On the sidelines: Cleburne softball's Azriela Huber & Kadenze Quzma
Entering the final week of the regular season, District 8-5A has decided three playoff teams: Centennial, Burleson and Joshua. A battle for the final spot includes Mansfield Timberview and the Cleburne Lady Jackets. A program known for being an outsider looking into the playoff picture in recent memory has gone through a rollercoaster ride this season, according to infielder Kadenze Quzma.
Beginning with the hiring of Kendall Mathis as head coach in August of 2025, Cleburne had to rebuild softball and put together a roster with many new faces. Before their season opener against Benbrook in February, senior leader and catcher Azriela Huber suffered a potential season-ending knee injury during practice. “When I went in, I met with the doctor who would’ve been my surgeon, his assistant and our trainers here.
All of them couldn’t get my ACL to lock, basic signs of an ACL tear,” said Huber. Immediately believing her senior season, summer ball and the first year of her college career were now in jeopardy, the fate of the Lady Jackets relied on Huber’s CT scan. When the scan showed a grade II ACL strain, revealing only a partially torn ligament.
A huge sigh of relief came from Huber. “I think it was actually a miracle,” Huber admitted. With a lifeline for her final season with the Lady Jackets, Huber hit the ground running in her recovery and saw immediate results.
Within two weeks, Huber went from being on crutches to jogging. However, Huber’s exact return was still up in the air. One of Cleburne’s pillars and commander behind home plate was sidelined, leaving the rest of the roster to fill in where needed.
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