Below are The Dallas Morning News’ first-, second- and third-team selections from the Dallas area for the 2025 Texas high school softball season.
More awards
— Player of the Year: Melissa’s Kennedy Bradley
— Offensive Player, Pitcher, Newcomer and Coach of the Year
— All-area first, second, and third teams
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— All-district teams
First-team PitchersEloisa Maes
Melissa, So.
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In her first season as Melissa’s primary pitcher, the sophomore was 32-1 with a 1.31 ERA and 229 strikeouts and only 31 walks in 139 1/3 innings as Melissa won its second straight state title and finished No. 1 in the MaxPreps national rankings. Maes was 9-1 with a 1.30 ERA in the playoffs, and over the course of three games she pitched 10 consecutive hitless innings, including a five-inning perfect game with 12 strikeouts in a 10-0 win over Frisco Wakeland in the second round. Maes was named the MVP of the Class 5A Division I state championship game after pitching a two-hit complete game and striking out seven in a 4-2 win over Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill, which was ranked No. 8 in the nation at the time. Maes was an all-state selection and is rated the eighth-best pitcher in the nation in the Class of 2027 by Extra Inning Softball.
Cailey Slade
Forney, Sr.
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She was 17-0 with a 1.98 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 102 1/3 innings for Class 6A Division II state runner-up Forney while sharing the pitching duties with sophomore Emmie Santos. Slade hit .481 for the season and .548 in the playoffs, and she had perhaps the biggest hit of the season for Forney. Slade’s three-run, inside-the-park home run with two outs in the top of the eighth gave Forney a 6-3 win over Denton Guyer in Game 3 of their best-of-3 state semifinal series and put Forney in a state championship game for the first time since 2018. Slade allowed just two earned runs in 11 innings in Forney’s two wins in that series, and she was 5 for 8 at the plate. She also pitched a six-hit complete game in a 4-1 win over Tomball in a one-game regional final and had a three-hit shutout against Langham Creek in the regional semifinals.
AdvertisementNatalie Moreaux
Mansfield Legacy, Sr.
The Northwestern State signee was all-state and was named the District 3-6A MVP after going 21-4 with a 1.32 ERA and 222 strikeouts for a 28-8 team that reached the 6A Division II regional semifinals. Moreaux also had a tremendous season offensively, hitting .518 with 17 doubles, seven triples, 14 home runs, 39 RBIs and 54 runs.
AdvertisementIzzy Guarriello
Lovejoy, Jr.
The Creighton pledge was 20-9 with a 2.09 ERA and 290 strikeouts in 170 innings. She averaged 11.9 strikeouts per seven innings and was named the District 9-5A co-pitcher of the year. She was 5-1 with a 1.29 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 38 innings in the first three rounds of the playoffs to lead Lovejoy to the Class 5A Division II Region II final. Guarriello hit .391 with nine runs and three home runs in nine games in the playoffs as a whole.
AdvertisementFirst-team catcherHutton “LuLu” Adrian
Melissa, So.
For the second year in a row, Adrian was one of the top power hitters in the Dallas area, hitting 17 home runs and seeing 60% of her hits go for extra bases. The all-state catcher had a team-best .612 batting average for the nation’s No. 1-ranked team, her 60 hits were second most for the Class 5A Division I state champion and her 59 RBIs were one off the team lead. As a freshman in 2024, Adrian hit 22 home runs to set a new Dallas-area record for most home runs in a season before that record was broken by Melissa teammate Kennedy Bradley this year. Extra Inning Softball ranks Adrian as the 13th-best catcher in the nation in the Class of 2027.
AdvertisementFirst-team InfieldersHope “Lillie” Gaudio
Mansfield Legacy, So.
