By Brian Gosset
Eloisa Maes allowed three hits and struck out nine to push the Melissa Cardinals over Waco Midway 4-1 in a non-district game on Saturday – in a matchup between 2025 state champs.
Melissa (19-2) has won back-to-back state titles, the Class 5A in 2024 and Class 5A D1 in 2025. The Cardinals beat Barbers Hill 4-2 last season in Austin. Midway beat League City Clear Springs 9-1 to win the 6A D1 championship.
It was the second meeting between the schools this spring with Melissa winning 5-1 on Feb. 28.
On Saturday, the Cardinals scored three runs in the first inning to get it rolling.
Shortstop Finlee Williams hit a lead off double and scored on an RBI single by outfielder Bradyn Young. Two batters later and Kennedy Bradley smacked a two-run home run to deep center to push the lead to 3-0.
Bradley, a senior Florida signee, hit her 11th home run of the season. Bradley set the DFW single season record last year with 24 home runs.
It was her 55th homer at Melissa and 63rd overall in her high school career.
Midway (18-4-1) scored on an RBI sac fly to right in the bottom of the fourth.
Bradley reached on an error in the top of the seventh inning and Williams came across to extend the lead to 4-1. Maes retired the final five batters and struck out the last two to end the game.
Maes’ run was unearned and the Arizona commit improved her record to 17-2.
Midway pitcher Peyton Phillipp allowed three earned on four hits and four strikeouts in a complete game effort.
Melissa ends the week 3-0 with wins over Lovejoy (7-3) and McKinney North (15-0). The Cardinals are all alone in first place with a 6-0 record in District 9-5A.
The Cards travel to Prosper Walnut Grove on Tuesday and host Greenville on Friday March 27.
