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Hailey Golden of Pearland Softball
THE PLAYMAKERS: MVPs of the South powered by UTMB Health
Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week.
Hailey Nutter, Barbers Hill Softball
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
As expected, Barbers Hill was a force to be reckoned with in Texas high school softball this Spring. Eagles ace, sophomore RHP Hailey Nutter was a big reason for that.
Her precision and prowess on the mound was enough to stifle the best of them, which gave other playmakers--Reagan Duty (Sr. IF), Sophie Naivar (Sr. OF), Brookelyn Livanec (Sr. OF), and senior IF KateLynn Cooper--plenty of opportunities to light up the scoreboard.
Nutter earned her second-consecutive District 17-5A MVP nod for her efforts. Count on Nutter and the District Defensive POTY selection, Peyton Helmly (So. C), to be the faces of the franchise moving forward.
Boots Landry, Friendswood Baseball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Prior to the season, it was no secret that senior 3B Boots Landry was as heavy-hitter on the diamond.
As one of the captains on Friendswood’s stellar roster, featuring the likes of fellow stars--Easton Tumis (Sr. P), Kyle Lockhart (Jr. UTL), Dane Perry (So. C), and junior OF Peyton Adams--it can be difficult to stand out.
But Landry had no trouble flourishing to help lead his team back to the postseason, while being named District 18-5A MVP in the process.
Now that he has graduated, Landry will soon be taking his talents to College Station, where he will play for Texas A&M in the ensuing season.
Hailey Golden, Pearland Softball
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
The Lady Oilers became state champions for the first time since 2010, marking the third time Pearland has been crowned. This was thanks in large part to senior OF Hailey Golden, who played a key role in accomplishing this feat.
Golden went 3-for-4 in the championship game against Denton Guyer, while driving in two runs to help lead Pearland to a 4-2 victory at McCombs Field in Austin.
For her standout performance, Golden was named the Class 6A State Final MVP to cap off her high school career, before moving on to Texas A&M in the coming months.
Janelle Wilson, Friendswood Softball
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
Like so many on this list, standing out among the vast array of next-level talent is easier said than done. But, Janelle Wilson (Sr. P/IF) saw to it that her final season with Friendswood would be her finest.
Wilson led the Mustangs to another trip to the postseason, in which they advanced three rounds deep. As the team’s ace, she maintained an ERA of 0.60 with nearly 250 strikeouts, and an exceptional performance at-bat (.300 BA, 24 RBI, 3 HR) throughout the season.
Given the impressive statline and presence she brought to the diamond, Wilson earned District 18-5A MVP honors before moving on to UNC this upcoming Fall.
Nico Partida, Pearland Baseball
Photo taken by Lloyd Hendricks (Hendricks Rockography)
Provided by Nico Partida (Twitter: @partidanico1)
Given the superfluous amount of talent on coach David Rogers’ roster, it’s truly remarkable how much sophomore right-hander Nico Partida stood out for Pearland this year.
Partida showcased experience beyond his years as one of the starters for the Oilers, earning him the title of All-District Co-MVP.
Furthermore, he was a major contributor in Pearland’s 11-1 win against Westlake in the State Semis--allowing just one earned run, with two strikeouts, and an RBI at-bat.
Despite the team narrowly falling to Flower Mound (4-6) in the Class 6A Final, Pearland Baseball should continue to thrive, as a program, with Partida on the mound.
The Class 6A State Champions: Pearland Lady Oilers Softball
“OFFICIALLY ON TOP”: Lady Oilers detail their championship season; photo gallery
Mayhem erupted as the Pearland dugout raced onto McCombs Field in celebration of the one desirable outcome to the season they would accept.
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Pearland's Abigail Gutierrez
For the third time in school history, the Lady Oilers had become UIL-6A State Champions–capping off a season that showcased the team’s resiliency.
“[Our greatest strength is] definitely the fact that we have one common goal to win–to prove people wrong,” said Gutierrez. “We’ve been the underdogs over the past few years, and now we’re officially on top–we’re No. 1 in the state. Proving people wrong is what really puts that fire under our butts.”
Soon-to-be Texas A&M Aggie, Hailey Golden (Sr. OF), added to that sentiment.
“I’d say the trust in one another,” she said. “We trust each other, and we know that we’ve got each other’s backs. That’s what we had to do, to put up runs and play the way that we have.”
Pearland Softball Stars detail their State Championship seasonwww.youtube.com
After a 3-2 slugfest against San Benito in the State Semis, Pearland compiled ten hits to defeat Denton Guyer 4-2 in the season finale.
Golden contributed three of those, plus two RBIs, earning her the title of Class 6A’s State MVP.
Pearland's Hailey Golden admires her first UIL gold medalMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
In addition, sophomore outfielder Kaylee Schweitzer went 1-for-2, with an RBI, while UT-Arlington-signee Gutierrez compiled six strikeouts in her two-hit win on the mound.
“These kids made this one so special,” said coach Laneigh Clark. “When we lost out in the Regional Tournament, last year against Deer Park, they took it hard. They said that they wanted to be back at Regionals and be able to win it to come to State. They set a goal and that’s what they did.”
Coach Clark and Kristyn Whitlock embrace following their Title winMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
This championship marks Clark’s second as Pearland’s head coach, in her 25th season with the program.
For the seniors--Golden (OF), Gutierrez (LHP), Kristyn Whitlock (SS), Kennedy Drafton (2B), Darian De Leon (OF), just to name a few--they will cap off their final season with a record of 40-3, bringing their career total to an immaculate 108-28-2.
Whitlock, who will be extending her playing career at Sam Houston State University in the ensuing school year, began to detail what the program has meant to her.
Pearland's Kristyn WhitlockMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
“This place has been my home for the last four years,” she said. “I have loved being here–”
The emotionally bittersweet ending to her high school journey had finally kicked in. Tears filled Whitlock’s eyes as she became choked up.
Gutierrez would finish the thought for her teammate.
“We’ve all built a nest here. We’ve all gotten to the point where we have a great relationship with these coaches and with each other. To leave that and move on is such a hard thing to do. But, we all know that we’re going to be on the bus traveling to watch each other play, and rooting each other on–even when we’re seniors in college.”
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
This team will be remembered for years to come.
Pearland’s supporters will now be traveling back to Austin this week, in hopes of watching their baseball team finish their own season in a similar fashion at the State Tournament.