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STATE PREVIEW: Melissa sets out for historic appearance in state softball tournament
Having dropped only two games all season, the Melissa Lady Cardinals have blasted their way into the UIL Class 5A Softball State Tournament. VYPE DFW takes a look at what fans can expect going into this historic tournament appearance for the Lady Cardinals!
So Far:
Showcasing their talent against several tough opponents already this season, the team has made it their mission to take down any opponent that stands in their way. The team has allowed only 58 combined runs to be scored against them while scoring a whopping 369 of their own against opponents this season. With talent at the plate paired with a defense that doesn't quit, the team has shown that they are all gas and no brakes.
Led by the talents of Caigan Crabtree, Hutton "Lulu" Adrian, Kennedy Bradley, Emily Johnson, Amariee Bradford, Alex Starr, and other athletes, this squad has a focused effort that helped power them to several regular season victories including over the likes of Waxahachie (18-0), Crandall (21-0), Aledo (11-2), McKinney Boyd (7-0), McKinney North (22-1), Greenville (15-0), Sherman (11-0), and more allowing for a top-of-the-district finish with an 11-1 district record.
Into playoffs, the Lady Cardinals showcased poise and resiliency as they faced strong opponents in Ennis (15-0), Huntsville (5-1), Kingwood Park (7-6, 3-2), Frisco Wakeland (2-0, 5-0), and Forney (5-2, 4-0). As the team heads into the state tournament, they can be expected to play strong against Lake Belton.
What To Expect:
Lake Belton is also entering the tournament with a first-time appearance. The team has a 40-4 overall record and is looking to continue their historic season, but Melissa has been on a mission that won't soon be stopped. Fans can expect this team to continue their dedicated effort that will allow them to make incredible plays on the defensive end of the ball. Likewise, the offense is more focused than ever and can be expected to make timely and big hits right out of the gate as they begin their pairing with Lake Belton.
Be sure to catch all of the action! The game begins at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 31 at Red and Charline McCombs Field in Austin, Texas!
PACKED HOUSE: Melissa softball continues strong in the playoffs
At Frisco Emerson's softball field on Wednesday evening, you might have thought you made the trek to Melissa instead. With a packed crowd, the team fought for a 2-0 victory over Frisco Wakeland in game one of the regional semifinal round of 5A softball playoffs. VYPE DFW takes a look at the team so far:
With only two losses on the season-- one in non-district play and one in district play-- the Melissa Lady Cardinals have put on a show for their fans this year. Posting several dominant victories in non-district play over the likes of Waxahachie (18-0), Aledo (11-2), Crandall (21-0), Plano East (16-0), Frisco Lone Star (10-0), and more, it was obvious that the Lady Cardinals were bringing something special to the diamond this season.
As the team entered district play, they continued to power over their opponents. Led by Caigan Crabtree, Kennedy Bradley, Lulu Adrian, Amariee Bradford, Emily Johnson, Eloisa Maes, Alex Starr, and other talented athletes, the team showed impressive poise through each game as they secured a first-place finish in their district standings with an 11-1 district record. Melissa's demanding presence on the field and at the plate powered the team to impressive shutout victories including those over Bullard (6-0), Greenville (11-0), Sherman (9-0), Denison (17-0), McKinney North (15-0), and more en route to the playoffs.
Once in the playoffs, Melissa sent home Ennis (15-0) and Huntsville (5-1) before defeating Kingwood Park (7-6, 3-2) in a two-game series last week. This week, their regional semifinal round against Frisco Wakeland began with a bang and a packed house as the team posted a 2-0 victory on Wednesday night:
Standing room only for the @SoftballMelissa vs. @WHSoftball Regional Semi-Final Game. pic.twitter.com/tIJaoKLmBn
— Dr. M•A•C (@iyhiamac) May 15, 2024
With resilience and a tenacity to continue driving forward, fans can expect this Melissa squad to continue on their mission to secure their spot in the next round of the playoffs. Be sure you head out to Frisco Emerson to catch these ladies in action as they take on Frisco Wakeland at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16th!