PHOTO: Matt Smith
By Brian Gosset
X – @gmsportsmedia1
X – @gosset41
ARLINGTON – Back in the state tournament for the first time since 2023, Fort Worth Christian held onto a 5-3 lead before Midland Christian came back with 5 unanswered runs to pick up the 8-5 victory in a TAPPS D2 softball semifinal game on Monday at UT-Arlington’s Allan Saxe Field.
The Cardinals wrapped up the season with an impressive 25-8 record under head coach Jared Ridge.
After giving up 3 runs in the top of the 2nd inning, FWC stormed back to tie it a half inning later.
Ava Ridge hit a lead-off double to center and 3 batters later, Abbie Cotter drove Ridge with a 2-out single. Cotter scored on a 2-run home run by senior Grace Johnson, her single season school record 13th long ball of the year.
FWC took a 4-3 lead in the 3rd following a walk and single by sisters Leyton and Landry Lehner. Ridge laid down a bunt and Leyton Lehner was thrown out at home. However, 1 batter later, Landry scored on an RBI grounder from Addison Tischer.
The Cardinals scored an insurance run in the 4th when Gabby Bright hit a 2-out single, stole second and rounded third on an RBI knock from Elle Andujar.
But the Mustangs (30-4) got one in the 5th on an RBI double and tied it in the 6th on an error by FWC.
Midland Christian, which had beaten FWC in 2 district contests during the regular season, led off the top of the 7th with back-to-back singles. The Mustangs took a 6-5 lead on an RBI grounder with everyone safe and added 2 more on a single and bases-loaded walk.
FWC finished with 8 hits as Johnson led the team going 3 for 4 in her final high school game. Johnson will continue her softball career at Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee.
Bright, a freshman, ends her debut season going the distance and picking up 5 strikeouts. Bright had recently gone over 200 strikeouts on the season.
