The Texas High School softball season came to a close, and it was another outstanding year for the Texas Panhandle. Here’s a look at the 2026 Press Pass Sports Softball Team. Compiled by Kale Steed.
Superlative honors
Coach of the Year
Carlyn Tolleson, Dumas
Since her arrival in 2019, Carlyn Tolleson has built the Dumas Demonette softball program into not only a perennial power across West Texas but also a force to be reckoned with across the entire state.
This year, Tolleson took the Demonettes to new heights, and for that effort, she garners the 2026 Press Pass Sports Softball Coach of the Year award.
In eight seasons as the Dumas head softball coach, Tolleson has led the Demonettes to eight straight playoff appearances and an extremely impressive record of 220-75.
“It’s an honor to be the head softball coach at Dumas,” Tolleson said. “Every girl that has come through this program has put in the work and invested so much time. It’s been beautiful to watch. I started in 2019 with a team that was hungry and they went 26-14. Those girls wanted it so bad. Year after year, a tradition has been set, and they all want to be successful and play for one another.”
This season was the best one yet on the field. The Demonettes had a veteran presence, power at the plate blasting a team total of 100 home runs, and the arm of Star Cortes in the circle to make a historic run. Dumas finished an unforgettable season with a 37-4-1 overall mark, ran through District 4-4A at 14-0 and carried that momentum into the postseason.
The Demonettes dominated every opponent in Region I including rival West Plains in the Region I-4A Division I championship to capture the program’s first regional title and become only the second Texas Panhandle school – joining the 2017 Canyon Lady Eagles – to advance to the UIL state semifinals before falling to Prosper Richland.
“This year was one of the funnest I’ve ever been a part of,” said Tolleson, who has led the Demonettes to four district championships in eight years. “The memories we made will never be forgotten. The district run and playoff run was amazing and we’ll never forget making it to the semifinals with a group of girls that loved to compete and work for one another. I just want to keep building a legacy and we look forward to the future.”
Player of the Year
Star Cortes, Dumas, 5-6, pitcher, Sr.
Whether it’s baseball or softball, great pitching always beats great hitting.
Dumas had that stellar pitching in four-year veteran Star Cortes. In each and every game, Cortes stepped up as the ace of the Demonettes, putting Dumas on her back, helping Dumas to 37 wins and a never seen run to the UIL Class 4A Division I state semifinals.
For her tremendous season, Cortes has been named the 2026 Press Pass Sports Softball Player of the Year.
“Star has meant so much to program,” Dumas head softball coach Carlyn Tolleson said. “She is a fighter and a competitor that has worked so hard. Whether it’s at practice or off the field, she shows the importance of leadership. She has been a cornerstone for this program over four years and her mentality was always to win.”
The four-year varsity standout got better each and every year and earned the respect of her teammates by the season. This senior year, Cortes grew immensely, carrying the Demonettes pitching staff single handedly. The District 4-4A MVP and Texas Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame Player of the Year compiled an impressive record of 28-4 in the circle over 167 innings pitched. Cortes racked up 115 strikeouts while boasting an ERA of 2.05.
“Getting to the state semifinals, and accomplishing all we did, made this my favorite season,” Cortes said. “We all came together and showed how good we could be. We had a great offense and that made it easier for me in the circle. I’m so proud to be a part of such a special program and it was an honor to wear a Demonette uniform. I’ll always remember this, and the friendships I’ve made. I loved the community support. The fans were amazing.”
Cortes could also get it done at the plate as the senior ended her year hitting .526 to go with 10 home runs, 44 RBIs, and 14 doubles.
Newcomer of the Year
Brinlee Baker, Amarillo High, 5-8, infielder/ outfielder, Fr.
On a loaded Amarillo High squad, Brinlee Baker found a spot on the field and made the most of it. The freshman was able to find a role mainly in right field and at the plate. The first team District 3-5A selection stepped up at the plate hitting .417 on the season for a Lady Sandies team were the Co-District 3-5A champions and advanced to the UIL Class 5A Division I playoffs. On top of that superb average, Baker tallied four homers, seven doubles and finished with 36 RBIs on the year.
