WOODROW – You could call it a generational run by the Dumas Demonettes, who entered the rare air of the UIL Class 4A Division I state semifinals.
With three potential games to win to become the first team from the Texas Panhandle to reach the state championship stage, the orange and black were already the first team since the Canyon Lady Eagles (2017) to make it this deep into the Class 4A postseason.
Dumas’ championship dreams came within reach, winning the first game of a best-of-three series against Prosper Richland via a 4-1 outcome on Wednesday at Iowa Park.
However, on Saturday at Lady Pirate Field within First United Park at Lubbock-Cooper High School, the Raiders had other plans. In its inaugural season as a program, Prosper Richland stopped the Demonettes short of a state title berth by winning both games by way of 4-2 and 7-6 final scores.
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Dumas saw its historic season reach its conclusion with a phenomenal 36-4-1 record. The Demonettes added another feather to the proverbial cap, tallying 100 total home runs as a team.
The Raiders improved to 35-8 and will face Bullard (36-7-1) at 10 a.m. on Friday at Red and Charline McCombs Field in Austin. Bullard swept Corpus Christi Calallen on Thursday in Cypress.
Even though the season ended with hugs and tears, Dumas head coach Carlyn Tolleson acknowledged that the journey taken was something memorable.
“It’s been a beautiful journey,” Tolleson said, fighting back her own tears. “I’m just so proud of this team and everything they’ve accomplished. They’ve had an unbelievable season. I’m so proud of them. I’m extremely blessed to be their head coach.”
“This team is made of grit and made of fight,” Tolleson continued. “They worked so hard. We hit the ball well, our defense was outstanding. But Richland did a really good job of gaining some momentum. We were always looking for the next play, we felt like we were one swing away. We believed that our team could come back and fight. It’s not the way we wanted it to end, but I’m so proud of what they’ve done.”
Game one proved that Dumas was among the elite, opening up the game in the top of the fourth with a double from Vida Fierro and a two-run home run from Zubia. Aaliyah Chairez went 2-of-4 at the dish, as Yari Vargas, Star Cortes and Mia Fry each collected one hit for the winning cause.
“(Wednesday) made us feel great,” said Tolleson. “We played really well, the bats were hot and we held them on the defensive end. It’s always great to get that first win out of a series.”
Within the circle, Cortes only surrendered one run and four hits, along with fanning one Raider and yielding just one walk.
Game two seemed to play out nicely for the Demonettes, who were the designated home team for the possible doubleheader. Thanks to a two-RBI double from Cortes, Dumas opened up the game with a 2-0 lead.
Prosper Richland was unfazed, totaling four runs in the top of the third frame. The Raiders’ surge came from a two-RBI double from TJ Spain, followed by RBI singles from Alani De Leon and Justyce Malone.
Richland’s Sam Riley outdueled Cortes, striking out six Demonettes despite allowing six hits and walking two. Riley also kept the Demonette offense in check, stranding a multitude of Dumas baserunners over the course of game two.
Cortes drove the offense, going 2-of-3 with two doubles, but struck out only two Raiders. Vargas was 2-of-4 with two doubles, Chairez was 1-of-3 and Fry was 1-of-2 at the plate.
With Richland evening up the series with a 4-2 score, the Demonettes were determined to put the Raiders away early.
Dumas plated two after Zubia grounded out and a Richland error. This allowed the Demonettes to put together a 2-0 lead heading into the second inning. Cortes again doubled in the bottom of the third, complemented by Lisbeth Quiroz grounding into a fielder’s choice and a Sofia Miramontes walk — allowing Dumas to create a 5-0 cushion in the third inning.
Cortes, who is bound for Seward County Community College next season, smacked three doubles and drove in three runs.
“Star is an absolute competitor,” said Tolleson. “She’s been a joy to coach the past four years. She’s a phenomenal pitcher, a phenomenal shortstop and an outstanding hitter. I could describe her in so many ways, but she has been a huge part of our success. Coaching Star has been one of my favorite memories.”
Richland mounted another rally in the top of the fourth, scoring four runs to trim the Dumas lead to one at 5-4. In the bottom frame, Zubia supplied the Demonettes with a big insurance run — a solo moonshot over the centerfield fence.
With Zubia’s 14th dinger of the season, the Demonettes achieved their 100th home run as a collective unit.
“Madi is outstanding,” Tolleson said, praising her senior slugger. “She has so much power and she has so much energy. She connected with that ball (in the fourth) and made it our 100th home run to let us lead the nation. I’m just proud of what she does offensively and defensively.”
After a scoreless fifth inning, Richland regained the momentum by scoring one run in the top of the sixth and taking the lead with two runs in the seventh. Makayla Barnes provided a sac fly and De Leon singled to right.
As the wind shifted and lightning entered the area, the Demonettes were unable to get their sticks going and force the contest into extras.
Chairez paced Dumas at the dish, going 2-of-4 with a double and a triple. Chairez also supplied a stolen base, alongside Fry and Vida Fierro. Defensively, Fierro became a wall by capturing multiple fly balls over the course of the final game.
“Our outfield is amazing,” Tolleson said, crediting Fierro, Vargas and Fry. “Any ball that’s in the air, we know it’s an out. Any ball on the ground with the runner going, we know that she’s getting thrown out. Our outfield has been a huge part of our success.”
“We’ve come to call them the ‘no fly zone,’ and it fits them perfectly,” added Tolleson. “They’re fast, they have great arms and they do a really good job out there. All three of them.”
Out of a jam packed crowd at Lady Pirate Field, 80 percent sported the Dumas forks and colors. Tolleson tipped her cap to the community for supporting the team in its travels.
“Dumas will always be there, loud and proud,” Tolleson said. “It’s a blessing to have them behind us, rooting for us the whole way. Dumas is such a phenomenal community and their support means so much to us.”
Although the Demonettes’ season came to a close, the Class of 2026 built the foundation for more successful spring campaigns within the North Plains.
“This team left a legacy,” said Tolleson. “Girls want to play for this program, and our girls are excited because of the winning culture they have created. They have opened up so many opportunities, and it makes those little girls want to play. We have so many kids at Little League, and it’s so fun to watch them get excited about the Demonettes.”
“I’m just so proud of what our girls have done,” Tolleson continued. “To have the community back them has been amazing for us. We’re just so blessed that (our supporters) have followed us all season long, the 40-plus games. The future is extremely bright in Dumas, and our (younger players) are hungry to play, because of this senior class.”