One of the top sophomores in the country had a spectacular season, recording 78 hits in 36 games while hitting .690 for a 6A Division II regional semifinalist. Gaudio had 44 extra-base hits, with 18 doubles, nine triples and 17 home runs, and she had 64 RBIs and scored 58 runs while being named the District 3-6A offensive player of the year. She hit .583 with 14 hits (seven for extra bases), two home runs, 11 runs and six RBIs in eight playoff games. Gaudio, an all-state shortstop, is rated the fifth-best infielder in the nation in the Class of 2027 by Extra Inning Softball.
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Flower Mound, Jr.
The Ole Miss pledge hit .464, scored 49 runs and had 39 RBIs for Class 6A Division I state semifinalist Flower Mound. The all-state shortstop was 38 for 38 on stolen bases and averaged 1.26 runs and 1.0 RBIs per game. She got a hit in every district game and had an 18-game hitting streak en route to being named the District 5-6A offensive player of the year. She has played shortstop for only two years but had a .933 fielding percentage this season. She is committed to Ole Miss as an outfielder.
Sydona Meiser
Keller, Jr.
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Meiser, who is committed to national runner-up Texas Tech, hit 11 home runs, which is now tied with teammate Kaiya Fabela for the single-season school record. Meiser was named the District 4-6A MVP and was an all-state honoree after hitting .468 with 52 hits, 28 extra-base hits, 52 RBIs and 40 runs despite being walked 21 times. She had a .955 slugging percentage.
Emily Souders
Flower Mound Marcus, So.
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The District 5-6A co-offensive player of the year hit .552 and had 64 hits in 39 games for 6A Division II Region I finalist Marcus. Souders hit 12 home runs, had 50 RBIs and scored 50 runs. She struck out only five times in 146 plate appearances. Souders hit .423 with two home runs, nine runs and eight RBIs in nine playoff games.
First-team OutfieldersFinlee Williams
Melissa, So.
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Williams was an all-state shortstop as a freshman at Allen in 2024, but she played center field in her first season at Melissa and once again earned all-state honors. Williams hit .579 and led 5A Division I state champion Melissa with 66 hits, 72 runs and 28 stolen bases. Her 60 RBIs were tied for the team lead, and her 19 home runs were third most on a team that broke the national record for most home runs in a season. Williams is rated the second-best outfielder in the country in the Class of 2027 by Extra Inning Softball. She hit .567 with four home runs, nine extra-base hits, 19 runs and eight RBIs in 10 playoff games.
Ava Cook
Wylie, Jr.
Cook was one of the top offensive players in the Dallas area, hitting .512 with 18 home runs, 70 runs and 72 RBIs during an all-state season. The District 9-6A MVP had 62 hits in 37 games, and 41 of those hits went for extra bases as she led Wylie to the 6A Division I regional semifinals. Cook had a .563 on-base percentage and 1.223 slugging percentage, she stole 20 bases and she struck out only four times in 144 plate appearances.
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Prosper Walnut Grove, Sr.
The Michigan State signee was the co-MVP of 9-5A, a district that included Class 5A Division I state champion Melissa, the top-ranked team in the nation. The all-state honoree was 20-5 with a 2.10 ERA as a pitcher, and she hit .518 with 16 doubles, five triples, 16 home runs and 56 RBIs for a 25-8 5A Division I regional semifinalist.
First-team UtilityOlivia Buettner
Denton Ryan, Sr.
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The Baylor signee hit .711, going 59 for 83. That included 42 extra-base hits — 27 doubles, five triples and 10 home runs. Buettner, an NFCA All-American in 2023 and 2024, was walked 28 times (14 times intentionally) but still had 56 RBIs and scored 51 runs. The District 6-5A offensive player of the year struck out only once all season in 114 plate appearances and had a .772 on-base percentage and 1.518 slugging percentage. She played pitcher and shortstop and was 16-6 with a 2.03 ERA and 200 strikeouts in 121 innings. Buettner was Denton Ryan’s valedictorian in a class of 498 students, and this year she was an NFCA academic All-American.
Abby Lynch-Buxton
Aubrey, Jr.
