AUSTIN - Amy Vidal-Bush likes an underdog.

For her, senior pitcher Hannah Benavides is that underdog. The pitcher, who doesn't even hit 5-feet on the height scale, does things that pitchers her size don't usually do.

One of those is tossing back-to-back shutouts in the Class 6A State Semifinals and championship game to clinch Deer Park's third state championship with a 1-0 victory over Converse Judson on Saturday night.

"You don't have a lot of pitchers that throw back-to-back shutouts that are not five foot," Vidal-Bush said. "I think she's probably 4-10 and so she doesn't have the torque. She's not supposed to be able to throw the ball hard or make it bend. It's just work ethic. She works so hard. There's a point at least once a week I have to tell her, we've got to lay off a little bit.

"If it were up to her she'd pitch every single night, throw a full bullpen, throw to live batters because she wants to win."