Category: Softball

by Evan Ren

EVAN REN’S 2026 ALL-HUSTLE TEAM (the hardest-working baseball and softball players in the area)

OTHER 2026 ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS TEAMS

Our All-Big Country Preps softball and baseball teams, released on Sunday, are in place to honor those who achieved the most on-field success in 2026. It is off the field, however, where character, grit, and work ethic are often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team that we wish to honor those players, male and female, who were (simply put) the hardest-working, best teammates in the area this spring. 

This team isn’t about who the best baseball and softball players were.

The All-Hustle team honors effort, discipline, toughness, coachability and selflessness — traits that coaches wish they had in every player and upon which championships are built.

It is for that reason that this team is largely selected by area coaches and described in their own words.

Big Country Preps is now honored to present these individuals to you — the best team players (boys and girls) that the the Big Country had to offer during the 2021 season.

The players below are listed in no particular order. 

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by Evan Ren

ALL BIG COUNTRY SOFTBALL SUPERLATIVES: Hart, Reynolds, Smith, McLean and Orosco win our top awards

Here are our superlative award winners for the 2026 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2026 All-Big Country Preps Softball Team: First-team Roster

Here are our first-team selections for the 2026 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2026 All-Big Country Preps Softball Team: Second-team Roster (w/ honorable mention)

Here are our second-team selections for the 2026 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

2026 Big Country Preps Rising Stars Softball Team: The top sophomores and freshmen in the area

Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2026 All-Big Country Preps Softball teams. 

Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.

For the rest of this year’s softball selections, please click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Liberty dominates Lady Eagles in 4A DII state title game (box score included)

AUSTIN — Liberty (founded in 1831) is in fact, one of the oldest communities in the state of Texas. But its status as a softball powerhouse is relatively new. 

With seven state tournament appearances (all since 2018), the Lady Panthers added their fourth state championship in less than a decade on Friday by defeating Brock, 12-0 in six innings at McCombs Field.  

Game MVP Bayleigh Taylor tossed a two-hit shutout and was 3-for-5 with a double, triple and five RBIs to lead Liberty (39-6), which dominated the Region I champions from start to finish. 

Brock was led by Jayci Smith (1-for-3) and Trinity Franklin (1-for-2 with a double). The Lady Eagles closed their season at 32-11 while making their ninth state tournament appearance.

“We ran into a good team today,” Brock coach Gregory Connors said. “They were hitting on all cylinders and it showed. But we know what it takes to get here and how to overcome that.” 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Coahoma’s historic quest comes to an end with 8-1 loss to SGA (box score included)

AUSTIN — In an attempt to become the first Texas high school softball team to win four straight state championships, the Coahoma Bulldogettes fell one victory short of that goal with an 8-1 loss to Santa Gertrudis Academy in the 3A DII state championship game on Thursday at McCombs Field.        

Game MVP K’Lee Bazan was 4-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs and Hailey Ortega was 3-for-4 with three doubles and three RBIs to lead SGA (40-4), which captured its first state title since 2018 and second overall in six state tournament appearances. 

Coahoma, which was limited to three hits on the day, was led by Mia Clemmer (1-for-2), Emery Doporo (1-3, one RBI) and Bentli Wright (1-for-3).  The Bulldogettes were making their fifth consecutive state tournament appearance with a string of three straight state titles to their credit coming in.  

“It’s a tall mountain to climb, whether you’ve done it one time or five times,” said Coahoma coach Alex Orosco, whose team finished the season at 27-5. “It doesn’t get any easier if you’ve done it before.” 

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Coahoma’s unprecedented softball success a product of old-school hard work, impeccable preparation

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.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Coahoma Bulldogettes blast their way to 13-3 win over Grand Saline, fifth straight state title game

GRAHAM — With the graduation of four-year standout Hannah Wells last May, there was an expectation among some that the three-time defending state champion Coahoma Bulldogettes might take a step backward in 2026.

On Saturday at Graham’s Hogan Field, coach Alex Orosco’s team sent a strong message to what few doubters it might still have.

