UIL playoffs: Leander gunning to make more history in high school softball
Central Texas high school softball program Leander is looking to make more program history in the UIL playoffs against Barbers Hill in the state semifinals.
Leander shortstop Madi Lee connects on a swing during a 14-0 win over Lehman on April 4. The Lions have won 11 of their last 12 games and have rolled into the Class 5A regional semifinals. (Paul Knight/Special to American-Statesman) Leander softball has made history .
Though the Lions have a traditionally strong program, especially under longtime coach Kendall Driver , they won a regional championship for the first time last week when they swept Smithson Valley in dominating fashion, 11-1 and 9-0. As Leander (36-6-1) prepares for its Class 5A Division I state semifinal series with last year’s state runnerup, Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill, Driver thinks she has one of the most balanced teams in the 13 years she’s led the program. “We’ve been in the regional final a few times and haven’t been able to make it over that hurdle,” Driver said.
“So I think just (making the state semifinals) and finding a way to not just win, but to win dominantly last week, I think that really makes my kids feel super-confident and believe. ” Of their eight playoff wins, the Lions have scored nine runs seven times. Infielders Madelyn Lee and Aliyah Allen, outfielders Rachel Grundei and Avery Barnard, pitcher Kylee Arnold and catcher Cameryn Beckerley pace a lineup that has only lost once since March 6.
“We hit really well throughout our lineup,” Driver said. “As far as a team is concerned, this is the strongest team I’ve ever had in hitting. … It doesn’t drop off, and at any point, any given inning, we could put four or five runs across.