Clyde softball has been overdue for landing a Big Country Preps Player of the Week award and senior pitcher Kaycee Bingham has just ended the drought. 

The Lady Bulldogs have been posting big numbers on a weekly basis, falling just short of the top spot. But Bingham has landed the spotlight with a 26-0 mercy rule perfect game win over San Angelo Grape Creek last week. She followed that with a three-hit 11-0 shutout of Merkel. 

Yet it didn’t end there. 

Bingham was also 5 of 7 at the plate on the week with four RBIs to help the Lady Bulldogs improve to 16-3 overall and 7-0 in district play.

“Kaycee continues to grow as a player,” coach Reagan Sewell said. “Not only is she getting the job done in the circle but is swinging a great bat this season.

“She has really worked hard to step up her game!!”

BIG COUNTRY TOP 10

1. Caleb Braden, Gunner Dillard and Garren Wiggins, utility/catcher/outfield, seniors, Wall — This trio combined for huge numbers last week in two wins over Sweetwater.

Braden was a combined 6 for 7 with a grand slam, nine RBIs, five runs scored and one steal on the week.

Dillard was a combined 5 for 8 last week (.625) and slugged .875 with two doubles, seven RBIs, four runs scored and three walks.

Wiggins hit .571 and slugged 1.143, with a double, one homer, four RBIs, five runs scored, two walks and two steals.

2. Kasey Solis, jumper/sprinter, Sr., Bangs — Had multiple first-place finishes in the Early Longhorn Relays, including an effort of 17 feet, 11 inches in the long jump. She also charted a first-place leap of 36-1½ in the triple jump.

Additionally, Solis helped the 400 and 800 relay teams to first-place times of 50.10 and 1:49.42.

In total, she helped collect 60 points for a second-place finish of 128 total points.

“Kasey continues to not stay stratified with complacency, coach Jacob Williams said. “She wants to be great and knows what it takes to qualify for state. Not just for state, but also her team. With district only a week away, her dedication continues to shine.

3. Vicki Guererro, distance runner, So., Coleman — Charted two PRs last week with gold medals in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the Early Longhorn Relays.

Guererro clocked a 5:34 in the 1,600 and a 12:09 in the 3,200 to help Coleman finish in a second-place tie in the overall team standings with Bangs.

She also helped the 800-relay team to a 1:51 time and a silver medal.

4. Avah Reyes, pitcher, Jr., Abilene — Had 15 strikeouts in seven innings in a 4-3 complete-game win over crosstown rival Cooper.

Reyes carried a no-hitter going into the bottom of the seventh.

5. Jeron Flores, pitcher, Sr., Cooper — Pitched 6.2 innings in last week’s win over Wylie, allowing two earned runs and fanning 12.

“Jeron pitched really well and he continues to keep us in the ballgame and is giving us a chance to win,” coach Brandon Stover said.

6. Easton Meador, Hunter Edington and Brayden Torres, shortstop/pitcher/pitcher, So./So./Jr., Coleman — Meador was a combined 5 for 8 with a double , five RBIs, three runs scored and one scoreless inning of pitching with two strikeouts in a pair of wins over Bangs (15-1 and 8-2).

Edington was 3 of 5 on the week with a double and five RBIs, but also delivered seven innings on the hill, allowing no earned runs with six Ks.

Torres was a combined 3 of 5 with a double, triple and three RBIs. He pitched five innings, allowing one earned run with six Ks.

7. Parker Williams, pitcher, Sr., Cisco — Pitched six innings Friday against De Leon with 11 strikeouts and three walks, allowing only one run on one hit in an 11-1 win.

“Parker plays a big leadership role for our team and his performance on the mound Friday was big for us,” coach Mark Adams said.

8. Jordan Chitsey, shortstop, Jr., Wall — Over the last three district games, Chitsey has posted a .692 batting average with two doubles, a triple, a home run, five RBIs and eight runs scored.

Wall enters this week at 16-6 on the year and 5-1 in district. 

“Jordan has been doing some great things at the plate this year as our leadoff,” coach Allyson Seider said. “She puts a lot of work into her hitting and it’s awesome to see that paying off for her! 

9. Hailey Von Willer, distance runner, Jr., Jim Ned — Took gold in the 3,200 meters at the Angelo State Spring Break Relays on Thursday with a PR and New School Record time of 11:49.95.

“Hailey is a very determined, hard-working young lady,” coach Juan Garcia said. “She has gained a lot of respect from her teammates and coaches throughout her running career. Watching her push herself so hard daily in her training has been pretty impressive and she does this all while investing time into playing tennis.”

10. Maddox Stewart, pitcher/shortstop, Sr., Gordon — Threw a combined nine innings last week, allowing no runs on one hit with 13 strikeouts, including a one-hit seven-inning shutout against Lipan.

At the plate, Stewart was a combined 4-of-8 for the week with four runs scored, three RBIs and five steals.

