STINNETT — For the past three years, the Dumas Demonettes had been knocking on the door to the state semifinals. Each time, the door remained shut for the ladies clad in orange and black.
Facing off against a familiar District 4-4A foe in West Plains this time around, head coach Carlyn Tolleson and her senior-laden squad would not be denied.
In a best-of-three series held at the Comanche Softball Field on the campus of West Texas High School, the Demonettes routed the Lady Wolves, 11-1, in five innings on Thursday. On a toasty Friday afternoon, Dumas completed the sweep via a 12-1 final score in six frames.
Once the final out, a routine grounder to first, was recorded, Tolleson knew that her team had worked tirelessly for this particular moment. The Demonettes knew the special significance of the moment, as well.
“I feel incredibly blessed to be in Dumas,” Tolleson said, after the victory. “These girls work so hard, day in and day out. They just want it, and they fight for it. I’m extremely proud and excited for them right now.”
West Plains opened the first game of the series with a 1-0 lead midway through the first frame, before the Demonettes plated three in the third and tacked on eight in the bottom of the fifth. Dumas built up a 3-0 lead to start the deciding contest, surrendered a solo homer to senior pitcher Jaylen Kaps in the bottom of the third. The Demonettes then secured one run in the top of the fourth, before the floodgates opened with an eight run surge in the top of the sixth.
Even though the Demonettes are known for their explosive offense, as they have outscored opponents, 130-14, this postseason, it’s star hurler Star Cortes who sets the tone.
During the series, Cortes surrendered only two runs and eight hits over the duration of the series. She allowed just four walks and fanned seven Lady Wolves.
“I felt a little iffy at the beginning (of game two), but I pitched a good game,” Cortes said of her performance. “I trusted my defense. They just made me feel really good.”
Centerfielder Vida Fierro praised her teammate.
“(Cortes) definitely runs the ball, and I’m glad to be backing her up with every catch I make,” Fierro said. “She does so much for us. We couldn’t be here with her help.”
The Demonettes marched on to the Class 4A-Division I state semifinals for the first time in program history, improving to 35-2-1 overall. After reaching the regional final for the first time in the program’s young history, West Plains bowed out with a 27-13 record.
According to West Plains head coach Lexi Velasquez, the deep playoff push was made possible by her seniors.
“They’re the ones that have been here since year one,” said Velasquez. “To end their senior year with a record-breaking season is amazing. It’s an honor to be a part of, as a coach.”
She also tipped her cap to Dumas.
“To lose (the regional final) to a team like Dumas, that’s also an honor,” Velasquez said. “They’ve also been a solid team, and their senior class is very strong. I have full faith that Dumas will go on and take it all. It would be an honor to say that we only lost to those who took it all.”
The Demonettes march on to face the Prosper Richland (33-7) in a UIL Class 4A state semifinal at a time and place to be determined.
Game one saw the Demonettes bash three home runs, one each from Emarie Marquez, Mia Fry and Sofia Miramontes. Vida Fierro recorded two doubles, with Lisbeth Quiroz and Madi Zubia supplying one double each.
Fierro went 3-of-4 at the dish, while Zubia, Marquez and Aaliyah Chairez both went 2-of-3. Kaps went 2-of-2 for West Plains and was credited with the Lady Wolves’ lone RBI.
Before the sixth inning, game two had the makings of a more closely contested matchup. Dumas built up a 3-0 lead following the second frame, due to a West Plains error and a RBI single from Marquez.
Kaps, who came in as relief for starting pitcher Preslee Irvin, made a determined effort to keep West Plains’ season alive. Kaps smacked a solo shot over the center field fence in the bottom of the third, and allowed just two runs over four innings.
“She’s just been a leader,” Velasquez said of Kaps’ all-around performance. “Being a pitcher is not easy. You touch a ball every single play, but being able to perform on both sides of the ball is just phenomenal. Not only that, but she’s also team captain. Performance wise, attitude wise and integrity wise, she’s the ideal athlete. It’s going to hard to replace someone like her.”
Despite Kaps’ work at the dish and within the circle, West Plains was hampered by errors — committing three miscues. All proved fatal for the ladies in double blue.
Yari Vargas extended the Dumas lead to 4-1 in the top of the fourth, hitting an RBI triple.
At the top of the sixth, the proverbial dam broke in favor of the Demonettes. Miramontes scored an RBI single, before Fierro and Zubia smacked back-to-back home runs. Fry picked up a two-run single, before Marquez complemented with an RBI single.
“It was a sense of relief,” Fierro said of her three run round-tripper. “I was so happy that I was able to start the train, and kind of get us going a little more. We were already doing really well, but that kind of snapped us open and made us realize that all we needed was a few more runs and this game was over.”
When the dust settled, Dumas pushed their lead to 11 at 12-1. It was a lead that the orange and black would not relinquish.
Fierro went 2-of-4, alongside Quiroz, who was 2-of-4 with both hits being doubles. Zubia went 2-of-3 to aid the Demonettes.
Izabella Wineberg led West Plains at the dish along with Kaps, going 2-of-3 from the leadoff spot in the batting order.
Despite the sweep, both games experienced high attendance from spectators. Thursday’s bout was bona fide sell-out, and Friday’s game was jam packed — even with the near 100-degree weather.
“The crowd was electric,” Tolleson said. “I mean, you look around and there’s orange and black everywhere. It’s community support. It’s an unbelievable feeling, getting all of the texts, the “good lucks,” the businesses standing outside day in and day out, and supporting us. It’s the best feeling in the world to have a place like Dumas behind you in every aspect.”
Velasquez echoed Tolleson’s words, as there was a solid contingent of West Plains supporters in the stands.
“It was phenomenal, and I love it,” Velasquez said. “I love it so much. It shows how many people are invested in this small game of softball. It’s continuing to grow more and more.”
From Velasquez’s perspective, the future is bright with the Wolf Pack.
“(The future holds) great things,” said Velasquez. “We have (Irvin), who is building experience time and time again. We have Avery Ponce, Avery Martinez, Emory Chancler and so many more. There’s many different, and who knows what’s going to come out from that, but that’s what the offseason is for. It’s all about staying and producing something that we need and want.”
Dumas now enters uncharted waters. With three games to win in order to lift a state championship trophy, Cortes knows that the Demonettes are peaking at the right time.
“We definitely have to come together and keep playing as we are,” said Cortes. “I feel like we’re really good right now. Every one of us have confidence in ourselves and we’re having a little fun.”
Fierro noted that teamwork will make the dream into a reality.
“It comes down to unity, consistency within practice, managing sleep and school, and relaying on one another. We know that we have each other’s backs.”