Set to make their fifth consecutive state championship game appearance on Thursday with a chance to extend their state-record streak of consecutive titles to four, the Coahoma Bulldogettes have become the gold standard where Texas high school softball is concerned.
A program with a rich history, Coahoma has always taken its softball seriously, reaching the state tournament 15 times since 1996 and earning four championships out of those trips. But the Bulldogettes have kicked things into a new gear this decade, building a genuine dynasty under coach Alex Orosco.
While the past four years, which featured a one-run loss in the title game in 2022 followed by three consecutive championship runs, have been attributed by many to the impact of do-it-all standout Hannah Wells, who is already making her presence felt as a freshman for the University of Texas, this year’s run has shined the spotlight back on the program itself.
In getting back to Austin with a group of girls who had previously starred in supporting roles, the Bulldogettes have shown that the depth of talent and winning culture built in Coahoma has serious staying power. And if they can beat Kingsville Santa Gertrudis Academy when the two square off at 7 p.m. Thursday at the University of Texas’ Red & Charline McCombs Field, CHS will become the only school in state history to have a senior class end all four of its years on campus with softball state championships.
There are varying degrees of “no-hitter” in both high school baseball and softball. This is especially true when the mercy rule is concerned, with pitchers holding the opposition hitless through five innings (in a 10-run rule game) and in the case of the 15-run rule, through only three frames. 
In a week that featured at least a half dozen athletes who could have taken our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, we finally settled on a Stephenville senior for our weekly award. 
Scoring and rebounding is only part of the story when it comes to basketball. Behind the scenes and beyond the view of the public, is where character is often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps Gym Rat Team that we salute the individuals who exude the most of it. 
BIG SPRING —If the rankings are correct, the Wall Lady Hawks are not only the top Class 3A team in the state, but they’ve now beaten two of the top three teams in the span of three days.
There are memorable shooting nights. Then there are shooting nights one is unlikely to ever forget.
Wall 71, Stanton 7 — Landon York was perfect in Wall’s season finale, hitting 8 of 8 throws for 142 yards and five TDs. 
Coahoma 42, Stanton 0
Merkel 48, Stanton 9 — Easton Malone threw for 253 yards and four scores and CJ Guadarrama rushed for 93 yards and three more TDs to lift Merkel to a rout of Stanton.
Wall 58, Coahoma 0 — Wall’s Landon York kept his hot hand, hitting 17 of 24 throws for 333 yards and two scores to help Wall to an important league win over Coahoma. 
Slowly but surely, the Cooper Cougars have emerged as one of the most explosive teams in the Big Country. And in its latest exploit, CHS rolled up 517 yards in total offense in a 66-16 win over Lubbock Cooper. 
Wall 63, Merkel 13 — Landon York threw for 387 yards and seven TDs to keep the Hawks (7-0, 1-0) unbeaten. 
Wall 35, Idalou 21 — Landon York threw for 307 yards and two scores and Wall rushed for 95 yards via committee in a tough win at Idalou. 
As it turned out, the best game in the Big Country last week was Clyde’s dramatic 54-49 win over Muleshoe in the top shootout the area has seen thus far in 2025. 
Wall 35, Sweetwater 0 — Wall (5-0) remained unbeaten with a workmanlike effort against Sweetwater. 
Prior to the season starting, much of the attention garnered by Coahoma came through its offense, with veteran quarterback Boyd Cox expected to put up some of the best numbers in the area. 
Coahoma 15, Albany 12 — The Bulldogs earned an always-tough win at Albany (3-1) by limiting the Lions to only 131 yards in total offense.
Since losing their season opener to Peaster (34-0), the Tolar Rattlers (2-1) have not only managed to improve, but they’re rapidly gaining momentum to go with that progress.
Coahoma 51, Kermit 0 — Coahoma rushed or 126 yards and two scores and Austin Joslin threw for 178 yards and three TDs to help the Bulldogs improve to 3-0 on the year.
Merkel 29, Bangs 26 — The Badgers are off to a 2-0 start following their narrow win over Bangs on Friday. 
Merkel 38, Ballinger 26 — Sophomore standout Easton Malone threw for 319 yards and four scores as Merkel stunned Ballinger on the road to snap a 10-game losing streak.