Sachse and Rowlett have built two of the most consistent softball programs in the area in recent years.
The Mustangs and Eagles continued their winning ways during the past spring and their efforts were recognized on the 9-6A all-district team.
Since its first varsity season in 2004-2005, Sachse has missed the playoffs just once, and has qualified in 16 of its last 17 seasons, including 14 in a row.
The Mustangs extended that streak this past season, finishing second behind Wylie. They went on to sweep Rockwall-Heath in the bi-district round before dropping a pair of one-run heartbreakers to Killeen Harker Heights in the area finals.
Sachse had nine players selected to the all-district team, including the top overall honor as senior Madison McClarity was voted as the most valuable player.
McClarity, who signed to continue her career at Texas Tech, established herself as one of the top players in the state during her career with the Mustangs.
She was named newcomer of the year as a freshman, and this is the second straight season she has been selected as the MVP. McClarity would likely have four major awards in four years had the 2020 season not been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
McClarity was once again one of the most feared hitters in the area, as she posted a .584 batting average with 12 home runs, 11 doubles, four triples, 43 runs scored and 51 RBIs.
She was also one of the team’s key arms on the mound, where she posted a 9-2 record with a 2.61 earned run average and 91 strikeouts in 72.1 innings.
McClarity was joined on the first team by fellow senior Kayla Olthouse, another three-time honoree.
Olthouse, who signed to continue her career at the University of Arkansas-Monticello, was another key member of the Mustangs both on the mound and at the plate.
She posted a 11-6 record with a 3.81 ERA and 112 strikeouts and only 39 walks in 75.1 innings of work.
Olthouse also posted a .533 batting average with eight home runs, 14 doubles, two triples, 43 runs scored and 51 runs batted in.
Sophomore Nevaeh Watkins made the first team for the second straight season, after hitting .584 with seven home runs, 11 doubles, five triples, a team-high 54 runs scored and 33 driven in. Watkins was also a threat on the base paths, as she led the team with 32 stolen bases.
Rounding out the first-teamers is senior Emma Patton, who posted a .438 average with one home run, six doubles, five triples, 21 runs and 25 RBIs.
Junior Madison Trusty hit .325 with three doubles, 22 runs scored and 25 driven in to earn a spot on the second team. Also on the second team are sophomore Malani Hill, who batted .324 with 11 doubles, a pair of home runs and 26 runs, and sophomore Isabella Penk, who posted a .386 batting average with 17 runs scored.
Junior Mackenzie Colwell (.420, 4 HRs, 27 runs, 25 RBIs), sophomore Kamila Ochoa (.250, 19 runs scored) and freshman Zoe Worley were honorable mention selections.
Rowlett has its own impressive streak of playoff appearances, having qualified for the postseason in 22 of the last 24 seasons.
The Eagles had six players named to the all-district team, with a pair of first-team selections in sophomores Charley Wilson and Kailei Goforth.
Wilson, a catcher making her second appearance on the first team, posted a .564 batting average, including a slugging mark of 1.055, with three home runs, 31 RBIs, 31 runs scored and 11 stolen bases. Goforth, a defensive leader at shortstop, hit .407 with 31 runs scored, 19 runs batted in and 10 stolen bases.
Junior Riley Smith made the second team for the second straight season, as she batted .389 with a pair of home runs, 39 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.
Smith was joined by junior Beverly Brown, who hit .393 with two home runs, 13 stolen bases and 24 RBIs, and freshman Isabella Olade, who batted .411 with a home run and three triples.
Rounding out the Rowlett selections, sophomore Haleigh Aldridge was an honorable mention pick after hitting .321 with 10 stolen bases, 18 runs scored and 22 RBIs.
The future looks promising for the Eagles, as well, as all six of their honorees are expected to return next season.
District coach of the year Heather Damron led Wylie to a perfect 14-0 record during the 9-6A slate and a trip to the regional quarterfinals.
The Pirates expect a number of key contributors to return, as well, including their three other superlative award winners.
Junior Jordyn Merrett was voted as the pitcher of the year, as she led a staff that allowed one run or less 21 times, posted 15 shutouts on the season and yielded only eight total runs in 14 district games.
Junior Aubrey Brown was selected as the defensive player of the year, while also being a force at the plate, where she hit .524 with a pair of home runs, five triples, 10 doubles and 20 stolen bases.
That pair was joined by a trio of teammates on the first team. Senior Devin Chaky hit .500 with two home runs, six doubles and 18 stolen bases.
Sophomore Sydney Murphy posted a .484 average and flexed her muscle at the plate with a team-high eight home runs, six doubles and five triples, while sophomore Hannah Messer hit .323 to earn a spot on the first team.
Wylie had three more players—all sophomores—land on the second team with Aubrie Gunther (.421, 8 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 10 SBs), Sarah Roberge (.406, 3 3Bs, 5 2Bs, 16 SBs) and Ryley Severson (.397, 6 HRs, 3 3Bs, 3 2Bs).
Garland put together one of the most dominant stretches of any softball program in the state from 2005-2008, where it advanced to the state tournament in all four years, winning the title in 2006 and 2007.
While the Owls are not quite at that level, they put together another season to be proud of, returning to the playoffs once again.
Garland junior Z’Natria Evans was tabbed the offensive player of the year, and for good reason. Evans posted a .691 batting average, with nine home runs, 15 doubles and five triples.
Sophomore Valeria Cabella was voted the district newcomer of the year, as she hit .550 with six doubles and a pair of home runs.
Senior Zoe Sanchez joined that pair on the first team, as she hit .523 with 11 doubles and a pair of triples.
