Year No. 6 will go down as one of the greatest teams that Bridgeland Softball has ever witnessed.
Despite their unfortunate defeat (3-6) against Denton Guyer in the UIL-6A State Semis, the Bears displayed remarkable grit and class throughout this year’s postseason
From their statement win in the Region II Finals, to exchanging blows with a heavy-hitter like Guyer, the Cy-Fair ISD reps did not disappoint in the slightest.
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Senior OF/P Haylie Stum
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Junior RHP Sydney Jackson
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Junior OF Chayne Allen
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Junior IF Dani Lopez
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Senior 3B Trinity Allen
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Senior IF Ellen Shull
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“Our chemistry is uncanny,” said senior OF/P Haylie Stum. “We just trust each other, and when we go down, we’re never out. The resiliency of this team is crazy and I hope that continues after I leave. To go out like this was great–we fought to the very end.”
Even more so, the culture and mentality of the composite group is what distinguished this Bridgeland team as one of the most watchable in the Houston area, if not the state.
“There’s only one word that comes to mind when I think about what it was like to coach this group: Blessed,” said Candi Weige. “We are blessed, I am blessed. These girls have fought time and time again to be able to get here [the State Semifinals]. They did, and they showed out. I could not be more proud of them.”
During their playoff run, the major players--Stum (.439 BA, 19 RBI, 3 HR), senior 3B Trinity Allen (.378 BA, 10 RBI, 3 HR), and senior catcher Lilli Piersons (.447 BA, 12 RBI, 3 HR)--helped to elevate the Bears to new heights, serving as the “big sisters” of the young group.
“I loved being able to be a leader to these girls,” said Piersons. “They’ve helped me grow in so many aspects of my life–not just as an athlete, but personally as well. We’ve been through so much together and it’s such a blessing to have had a season like ours.”
Piersons’ soon-to-be teammate at McLennan, Trinity Allen, takes that one step further.
Both Trinity and her younger sister Chayne (Jr. OF) have played alongside one another for their entire softball careers. It seems only appropriate that the pair made history in their final season on the same field.
“It’s been incredible,” said Trinity. “We’ve just fed off each other’s energy and when one of us has been down, the other would pick us back up. But, playing with Chayne--I’ve learned a lot from her because she leads in her own way. Bridgeland is going to keep thriving with her in the program.”
“Playing with Trinity has been wonderful,” Chayne said. “I continue to see her set an example, on and off the field–holding people accountable. I can’t wait to see what she does at McLennan.”
Chayne and junior RHP Sydney Jackson--2.04 ERA, 82 Ks in the playoffs--will be the next in line to step up as the leaders of the program, moving forward. Both understand they’ll have some big shoes to fill.
“The seniors were great role models, and I want to help keep that legacy going on,” said Jackson. “There’s a great group of younger classmen here, and we’ll have several of them starting next year. I think anybody on this team can stand up and become a leader moving forward.”
Count on the next generation of Bridgeland Softball making another run, a year from now, with the intention of breaking more barriers.
“This team has set something in stone that nobody will ever be able to take away from them,” said coach Weige. “The standard has been set for all these classes to come in, and now we know what it takes to make it to this point.”
