Following a spectacular 2024 season on the softball diamond, the Aledo Ladycats squad is aiming to reach and surpass the heights they reached a season ago. In 2024, Aledo won its district and marched all the way to the state semifinals, where it lost 1-0 to Harlingen South.
It was Aledo’s third state tournament appearance in four years, including a runner-up finish in 2021.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the progress our team made last season,” Ladycats head coach Heather Myers said. “The girls really came together and put in the work, both on and off the field. We faced some tough challenges, but they used that as motivation to grow and improve, and it shows in how they’re approaching this season.”
With the offseason winding down and the regular season in the forefront, the Ladycats have been making the most of their offseason through travel ball, in-school practices, and scrimmaging. Myers enjoys seeing her players putting in the work, but is more pleased with “how” they are doing it.
“The energy and commitment they bring to practice and scrimmages is contagious, and you can see how much they want to get back to the state tournament,” Myers said. “Our focus this season is building on that growth from last year, staying disciplined, and pushing each other to be better every single day.”
Aledo is returning several key players from last year’s squad that posted an overall record of 35-4, which includes a 12-0 District 5-5A mark, running their league winning streak to 42 games.
The pitching staff will be led by rising senior Taylor McKean, who Myers called “a staple” for the team on the mound with great knowledge, mental fortitude, and a deep repertoire of pitches. Myers also mentioned Marina Taveras as a talented and dynamic piece of the infield puzzle with speed, power, and leadership at the plate and in the field. Furthermore, Addie Perry is expected to be a spark plug who has great anticipation and clutch moments for the team, and another teammate is expected to let her natural abilities play a key role in Aledo’s potential success.
“Addie Perry is a spark plug for us. Her knowledge of the game is impressive, and you can really see it in her play,” Myers said. “She’s always thinking two steps ahead, and she has a knack for coming through in big moments at the plate. Her energy is contagious, and she motivates everyone around her.”
Gracie Jones will provide a quality power bat at the plate while catchers Austyn Marriage and Breleigh Mayer bring an abundance of intelligence, countless repetitions, and quality communication with their pitchers to the plate. Grace Heath is expected to produce with her speed and intelligence around the base paths while Jordyn Edington will prove to be a Swiss army knife type of player for Myers’ squad. The head coach also mentioned Kyleigh Pawlak as a player she can count on in any offensive or defensive situation as well.
“We really pride ourselves on being disciplined both at the plate and on defense,” Myers said. “It's all about executing the fundamentals consistently. We put a strong emphasis on the little things at practice — whether it's staying focused during every pitch or making sure we take care of the details in our defensive setups. Mental toughness is a big part of our culture too. We address it every week, making sure the players are prepared to handle adversity, stay focused, and push through challenges. The goal is simple: to improve every single day, no matter how small the step forward is.”
The Ladycats will begin their season at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Waxahachie.
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