By Rich Hilliard

Only State champions can stop Fannin s'ball squads

Dodd City manager Dalton Herndon talks before an at bat to Cassandra Woodlee who this spring was the sole senior on the Lady Hornets' second state semifinalist softball team in the last three years and third ever. Photo by Rich Hilliard

Local districts again didn't disappoint during the softball postseason. 

Including all but two Fannin County teams which fielded squads, 13-2A again proved particularly potent. 

Dodd City, the district's top seed to the 1A postseason, reached the state tournament semifinals for the second time in the last three years and third in school history. The Lady Hornets' run ended with a 2-1 loss to eventual-champion D'Hanis on May 31. 

Along the way, Dodd City edged 13-2A rival Ector, 5-4, in eight innings in the Region II-1A semifinals. The Lady Eagles, the 2018 1A state runner-up, advanced to the playoffs as the 13-2A second seed to the 1A postseason. 

Class 2A Honey Grove, the 13-2A runner-up and No. 2 seed to the 2A postseason, reached the regional finals for the first time in school history in the sport. 

With a trip to the Region II-2A semifinals, Sam Rayburn, which tied for third place and advanced as the 13-2A fourth seed, made its longest postseason run since back-to-back state championship game appearances in 2012 and 2013. 

It took the 2A-eventual-champion, Crawford, to stop both Honey Grove and Sam Rayburn. 

En route, the Lady Rebels in the regional quarterfinals defeated 13-2A champion Trenton, which advanced at least that far for the seventh-consecutive time in as many trips to the postseason in the sport. 

Meanwhile, it took the eventual 3A champion to stop 10-3A third-seed Bonham, which lost in the area round to Emory Rains. Like the Lady Warriors, Rains made the drop into the smaller classification this spring after reaching the 4A semifinals in 2018.