BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
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AUSTIN – During the 2018 season, the Aubrey softball team lost in the first round. But since 2019, the Chaparrals have made it at least three rounds deep. They made the state tournament in 2023 – breaking a 16-year drought. On Friday, Aubrey broke an 18-year drought to the state championship game.
But Baylor commit Raelynn Van Zee held the Chaps to five hits as Aubrey’s season ended short against Robinson 10-1 in the Class 4A Division 2 title game at McCombs Field at the University of Texas.
Aubrey ends at 33-4.
Robinson goes 37-3 with its first state appearance since 2010 and second title overall – first since 1999.
Van Zee struck out eight batters and finished with a 31-2 record.
The Chaparrals tied the game 1-1 in the top of the third inning when Molly Reid ripped a pitch to deep right field that scored Sophia Place from second. But Van Zee homered in the bottom of the third for the go-ahead run and a 2-1 lead that she wouldn’t give up.
Van Zee was voted state champ MVP with her performance from the circle as well as her three hits, two doubles and five runs batted in.
Aubrey came into the title match 9-0 in the playoffs and on an 11-game winning streak. The Chaps won district for the third straight season – this one in District 10-4A and was ranked #1 in 4A by GM Sports Media for majority of the season.
The Chaps beat Snyder 2-0 and 3-1 in the state semis and Canton 6-5 and 9-4 in the 4A D2 Region 2 champ series. Since 2019, Aubrey went to the regional quarterfinals, regional final, regional semifinals, state semifinals, regional final and state runner-up.
Head coach James Ramsey wraps up his third season at Aubrey – he was hired in the summer of 2022. He won a state title with Pilot Point in 2013. He owns a 99-18-1 record with the Chaparrals.
Aubrey graduates five seniors – Mya and Tamia Cherry, Carmen Alexander, Molly Reid and Judah Van Rijn. Mya Cherry started the game for the Chaps and ends the season with a stellar 25-2 record from the rubber. The Cherry sisters will continue softball and Texas Woman’s University in Denton. Alexander will head to Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.
