Softball

Hyde Park players have eyes on winning a TAPPS state championship (video)

Panthers look for redemption after losing in the state title game a year ago

Hyde Park pitcher Taylor Haywood (3) delivers a pitch during a playoff warmup game with Austin Veritas on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at Hyde Park High School in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

By Michael Adams 
madams@onthesidelinessports.com 

The Hyde Park softball team has a chance to right a wrong.  

All they must do is get back to the TAPPS Division II championship game in two weeks.  

The Panthers (35-5) begin that quest Thursday night against Houston Second Baptist in the area round of the TAPPS softball playoffs. The game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Hyde Park High School.  

“We won’t say it, but this season is for (our seniors),” said junior catcher Cariana Stout. “We all play really well together. We play for each other; we play for God. No one is selfish on this team.”  

Hyde Park could compete with any of the Austin area high school teams, and is arguably one of the top programs in the Greater Austin Metropolitan Area.

In fact, if you looked at the Panthers’ schedule, you would recognize some pretty good teams at the UIL Class 6A and 5A levels, including Westlake, San Antonio Madison, Leander, Del Valle and Georgetown.  

Three of Hyde Park’s five losses were against three of those teams – two-run losses to Westlake and Leander, respectively, and a 5-0 defeat by Class 5A powerhouse Georgetown.  

The Panthers signature win was a one-run victory against a San Antonio Madison team that faces Lake Travis in this week’s UIL Class 6A area round.  

“We’ve had the fantastic opportunity to play some really good 6A and 5A schools,” said senior pitcher Tiffany Haywood. “Sure, we lost, but I like to say, no one ever loses, you’re always learning. So, coming into the playoffs, we have taken so much from playing that level of competition.”  

Hyde Park catcher Cariana Stout receives a pitch during a playoff warmup game with Austin Veritas on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at Hyde Park High School in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

Outside of playing the area’s best UIL programs, Hyde Park hasn’t faced many challenges during the regular season.  

The Panthers have run-ruled 27 opponents, including Austin Veritas in Tuesday’s warm-up game.  

“I enjoy both sides of it,” said junior Olivia Villanueva. “Facing good pitchers like Tiffany Sanches at Del Valle or the Westlake pitcher, who was really good, gets us ready for the pitching we’ll see down the road. However, getting experience against some of these teams we run rule is good too. The bunting game is important in softball, and we can take advantage of that opportunity and work on that.”  

If Hyde Park defeats Houston Second Baptist, the Panthers will play the winner of San Antonio Christian-Ford Bend Christian Academy on Wednesday, May 8 for a spot in the state final four in Arlington. 

This year’s state final four is scheduled for May 13-14 at Allan Saxe Field at the University of Texas at Arlington.  

Hyde Park’s Grace Parscal (13) watces her hit fly to the outfield as she takes off for first base during a playoff warmup game with Austin Veritas on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at Hyde Park High School in Austin, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

TAPPS softball playoff schedule 

Division II 

Hyde Park vs. Houston Second Baptist, 5:30 p.m., Thursday at Hyde Park 

Division III 

Austin Veritas Academy vs. Arlington Pantego Christian Academy, 5 p.m., Thursday at Axtell ISD Softball Field