L-R (top). Coach Ray Perez, Maddison Pyle, Karah Cavazos, Bella Perez, Jenna Martinez, Brooklyn Pyle, Bailey McHam, Sian Diaz-Salazar, Coach Erica Perez. (Bottom row) Aubree Castillo, Abby Reyes, Alyssa Delafuente, and Emily Martinez (Photo courtesy Charla McHam)
RALLS, TX – At a young age, a group of Floydada 12U softball players is putting their names among top athletic success on the local scene. They call themselves the Futures.
The Futures secured their second Section 1 Little League Championship banner in their young career on Tuesday evening by running past Childress 12-4 at Lady Jackrabbit Field in the Dag Azam Sports Complex. Floydada is now a perfect 7-0 in Little Leauge playoff tournaments for 2022 in the Major Division for ages 10-12.
“This is a very determined bunch. They are capable of making adjustments on the mound and at the plate. All but three of the players have been playing travel ball, and each player gives us 100 percent every game. They are very coachable and developing into a very disciplined ballclub,” said Erica Perez. Ray and Erica Perez are in their 16th year of coaching youth sports in Floydada.
Bella Perez was the winning pitcher in the Championship game, with Maddie Pyle coming in relief to get the save.
There were no individual awards given for being the Section 1 Champions, but Perez expressed that Bella Perez on defense and Karah Cavazos on offense would have been strong MVP candidates. Perez has indicated all of the girls are very cohesive and team-oriented.
This age group advanced to Texas West State in 2019 in the 10U Minor division and the 12U Major division in 2022. Floydada has had two other softball teams advance to the Texas West playoff level of Little League in the past decade – a 10U team in 2013 and a 14U squad in 2021. Ray and Erica Perez coached three of those successful ballclubs in 2013, 2019, and 2022. Jason and Lindsey Pyle coached the 2021 team.
Floydada will be in a four-team field at Texas West in Abilene on July 13-16. It is a double-elimination tournament. In the previous appearances, Floydada has faced communities that have 5A and 6A classifications of schools.
Texas is divided into three states: West, East, and South. The Lone Star State teams will then advance to the Southwest Region, comprised of champions from Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Louisiana.
SECTION 1 Results
Floydada 16 Pecos 0
Floydada 6 Childress 0
Childress 5 Pecos 2
Floydada 12 Childress 4
