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PLAY BALL: Hunter takes over No. 4 Friendswood's power program
No. 4 Friendswood Mustangs
Jarrod Hunter takes over the Friendswood softball program in 2024 and the stable is full of talent.
Seven starters return for a Mustangs team, which went 25-11 a year ago and reached the Regional Quarterfinals.
Texas Tech-commit Charleigh Esparaza is coming off a first-team, all-state, first-team, all-district-type season, while fellow Red Raider-commit Chloe Aldrich was named second-team, all-district. Baileigh Burtis (Rutgers), Bella Halata (LSU-Eunice) and Morgan Armstrong (Oklahoma Wesleyan) are also back.
Other notable players of note include Naveah Cason (first-team, all-district), Lola Widner (second-team, all-district), Lenox Laviolette (honorable mention), Kira Sarabia (second-team, all-district), Maddie Green and Ryland Pesak.
Keys to success for Hunter’s crew include staying focused on the task at hand, game by game, being smart, play smart, limited strikeouts and limited mental mistakes.
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2022-23 Friendswood High School Softball
THE WIND UP: VYPE Softball Rankings, No. 10 Friendswood Mustangs
No.10--Friendswood Mustangs Softball
2022: 30-9 (Regional Semifinalists)
HC: Christa Williams-Yates
Friendswood had a breakthrough season in 2022.
It marked the first time that the Mustangs reached the Regional Semifinals in 16 years (last time going there was in 2006). Now, can they get back to that round and reach their first Regional Final since 1999?
Friendswood returns seven starters off that squad from a year ago, including the District’s Offensive Player of the Year in Lainie Schaefer. The Lamar commit hit for .427 with 31 RBIs a year ago.
First-team, all-district picks Baileigh Burtis (North Carolina - .413, 32 RBIs), Janelle Wilson (North Carolina- .345, 26 RBIs; 1.26 ERA, 129 Ks), Charleigh Esparza (.256, 19 RBIs)and Chloe Aldrich (.356, 15 RBis) are all set to return. Wilson will be looked towards to be the ace in the circle for the ‘Stangs.
Other names to remember include Halle Cordova (St. Edward’s), Julia Hopkins (AlvinCC), and Naveah Cason.
The key to success for this squad according to Williams-Yates will be team speed.