Take a look at the 2026 Caller-Times All-South Texas Softball Team, featuring some of the top players in the Coastal Bend region of Texas.
MVP
Parker Malone, jr., Veterans Memorial
Parker Malone continued to cement her reputation as one of the most top players in Texas high school softball as a junior. Malone elevated her game even further this season to earn back-to-back Caller-Times All-South Texas MVP honors. The University of South Carolina commit was the centerpiece of a Veterans Memorial team that advanced to the regional semifinals of the UIL Class 5A playoffs. Malone produced at the plate and in the field, hitting .557 with 22 doubles, five triples, 21 home runs, 68 RBIs, 71 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. She showcased her discipline at the plate by striking out four times all season.
Newcomer of the Year
Cami Recio, fr., Santa Gertrudis Academy
Recio made an immediate impact in her first varsity season, helping lead Santa Gertrudis Academy to the UIL Class 3A Division II state championship. Recio was also recognized among the competition after earning District 30-3A Newcomer of the Year and UIL all-tournament honors. One of the top young players in the Coastal Bend, Recio concluded her first season hitting .433 with 19 doubles, five home runs, 23 RBIs, 56 runs scored and 19 stolen bases.
Coach of the Year
Cassie De Leon, Moody
De Leon guided Moody to one of the program’s most memorable seasons in recent history by ending an 11-year playoff drought and leading the Trojans to their first postseason appearance since 2015. Moody clinched its playoff berth in dramatic fashion, rallying for a 7-6 walkoff victory in a District 29-5A play-in game when Kaelynda “KK” Gallardo delivered the game-winning hit. De Leon and the Trojans continued their postseason magic by defeating Rio Grande City in another one-game playoff thriller, which again concluded with a Gallardo game-winning hit. Moody finished the season with a 21-13 record, capping a breakthrough campaign for the Trojans.
First Team
Infielders
Braelynn Bailey, sr., Calallen
Of note: The District 31-4A MVP and three-time state champ Bailey, who was a TGCA all-state selection, hit .533 with 13 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs, 52 RBIs and a .972 fielding percentage.
Addison Mayo, jr., Flour Bluff
Of note: The District 29-5A offensive player of the year, TGCA all-state and TGCA all-star selection hit .571 with 60 hits, 25 doubles, nine home runs, 43 RBIs and 60 runs.
Izabella Flores, fr., Rockport-Fulton
Of note: The first-team all-district third baseman hit .584 with 11 home runs, 55 RBIs, 35 runs and a .985 fielding percentage in her first varsity season.
Aubrielle Saldana, sr., Bishop
Of note: The 30-3A offensive player of the year hit .573 on the season and .615 in district play. Saldana also stole 20 bases in 20 attempts and struck out six times all season.
Kaeleigh Mendez, sr., Carroll
Of note: Mendez was a staple in the Tigers’ lineup after hitting .464 with 24 doubles, five triples, eight home runs and 10 stolen bases.
Outfielders
Kylie Butcher, jr., Calallen
Of note: The District 31-4A offensive player of the year and TGCA all-state selection hit .391 with a school-record 18 home runs, 51 RBIs, 43 runs and 14 stolen bases.
Emilee Holmes, sr., Veterans Memorial
Of note: The first-team all-district selection and all-star pick hit .438 with 56 hits, 12 doubles, six triples, four home runs, 53 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.
Serenity Lopez, so., West Oso
Of note: The District 29-3A co-offensive player of the year hit .529 with 48 hits, 36 RBIs, 37 runs, three home runs and a .929 slugging percentage.
Ayla Gonzales, sr., Bishop
Of note: Gonzales hit .432 in her final season and drove in 45 RBIs. She also connected on 18 doubles, stole 15 bases and hit nine home runs.
Hailey Ortega, jr., Santa Gertrudis Academy
Of note: The first-team all-district selection and state all-tournament performer batted .500 with 19 doubles, six home runs, 51 RBIs, 56 runs and 22 stolen bases.
Braelyn Yepez, jr., London
Of note: The junior outfielder batted .455 with 50 hits, 14 RBIs, 33 stolen bases and a .973 fielding percentage.
Pitchers
Sidney Castillo, sr., Woodsboro
Of note: The TGCA all-state selection posted a 33-7 record with a 1.436 ERA, 343 strikeouts, four no-hitters and 14 shutouts while batting .421 with 60 runs and 29 stolen bases.
Lexi Ruiz, sr., Santa Gertrudis Academy
Of note: The state championship-winning pitcher posted 15 victories with a 0.927 ERA and 144 strikeouts while earning first-team all-district, state all-tournament and CBCA all-star honors.
Jordyn Thibodeaux, sr., Calallen
Of note: The TGCA all-state selection and three-time state champion posted a 14-5 record with a 1.88 ERA and 175 strikeouts while batting .422 with nine home runs and a 1.533 OPS.
Kylee Ward, sr., Ingleside
Of note: Ward posted a 24-6 record with 1.74 ERA and 224 strikeouts. At the plate, Ward hit .444 with three home runs and 22 RBIs.
Catchers
Audryna Almaraz, sr., Calallen
Of note: The Coastal Bend Sports Softball Athlete of the Year and TGCA all-state selection hit a scorching .557 with 15 doubles, 12 home runs and 61 RBIs while posting a .989 fielding percentage behind the plate.
