The Mason High School softball team wrapped up the 2025 season recently and though the season didn't go the way the Cowgirls wanted, head coach Billy Todd commended the players for all they've done for the program.
He noted they did everything they could to contribute to the excellence of the athletic program.
Only two players sophomore Kaitlin Paiva and senior Carson Darby have extensive experience playing the sport.
Some have been in the program for awhile but didn't play much because the program didn't have enough players for a varsity and a junior varsity.
'They've been on the (varsity) team, just not playing, maybe just courtesy running here and there,' Todd said.
Others included Maya Aguero, Sadie Darby, Reese Edwards, Addy Hayes, Brianne Lewis, Brooke Lewis, Casey Montague and Kaelyn Palacio.
Carson Darby was the team catcher and fulfilled that role in every possible way, the coach said. She'd call a timeout to talk to pitcher Edwards and helped her find a rhythm and was meticulous on when to go to the circle. She also served as the team's director of defense, which entailed reminding the players where to throw the ball if it was hit to them. .
'She does a great job,' Todd said. 'When she moved here as a sophomore, she had never played catcher. She’s learned how to play it and done a great job with all those tools and the knowledge. She’s played a lot of softball.'
Edwards first learned how to pitch while playing youth sports.
'She’s just trying to get in there and do the best she can,' Todd said.
Last year's team had six players who graduated. So this season was about learning – at the plate, on the bases and defensive situations.
Edwards epitomized what Todd liked the most about this team.
'Their willingness to to learn and get better,' he said.
'This team, as far as softball IQ, is not quite enough where it needs to be for high school softball. Most of them just don’t have enough game experience to be able to do what you said offensively. That’s not something that you can really teach and work on in practice. It’s the situations that you’ll be in in a game and just the knowledge of knowing what to do when that ball’s hit.'
