Check out how state UIL Class 4A-6A softball championships were won and lost

CLASS 4A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Corpus Christi Calallen 9, Liberty 7

Corpus Christi Calallen dug a hole early, but scored four times in both the fourth and fifth innings then held off Liberty 9-7 in the Class 4A state championship game on Saturday at McCombs Field.

It was the first state title for Calallen (30-6-2) in three trips to the state tournament. The Wildcats made it to the championship game both times previously, in 2019 and 2021, but lost. Liberty defeated Calallen 10-3 in the 2021 title tilt.

Liberty (37-9) was the two-time defending state champions and was seeking its fourth state title in as many appearances.

The Panthers came out of the gate on fire. Hollie Thomas hit a shot off the top of the wall in right center for a two-run triple. Alex Wiley made it 3-0 when she laced a single to right driving in Thomas.

Calallen got one run back in the bottom of the first when Megan Geyer laced a double to the wall in center and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Alaunah Almarez.

Almarez got Calallen rolling leading off in the bottom of the fourth hitting a long home run over the left field wall and on to 21st Street to cut the lead to 3-2. The Wildcats hit everything for the next two innings.

Calallen took its first lead after Makenzie Mounts, the championship game MVP, double to right center knocking in Ryanna Rodela and Jordyn Thibodeaux, who both single up the middle, to take a 4-3 lead.

Calallen center fielder Mia Flores made a huge play in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded, Flores lunged to grab a sinking liner by Abby Vickers to end the inning and preserve the Wildcats’ 5-3 lead.

Mounts, Braelyn Bailey, Kayden Trevino and Megan Geyer all had RBI hits in the four-run fifth as the Wildcats stretched the lead to 9-3.

Every starter for Calallen had at least one hit in the game except for Trevino who was 0-for-2, but had two RBI on a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice to center field.

Freshman pitcher Jordyn Thibodeaux (21-2) battled all day in picking up the win. Thibodeaux allowed seven earned runs on 11 hits with four walks and four strikeouts in seven innings.

Liberty scored twice in the sixth and twice in the seventh to cut the lead to 9-7, but Thibodeaux got a strikeout and a pop out to short to strand a runner at second and end the game.

CLASS 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Montgomery Lake Creek 8, New Braunfels Canyon 0

Montgomery Lake Creek pitcher Ava Brown tossed a complete game one hitter, striking out 15, as the Lions claimed back-to-back state titles with an 8-0 whitewashing of previously undefeated New Braunfels Canyon in the Class 5A state championship game on Saturday at McCombs Field.

Brown, a Florida signee, finishes the season with a 27-0 record and went 82-0 in her career at Lake Creek. The championship game MVP allowed one walk and had a no hitter until Canyon’s Riley Hester reached on an infield, bunt single with two outs in the sixth inning.

Brown doubled off the wall in left center to drive home Maddox McKee, who had led off the game with a walk, to give the Lions an early 1-0 lead.

The game stayed that way until Lake Creek (44-1) got rolling starting with a two-run single by Piper White in the fourth to up the lead to 3-1. White was 2-for-4 on the day and scored a run in addition to the two RBI.

Payton Bauer, who went 3-for-4, picked up two of her three RBI in a three-run fifth with a double down the left field line that scored Madalyn Davis and Gracee Brewer.

The Lions capped the scoring with two more runs in the sixth to push the lead to 8-0. Davis and Bauer knocked in runs in the inning.

Canyon (32-1) got a leadoff walk from Harley Vestal in the first inning, but Vestal was doubled off on a popped up bunt. The Cougars never got a runner past first base.

Canyon was making its fifth trip to the state tournament and third appearance in a title game. The Cougars won in 2009 in Class 4A.

CLASS 6A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

Pearland 4, Denton Guyer 2

Denton Guyer scored two runs in the top of the first, but failed to score the rest of the way as Pearland rallied for a 4-2 win over the Wildcats in the Class 6A state championship game on Saturday at McCombs Field.

It is the third state title for Pearland (41-3) in six trips to the state tournament. The Oilers have reached the title game in five of six appearances at state.

Guyer (38-2) was making its second appearance at state and the first since 2010 when the Wildcats lost in the semifinals.

The Wildcats got a pair of infield singles by Kaylynn Jones and Tehya Pitts to lead off the first inning. Avery Jefferson bunted to move the runners, but a throwing error by catcher Trinity Perry allowed Jones to score to give Guyer a 1-0 lead.

Pitts went to third on the error and scored on Erin Peterson’s sacrifice bunt to up the lead to 2-0.

Pearland rallied in the bottom half of the second, loading the bases with none out. Darian DeLeon walked to pick up an RBI and Hailey Golden, the championship game MVP, followed with a single to right field to drive in Lydia Njus to tie the game 2-2.

Jenny Robledo came in in relief of freshman Finley Montgomery (21-1) for Guyer, but was met by a sacrifice fly to right by Kaylee Schweitzer to give the Oilers a 3-2 lead.

Guyer couldn’t solve Pearland starter Abigail Gutierrez (26-1) after the two-run first. The Wildcats never got a runner past second base after the opening inning.

Gutierrez scattered five hits with only one of the two runs in the first being earned. The senior walked two and struck out six in seven innings.

Golden, who finished 3-for-4 on the day, had an RBI single to left in the fifth to provide the final margin.

Njus had two hits in three at bats with a run scored for Pearland. Lauryn Jones went 2-for-3 for Guyer.