The junior catcher, who is committed to Ole Miss, led Class 4A Division II state runner-up Aubrey with a .476 batting average, 49 hits, 12 home runs and 59 runs. Her 40 RBIs were second most on a 33-4 team. Lynch-Buxton had 15 multi-hit games as Aubrey reached a state championship game for the first time since 2007.
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Keller, Jr.
The Kansas pledge set new single-season school records with 17 doubles, 68 RBIs and 56 runs. That’s saying a lot given that Keller is a four-time state champion. Jackson earned all-state recognition and hit .475 and had a .950 slugging percentage, eight triples and eight home runs for 6A Division II regional semifinalist Keller.
AdvertisementSecond teamPosition Name School Class NotableP Jadyn Dawson Plano East Sr. Abilene Christian signee was 6-6A MVP, 20-7 with 192 strikeouts, hit .459 with 14 home runs, 50 RBIs for 6A Division I regional finalist, and she was walked 44 timesP Bella MacMahon Grapevine Sr. South Dakota State signee was 6-5A pitcher of the year, 20-7 with 1.66 ERA, 170 strikeouts for 5A Division II state semifinalistP Chloe Poteete FM Marcus Sr. 5-6A co-pitcher of the year was 21-8 with 2.29 ERA, 221 strikeouts in 162 innings for 6A Division II regional finalist, opponents had a .197 batting average against herP Reagan Jordan Birdville So. District 6-5A MVP was 27-5 with 1.69 ERA, 233 strikeouts and hit .387 with 11 home runs, 34 RBIsC Kaiya Fabela Keller Sr. BYU signee hit .496 with 56 hits, 11 home runs, 55 RBIs, broke Keller school record for career home runsIF Drea Wilson North Forney Sr. Texas signee hit .492 with 10 home runs, 19 extra-base hits and 34 RBIs in 25 games, and she averaged a home run once every six official at-batsIF Coryn Burris Birdville Sr. Hit .548 with 23 doubles, 15 home runs, 62 runs, 72 RBIs for 5A Division I regional finalist, had 69 hits in 35 gamesIF Ella Berlage Prosper Walnut Grove Sr. South Dakota State signee was 9-5A offensive MVP, hit .500 with 15 home runs, 45 RBIs, 45 runsIF Bri Duffey Royse City Jr. District 10-6A co-MVP hit .494 with 13 doubles, 12 home runs, 50 RBIs, 44 runs, only 3 errors all year at shortstopOF Briana Williams Denton Guyer Sr. New Mexico signee hit .487, 56 hits, 46 runs for 6A Division II state semifinalistOF Paisley Needham Melissa Sr. Hit .455 with 12 home runs, 58 RBIs for 5A Division I state championOF Nahla Hurst Flower Mound Fr. Three-sport athlete hit .437, had 52 hits, scored 41 runs, 27 stolen bases for 6A Division I state semifinalist in first season back after she quit playing softball about three years agoUTIL Scarlett Kuhn Southlake Carroll Sr. Minnesota signee was 4-6A offensive MVP, hit .486 with 53 hits, 8 home runs, 47 RBIs, 41 runsUTIL Emma Willers Richardson Pearce Sr. UConn signee hit .765 with 17 doubles, 7 triples, 11 home runs, 63 RBIs, 66 runs, walked 35 timesUTIL Taylor Bilderback Midlothian Heritage Sr. Hit .514 with 13 doubles, 8 triples, 18 home runs, 50 RBIs, 65 runs, 25 stolen bases for 5A Division II regional semifinalistUTIL Domiana English Forney So. Hit .375 with 17 home runs, 42 RBIs for 6A Division II state runner-up, hit .483 with 4 home runs in 10 playoff gamesUTIL Lauren McIllwain Frisco Wakeland Jr. Louisiana Tech pledge had school-record 60 RBIs, hit .529, 12 doubles, 9 triples, 6 home runs, 42 runs for 12-5A championThird teamPosition Name School Class