.