Championship Spotlight:

A look back at Forsan’s softball back-to-back state titles

We’re two months in to the new year and the spring season is almost here. This is always my favorite time of the year because for me it signals warmer weather is coming back. Well sort of, minus the windy days or the out-ofthe-blue cold fronts. Besides that it’s also my favorite time of the year for another reason. Springtime sports! I’m a track and field guy myself, I’ve always enjoyed running and still do to this day. But I also enjoy watching baseball and softball as well, especially at the high school level.

I mean how could I not? Howard County is home to some pretty historic and dominant high school programs in the state. To the east, we have the Coahoma Bulldogettes softball program which has been a state powerhouse since the mid nineties. South of Howard County though lies another softball program one that has an impressive history of its own.

The Forsan softball program is about 17 years old which is fairly new compared to their county rivals, Coahoma. But just like Coahoma, The Lady Buffaloes established themselves as a dominant program in the early days of it’s inception. The Lady Buffs first competed back in the 2005-06 season in the UIL Class 1A division under current head coach Shanna Taylor. Taylor and the Lady Buffs immediately started the softball program in the right direction.

Their first year the Lady Buffaloes advanced all the way to the regional semifinals where they would lose to Seymour in two games. The following year , the Lady Buffaloes made the playoffs again but would fall to Marfa in the regional quarterfinals. The first two seasons was all the experience the Lady Buffaloes needed to advance to state tournament the following year.

In the 2008-09 season, the Lady Buffaloes would win their first ever Class 1A state title beating Alto 2-1, just four years after its inception in UIL softball play. While searching up more information and old articles for this story I came across some interesting articles with some sports analysts citing that the Lady Buffaloes first state title was merely a fluke. Some even went as far to say that Forsan had a lucky break during their playoff and state title run.

Pretty harsh critique for a team that won its first ever state title, but it didn’t seem to affect them too much. Coach Taylor and the

Lady Buffaloes simply responded back by capturing another state title in the 2009-10 season for its second consecutive state title. This time around the Lady Buffaloes left no doubt that they were the better team as they dominated Blue Ridge winning 5-0. The Lady Buffaloes finished that season with a 28-4 mark, losing only to Class 2A powerhouse Coahoma twice, and Class 4A schools Big Spring and Monahans.

Since then, the Forsan softball team have gone on to make the playoffs every year since 2006. In addition to that, The Lady Buffaloes have won 8 district titles, 7 bi-district championships, 15 area championships, 13 regional quarterfinal championships, 6 regional semifinal championships, and 2 regional finals championships.

The players on those state championship teams for those seasons were: Amanda Longorio, Ambra Hill, D’amberly Averette, Shelby Jones, Kelsey Jones, Miranda Park, Haylie Burleson, Kevy O’brien, Sandi Golleher, Alyx Papajohn, Morgan Forshee, Kay’c Stanley, Brittaney Roemer, Brittany Glasco, and Ashley Buzbee. Longorio pitched in both state title games for Forsan and earned All-state Tournament honors as pitcher in both seasons.

Also earning All-state Tournament honors for Forsan during those seasons were; Kevy O’brien (08-09 & 09-10), Shelby Jones (08-09 & 09-10), Ambra Hill (08-09 & 09-10), Ashely Buzbee (09-10), Miranda Park (09-10), and Kelsey Jones (09-10).

Not bad for a program that is fairly young and who knows? Maybe another state tournament run is on the horizon. With a veteran head coach in Shanna Taylor and strong softball tradition, it’s just a matter of time before things start clicking for the Lady Buffs. Either way, can’t wait to see the upcoming season!

Old-fashioned hayrides and frisky farm animals! Explore 7 amazeing acres of our maze and fill up a wagon in the 10-acre Pumpkin Patch! Fiddlesticks Farm is family adventure with 25+ attractions, finger-licking grub, and crackly campfires.

We’re way out West … in Midland, Texas. Y’all come!

Keep an eye on our website for our 2023 Season dates! They’ll be coming Soon! www.fiddlesticksfarms.com

(432) 687-6293 5610 E. County Rd. 120