Playing Region II champion Grand Saline in a  one-game Class 3A Division II state semifinal playoff, Coahoma led wire to wire in a dominating effort against the Lady Indians, blasting three home runs on their way to a 13-3 run-rule victory. In the process, the Bulldogettes earned their fifth straight state championship game appearance and an opportunity to extend their state-record title streak to four consecutive years next week against Kingsville Santa Gertrudis Academy — the team against which they started their championship run in 2023.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Missed opportunities, defensive miscues cost Cross Plains in series opener against Jonesboro

STEPHENVILLE — The Cross Plains softball team outhit and outpitched two-time defending champion Jonesboro in the opener of its Class 1A state semifinal series Thursday at the Stephenville softball field.

Unfortunately for the Lady Buffaloes, that wasn’t enough due to miscues in the field and missed opportunities at the plate.

Standout pitcher Kenzie McLean limited the Lady Eagles to three hits (two of those bunt singles) and no earned runs in a complete-game gem. But four unearned runs left the freshman and her teammates on the losing end of a 4-3 tally and needing two wins Saturday to extend Cross Plains’ best season ever into the state finals.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Cisco’s magical run ends with a pair of losses to Bosqueville (two box scores included)

STEPHENVILLE — The single greatest season in Cisco softball history has officially come to a close. 

Having reached the 2A DI state semifinals (its first-ever state semi) Cisco fell to in two straight games to Bosqueville on Wednesday, 4-3 and 10-2 at the Stephenville Softball Complex. 

The losses brought the curtain down on a 26-9-2 campaign that saw the Lady Loboes finish 8-3 in postseason play with the deepest playoff run in its history.

“We’ve had an outstanding year,” Cisco coach Vanessa Longoria said. “At the very beginning we scheduled some tough teams to help get us here.

“Getting them this far was fantastic and a lot of fun.” 

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by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Brock’s top of lineup ready to slap way into state finals 

Do you know what’s more annoying than facing a lefty slap hitter leading off a lineup?

How about facing two lefty slap hitters right off the bat who are quick with the bat.

That’s the reality for anyone facing Brock this season as sophomore Kayden Blue and freshman Jayci Smith have helped set the tone offensively for the Lady Eagles’ state semifinal run.

Brock (32-10) enters its best-of-three 4A series against Van Alstyne on a seven-game win streak where it’s averaged 9.3 runs. The Lady Eagles are two victories away from playing for the 4A Division II title next week in Austin.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Reed takes our final award for 2025-26

As is our tradition, with the UIL State Track and Field Championships now over, we conclude our Big Country Preps Player of the Week column for the 2025-26 school year.  We’ll pick it up again on Monday, Aug. 31. 

In the meantime, our final award of the school year belongs to Gordon senior Stryker Reed, and with good reason. At the state track meet, Reed won state titles in both the 110 and 300 hurdles, breaking his own state records in both events at 14.20 and 37.24. He took an additional gold with the 1600 relay team with a 47.8 split and bronze in the pole vault at 14-0.  He nearly captured a fifth medal in Austin, taking fourth in the high jump at 6-2.

Oh, and did we mention he plays baseball? 

Well, he does — well enough to help the Longhorns to a series sweep of Oglesby last week, going a combined 4 of 5 with a double, triple, two RBIs, three runs scored and two steals. He also pitched in Game 2, allowing one earned run in three innings of work with four strikeouts. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Jim Ned goes down swinging in season-ending loss to Iowa Park

GRAHAM — On paper and on the scoreboard, Jim Ned’s 17-6 loss in Game 2 of its Region I-3A Division I finals series against Iowa Park on Saturday didn’t look much different than the 12-2 one the Lady Indians suffered in the series opener on Friday at Hogan Field. 

The two games even bore a fair number of similarities in the way they played out and, eventually, got out of hand.

But it was the one key difference that had coach Erica Jones beaming with pride at the end of Saturday’s game, rather than steaming with frustration, as she was the night before.

After allowing 12 unanswered runs to close out a run-rule loss in Game 1, Jim Ned allowed 17 runs in a row after opening Game 2 with an identical 2-0 lead. But this time, the Lady Indians went down fighting, scoring four runs in their final trip to the plate to end what was arguably the best season in Jim Ned softball history in a way more befitting of the team that achieved it.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Wylie softballers fall in Game 3 to Fort Worth Brewer (box score included)

STEPHENVILLE — After guiding Wylie to one of its best seasons ever, WHS softball coach Shelby Elkins had the unenviable task of speaking to her heartbroken players following an 11-7 Game 3 loss to Fort Worth Brewer in the Region I-5A DII title game on Saturday.

