The Lady Steers had their season ended Friday in Andrews, dropping the second game of a best-of-three Class 4A regional quarterfinals playoff series to district-rival Frenship's Lady Tigers, 1-0.

“I told the girls before the game they were going to have to leave everything out on this field today and they did that,” Big Spring Head Coach Jennifer Reyes said. “They played so hard and so well. I'm very proud of their effort. Unfortunately, we just couldn't get the big hit we needed to put us over the top in this one.”

The only run of the game was unearned. Frenship's Maddie Johnson, who had three of Frenship's four hits, singled to center with one out in the top of the sixth. Johnson moved to second on a fielder's choice ball and advanced to third on a fielding error.

With runners on the corners and two outs in the inning, the Lady Tigers' Meagan Low took off from first to steal second. Big Spring catcher Baylea Fox noticed this and rose up to make a throw to second. Unfortunately, the ball glanced off the top of her glove, ricocheted off her mask and bounced to the backstop fence.

Fox made an effort to throw out Johnson at home, but the toss to pitcher Kelly Sage was late and Frenship took the 1-0 lead.

The Lady Tigers nearly added a second run in the inning after Sam Ortiz lined the ball softly up the middle. However, Big Spring second baseman Valerie Ross made a diving effort and snagged the ball before it landed, retiring the side.

The Lady Steers had an opportunity to tie the score in the bottom of the same frame as for the fourth time in the game they put runners on first and second. However, Big Spring failed to cash in and ended up stranding eight runners on base — four of which were in scoring position — in the contest.

Still, in the seventh inning, the Lady Steers had the opportunity to mount a two-out rally after Sage prolonged the game by drawing a walk. Senior shortstop Desiree Yanez came up and worked the count full before hammering the ball back at Frenship pitcher Bekah Piersall. The ball hit Piersall in the leg and she retired Yanez at first for the third out.

“I thought the ball was going to go through her,” Yanez said. “She must be made of steel because she stopped it.”

Yanez was the senior leader for the Lady Steers and it was obvious with her play and emotions in Friday's game that she wasn't ready to play the last game of her high school career.

“There isn't anyone else I'd like to have up at the plate with a runner on trying to continue the game,” Reyes said. “I would pick her every time for that situation. I had to call her over during the at-bat and she had tears in her eyes. I asked her why she was crying and she told me that's how bad she wants this hit. I told her to do it. That shot she hit was the best thing she could do and if it doesn't hit the pitcher then it's a hit. She left it all out on the field today.”

“If it was up to me, I would name Desiree the MVP of this district,” she continued. “She's an all-around player. She's led this team the whole way. We were the underdogs coming into this season.”

Yanez is one of only two seniors leaving the Lady Steers with Ashleigh Ramirez being the other.

It was thought coming into the game that this was also Reyes' final time to coach the Lady Steers as the Big Spring school board approved her resignation Thursday. However, Reyes threw the best curve of the day as she asked to recant her decision to leave.

“I love this game too much. I love this team too much,” Reyes said. “I've had several players come up and ask me not to leave them. What kind of person walks away from that? I made up my mind. I can't leave them. I love softball. I love working with this team and coach (John) Sparks. As long as they'll have me, then I want to be here.

“I can't leave on a note like this,” she continued. “I want to get to state. If we had won this series, it would've been the furthest I've ever gone with a team in the postseason. State is still my goal and I've got to get past this.”

First, the school board will have to approve Reyes' request to return to coach the Lady Steers.

“The board approved coach Reyes' resignation Thursday night and we will have to present a recommendation to hire her at a future board meeting,” Big Spring High School Superintendent Michael Downes. “I'm personally excited to try to bring her back. I've visited with Jennifer several times in the past two weeks and have encouraged her to reconsider. I can understand her excitement in wanting to come back and work with this great group of girls.”

Coming back with Reyes — if approved — next season is a team full of young talent and now some valued playoff experience.

“We only lose two seniors,” Reyes said. “I've got a team coming back full of players that I can put anywhere. There are a couple of freshmen coming up that can contribute a lot. We've got the possibility of a couple of transfers, too. We're going to be very solid. My goal next year is to win district.”

For Yanez, there's hope that this is only a goodbye to the Lady Steers' softball team and not the game completely.

“I don't want this to be the last softball game I play,” Yanez said. “I've applied to go to Texas Tech and am hoping I can arrange a chance to walk on there. I've had the best time of my life with this team this year. It's going to be hard to leave, but I have great memories and have no regrets.”

Yanez does see a ton of potential for the Lady Steers in the future and says she will be watching them with earnest.

“This team is so strong mentally and physically that they can do anything,” she said. “They can win without me and will be even stronger if they keep working hard and don't give up.”

The Lady Steers finish the season as area champs and with a 17-25 record.

Contact Sports Editor Jonathan Hull by calling 263-7331, ext. 237, or by e-mailing him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it