K’Lee Bazan, sr., Santa Gertrudis Academy
Of note: The district defensive MVP, state championship game MVP and CBCA all-star batted .485 with 19 doubles, 12 home runs and 64 RBIs.
Talina Valdez, sr., Carroll
Of note: The District 29-5A co-offensive player of the year and CBCA all-star selection batted .539 with 69 hits, 21 doubles, eight home runs and 67 RBIs.
Utility
Isabella Montalvo, sr., Carroll
Of note: The District 29-5A first-team all-district designated player, Hooks preseason all-star and CBCA all-star selection posted an 11-2 record with a 2.505 ERA while batting .438 with 31 RBIs.
Natalia Escobedo, sr., Santa Gertrudis Academy
Of note: The CBCA all-star and TAMIU commit posted 12 wins with a 1.893 ERA and 145 strikeouts while batting .345.
Jolie Mann, sr., Skidmore-Tynan
Of note: The district co-pitcher of the year batted .544 with a .648 on-base percentage and .937 slugging percentage while compiling a 1.876 ERA, 322 strikeouts and recording her 1,000th-career strikeout.
Arisela Perez, so., IWA
Of note: Perez, who was a TAPPS Division III first-team all-state and all-tournament selection, hit .494 with 41 hits, 11 doubles, seven home runs, 41 RBIs and a 1.534 OPS while posting a 2.20 ERA and recording 241 strikeouts in the circle.
SECOND TEAM
Infielders
Kaylee Murua, so., Ingleside
Sarah Morris, jr., Flour Bluff
Julia Rodriguez, fr., Carroll
Addie Aleman, sr., IWA
Cereese Espinosa, sr., San Diego
Outfielders
Sydney Gerlach, jr., Flour Bluff
Emily Cameron, sr., Gregory-Portland
Kristin Leal, sr., Calallen
Arabella DeLeon, jr., Santa Gertrudis Academy
Kaelynda “KK” Gallardo, fr., Moody
Pitchers
Makennah Barrera, fr., Tuloso-Midway
Lyla Creek, so., Veterans Memorial
Keridessa Cantu, fr., West Oso
Maddy Dykes, sr., Rockport-Fulton
D’Andra Fernandez, sr., Santa Gertrudis Academy
Catchers
Raiyn Davis, fr., West Oso
Lovieann Vasquez, sr., Moody
Isabella Chapa, fr., Veterans Memorial
Avari Andrade, sr., Tuloso-Midway
Utility
Emily LaFavers, jr., Gregory-Portland
Ja’zae-lynne Lewis, sr., Refugio
Cylie Espinosa, jr., San Diego
Madison Gummelt, sr., Tuloso-Midway
Kenzie O’Brien, jr., Flour Bluff
THIRD TEAM
Infielders
Sydney Ruiz, jr., Three Rivers; Laken Cancino, so., Refugio; Natalie Tijerina, jr., Sinton; Logann Wood, so., Rockport-Fulton; Mika Munoz, jr., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Skielar Castillo, fr., Woodsboro; Goldie Hill, sr., Tuloso-Midway; Marivel Martinez, sr., Mathis
Outfielders
Renee Carroll, sr., Refugio; Nayelli Longinos, sr., Three Rivers; Yadira Rodriguez, jr., Robstown; Avery Sauceda, fr., Carroll; Kiki Smith, so, Ingleside; Hunter Duplechain, jr., Rockport-Fulton; Savannah Perales, so., Santa Gertrudis Academy
Pitchers
Cambrie Rios, jr., Bishop; Josette Aparicio, sr., Taft; Raelynn Gonzalez, fr., Moody; Kylee Garcia, so., Three Rivers
Catchers
Isabella Trevino, sr., London; Ariana Mendoza, fr., Mathis; Kaygen Lewis, jr., Woodsboro; Julia Garza, jr., Odem
Utility
Jayda Castro, fr., Sinton; Erianna Valdez, fr., San Diego
Honorable Mention
Infielders
Joanah Stommel, jr., London; Aubrey Brown, so., Refugio; Maebrey Garza, jr., Refugio; Allie Hernandez, sr., Skidmore-Tynan; Zoe Caballero, fr., Carroll; Dara Davila, so, Ingleside; Launa Walker, so, Ingleside; Mariana Molina, sr., San Diego; Charlee Jones, fr., Rockport-Fulton; Tricia Boehm, jr., Rockport-Fulton; Adelyn Lopez, jr., Santa Gertrudis Academy; Kameron Bean, sr., IWA; Harper Phillips, so., IWA; Aniya Zena, jr., Woodsboro; Maddie Martinez, jr., Woodsboro
Outfielders
Marisa Cortez, sr., Taft; Alexis Flores, sr., Skidmore-Tynan; Holly Nunn, sr., Sinton; Ruby Eppard, so., Ingleside; Avalyn Gonzales, sr., San Diego; Chayse Wernli, sr., Woodsboro
Catchers
Fanny Despain, so., Hebbronville; Kloe Duran, sr., Three Rivers; Jewlysa Garcia, sr., Taft; Brogan Schmidt, sr., Skidmore-Tynan; Isabella Cruz, fr., Robstown
Utility
Avalee Rodriguez, so., Hebbronville; Kayleigh Espinoza, fr., Robstown
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Veterans Memorial’s Parker Malone leads 2026 Caller-Times All-South Texas Softball Team
Reporting by Rey Castillo and Quinton Martinez, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Rey Castillo and Quinton Martinez, Corpus Christi Caller Times | USA TODAY Network
