Riesel reveling in pressure of first state championship game in school history
RIESEL, Texas (FOX 44) — In the town of Riesel, home to just over 1,000 people, history isn't made easily.
Following a harrowing year, the Lady Indians have the chance to do just that and deliver the school's first state championship in any team sport ever with a win over Ganado in the 2A DI State Championship game on Thursday afternoon.
'It's all starting to hit us and we're all starting to get excited,' acting Riesel head softball coach Savanah Martinez said. 'God has just led me to this point and once it's all over, I think it will all hit me.'
Martinez graduated from Riesel after playing as a basketball and softball player for the Lady Indians but now leads the softball team in the state championship after head softball coach Don Johnson suffered a brain bleed in the middle of the season.
'This is my hometown and this group right here is super special,' Martinez said. 'With everything they've been through and all the respect that they've been able to show me, it's just been a ride, it's been a good journey.'
Johnson continues his recovery watching from the sidelines while the Lady Indians continue to win in his honor.
'Every at bat, every play, every pitch, every throw for everyone is for him,' Riesel junior second baseman Kennedy Guardiola said. 'It's not really for us anymore. I think that's all we want is to win it for him.'
The Lady Indians continue that quest into Austin for the first time ever and are excited to potentially deliver a state championship to the town and the school.
'We've been waiting for it for all four years,' Riesel junior catcher Lauren Summers said. 'This is definitely our year.'
Riesel takes on Ganado in the 2A DI State Championship game on Thursday, May 29th at 1:00 p.m. at Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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