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Kingwood's Addy Sheppard & Mia Gagliardi cap off their high school careers as State Champions
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
“I have no words,” said sophomore pitcher Hunter Quentel, who was named State Tournament MVP after striking out seven and adding a home run and two RBIs in the Final. “I’m just super excited and happy that we got to experience this together.”
Sophomore RHP Hunter Quentel is named the 6A-D2 State MVPMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
Quentel, who finished the season with an 18-3 record, played beyond her years in the biggest game of the season. She worked through pressure situations with composure and delivered at the plate, breaking the game open in the third inning with a towering two-run homer that gave Kingwood a 4-0 lead.
Before that, junior third baseman Frei Pizarro had put the Mustangs on the board with an RBI single in the second inning.
Senior Catcher Mia GagliardiMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
The momentum carried into the third, as senior catcher Mia Gagliardi—one of the emotional leaders of the team—cracked a double to left-center to drive in another run. Then came Quentel’s blast, a no-doubt shot over the left field fence.
“I’ve seen such growth out of her,” said head coach Christa Williams-Yates of her sophomore ace. “She’s been amazing this year and has such a bright future ahead. It’s one that I look forward to seeing.”
Forney’s lone run came later in the game via a sacrifice fly from Ashlyn Oscars, but the Mustangs held firm behind Quentel’s arm and airtight defense.
The game was a microcosm of Kingwood’s season—steady, efficient, and resilient. Each player seemed to understand their role and deliver in key moments.
Gagliardi finished 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI, closing out a stellar high school career before heading to Virginia Tech.
Senior second baseman Leilani Garcia added two hits and scored a run, while Pizarro and Quentel provided the punch in the middle of the lineup.
(Left to Right) -- Kingwood's Frei Pizzaro, Leilani Garcia, and Hunter QuentelMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
In addition to their on-field performance, Gagliardi, Garcia, Pizarro, Quentel, and outfielder Abella Mata were all named to the All-Tournament team. So was senior shortstop Addy Sheppard, a Stanford-commit who was the heart and soul of the group throughout their monumental run.
“It’s unbelievable,” Sheppard said. “We had a mission and we stuck it out all year. I’m really proud of us and what we were able to do.”
Senior SS Addy SheppardMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
That mission was rooted in redemption.
A year ago, the Mustangs fell short in the state semifinals, losing to Midway. That loss fueled their offseason and shaped their approach from the first pitch of 2025.
“We definitely learned from every experience,” Sheppard added. “It came into play during this game and throughout the playoffs. We really ‘proved it.’”
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Gagliardi echoed the sentiment: “We were just trying to overcome every obstacle we faced this year. We knew there would be adversity, so it was just about finding a way to get through it. That’s what led us to this moment.”
The championship also marks a milestone for Coach Williams-Yates, now in her second year at the helm.
The former Olympian and Texas Longhorn was part of the inaugural team to play at McCombs Field in 1998, and now returns nearly three decades later to win her first title as a head coach on the very same field.
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
“There are a lot of similarities between those teams and Kingwood,” she said. “They had a passion to be the best, and winning here, on top of it being Kingwood’s first and my first championship as a coach, is something that’s truly special.”
Williams-Yates also highlighted the mental toughness of her team—something that doesn’t show up on a stat sheet but made the difference throughout the playoffs.
“My initial reaction is happiness and a sense of pride,” she said. “These girls worked so hard and overcame more than what anyone else would ever know. I’m proud to be their coach and wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Senior leaders like Gagliardi, Garcia, Sheppard, and Mata leave behind a legacy that helped transform the program from contender to champion. And with Quentel, Pizarro, and sophomore first baseman Kendall Yates returning, the future remains bright.
Garcia, who went 2-for-3 in her final game, summed it up best: “From the beginning, this was our goal. Now we’re here. We finished. We delivered. We proved it.”
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
As for the team’s immediate celebration?
“The first thing we did was eat at Pappasito’s,” Williams-Yates said with a smile. “From there, we can sit back and let it all sink in. Most of my girls play summer ball, and I’m just hoping they can make some time to really enjoy this moment. It’s something that nobody can ever take away from them.”
Now, they’re not just a great team—they’re a championship team.
And history will remember them as the first Kingwood squad to get it done.
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Under second-year head coach Candyce Carter, the Lions added yet another chapter to a storybook run that continues to shape the landscape of Texas high school softball.
“This is a whole different team,” said junior pitcher and Wichita State-commit Sara Wiggins, who earned MVP honors after striking out 11 batters and allowing just two hits and one earned run.