Brewer had just eliminated Wylie behind five homers at the Stephenville High School Softball Field. But Elkins quickly reminded a group of tearful players that there were several important achievements they should remember years from now.

“You just highlight the positives,” said Elkins, whose team had reached the program’s first regional title series since 2006 and its first ever in Class 5A. “For us to make it this far, they’ve done some great things this year. 

“Every single one of them shattered their own records. … And that’s what we looked at from the very beginning of the season. The number of hits they had, the number of defensive plays  — I wanted to give all of them goals to set and every one of them did a phenomenal job. 
“I’m very proud of them.”  

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by Evan Ren

GAME REPORT: Jim Ned falls 12-2 in Game 1 vs. Iowa Park (Box score included)

GRAHAM — A huge fourth inning, a few key mistakes and multiple controversial calls handed the Jim Ned Lady Indians a 12-2 loss in Game 1 of a Region I-3A DI title series with Iowa Park on Friday at Hogan Field.

Five Lady Hawks — Halli Kennedy, Callista Berrett, Bailey Martinez, Jacie Barnes and Jordyn Noble — all had two hits with a combined six RBIs to lead Iowa Park (31-7-1), which overcame a 2-0 deficit with 12 unanswered runs over the final three innings.

Jim Ned, which missed some crucial scoring opportunities early on due to several controversial calls, finished with six total hits. Gabby Cabrea and Paige Wilson were both 1-for-3 with an RBI to lead the Lady Indians (30-6), who suffered their only mercy rule loss of the season in six innings. 

The series resumes with Game 2 today at 4 p.m. at the same venue. Game 3, if needed, will begin 30 minutes after Game 2.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Aledo run-rules Abilene High, ends Lady Eagles’ deepest playoff run ever in regional finals

GRAHAM — Heading into her team’s one-game Region I-5A Division I finals playoff against state power Aledo on Friday, Abilene High coach Jenna Aguirre knew the Lady Eagles would need to play their best game of the year to have an opportunity to extend their best season in school history to their first state semifinals appearance.

So when a leadoff error in the second inning led to three unearned runs on a two-out home run by Ladycats pitcher Tempe Perry, the coach knew her team might be in for a long day.

That early miscue proved a harbinger of things to come, unfortunately, as Aledo tacked on another unearned run in the third inning before busting the door down completely in a nine-run fourth to put the wheels in motion for a 13-0 win at Graham’s Hogan Field.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Brock sweeps Randall with crushing 15-1 win in Game 2 (box score included)

ABILENE — A year removed from reaching the Region I-4A DII semifinals, the Brock Lady Eagles have now pushed all the way to the state tournament. And they’ve done so, in dominating fashion. 

After defeating Canyon Randall 9-1 to open the regional championship series on Thursday, Brock completed a two-game sweep on Friday with a crushing 15-1 win at Poly Wells Field.

Kayden Blue was 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored and Alison “Gator” Coleman scattered five hits in a complete game win to lead Brock, which will face either Van Alstyne or North Lamar in the state semifinals at a site and time to be determined.

Randall finished its season at 30-10.

“We knew they were going to come out hard and we had to match their intensity,” said Brock coach Gregory Connors, whose team improved to 32-10 with its seventh straight postseason victory. “We knew what to expect. We’ve been here before and it’s a (great) experience for a young team.” 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME REPORT: Faries returns to dominant form as Wylie bounces back to take Game 2 from Brewer

 Photos from Thursday’s Game 1

STEPHENVILLE — Before Thursday’s series opener against Fort Worth Brewer, Wylie ace Avie Faries had yet to allow more than two runs in any of her previous six playoff starts.

So it took a special effort from the Lady Bears to kick off the Region I-5A Division II finals with an eight-run outburst that included four home runs off the standout junior.

In Friday’s Game 2, a determined Faries looked more like her dominant self with her team’s season on the line, limiting that same explosive lineup to just three hits and single run in a 3-1 Wylie win. The right-hander walked two and struck out six to improve her playoff record to 7-1 and help the Lady Bulldogs earn a decisive Game 3 against Brewer at 1 p.m. Saturday back at the Stephenville softball field.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Long ball, four-run fifth fuel Fort Worth Brewer past Wylie in series opener

STEPHENVILLE — For 4½ innings, the Wylie and Fort Worth Brewer softball teams were locked in a back-and-forth battle in the opener of the Region I-5A Division II finals series Thursday at the Stephenville softball field.

