For just the second time in school history, the Guyer Lady Wildcats have punched their ticket to the state softball tournament. 

After falling behind 0-1 in its best-of-three region final series with Keller last week, Guyer rallied to win Game 2 and 3, securing its spot in the Class 6A semifinal on Friday. 

The Lady Wildcats’ only other trip to the state tournament came 13 years ago in 2010, when Guyer fell to Waco Midway in the Class 4A semifinal. Now on the precipice of their first state title, Lady Wildcats coach Keith Medford – who is the only coach in Guyer’s 18-year history – knows just how special this opportunity is for his team. 

“I’ve spent so much time here from the get-go,” Coach Medford said. “Knowing how much time and effort has been spent by my coaching staff, players, administration, trainers, strength coaches – everybody down the line has put their heart and soul into this. To get rewarded with a trip to state is awesome.”

All of that hard work and dedication has paid dividends for the senior-laden Lady Wildcats, who have lost only one game this year. 

Guyer has several four-year starters who have been integral in helping the Lady Wildcats post a staggering overall record of 37-1. Two of those four-year starters are senior third baseman Avery Jefferson and center fielder Tehya Pitts. 

Avery has batted .530 this year to go along with a 1.453 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), while recording a team-best 58 runs batted in (RBIs).

“It’s insane, surreal and amazing – those are the best words to describe it,” said Avery of making the state tournament. “I couldn’t ask for a better group to go down to state with my senior year. Even if we didn’t go to state, getting to say I have been a Guyer Wildcat for four years is crazy. 

“Since I first moved here in fifth grade, my dream was to be a starter on varsity under Keith Medford. To say I am now going to state as a senior is a dream come true.”

Like her teammate and fellow senior Avery, Tehya has been equally as impactful for Guyer – both at the plate and in the field. Her team-leading 65 assists and 0.981 fielding percentage patrolling center field has been a catalyst for the Lady Wildcats holding teams to an average of 2.1 runs per game.

Guyer has also gotten quality pitching from Jenny Robledo and Finley, who leads the team in both innings pitched (136 ⅔), earned run average (1.48) and strikeouts (131). 
But Finley said with talented teammates like Tehya and others behind her, being poised in the circle is not a difficult task. 

“I have a lot of confidence in the circle because of the defense behind me,” Finley said. “I have never had a defense like this. I know if the ball is on the ground or in the air, I’m going to get an out. It’s really easy to be confident.” 

Guyer will play Bridgeland in the 6A semifinal at 7 p.m. on Friday at Red and Charline McCombs Field at the University of Texas at Austin. A victory Friday against Bridgeland would propel the Lady Wildcats into the 6A championship game at 4 p.m. on Saturday, where they would play the winner of Pearland and San Benito.

All that stands between Guyer and its first state championship now is just two victories – and Tehya is confident the Lady Wildcats will bring the hardware back home to Denton.

“It would mean the world [to win the state title], and I don’t even think that’s the right word – it would mean the universe,” Tehya said. “As a team, to win state while I am a senior, that’s the goal. And we’re going to achieve it.”