“I think what separated Brinlee is she was never too big for the moment,” Amarillo High head softball coach Macy Klennert said. “She has a very strong head on her shoulders, especially for a freshman and I think her mental side is very strong. She also has one of the most beautiful swings I’ve ever seen. She is so smooth and she’s great at making contact with the ball, and she was clutch in right field for us.”
Utility Player of the Year
Tatum Gibson, Randall, infielder, 5-4, Jr.
Gibson is a big part of the glue for a very successful Randall Lady Raider team that won 30 games and advanced to the Region I-4A Division II championship series before falling to Brock. The junior is the definition of versatile taking up much of the left side of the infield with a fielding percentage of .880. At the plate, Gibson is equally dynamic as the District 4-4A Utility Player of the Year hit .406 to go along with four home runs, 13 doubles while driving in 31 runs.
“Tatum is an extremely hard worker,” Randall head softball coach Shelbie Watson said. “She does anything asked of her and she had a ton of clutch hits this year that either won us games or kept us in the game. She is always motivated and plays with a level head. I love to watch her because of her confidence. She is always composed when she is out there on the field and I think that’s what makes her the type of player she is.”
THE TEAM
PITCHERS
Jaylen Kaps, West Plains, 5-5, Sr.
Kaps has been the cornerstone of helping build the West Plains softball into a successful program over the past four years. The hard-throwing right-hander ended a tremendous senior campaign tossing 195.2 innings over 40 games with a total of an eye-opening 318 strikeouts while carrying a 2.25 ERA. The District 4-4A Pitcher of the Year and two-time Press Pass Sports selection ends her unbelievable high school career totaling 1,087 K’s.
Ansley Parr, Childress, 5-6, Jr.
The District 1-3A MVP was the backbone behind a tremendous year for a Childress Lady Bobcat team that won 24 games and claimed the first district title in program history. Game in and game out, Parr was counted on in the circle, finishing her amazing year with a record of 19-3, carrying a microscopic ERA of 0.83 while registering 307 strikeouts.
Grace Morales, Caprock, 5-5, Sr.
The durable Morales was a team leader for the Lady Longhorns whether it was at the plate or in the circle. When called upon, the senior always stepped up. Morales, a District 3-5A first team All-District selection, had 85 total strikeouts on the season with a 4.56 ERA. She also hit .455 on the season with five home runs and 33 RBIs.
CATCHERS
Aaliyah Chairez, Dumas, 5-6, Sr.
Chairez showed her leadership in more ways than one behind the plate during a historic run to the state semifinals for the Demonettes carrying a fielding percentage of .981 in 226 innings and caught 11 runners trying to steal. On the offensive side, the District 4-4A Catcher of the Year was part of an explosive lineup as Chairez hit .504 on the year with 11 homers on top of 18 doubles and 43 RBIs.
Emma Cuellar, Randall, 5-4, Jr.
Dependable behind the dish while providing pop at the plate, Cuellar was a key asset for a Randall Lady Raider team that reached the UIL Region I-4A Division II championship. The District 4-4A Defensive Player of the Year was solid handling the pitching staff with a .990 fielding percentage, and then delivered with her bat hitting .570 with 12 doubles and drove in 39 RBIs.
INFIEDLERS
Journey Prince, Childress, 6-foot, Sr.
While teammate Ansley Parr locked down the circle, Prince was doing damage in the middle of the lineup for a very talented Childress Lady Bobcat squad. The District 1-3A Co-Offensive MVP feasted on opponent pitching all year long with a batting of .517, powered 10 home runs on the year, knocked 12 doubles to the outfield, added five triples and drove in 41 runs.
Mykaela Samuels, Amarillo High, 5-6, Jr.