But a four-run bottom of the fifth highlighted by a trio of big extra-base hits provided the Lady Bears the separation they needed to pull away for an 8-4 win and an early advantage in the best-of-three affair that will continue with Game 2 at 7 p.m. Friday.

Included in Brewer’s pivotal outburst was a pair of home runs — two of four for the Lady Bears on the day — which served as the difference in a game that was otherwise very competitive.

Continue reading “GAME STORY: Long ball, four-run fifth fuel Fort Worth Brewer past Wylie in series opener” →

by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Brock routs Canyon Randall in Game 1 of regional championship series (box score included)

ABILENE — In the end it was all a matter of Brock being Brock, and Alison Coleman being Alison Coleman. 

Game 1 of the Region I-4A DII softball championship series ended with a relatively easy 9-1 win for Brock over Canyon Randall at Poly Wells Field. This involved the Lady Eagles doing what they do best — wreaking havoc on the basepaths and backing it with solid pitching and defense.

Jayci Smith was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and Coleman tossed a two-hitter with no earned runs allowed and three Ks to lead Brock (31-10) which can close the series with a win in Game 2 at 6 p.m. on Friday at the same venue.

Taking advantage of some early Randall nerves, Brock jumped on the Lady Raiders with two runs on two hits, one error and a walk in the top of the first and never relinquished the lead. Kathryn Utley supplied both early RBIs with a single to score Kayden Blue and Smith. 

This supplied Coleman with all the support she would eventually need. 

“We have speed and we’ve shown that,” Brock coach Gregory Connors said. “And when our sticks go along with our speed it creates chaos.” 

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by Daniel Youngblood

SIGNING DAY: Speedy Abilene High outfielder Reed announces McMurry as next stop on softball journey

Abilene High softball standout Brieyonna Reed took the first step toward extending her career to the collegiate level on Monday, making her commitment to McMurry University official at a signing day ceremony at Eagle Gym.

Flanked by gymnast Azurae Martin (Hardin-Simmons University for cheerleading), distance runner Aldo Sanchez (HSU for cross country and track) and tennis player Syler Richardson (Gordon College in Massachusetts), Reed signed her college paperwork in front of a mob of maroon-clad supporters — an experience that was a dream come true for the speedy slap hitter and center fielder.

Reed, who missed her junior season while pregnant with daughter Mai’lani, wasn’t sure what her softball future held a year ago. But she was able to return this season to help lead AHS to its deepest playoff run in school history and will now get to extend her playing days into her college years after finding the perfect opportunity right at home in Abilene.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ferguson takes our top spot with area round no-hitter vs. EP Americas

With the school year winding down, so is area athletic activity. And as is our custom, we will be ending the Big Country Preps Player of the Week next Monday following the state track and field meet.  In the meantime, a familiar face as taken the top spot, despite seeing his team’s season come to a close. 

Abilene junior pitcher George Ferguson has taken our weekly accolade for a third time in the wake of a 5-inning no hitter in a 10-0 win over El Paso Americas last week in Monahans. 

Ferguson, who is already committed to the University of Texas, hit 99 MPH on the radar gun during the win, which saw him strike out 10. He also finished the series with a combined 3-for-9 tally at the plate with two doubles, a homer and three RBIs. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Jim Ned recovers from Game 2 stumble to eliminate Shallowater (two box scores included)

BIG SPRING — While much of the Jim Ned softball team’s 2026 season has been about solid defense, consistent hitting and dominance, Saturday’s Region I-3A DI semifinal with Shallowater was largely about resilience. 

Already leading the series after a 9-6 win in Game 1 on Thursday, the Lady Indians suffered through seven uncharacteristic errors in a 7-6 Game 2 loss at Lady Steer Field to see a 17-game winning streak snapped. Then, almost as if it never happened, Jim Ned quickly regained its form to eliminate Shallowater, 7-2 in Game 3

Not only did the Lady Indians recover defensively, but pitcher Jayden Nunez, who struggled in Game 1 on Thursday, rediscovered her rhythm with four shutout innings at the outset of Game 3. She also added a solo homer for what proved to be the game-winning RBI in the sixth inning.

