3A DI State Champs: Grandview Lady Zebras – Back-to-Back!

AUSTIN — One year after capturing the UIL Class 3A Division I State Championship with a 9-3 victory over Whitesboro, Grandview returned to Austin on Thursday evening with another opportunity to cement its place among the state’s elite softball programs.

The Lady Zebras did exactly that.

Behind another legendary performance from senior ace Madi Doty, Grandview secured back-to-back state championships with a 2-0 victory over Iowa Park at McCombs Field.

Doty, a University of Texas commit who was also named MVP of last year’s state championship game, once again dominated on the biggest stage in Texas high school softball. The senior right-hander tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits and one walk while striking out 14 Iowa Park hitters in a commanding performance.

For the second straight season, Doty earned State Championship Game MVP honors after leading the Lady Zebras to another title.

In a matchup featuring two outstanding pitchers, offense was difficult to find early. Iowa Park ace Callista Berrett matched Doty through the first three innings as both teams traded scoreless frames in a tense championship atmosphere.

Grandview finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning.

After Codi Collins reached base, KJ Hubbard delivered the game’s biggest offensive moment with a two-out RBI double into right-center field, scoring Collins from first base and giving the Lady Zebras a 1-0 lead. Moments later, Ally May reached on an infield error that allowed Hubbard to score from second, extending Grandview’s advantage to 2-0.

That proved to be all the offense Grandview would need.

Doty completely controlled the game from inside the circle, overpowering Iowa Park hitters throughout the evening and recording strikeouts in nearly every key moment. Iowa Park managed just three hits in the championship game and never found a way to solve the Grandview senior.

Grandview’s defense also delivered in key spots, helping preserve the shutout while limiting Iowa Park to a .120 team batting average in the contest.

While runs were at a premium, the Lady Zebras capitalized on their opportunities. Grandview finished with five hits overall, and the timely fourth-inning rally ultimately became the difference in the state title game.

Iowa Park closed the season with an impressive 32-9-1 record and received a strong effort from Berrett, who allowed just five hits and struck out nine in six innings. But against Doty and Grandview’s defense, every run was difficult to come by.

The championship capped another remarkable season for Grandview, which finished the year 36-3-1 and further solidified itself as one of the premier softball programs in Texas. Winning one state championship is difficult enough. Winning back-to-back titles — with the same pitcher earning MVP honors both years — made this run even more special for the Lady Zebras.

For Doty and Grandview, the ending could not have been much better: another shutout, another championship trophy, and another unforgettable performance on the biggest stage in Texas high school softball.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Iowa Park	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	3	1
Grandview	0	0	0	2	0	0	0		2	5	1

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Top Performers

Grandview
• Madi Doty (MVP, Texas commit): 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 14 K
• KJ Hubbard: RBI double
• Ally May: RBI
• Codi Collins: Run scored

Iowa Park
• Callista Berrett: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 9 K