Even 20 years later, Meagan White’s name appears in the state record book at the UIL softball tournament.
White led Crowley HS to back-to-back state titles in 2003 and 2004. She struck out eight against Medina Valley and had a no hitter going through six innings before a two out single in the seventh as the Eagles won 3-1 for their first championship. She added 16 strikeouts the night before against Mesquite Poteet (2-0).
But as a senior, it’s when White went down in history.
Crowley beat New Braunfels 4-0 in the semifinals and Port Neches-Groves 1-0 in the title match. She would post 18 and 16 strikeouts, respectively. Her 34 Ks are still the most in a Class 5A (4A then) state tournament. Her 18 against NB were also the most in a single game until 2008 when Aledo’s Whitney Canion had 22.
Two decades later and White continues to impact the softball community both on the off the diamond. White has been a coach, is a trainer and gives private lessons – and now she can call herself an author.
White published her first book earlier this year – “FIGHT LIKE COACH WHITE.”
It’s a motto that came about in the fall of 2022 surrounding her husband Clif White, who was a football and softball coach at Midlothian High School. Clif was diagnosed with cancer just before the football season and battled it before going to Heaven in October of that year.
White’s book spans a lifetime of memories – from her softball playing days, to meeting her late husband and her strong relationship to faith and God. You can purchase the book on Amazon.
White would sign her letter of intent late in her senior year – with the University of Texas.
But it was during the 2004 state tournament where she knew she made the right decision. The then Crowley senior was warming up in the bullpen when she a got sign from above.
“The baseball and softball stadiums at UT are right across the street from each other. I was in the bullpen warming up and in between pitches, the Eyes Of Texas came on loud from the baseball stadium and I stopped for a second and just soaked the moment all in. I just thought oh my God, is this real. I’m going to finish my high school career and start my college career right here. There was an eruption of emotions and it was just a surreal moment. I took it as a sign and that I was going to be all right.”
A few months later and White was attending UT.
Clif was at the University of North Texas.
Of course the two love-birds met – where else – but on the softball field. Meagan was watching a game and Clif was an umpire. They went on a date the next day and that’s all she wrote.
“We knew we were meant to be together. We wanted to get married right after we had dinner at Red Lobster,” White laughed. “We dated long distance. We’d meet once a week in Waco just to date – go to the movies, dinner, shopping, just to be together.”
With the Longhorns as a freshman, White went 8-2 with two one-hit complete games, two no-hitters and had 11 strikeouts per 7 innings pitched. She recorded a 17-5 record as a sophomore with an ERA of 1.57 and 16 complete games. She held opposing teams to a batting average of just .193 as a junior and finished ranked seventh in the Big 12 with an ERA of 1.73, while leading the conference in strikeouts (337) and starts (41).
In her final season, White made her mark in the Longhorns’ record book. She was named to the 2008 All-Big 12 Conference first team and National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Midwest Region second team. White capped off her career at Texas ranked second all-time in: innings pitched (689.1), wins (69), appearances (138), starts (116), complete games (67), and shutouts (27). She also ranks second all-time in Texas softball history in strikeouts, with 988, trailing the two-time Olympian, Cat Osterman.
After college life, White began her professional softball career with the Chicago Bandits in 2012. Prior to that, she was a member of the Pro Fastpitch Xtreme Tour from 2008-2011 where she earned Pitcher-of-the-Year honors in 2009. White spent time on the staff at UT-Arlington.
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