AUSTIN, Texas — Calallen defeats Andrews 9-2 in the UIL 4A-DI State Championship on Friday, becoming the first Texas high school softball team to win three straight, alongside Coahoma, who won the UIL 3A-DII Championship on Thursday (6-1).
Lady Cats junior Braelyn Bailey was named the UIL 4A-DI State MVP. She gave Calallen a 4-0 lead in the second inning with a 2 RBI single line drive, but it was her grand slam in the sixth frame that gave the Lady Cats a commanding 9-0 lead. Her 6 RBI was a UIL 4A Championship game record.
“It was amazing. Like I really was not thinking that was going to happen. I was just looking for a base hit. I saw it. She missed down the middle, and I swung. When I hit it I knew it was gone, and I was so excited to have done that for my team,” said Bailey. "It's absolutely amazing that we got to be apart of this history and this amazing opportunity to win three times in-a-row. Hopefully next year, never know, hopefully four."
Junior pitcher Jordyn Thibodeax opened the game, dealing 9 strikeouts through 5 innings while only allowing 1 hit and 2 walks. Senior Bianca Gonzalez pitched to close the game.
"What was working on the mound was basically throw everything a different spin. Don't throw anything flat, don't throw anything down the middle and just make sure it's not there and make sure it's swingable," Thibodeaux said. "It was so exciting. I got to do all of it with my best friends, and every single day we kept on pushing hard and working together."
Before the State Championship, Calallen head coach Teresa Lentz was honored as the 2024 NFHS Coach of the Year.
"The blood, sweat and tears. I mean everything that's terrible. That is hot, humid, mosquitos and freezing cold. It's not easy. For everybody to kind of build the blocks to where it is now it mattered," Lentz said. "It's just a testament to all of the girls who came before and it's just really amazing."
Coastal Bend State Tournament Appearances
Calallen - 2025 (State Champion), 2024 (State Champion), 2023 (State Champion), 2021 (Runner-Up), 2019 (Runner-Up)
Bishop - 2025, 2021
Ingleside - 2025
Santa Gertrudis Academy - 2023 (Runner-Up), 2018 (State Champion), 2017 (Runner-Up), 2016, 2013 (Runner-Up)
Sinton - 2001, 1999
Beeville - 2018, 2017, 1997
Gregory-Portland - 2016 (Runner-Up), 2000
George West - 2010 (State Champion)