NotableP Abby Mangrum Royse City Sr. District 10-6A pitcher of the year was 21-7 with 199 strikeouts in 159 innings, shut out 6A Division II state runner-up Forney, 64-18 career recordP Mya Cherry Aubrey Sr. 25-2, 1.16 ERA, 230 strikeouts in 150 2/3 innings for 4A Division II state runner-up, hit .379 with 7 home runs, 36 RBIsP Kate Buesing Hebron Jr. District 5-6A co-pitcher of the year was 18-6 with 1.66 ERA, 203 strikeouts in 164 inningsP Carly Holman John Paul II Sr. 24-1, 1.44 ERA, 203 strikeouts in 126 2/3 innings, hit .329 with 11 home runs, 31 RBIs for TAPPS Division I state championC Brooke Wooten Frisco Lone Star Jr. Baylor pledge hit .418, 11 doubles, 7 home runs, 37 RBIs, 33 runs, caught 3 runners stealing, picked off 2 runnersIF Eva Daniels Forney Sr. North Texas signee hit .407 with 20 doubles, 6 home runs, 54 runs, 39 RBIs for 6A Division II state runner-upIF Gisele Rayngay Grapevine Sr. Hit .385 with 42 hits, 17 home runs, 36 RBIs, 45 runs for 5A Division II state semifinalistIF Katelyn Crosby Frisco Reedy Jr. Nebraska pledge hit .489, 44 hits, 46 RBIs, 43 runs, 18 stolen bases, 12-5A defensive player of the yearIF Kaelani Rogers Carrollton Creekview Sr. 12-5A offensive MVP hit .544 with 17 home runs, 38 RBIs, 48 runs, 32 walks (25 intentional), 46% of her hits were home runs and she averaged a home run once every four official at-batsOF Kayla Santiago Wylie Sr. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi signee was 9-6A offensive MVP, hit .523, 56 hits (32 for extra bases), 8 home runs, 43 RBIs, 62 runs, 31 stolen basesOF Faith Peterson Bishop Lynch Sr. Hit .600, scored 33 runs, 42 stolen bases, plans to walk on at Virginia TechIF/OF Megan Lau Frisco Reedy Sr. Hit .532, 50 hits, 56 runs, 48 stolen basesUTIL Bridget Mulligan John Paul II So. Hit .538 with 13 home runs, 46 runs, 37 RBIs for 28-2 TAPPS Division I state champion, rated the 34th-best catcher in the nation in the Class of 2027UTIL Morgan Wright Allen Sr. Stephen F. Austin signee hit .489 with 45 hits, 15 doubles, 10 home runs, 46 RBIs, 47 runs, 1.043 slugging percentage, had 12 wins as a pitcherUTIL Claire Schreiner Frisco Wakeland Sr. District 12-5A MVP hit .455 with 16 home runs, 46 RBIsUTIL Samantha Riley Prosper Jr. District 6-6A offensive player of the year hit .486 with 9 doubles, 8 home runs, 39 RBIs in 22 games, 9-2 as a pitcher for district championUTIL Michaela Landers Waxahachie Fr. District 11-6A MVP hit .617 with 49 runs, 53 RBIs, 19 triples, 6 home runsAdvertisement
On Twitter/X: @DMNGregRiddle
2025 softball awards
The Dallas Morning News awards player, coach and newcomer of the year and compiles all-area and all-district teams at the end of the football, volleyball, basketball, soccer, baseball and softball seasons. A group of writers and editors make the decisions by taking into account nominations from coaches, strength of schedule, individual statistics and performance and overall team success. If you have questions about the process, you can email high school sports editor Jamie Hancock at [email protected].
— Player of the Year: Melissa’s Kennedy Bradley
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— Offensive, Pitcher, Newcomer and Coach of the Year
— All-area first, second, and third teams
— All-district teams
Find more high school sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
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