On April 22, 2017,  the softball team was able to clinch the district title after beating Alvarado 4-0. Rus Mayes, head coach and U.S history teacher has seen a huge improvement in the team.

   “I think the kids have done a great job of buying into our team’s core values. I don’t know that we have done a whole lot of things different, we just have continued to build on last year’s success. Last year we advanced to Regional quarter-finals and finished the season as district champions. The first time for both in school history,” Mayes said.

  After being district champions for the second time, the Bees won against Springtown in a 2 game sweep to move on to Area round.

   Skye Gaitan, Julia Flores and Kenadee Richards were very excited to finish district. “The performance of the team is great this year. Every game that we play, we just keep getting better and better. We have worked hard year around this season and I think it really payed off,” Gaitan said.

  “We performed very well and have been kicking butt. We had only had one loss in district which was a tough one, but I have full confidence that we will bounce back in playoffs” Flores said.

  “I believe we are doing our very best, and we will continue our success. I enjoy the energy you get from winning and being around people that love it” Richards said.

  Their success has has driven them to be in the top 5 in the state rankings and having an overall record of 26-6 (16-1, in district).

   “I think all opponents are worthy. The first one you overlook is likely the one that will beat you. We strive to play up to our own potential and expectations, and be the best we can be. The sky’s the limit for this team. We talk about the strengths and weaknesses of each team before a game. We try to take one day at a time to not get caught up in the daily grind of a long season. I think anytime a kid masters a skill and has that ‘ahaa’ moment is very rewarding. I also love to watch the girls grow from students into teammates and ultimately into family” Mayes said.

  Softball has been the love for these girls ever since they were little. Jessica Howell, Samantha Shaffer, Samantha Luna, Bowine Van Der Gragt and the rest of the team grew up with it.

  “I have been playing since I was four years old and I have been playing select softball since seventh grade. I love the atmosphere when you step on a diamond. Everybody’s mindset switches to game mode and everyone works together as a team. You have an inseparable bond with everyone on your team and trust them to do their job. I’ve made lifelong friends that I never would’ve met. I love playing on the field, but the memories you make with your teammates off the field are what you remember the most” Shaffer said.

  “I have played softball since I was a little kid, it’s a family sport. Everyone in my family has played or plays softball. Now it’s my turn to keep that going. I think softball is truly a tough sport to play. You have to have the mental toughness, the right mindset to be able to play the game. There are no short cuts; you have to give it all you got. This sport has impacted my life in a ton of ways. I can relate this sport to real life situations. I find myself with softball. It’s who I am,” Luna said.

  “I enjoy getting to embrace myself in the sport I love. My passion for softball grows more each time I play,” Howell said.

   The Honeybees welcome a foreign exchange student from the Netherlands this season. Bowine Der Gragt has played for seven years.

   “It makes me happy whenever we play games. I’m always excited to be with them and do the team eats, game nights and of course softball,” Van Der Gragt said.

   The Bees ended the season against Brownwood in an epic 3 game series, but finished with the best season record in program history.

  “I think everyone has done a great job of elevating their game this season. I think the big take away is never be complacent and keep working hard. Just because you have talent doesn’t mean you are entitled to victories. You have to show up and work hard everyday, and this team has done that. I would like to think we as coaches get the most out of the girls.  Coach Girl Mayes and Coach Fowler are huge assets to our program. We take pride on working on the small details that can take a team from being good to being great. We also take pride on being good teammates. This game is more than softball.  We are trying to build strong, independent young ladies that will go on to be great business owners, wives, mothers or anything they choose to be,” said Mayes.