10+ Jeren Pena, pitcher, Sr., Ira — Pena was 2 for 3 at the plate with a double and a homer in a 4-0 win over Hobbs, N.M., JV. He also threw a two-hitter with 15 strikeouts.

“Jeren continues to maintain his high level of competitiveness and expectations and the results show,” coach Toby Goodwin said.

10+ Lacey Isenhower, pitcher, Sr., Baird — Isenhower was 5 for 7 at the plate with two doubles and a homer in a 24-14 win over Jayton last week.

Baird enters this week at 5-2 overall and 2-0 in district.

10+ Justice Baker, outfielder, Jr., Bangs — Baker was a combined 7 for 8 last week with two homers, five RBIs and five steals.

Pretty potent numbers or someone batting out of the two spot.

“Justice is definitely a player to watch in the region. She is just coming into her own as a player, showing great speed on the bases and in the field. With the ability to bunt for hits effectively and continued maturation as a power threat, she is a table setter in the top of our lineup.”

10+ George Ferguson, pitcher/third baseman, So., Abilene High — Earned a complete-game victory against Cooper, allowing no earned runs on three hits with two walks and 13 strikeouts.

Earlier in the week, Fergusion went 3 for 4 with a double and three RBIs in a 4-2 win at Wichita Falls Memorial.

10+ Laney Fostel, second baseman, Sr., Eula — In two district wins over Santa Anna (19-2) and Cross Plains (10-0), Fostel was 3 of 4 (in 7 plate appearances) with an OBP of .857.

She had three RBIs and scored six runs.

“Laney is a constant at the plate,” Eula coach Jayton Thompson said. “She puts pressure on the defense by hitting the ball hard and making the defense have to make hard plays”

10+ KK Lloyd, pitcher/second baseman, So., Colorado City — In two tough games against Forsan and Alpine, Lloyd faced 28 batters (a combined seven innings pitched), allowing no runs on two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.

She leads District 28-2A in strikeouts (60) and is currently the No. 6 sophomore in Class 2A in Ks.

10+ Halle Nielson, catcher, Fr., Jim Ned — Was a combined 8 for 12 with three doubles, four RBIs, six runs scored, nine putouts and three assists in wins over San Angelo TLCA and Sweetwater.

Jim Ned improved to 10-6 overall and 3-1 in district.

“Halle has come in and filled the role of our starting catcher as a freshman,” coach Erica Jones said. “She has worked hard and has great chemistry with the pitching staff and continues to improve and grow as a player each game. She is an outstanding contact hitter that has goals to contribute to the team in big moments.”

HONORABLE MENTION

Janinah (Jojo) Gonzalez, first baseman, So., Big Spring (Went .500 for the week with a single, a double, two walks and two runs scored); Kyson Davis, catcher, Sr., Hamlin (Went a combined 4 of 7 last week with a double and five RBIs); Emma Damron, catcher, Jr., Eula (Went 4 for 6 with an RBI and five runs scored vs. Santa Anna and Cross Plains); Brooklyn Homen, outfielder, Fr., Merkel (Was 2 for 3 last week with two singles. Her fielding percentage was .750); Cash Barnes, pitcher, Sr., Sweetwater (Had 11 strikeouts in an 8-6 win over district rival Jim Ned); Bryanna Munoz, catcher, So., Colorado City (Had a .500 batting average, .556 OBP and .625 slugging percentage on the week and had 13 putouts in 14 chances behind the plate); Cayden Davis, outfielder, Sr., Comanche (Batted .500 last week with two doubles, two RBIs, seven runs scored and three steals); Cooper Welch, infielder/pitcher, So., Comanche (Went a combined 4 for 8 with a double, a home run, five RBIs, four runs scored and one pitching win); Camp Churchill, outfielder/pitcher, Sr., Abilene High (Went 3 for 8 last week with two doubles and four RBIs); Chasity Davis, second baseman, Sr., Clyde (Went a combined 5 for 9 at the plate with nine runs scored and three doubles. Also had nine putouts); Sutton McClain, catcher/first baseman, Jr., Clyde (Went a combined 7 for 9 at the plate with seven runs scored, six RBIs, one triple and a double); Faith Mills, pitcher/outfielder, Sr., Clyde (Picked up a win in the circle with a two-hit shutout and eight strikeouts); Payton Allred, third baseman, Jr., Clyde (Was a combined 7 for 8 at the plate with eight runs scored, four RBIs, three triples and a double; Charli Lawson, left fielder, So., Jim Ned (Was a combined 8 for 11 with two doubles, one triple, four RBIs, seven runs scored and two putouts vs. TLCA and Sweetwater)

For a player to be considered for Big Country Preps Player of the Week, he or she must be nominated by their coaching staff. Deadline for nominations is noon each Monday. Please include the player’s name, class, position, stats and opposition with your submission.