Jr. RHP Sara Wiggins (Wichita State-commit) is named the UIL 5A-D2 State MVPMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
“The fact that we were able to do it again with this combination is just a crazy feeling.”
From the first pitch to the final out, Lake Creek left no doubt.
The Lions wasted no time jumping out in front. Wiggins opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the first inning, and senior first baseman Chesney Davis (Texas State) added another run by reaching on an error, giving Lake Creek an early 2-0 edge.
Hallsville managed to push across a run in the third, briefly narrowing the deficit to 2-1. But that would be the last time the Bobcats threatened.
What followed was a sixth-inning eruption—six runs that put the game out of reach and emphasized just how deep and dangerous Lake Creek’s lineup remains.
Junior outfielders Madalyn Davis and Miranda Orso both went 3-for-4, combining for three RBIs, a triple, and two doubles. Gracee Brewer added a 3-for-5 performance with one RBI, and Chesney Davis knocked in a total of two. Wiggins helped her own cause at the plate as well, finishing 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
“We’ve done pretty well throughout the whole season,” Wiggins said of the team’s mindset heading into the final. “Today was just about going out there and playing our best softball, after defeating the teams before us. That’s how we came out on top.”
New Coach, Same Standard
Lake Creek’s rise to prominence began under longtime head coach Michelle Rochinski. But since taking over in 2023, Carter has maintained the high standard—while also bringing a unique perspective and legacy of her own.
Lake Creek Head Coach Candyce Carter celebrates with her team moments after their win in the 5A-D2 FinalMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
“Nothing changed, from the first game that we played this year to the 37th game we played,” Carter said. “The message was, ‘Be present. Be intentional. Understand that we’re going to have to earn it and work hard to achieve it.’ We stuck to that plan and executed it.”
This title marks Carter’s first state championship in Texas, but not her first overall.
In 2021, she guided Barbe High School to a Louisiana state title before transitioning to Texas high school ball. With this win, she joins her father, longtime coach Scott Carter (formerly the HC at Port Neches-Groves), in the rare company of coaches who have won state championships in multiple states.
“My entire family has been so supportive of me throughout my coaching career,” Carter said. “They’re there for every single moment, every win, every loss, every struggle, and every triumph. Of course, my Dad has been a big mentor in my life. He’s the reason that I decided to choose coaching as my profession, and the reason that I intend to continue doing so.”
Carter’s approach clearly resonates with her players.
“Whenever she first took the role of head coach, she made it clear that she wanted to establish a sense of chemistry with the entire team,” said junior outfielder Madalyn Davis. “It was really clear that her goal was to establish a personal relationship with all of us.”
Lake Creek's Madalyn DavisMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
Wiggins echoed that sentiment, calling the transition to Carter’s leadership “smooth” due to her pre-existing involvement with the program. “That really helped us to maintain our focus and continue to uphold our standard,” she said.
A Championship That Felt Different
While titles may be becoming the norm in Montgomery county, this one felt distinct for the players who’ve grown up together in the Lake Creek system.
“I feel like this time around was a new experience—at least for me—because I actually played with girls who were closer to my age,” said Davis, a North Carolina-commit. “Before, I was a freshman and I was along for the ride with teammates who were older than me. This time, I got to win it with the girls that I’ve grown up with since I was seven.”
And the community support didn’t go unnoticed.
“It just shows that the chemistry was always there,” said Wiggins of the fan and alumni turnout. “Their support has served as motivation for us.”
Davis added, “It’s really nice to know that the girls who played here before us still go out of their way to cheer us on. It shows that they want what’s best for us and that they continue to wish for us to be successful.”
That continuity and tradition have become hallmarks of the program. Even as new names take the field each year, the culture remains strong—rooted in effort, accountability, and a belief that excellence is the expectation.
A Dynasty Solidified
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Three state championships in four seasons. A perfect record. And a roster filled with juniors and underclassmen poised to return next year.
It’s hard not to look ahead at what’s still possible for Lake Creek. But for Carter and her team, the focus remains on appreciating the present and honoring the journey.
“I think that they’re all special,” Carter said of the championships. “You’ve got to be grateful for every opportunity that you get. Not a lot of coaches or players get to be in this position, so I’ve just been blessed with the chance to see this all unfold.”
If this season was any indication, the story of Lake Creek softball is far from finished.
Sara Wiggins (Jr. RHP -- Lake Creek)
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
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