While every team dreams of winning a state championship, the Stuart Lady Hornets were determined to accomplish their mission in their quest to win the Class B fastpitch crown. 

“These girls have been to the state tournament before in both fastpitch and slowpitch but this fall there was a different feeling,” said Chance Chapman, head coach of the Stuart softball program the past 15 years. “They knew they wanted it and were not going to let anything stand in the way.” 

Paced by the influence of six seniors, Stuart put all the pieces together to finish the season with a 37-5 record. After a nail biting 2-0 win over Kiowa in round one, the Hornets ousted Buffalo Valley 6-2 in the semifinals and earned the dogpile celebration on the Hall of Fame stadium infield with a 5-3 victory against Whitesboro. 

“We were all a little nervous in game one but from that point on, you could see the grit in the girls eyes when they walked through the gates,” said Chapman. “It was game on.” 

While six seniors were instrumental in the dream come true moment, it was a total team effort in a perfect storm. 

“All year long the seniors wanted their last chance to accomplish something we hadn’t done here at Stuart since 1964,” Chapman said noting the last time Stuart won the fastpitch state crown. 

“Haili (Igou) was a wall at catcher and with the bat in her hands and Kira (Meaders) our lefty in the circle was in total command spinning her pitches. Geralyn (Haney) and Chloe (Akin) made big plays in the outfield while Kaylee (Ford) at shortstop and Jadyn (Dalton) at first were rock solid. Haddie (Lindley), Reagan (Wade) and Jacie (Crenshaw) brought their A games too. Everyone wearing the Stuart uniform did their part in this dream come true moment.” 

“The entire group was a combination of talent, determination and a refuse to lose desire,” said Chapman who as a coach reached the state tournament for a 10th time. Photo courtesy Wes Edens