BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
Melissa senior shortstop Caigan Crabtree is starting to really look like herself from a year ago when she helped the Cardinals to the UIL Class 5A state championship.
The Texas signee hit 21 home runs including two in the 5A final vs Harlingen South to help secure the program’s first title. She was voted state champ MVP and GM Sports Media All-Area MVP.
On Friday vs McKinney North, Crabtree hit two home runs – her 49th and 50th of her career as the Cardinals rolled to another win and stayed undefeated. Melissa is 6-0 in district and 20-0 overall – ranked #1 in the nation by MaxPreps.
Crabtree finished 4 for 4 with three runs batted in.
The Cardinals had 15 extra base hits and six home runs – also from Finlee Williams (13th of the season), Kennedy Bradley (13), Lulu Adrian (11) and Rihanna Rinn-Wheeler (6). The team has posted 63 home runs this season. They set a state record last year with 92 long balls.
Crabtree is up to eight home runs this year – all coming in the last nine games.
She also hit one on Tuesday night during a 10-0 home win over Lovejoy. Her 50 career homers are also a program record as she set the mark in 2024. Bradley, who is a Florida commit, hit her 33rd home run with Melissa and 41st overall in high school. Bradley played at Prosper Rock Hill as a freshman.
Adrian also hit her 33rd at Melissa. The sophomore catcher set the DFW single season record with 22 last season. Williams, another sophomore that played at Allen in 2024, is tied for second in homers in DFW this season at 13 alongside Bradley.
Melissa will host Prosper Walnut Grove next Tuesday night 3/25.
