The National Anthem plays just moments before Melissa wins its 2nd UIL State Championship (5/30/2025)
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
The preseason landscape is once again crowded with contenders, but the standard begins with Melissa. Head coach Cassie Crabtree’s Cardinals return to the diamond following a dominant 38-1 campaign that culminated in a 5A Division I state championship and 2025 MaxPreps National Champion honors. With back-to-back titles already secured, Melissa now turns its focus toward an elusive three-peat — and enters the spring as the team to beat.
The 6A ranks, however, are anything but quiet. Flower Mound, Forney and Denton Guyer each made extensive playoff runs last year, with Forney advancing all the way to the 6A Division II State Final. Keller, Marcus and Royse City add further depth to a classification that proved both balanced and battle-tested throughout 2025. Several of those programs navigated double-digit district win totals a year ago, underscoring just how competitive the road back to Austin will be.
In 5A, Lovejoy, Aledo and Walnut Grove headline a formidable group behind Melissa. Aledo reached the State Semifinals last spring, while Lovejoy and Walnut Grove each made regional appearances, reinforcing the classification’s overall strength.
If last season was any indication, parity remains alive across both 6A and 5A. Experience, postseason pedigree and a hunger to finish unfinished business define much of this preseason Top 10 — with multiple programs positioned not just to contend, but to reshape the conversation altogether in 2026.
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*Last section indicates 2025 result
VYPE Dallas-Fort Worth Combined (6A-4A) Top-10 Softball Rankings -- February 2026 (Preseason)
1. Melissa Cardinals (5A) -- 38-1 // 14-0 in District 9-5A // UIL 5A Division I State Champions*
2. Flower Mound Jaguars (6A) -- 25-9-1 // 12-2 in 5-6A // 6A Division I State Semifinalists
3. Forney Jackrabbits (6A) -- 35-3-1 // 11-1 in 10-6A // 6A Division II State Finalists
4. Denton Guyer Wildcats (6A) -- 30-6 // 13-1` in 5-6A // 6A Division II State Semifinalists
5. Keller Indians (6A) -- 28-9-1 // 14-2 in 4-6A // Regional Semifinalists
6. Lovejoy Leopards (5A) -- 25-13 // 10-4 in 9-5A // Region II Finalists
7. Aledo Bearcats (5A) -- 30-4 // 12-0 in 5-5A // 5A Division I State Semifinalists
8. Marcus Marauders (6A) -- 26-11 // 9-5 in 5-6A // Region I Finalists
9. Royse City Bulldogs (6A) -- 25-9 // 9-3 in 10-6A // Regional Semifinalists
10. Walnut Grove Wildcats (5A) -- 25-8 // 12-2 in 9-5A // Regional Semifinalists
Others to Watch: Wylie Pirates (9-6A), Wakeland Wolverines (12-5A), Birdville Hawks (6-5A), Waxahachie Indians (11-6A), Midlothian Heritage Jaguars (15-5A), Plano East Panthers (6-6A), Grapevine Mustangs (6-5A), Trinity Trojans (4-6A), Mansfield Legacy Broncos (3-6A)
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Lake Creek Sr. RHP Sara Wiggins (Wichita State signee)
Farrah Sheeren (VYPE/Phlox Photography)
It’s frequently said that heavy hangs the head that wears the crown. Yet Sara Wiggins appears largely impervious to the weight that comes with leading a program so consistently lauded as the gold standard.
An elite shutdown specialist on the mound, the right-handed Wiggins has been a decisive catalyst in Lake Creek’s march to yet another state ring — a presence that coach Candyce Carter describes as bringing an “unbothered” X-factor to the equation.
After reaching the Regional Finals in her debut season as Lake Creek’s head coach in 2024, Carter guided a remarkably stacked roster through a flawless spring. Finishing with an unblemished 37–0 record, the Lions capped the run by claiming the program’s third state championship in four years, punctuating it with a convincing 12–1 victory over Hallsville.
Wiggins stood at the center of that success. In terms of accolades, she earned Most Valuable Player honors on multiple stages, including UIL 5A Division II State Tournament MVP, THSCA Super Elite Team MVP, and District 17-5A MVP recognition.
Despite the résumé, the tone inside the dugout has remained grounded.
“We’re starting over and we still have everything to prove,” Wiggins said. “It’s a new season, and our record from last year doesn’t mean anything right now. We just need to remain composed and start from the basics, because nothing is given and there’s an even bigger target on our backs.”

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That humility is not accidental. It doesn’t take long to understand where it comes from.
Wiggins quietly refined her craft in high school, waiting in the wings behind 2023 Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year Ava Brown, who now stars for the Florida Gators. The experience offered perspective — and patience — long before the spotlight arrived.
Now, the moment has come full circle for the future Wichita State Shocker and her fellow seniors.
“We know firsthand what it’s like to look up to and learn from players of that stature,” Wiggins said. “Obviously, those were big shoes to fill. But we’ve focused on being the best version of ourselves, and it’s paid off. It’s a cool feeling knowing that we, as seniors, are now the ones stepping into that role — especially alongside the people we’ve grown up playing with since Little League.”

Carter’s description of Wiggins as “unbothered” is perhaps most evident when the ball is in her hand.
“I feel like my ability to cut out emotion while pitching has become one of my more notable strengths,” Wiggins said. “If something doesn’t go as planned, I don’t think it’s productive to show that frustration. My teammates feed off my energy, so staying positive is vital and definitely impacts the rest of the team.”
As Lake Creek turns the page toward another season that still features the highest of expectations, Wiggins remains exactly where the Lions need her — composed, and unfazed by the crown she now wears.
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