BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @Gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
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ALEDO – 12 years ago, the Ladycats softball team began one of the best stretches in state history. They reached the Class 4A state tournament in 2013, but lost out in the semifinals to wrap up a 40-4 season.
They returned to state in 2014 and captured the program’s second title – going 33-4.
Aledo defended its title by winning in 2015 while going 23-1.
96-9 in three years.
In UIL softball history, dating back to 1992-93, Aledo is one of 16 programs to win back-to-back state championships and one of five from the DFW/NTX metroplex.
On Tuesday, the 2015 title team returned to the Aledo Ladycats softball stadium and was recognized in front of the current players and coaches as well as fans in attendance.
On the roster that season included Riley Sartain, Lauren Craine, Ashton Adkins, Rhylie Makawe, Landri Mays, Kadyn Kirkpatrick, Mary Myers, Allie Arneson, Chickie Cook, Alli Ramsey, Olivia Dickey, Meredith Bowden, Rebekah Hissam, Brynn Hellman, Hallie Smith, Hannah Andrews, Abby Johnson and Krissy Johnson – most of who returned to be honored. Coaches included Ashley Hill, Tricia Hackfeld, Sharla Andrews and head coach Jeff Lemons, now the head coach at fellow Parker County school Weatherford.
“It’s a bond you can’t explain. We built a friendship for life playing softball. The girls and I had such a close bond that last year that I knew we’d be friends for life,” said Craine, who is now the Director of On-Campus Recruiting for the football team at TCU. “It’s cool to come back and see their kids, them being married, meeting their husbands and to hear what they’re doing with their lives. It’s amazing that softball brought us together.”
During 2013, Aledo lost to Buda Hays 8-1.
The Ladycats got their revenge in the 2014 semis – beating Hays 6-5. Sartain had three RBIs. Then they defeated Ennis 10-3 in the title game. Makawe was voted state champ MVP with three hits and two RBIs. Kirkpatrick led all players with three runs batted in.
In 2015, Aledo’s repeat almost never happened. Rain forced many cancellations and the Ladycats only played district – going 14-0 in the regular season. In the fourth round, they dropped Game 1 vs Canyon (2-1) before rallying back to win the series 9-6 and 11-8.
They nearly a blew an 8-1 lead in the fifth but hung on to beat Fort Bend Ridge Point 8-7 in the semifinals. Arneson and Cook combined for seven RBIs. During the final against Cedar Park Vista Ridge, the Ladycats had a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh and had two outs with a runner on second. Vista Ridge would pull within 3-1 and had runners on first and second. Another run came across after a hit went to left center, but on the same play Kirkpatrick (left fielder) threw to Sartain at third for the final out (3-2).
“I remember coach Lemons telling me to throw strikes at the end of the game – we were about to lose,” Craine laughed. “He told me to close it out because the game was on the line. But really, we had such a good team that year and I remember all the girls on the field behind me.”
Craine would finish her last three years at Aledo with 78 wins against only five losses.
She pitched in all five state tournament games – and in all 35 innings. She was voted state champ MVP in 2015 with six hits allowed and five strikeouts against Vista Ridge.
“I would have loved to go to state my freshman year too, but it really built character being on JV my first year,” Craine said. “Going to state in 2013 and 2014 was awesome too with those teams, but going out my senior year and winning it was the best feeling ever. All the girls I graduated with went on to play in college and looking back on it now, it’s so cool to watch their careers.”
Sartain (Texas A&M), Makawe (North Texas), Kirkpatrick (Tarleton State) and Arneson (Minnesota) all had amazing careers at the college level. Sartain and Arneson both played at the Women’s College World Series. Craine went on to play at North Texas, but her career was cut short while batting injuries.
