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GAME REPORT: Coahoma tops Santa Gertrudis 4-2 to claim second softball state title

Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

The special moment that had been a year in the making could begin as soon as Kaedyn Lee secured the fly ball in right field. 

Coahoma, which had come so close to winning it all the previous year, could finally celebrate on the infield at McCombs Field. 

The Lady Bulldogs captured the Class 3A state championship Thursday afternoon with a 4-2 victory over Santa Gertrudis Academy. It’s Coahoma’s second softball title in school history with the other coming in 1998. 

Alex Orosco

“It means a lot for the community. Most people don’t realize how difficult a task it is making it to state and winning two games here,” Coahoma coach Alex Orosco said. “In the grand scheme, it sounds easy, but it’s a dogfight, fighting for every run, every out. It’s every bit of a challenge you expect it to be.” 

This was the program’s 10th state berth since the first state title 25 years ago, but sophomore Hannah Wells and company made sure this trip ended differently than the previous nine. 

Sophomore Baylor Wright broke a tie game with an RBI single in the sixth inning, and Wells delivered what ended up being the winning margin with a two-run homer in the seventh before closing the game out in the circle and earning 3A title game MVP honors. 

“It was an awesome feeling because I know we’ve put in the work,” Wells said. “I’m going to miss our two seniors (Shae Lang and Christian Everett). I loved being able to win a state championship with them.” 

Santa Gertrudis’ Izzy De La Santos delivered a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh to make it 4-2, but Carina Palacios hit a flyout to Lee to end the game and start the celebration. 

“I’m so glad we came back and we just fought,” said Wright, who had a crucial RBI for the second straight game. “We came out on top, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to come back here. I love this team. No matter what happens, we had each other’s backs.” 

After edging Emory Rains 1-0 in Wednesday’s semifinal, Coahoma had another nip-and-tuck game on its hands Thursday. 

Hannah Wells

Wells and the Lady Lions’ D’Andra Fernandez traded zeroes on the scoreboard the first three innings. The Lady Bulldogs turned a double play in the first, while freshman catcher Mia Clemmer threw out a baserunner in the second. 

Coahoma struck first in the top of the fourth inning when Lang had a one-out single and moved to second via a bunt. Karleigh Burt’s infield single gave the Lady Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. 

Wells escaped from a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth, but the Lady Lions tied the game in the fifth on Taylor Reyes’ two-out RBI single to center field. 

However, the game didn’t stay tied for long. Wright, who wasn’t in the lineup as a freshman, came through again with a one-out single down the left-field line, scoring Lang. Lee tried giving Coahoma more of a cushion on the play, but got caught in a rundown between third base and home. 

“I saw that runner on third, and all I could think about was scoring her,” Wright said. “Just put it in play and make the defense work. A hard ground ball is what I needed because I knew their outfield was pretty stacked.” 

It was Wells who provided that cushion in the final inning. After intentionally walking her the previous two at-bats, Fernandez finally pitched to the sophomore after Everett led off with a single. 

That proved to be a mistake as Wells deposited a 2-0 pitch over the wall in center field for her third home run at McCombs Field over the past two years. 

“I was actually really surprised they were going to pitch to me,” Wells said. “I knew being up 2-0 she was probably going to give me a fat pitch. It was an inside low fastball, and that was my favorite pitch.” 

Wells (20-1) then limited the damage in the bottom of the seventh, finishing with five hits allowed and four strikeouts. She also walked four batters and hit two with pitches, but just like she did in the semifinals, Wells got the job done in decisive moments. 

“Santa Gertrudis was good. They had fight, grit, discipline, but our girls have that hunger from being so close last year,” Orosco said. “Experiencing the heartbreak and not wanting to feel like that again was a gamechanger.” 

CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

COAHOMA 4, SANTA GERTRUDIS ACADEMY 2

  123 456 7 — R H E
Coahoma 000 101 2 — 4 7 1
Santa Gertrudis 000 010 1 — 2 5 1

Hannah Wells and Mia Clemmer. D’Andra Fernandez and Kieana Cruz. W — Wells (20-1). L — Fernandez (25-5). 2B — Coahoma: Wells. HR — Coahoma: Wells.

Records — Coahoma 36-3; Santa Gertrudis 40-6.

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