The Amarillo High junior earns a spot on the Press Pass Sports Softball Team for a second year in a row. The Lady Sandies slugger showed what she could do once again as Samuels finished a fantastic year hitting .528 with a team-best 13 homers to go with eight doubles and stacked up 74 RBIs. For her efforts, Samuels was named a first team District 3-5A Co-Offensive MVP.
Chayney Snelson, Bushland, 5-6, Sr.
The senior captain was an entrical part of another solid year for the Bushland Lady Falcons. As durable as they come, Snelson, the District 1-3A Defensive MVP, flashed the leather with a fielding percentage of .906 and helped turn eight double plays. At the plate, she was equally deadly, hitting .472 with 14 home runs, six triples and drove in 46 runs.
Madi Zubia, Dumas, 5-10, Jr.
Zubia was yet another slugger in the middle of a dangerous Dumas lineup that stacked up 100 homers on the year. Hitting .496 on the season, Zubia knocked 14 home runs out of the park, tallied 15 doubles and registered 65 RBIs. Playing first base, her glove was just as stellar as the first-team District 4-4A selection carried a fielding percentage of 1.000 and helped turn 10 double plays.
OUTFIELDERS
Brylee Baker, Amarillo High, 5-5, Sr.
The first team District 3-5A selection played a pivotal role in getting the Amarillo High Lady Sandies to a co-district title and 23 wins on the season. Baker broke out the bat, hitting a team-best .594 with a total of 10 home runs on the year and had a team-high 17 doubles. Baker also tallied 39 RBIs. The senior was also durable in the outfield with a .905 fielding percentage.
Vida Fierro, Dumas, 5-8, Sr.
Any time the Dumas slugger was at the plate there was always a possibility of the ball leaving the yard. Opposing pitchers always had trouble pitching around Fierro and it showed as the District 4-4A Clutch Player of the Year held a slugging percentage of 1.067, drilled 15 homers and drove in 68 runs on top of 21 doubles. Fierro carried a fielding percentage of 1.000 and registered 53 putouts from the outfield.
Izabella Wineberg, West Plains, 5-3, Sr.
With teammate Jaylen Kaps in the circle the defense had a lot of downtime, but Wineberg was a solid defensive hand for the Lady Wolves when called upon with a fielding percentage of .959. Offensively, the District 4-4A first team selection did damage over 40 games hitting .453 on the season with 11 doubles, four triples and totaled 17 RBIs. Wineberg also scored 46 runs and was speedy on the base paths taking 19 bags.
BEST OF THE REST
(Alphabetical order)
Addison Appier, Bushland 5-6, infielder, Sr.
Bayleigh Burks, Canyon, 5-5, infielder, Sr.
Teagan Beck, West Plains, 5-3, infielder, Sr.
Bryleigh Carr, Sanford-Fritch, 5-2, infielder, Sr.
Kaylee Felton, Childress, 5-7, infielder/ catcher, Soph.
Ashlynn Ferris, River Road, pitcher/ infielder, Jr.
Mia Fry, Dumas, 5-6, Dumas, outfielder, Jr.
Brooklynne Garrett, Canyon, 5-6, pitcher, Soph.
Sydney Garza, West Plains, 5-3, catcher, Jr.
Claire Gonzalez, Amarillo High, 5-4, infielder, Soph.
Remi Grimes, Gruver, 5-8, pitcher/ infielder, Jr.
Kylie Jordan, Bushland, 5-7, catcher/ infielder, Sr.
Nova Kinkade, Randall, 5-7, outfielder, Soph.
Haven Lee, West Texas High, 5-7, pitcher, Sr.
Maddlynn Longoria, Canadian, 5-7, pitcher, Soph.
Kaitlin Lucas, Highland Park, 5-6, pitcher, Soph.
Angie Rivas, River Road, 5-5, infielder, Sr.
Braylee Shuffield, Amarillo High, 5-5, catcher, Sr.
Laken Smith, Clarendon, 5-10, pitcher/ infielder, Fr.
Yari Vargas, Dumas, 5-5, outfielder, Jr.
