Few young players in the Big Country started their varsity careers with tougher assignments than Wylie pitchers Reese Farrar and Halli Russell.
Following in the footsteps of graduated standouts Kaylee Philipp and Bailey Buck, two players who were instrumental in leading the Lady Bulldogs to the Region I-5A semifinals in 2019, Farrar and Russell were stepping into some pretty large shoes to begin with.
Add in a season-ending injury to sophomore Rylee Moore, who had earned time in the circle last year as a freshman before the season was cut short by COVID, and the two varsity newcomers found themselves in key roles almost immediately.
While that type of initiation might have been too much for some players to handle, both Farrar and Russell — a sophomore and freshman, respectively — have stood tall for the Lady Bulldogs this season. And though each has enjoyed some individual success in helping WHS (18-12) get back to the playoffs, both feel they’re better together.