The weather didn’t cooperate much, but the Deer Park Deer got the 2025 season going at the NFCA Texas Leadoff Classic.
The Deer went 2-1 in three round robin games over Thursday and Friday as the tournament dealt with a variety of challenges to the schedule due to rain and field conditions.
Earlier in the week, Deer Park’s regular season opener at La Porte was also canceled due to rain.
The Deer (2-1) are back in action Thursday-Saturday as they host the annual Haynie Spirit Tournament.
This article will be updated if additional information is available.
Friday’s games
Deer Park split its games on Friday, falling 5-1 to San Antonio O’Connor and beating Northwest Byron Nelson 4-3.
The Deer scored all four runs in the bottom of the first in the win over the Bobcats. McCartney Pledger had a two-run double while Mia Montemayor drove in two runs on a single later in the inning. Deer Park had four hits total.
Braelynn Jones went all five innings with one earned run allowed. She walked five and allowed seven hits while striking out one.
In the earlier game against the Panthers, Kayla Barras had an RBI double and Izzy Mendoza also doubled as the Deer were held to four hits.
Thursday’s game
Deer Park picked up a quality win to start the season in walk-off style as it beat Lake Ridge 4-3 in six innings (time limit).
Zoie Powell singled in the bottom of the sixth to score Pledger and end the game.
The Deer needed three runs in the fifth to catch up to the Eagles, which won 30-plus games in two of the last three seasons. Camryn Plocheck singled home Reiley Hernandez and Aleena Carrizales tied it up on a two-run single during the rally.
Deer Park totaled eight singles on the day as Mendoza led in that department with two hits.
Jones went all six innings with eight strikeouts, seven walks, two earned runs and two hits allowed.
Members of the 2025 Deer Park softball team. (Chris Zorzi/SportCast Media)
