Brianna Rodriguez, Rowlett, P: The 5A area leader in ERA (0.51) has 189 strikeouts. Rodriguez (19-3), a sophomore, opened District 10-5A with two no-hitters.
Taylor Hoagland, Flower Mound, 3B: The junior, who has committed to Texas, hit .523 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs. She fields well, too.
Bradie Baker, Mesq. Poteet, P: She is one of the best pitchers/hitters in Class 4A. Baker (24-3) has a 0.86 ERA with 224 strikeouts, and she hits .523 with 26 RBIs.
Jocelyn Roberts, Waxahachie, 3B: Except for bumping her head on the dugout, Roberts has had a fine season, batting .452 with 31 RBIs and six home runs.
Taylor Jones, Plano East, P: She has a 0.61 ERA and 20 wins and leads the team with a .442 average and 27 RBIs.
Kathy Shelton, McKinney North, SS: This leadoff batter is hitting .537 with 37 stolen bases for District 9-4A champion McKinney North. A junior, she has committed to Baylor.
Plano: Three players are hitting .400 or better – Macy Burr, Brittany Griffiths and Stevie Pierce. Vonnie Martin bats .394 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs.
Forney: It has three players hitting .500 or better – Monica Davis, Caitlin Everett and Kallan Thompson. Erica LeFlore (.420) and Shelby Brogdon (.426) also make big contributions.
Denton Ryan: Micah Foutch is one of the best 4A hitters, with a .516 average. Whitney Haynes tied for the 4A area lead in home runs (six) and also had 33 RBIs. And Sonia Foutch, Zoila Olguin and Misty Dooley all hit better than .400.
Will Garland make history? Tomi Garrison, a two-time state title game MVP, leads Garland's bid to become the first UIL softball team to win three consecutive state titles. Garrison (16-2) has a 0.71 ERA. She is hitting .479 with 38 RBIs.
How far can Justin Northwest go? The state's all-time strikeout leader, Brittany Barnhill, led Northwest to the regional final last season. This year, the team hopes to go further with an offense led by Erinn Jayjohn. She is hitting .487 with two homers and 27 RBIs.
Plano West: It has won eight straight, including road wins against Plano and Plano East. Pitchers Kylie Walker (1.22 ERA) and Dayna Purl (0.92) led the charge with help from Christina Roosmalen (.448) and Paige Burke (.446).
Mesquite Poteet: It won nine in a row and 21 of its last 22 en route to sharing the District 10-4A title. Kersti Rowan (.486) and Lindsey Barsoum (.470) contributed to the streak.
Flower Mound: The District 6-5A champs have won nine straight. Pitchers Dana Nathanson, Lauren Kennewell and Ashley Rother combined to give up four runs in the last five games. Natalie Huse (.533) leads the team in hitting.
Mesquite Horn: After a third-place district finish last season, it surprised Mesquite late in the season to win District 12-5A. Courtney Moore leads Horn with a .484 average and 35 RBIs.
Coppell: It hasn't gotten past the second round of the playoffs since 2002, but this could be the year after finishing second in District 6-5A. Rachel Forshaw (.422) and Madison Buckley (29 RBIs) lead a squad with 12 sophomores.
Midlothian: It beat top teams Denton Ryan, Flower Mound Marcus and Waxahachie. Brittany Caruthers leads the team with a .412 average, four home runs and 21 RBIs.
Today-Saturday: Playoffs begin
May 1-3: Area playoffs
May 8-10: Regional quarterfinals
May 15-17: Regional semifinals
May 21-24: Regional Finals
May 29-May 31: UIL state tournament, McCombs Field in Austin.