Jim Ned (29-5) now advances to face Iowa Park (27-7-1) for the Region I-3A DI championship.

It will be the second meeting between the two clubs, with Jim Ned having defeated the Lady Hawks 6-2 on Feb. 21.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Cross Plains’ historic season continues after rallying to sweep Hermleigh in Game 2

ABILENE — Cross Plains softball coach Chad Barron has gone to great lengths to make sure that his team doesn’t take anything for granted.

After winning the first district championship in school history, the Lady Buffs advanced to just their second regional final ever after completing a Region I-1A semifinal sweep of Hermleigh with a 12-6 win on Saturday afternoon at Abilene Christian University’s Poly Wells Field.

Barron had to fight back tears after the game talking about what Saturday’s win meant.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Clemmer drives in seven as Coahoma steamrolls Holliday in Game 3

CLYDE — The way that Region I played out in the Class 3A Division II softball playoffs in 2026 is one that likely won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

A week that was set to feature Coahoma versus Holliday and Jacksboro versus Canadian, following Jacksboro’s 3-2 win over Wall in Monday’s Game 3, started with the Tigerettes dropping out of the postseason on Wednesday due to use of an ineligible player during district play that would have kept Jacksboro out of the postseason entirely.

It then continued on Friday as the Bulldogettes and Lady Eagles engaged in a pair of heavyweight slugfests in their best-of-three regional semifinal as Coahoma took the opening game 22-18 before seeing Holliday take Game 2, 16-12, to set up a winner-take-all showdown on Saturday morning at the Hanner Sports Complex.

In Game 3, Coahoma’s offense showed up in full force, scoring double-digit runs in two different innings to fuel the Bulldogettes to a series-deciding 27-11 win.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Faries dominant again as Wylie sweeps Joshua, earns trip to regional finals

GRAHAM — Junior ace Avie Faries continued her postseason brilliance Saturday, pitching Wylie to a 2-1 win over Joshua to complete a sweep of a Region I-5A Division II semifinals series and lead the Lady Bulldogs to their first regional finals appearance since 2006.

Faries, who pitched a two-hit shutout in Friday’s 4-0 win over the Lady Owls, allowed just one run on five hits and a walk in Game 2, striking out 10 to improve to 6-0 in the playoffs.

The standout right-hander saw her postseason ERA “rise” to 0.85 while keeping her WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) steady at 0.829 and improving her strikeout-to-walk ratio to an eye-popping 44-to-5.

And though she spent an inning trailing 1-0 as a result of a  third-inning solo home run by Landrie Durham, her teammates made a winner out of her with a two-run fourth inning that would ultimately clinch a trip to the Region I-5A DII championship round to face off with Fort Worth Brewer, which swept El Paso Parkland in the other semifinal series.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High rallies for series win over Richland, advances to regional finals for first time ever

STEPHENVILLE — Playing with their backs against the wall after dropping the opener of their Region I-5A Division I semifinal series against North Richland Hills Richland by a narrow 1-0 margin on Thursday, the Abilene High Lady Eagles responded with a historic effort Friday at the Stephenville softball field.

After staving off elimination with a hard-fought 3-0 win in Game 2, coach Jenna Aguirre’s squad pulled away for a 9-1 victory in the deciding third game to advance to the regional finals for the first time ever as a program.

The doubleheader sweep ends a painful regional semifinals history for AHS, which had fallen in that round six times previously, including each of the past two years. And perhaps more importantly, it gives the Lady Eagles a chance and their first state run if they can knock off Aledo for the Region I-5A DI title next week.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Abilene High drops 1-0 pitchers’ duel to Richland in series opener

STEPHENVILLE — For seven innings Thursday, Abilene High’s Avah Reyes and North Richland Hills Richland’s Stacy Jennings went toe to toe, matching each other almost pitch for pitch and out for out at the Stephenville softball field.

But a single run, scored on a two-out infield hit in the bottom of the fifth, proved the difference as the Lady Royals escaped the thrilling pitcher’s duel with a 1-0 win to land the first punch in the Region I-5A Division I semifinal series.

