Weslaco pitcher earns Top 6A softball honor

2 months ago 77

LONGVIEW, Texas (AP) — Weslaco pitcher Madelyn Cantu has earned player of the year on the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 6A all-state softball team.

Her coach also received top honors.

Cantu was 30-5 with a 1.98 earned run average. The sophomore right-hander had 196 strikeouts in 195 2/3 innings with only 29 walks. Cantu won all state tournament games, pitching all 20 innings.

The Lady Panthers were 37-6 and won their first state title.

The Weslaco softball team was down 9-3 entering the bottom half of the seventh inning of the UIL 6A State Championship game against Waco Midway.

The Lady Panthers cut the deficit to 9-7 when Andrea Ortiz stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. The sophomore shortstop/right fielder hit a grand slam to win the game 11-9 in walk-off fashion.

This made the Lady Panthers the first team from the Valley to win a UIL State Softball title.

Coach Mario Rodriguez was also awarded Coach of the Year.

Here is the list of the Blue Bell/Texas Sports Writers Association Class 6A all-state softball team:

FIRST TEAM

Pitchers: Madelynn Cantu, Weslaco, soph.; Cameryn Harrison, Katy, sr.; Peyton Tanner, Brazoswood, sr.

Catcher: Lille Hope Gaudio, Mansfield Legacy, fr.

First Baseman: Brook Wells, Cedar Park Vista Ridge, sr.

Second baseman: Leilani Garcia, Humble Kingwood, jr.

Shortstop: Isabel Cruz, New Braunfels, sr.

Third baseman: Dania Durr, Midway, sr.

Outfielders: Kelsey Mathis, Midway, sr.; Ashtyn Reichhardt, Katy, sr.; Ava Jolley, Humble Kingwood, sr.

Utility: Natalie Moreaux, Mansfield Legacy, jr.