Melissa's Starr blazes in state semifinal shutout of Lake Belton (2024)

Staff report

AUSTIN — Lake Belton’s breakthrough appearance at the UIL state softball tournament fell short of the ultimate prize.

Still, the Lady Broncos have much to celebrate from the 2024 season.

Melissa pitcher Alexandra Starr put on a starring performance, throwing a complete-game three-hitter in Melissa’s 4-0 win over Lake Belton in the Class 5A state semifinals on Friday morning at Red & Charline McCombs Stadium.

Lake Belton, which opened in 2020, wrapped up its best all-around softball season with a 40-5 record.

The Melissa-Lake Belton game was the only UIL state game played at the University of Texas on Friday, as the tournament’s other three games, including the Midway-Humble Kingwood game, were moved to Georgetown East View because of the threat of bad weather.

Starr (28-1) effectively neutralized the Lady Bronco offense, allowing only six baserunners in 27 batters paced. She struck out three, walked three and did not allow an extra-base hit.

The hitters for Melissa (37-2-1) gave Starr more than enough run support. Junior shortstop Caigan Crabtree, a UT softball commit, showed any Longhorn fans attending the game a glimpse of what they’ll see in the future, as she went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs.

The Cardinals still haven’t lost in the playoffs. They won one-game battles in their first two playoff rounds before moving on to sweep series from Humble Kingwood Park, Frisco Wakeland and Forney to reach state for the first time in program history.

Lake Belton seemingly had a golden chance to strike first in the top of the first. Angelina DeLeon worked a one-out walk, then Casey Schultz punched a single to right to put two runners aboard. A groundout from Maddison Ruiz advanced the runners to second and third, but Starr coaxed a come-backer from Madison Naser to slip out of the jam.

Melissa took care of business in the bottom of the inning to snag the lead. Following a one-out single by Kennedy Bradley, Crabtree thumped an RBI double into the gap in left-center, sending the Cardinals to a 1-0 lead.

Melissa added two more in the third. Crabtree again doubled in Bradley, and the shortstop later scored herself when Amariee Bradford lifted a sacrifice fly to right.

Given how Starr was pitching, that 3-0 lead would be more than enough. But the Cardinals tacked on one more for good measure in the sixth on a Bradford solo home run.

Lake Belton ace Shelby Schultz (21-4) suffered only her fourth loss of the season. She scattered eight hits over her 5.1 innings of work, striking out three and walking none.

The Schultz twins, Casey and Shelby, will take their talents to Tarleton State in the fall. They’re two of the Lady Broncos’ six seniors, along with Angelina DeLeon, Haley Hoffman, Lilliana Piedra and Victoria Shimabukuro.

That group clearly will be missed, but Lake Belton also six underclassmen on its state roster as well as four juniors who will make up the leadership group for the 2025 team.

The 2024 team will forever remain special to the community, though. Not only did the Lady Broncos make history with the program’s first state appearance, but they gave their community something to cheer about during a tough time, following a May 22 tornado that caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and even the Lady Broncos’ home softball field.

“Playing for state is surreal,” first-year head coach Kelsie McEachern told the Temple Daily Telegram prior to the state tournament. “This has been the goal of the team since Day 1. Now, with the recent events, it just means more. They aren’t just playing for each other and this program, but now a community. The community has been very supportive and I just hope we can give the spark this community needs.”