The two teams will return to the same field Friday for the remainder of the best-of-three affair, with Game 2 slated for 4:30 p.m. With their backs now against the wall, the Lady Eagles will be looking to rebound with a win in that one to force a deciding third game immediately after.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Jim Ned softballers outslug Shallowater in Game 1 of regional semis (box score included)

BIG SPRING — With Shallowater coming off a six-run second inning that saw the Filles cut an 8-0 Jim Ned lead to 8-6, the task of protecting that slim lead fell upon freshman reliever Paige Wilson. 

The momentum was against her and the pressure was suddenly off the scale. Nonetheless, Wilson delivered five straight shutout innings to earn a 9-6 win for the Lady Indians in Game 1 of a Region I-3A semifinal series on Thursday at Lady Steer Field. 

Gabby Cabrea was 3-for-4 with an RBI and Pyper Tilley was 2-fior-4 with two RBIs to pace Jim Ned (28-4), which can close the series with a Game 2 win on Saturday at the same venue. Game 3, if needed, will follow 30 minutes after Game 2. 

Shallowater (22-11-1) was led by Kynsi Sue, Peyton Ramirez and Skyler Stephenson, all of whom homered in the second inning. And it was in that second inning when the game suddenly took on a whole new look — setting the stage for Wilson.

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Wall softball drops Game 3 to Jacksboro for second straight year

EULA — The Wall softball team saw its season come to an end at the hands of Jacksboro in Game 3 of a Region I-3A Division II area-round matchup for the second consecutive year when the Tigerettes put together a stunning seventh-inning rally on Monday for a 3-2 victory at Eula’s softball field.

Monday’s game was a total reverse of the way that Game 3 played out in 2025, but it still ended in a gut-wrenching loss for the Lady Hawks — potentially even worse this year.

Wall coach Allyson Seider was still proud of the way her team battled and competed in this year’s matchup.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wylie sophomore takes this week’s award with a no-hitter

Nothing quite like starting off a playoff series with a masterpiece from your pitcher. 

Wylie sophomore Gehrig Fletcher delivered this artwork last week in a 7-0 win in Game 1 of a bi-district series with Lubbock Coronado. 

Not only did the 10th grader throw a seven-inning no-hitter, but he did it with an unusual twist: he only struck out three batters.

No-hitters are rare enough, but throwing one while pitching to contact is something one almost never sees in a game dominated by aluminum bats. 

“Gehrig is a kid that puts in the work every day,” coach Grant Martin said. He is the epitome of hard work, determination, and resilience.

“He is the best teammate and exemplifies what a student athlete should be. What a performance in a big time setting. So proud of him!”

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Coahoma keeps the dream alive with win over Childress

STAMFORD — Many of those who follow Big Country softball expected the Coahoma Bulldogettes to take a major step backward following the graduation of standout pitcher Hannah Wells (now at the University of Texas). And needless to say, the notion of them winning an unprecedented fourth straight state title hasn’t been getting a large amount of attention. 

Nonetheless, Coahoma remains alive in postseason play in the aftermath of winning a Region I-3A DII area championship on Saturday by eliminating Childress, 5-1, at the Stamford High School softball field. 

Addi Hart and Blakely Rodgers both had solo homers and Kyndal Lee delivered 6.1 innings to get the win in the circle to lead Coahoma (22-3), which advances to face Holliday (29-3) in the regional semifinals. 

Lee was a key element in the win, holding Childress scoreless on two hits through the first six innings. She was eventually replaced by Bentli Wright after giving up a run on one hit and two walks in the seventh.

She finished with four walks and six strikeouts. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Forsan ties area series with Cisco in eight-inning Game 2 thriller

COAHOMA — One great game deserves another. 

Only 24 hours after Cisco had edged Forsan 2-1 in Game 1 of their 2A DI area round series, the Lady Buffaloes evened things up by taking Game 2 in a 7-6 nailbiter in eight innings on Wednesday.

Madi Roach doubled home Elyssa Amaro with the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the eighth — the latter of whom was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored to lead Forsan (20-10). The decisive third game of the series is currently slated for 8 p.m. on Saturday in Clyde. 

Forsan, which saw leads of 4-1 and 6-4 evaporate by the seventh inning, took the disappointments in stride — retaining a lighthearted demeanor that saw them dancing together as a team during warmups. 

It eventually paid off.

“If they’re not doing some sort of dance routine before the game I know they’re nervous,” Forsan coach Jason Phillips said. “We want them relaxed, because believe it or not, they’re as dialed in as you could ever believe.” 

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