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Danielle Serna is holding up her family name well.

The most recent in a long line of siblings who have excelled for Austin High, the junior pitcher is a big reason why the Maroons’ softball team has advanced to the Region IV-5A quarterfinals. Serna —the team’s ace — has recorded 61 strikeouts in five playoff games and has given up only two earned runs. She’s also hitting .590 for a team that has almost half of its starting lineup hitting better than .500.

“I try to do my best on the mound and in the batter’s box, and I just try to do whatever I can to help my team,” said Serna, who also helped Austin High’s basketball team to the regional quarterfinals.

“As a program, we aren’t about individuals; we’re all just trying to win a game,” she said.

Serna, who has committed to play softball at Colorado State, was at her best in the third and deciding game of last week’s area-round playoff series against Port Lavaca Calhoun. She hit a two-run homer and threw a complete-game shutout in the Maroons’ 2-0 win, which propelled them into this week’s thirdround series against Angleton.

It’s that threat as both a pitcher and hitter that makes Serna one of the top players in the city, Austin High coach Kristen Lozano said.

“She’s one of the best pitchers I’ve seen or coached,” Lozano said. “I know it’s been a while since Austin High has had a pitcher like her, but she’s not just a pitcher. She’s a fielder, she’s a hitter and she’s kind of scary at the plate and scary on the mound.