The area's most successful softball teams from the just-completed season have one thing in common: Their ace pitchers are graduating.
BEN SKLAR / Special to DMN
Class 4A state softball champion Aledo will lose senior pitcher Whitney Canion (right) next year.
Class 4A state champion Aledo loses Whitney Canion, who will go to Baylor. Class 5A semifinalist Garland says good-bye to Tomi Garrison, who led the Owls to state championships in 2006 and '07 before signing with Sam Houston State. And 4A Region II finalist McKinney North won't have Ashliegh McLean, who will play for North Central Texas College.
Aledo will have only three starters back: outfielder Andi Shahan, catcher Easton Cook and second baseman K.K. Pittman. But the No. 1 team in the USA Today national poll will come back with a proven pitcher in Diane Freeman, who was 7-1 this season as sophomore.
Unlike Aledo, Garland will keep the same core of players. Garrison, Texas State signee Fra'Shekia Knight and Kandice Garner are the only starters graduating.
Garland will probably turn to Heather Wilson, who was 4-2 as a freshman but started at second base most of the season.
McKinney North loses three starters but keeps top hitters Kathy Shelton, Sarah Becker and Meghan Knowles.
Lindsay Collings (4-2-1) provides some experience as a starting pitcher for McKinney North. The junior won Game 3 against Mesquite Poteet in the regional quarterfinals but lost to Waxahachie in Game 2 of the regional semifinals.