The Owls also placed two players on the second team with seniors Angelica Gonzales and Alyssa Garza.
Naaman Forest and Lakeview finished the district season in a tie for fifth place.
The Rangers had one player named to each of the first two teams.
Junior Mireily Medrano earned a spot on the first team, as she batted .407 with five doubles, three triples and a team-high 27 RBIs. Freshman Elizabeth Lazalde was named to the second team, as she hit .531 with a home run, five doubles, two triples and 26 runs scored.
The Patriots had junior Macye Keating selected to the first team, while North Garland sophomore Makenna Kircus was a second-team honoree.
9-6A Softball All-District Team
Most Valuable Player
Madison McClarity       Sr.    Sachse
Pitcher of the Year
Jordyn Merrett    Jr.     Wylie
Offensive Player of the Year
Z’Natria Evans   Jr.     Garland
Defensive Player of the Year
Aubrey Brown    Jr.     Wylie
Newcomer of the Year
Valeria Cabello   So.   Garland
Coach of the Year
Heather Damron           Wylie
First Team
Kayla Olthouse   Sr.    Sachse
Nevaeh Watkins  So.   Sachse
Emma Patton      Sr.    Sachse
Kailei Goforth     So.   Rowlett
Charley Wilson   So.   Rowlett
Devin Chaky       Sr.    Wylie
Sydney Murphy  So.   Wylie
Hannah Messer   So.   Wylie
Zoe Sanchez        Sr.    Garland
Macye Keating    Jr.     Lakeview
Mireily Medrano Jr.     Naaman Forest
Second Team
Malani Hill So.   Sachse
Madison Trusty  Jr.     Sachse
Isabella Penk       So.   Sachse
Riley Smith Jr.     Rowlett
Isabella Olade      Fr.    Rowlett
Beverly Brown    Jr.     Rowlett
Aubrie Gunther   So.   Wylie
Sarah Roberge     So.   Wylie
Ryley Severson   So.   Wylie
Angelica Gonzales        Sr.    Garland
Alyssa Garza       Sr.    Garland
Elizabeth Lazalde Fr.    Naaman Forest
Makenna Kircus  So.   North Garland
Honorable Mention
Kamila Ochoa     So.   Sachse
Zoe Worley Fr.    Sachse
Mackenzie Colwell        Jr.     Sachse
Haleigh Aldridge So.   Rowlett
Madison Gardner Sr.    Wylie
Averie Holcomb  So.   Garland
Ashleigh Grant    Sr.    Naaman Forest
Wendi Martinez   Sr.    North Garland
Jasmine Gonzalez Sr.    North Garland
Gloria Rosales     Sr.    North Garland
Krystal Rojo       Sr.    North Garland
Karina Eves        Jr.     North Garland
Yesenia Dominguez      Sr.    South Garland
Ava Texta  Fr.    South Garland
Academic All-District
Logan Schultz     Fr.    Sachse
Mackenzie Colwell        Jr.     Sachse
Rylee Richard      Jr.     Sachse
Avery Newman   Fr.    Sachse
Malani Hill So.   Sachse
Madison Trusty  Jr.     Sachse
Isabella Penk       So.   Sachse
Rilyn Nelson       Jr.     Sachse
Nevaeh Watkins  So.   Sachse
Kayla Olthouse   Sr.    Sachse
Reagan Montgomery    Fr.    Rowlett
Isabella Olade      Fr.    Rowlett
Kailei Goforth     So.   Rowlett
Charley Wilson   So.   Rowlett
Riley Smith Jr.     Rowlett
Beverly Brown    Jr.     Rowlett
Catherine Snow   Jr.     Rowlett
Haleigh Aldridge So.   Rowlett
Dakota Smith      So.   Rowlett
Devin Chaky       Sr.    Wylie
Chloe Phe  Fr.    Wylie
Raina Doggett     So.   Wylie
Madison Gardner Sr.    Wylie
Aubrie Gunther   So.   Wylie
Emma Kloepping Sr.    Wylie
Jordyn Merrett    Jr.     Wylie
Hannah Messer   So.   Wylie
Sarah Roberge     Sr.    Wylie
Kayla Santiago    Fr.    Wylie
Ruth Bailey Sr.    Garland
Kayla Bryan        Fr.    Garland
Valeria Cabello   So.   Garland
Z’Natria Evans   Jr.     Garland
Alysa Garza        Sr.    Garland
Angelica Gonzales        Sr.    Garland
Lyndzee Sesco     Sr.    Garland
Ashleigh Arant    Sr.    Naaman Forest
Elizabeth Lazalde Fr.    Naaman Forest
Gladys Ayozie     So.   Naaman Forest
Mia Quintero       So.   Naaman Forest
Mireily Medrano Jr.     Naaman Forest
Tram Chung        Sr.    Naaman Forest
Carolina Molina  Sr.    Naaman Forest
Nadia Garza        So.   Lakeview
Macye Keating    Jr.     Lakeview
Yvette Rosales    Jr.     Lakeview
Yazmin Jaramillo Fr.    North Garland
McKenna Kircus So.   North Garland
Faith Lambert     So.   North Garland
Julia Martinez     So.   North Garland
Karina Eves        Jr.     North Garland
Wendi Martinez   Sr.    North Garland
Krystal Rojo       Sr.    North Garland
Jasmine Gonzalez Sr.    North Garland
Yesenia Dominguez      Sr.    South Garland
Ava Texta  Fr.    South Garland
Post a comment as
Report
Watch this discussion.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.