The Van Vleck Lady Leps have had immense success the past two seasons, winning 40 games, a co-district championship and advancing to at least the second round of the playoffs each year.

Danbury’s departure from District 24-3A left East Bernard and Van Vleck as the top threats for the league crown. 

The Lady Leps lost multiple key contributors from last year’s district title team but had a talented crop of underclassmen ready for extended playing time. Van Vleck finished the non-district portion 7-3-2.

Van Vleck raced to a 3-0 start, outscoring opponents 29-2. The Lady Leps suffered their first district loss against East Bernard on March 31. Van Vleck continued to rip off big district wins, oftentimes finishing games in five innings or less. 

Van Vleck lost the rematch against East Bernard with a chance to claim consecutive co-district championships. The Lady Leps finished the regular season with a 21-2 win over Boling to finish 

8-2, earning them the top seed in the Class 3A, Division I playoffs. 

Hempstead was the second seed in Division I. East Bernard and Brazos were the Division II reps.

Van Vleck swept Trinity in the bi-district round with 14-4 and 7-0 wins. The Lady Leps season ended with a 13-3 loss to state-ranked Orangefield in a one-game area round series. Van Vleck advanced to the third round last year. 

Van Vleck finished favorably in the District 24-3A awards, taking home two superlative honors with six total all-district selections. 

Junior Lakyn Matchett was named Pitcher of the Year in the district. Matchett endured a heavy workload throughout the season, pitching 123 2/3 innings in 25 appearances. She threw four shutouts, including one no-hitter. 

Matchett posted a 17-4 record with a 2.09 ERA. The Van Vleck ace recorded 200 strikeouts to 33 walks. Matchett surpassed 300 and 400 strikeouts in her career this season. 

Senior Alexa Zuniga was named Defensive Player of the Year. Zuniga mostly played shortstop for the Lady Leps. She posted a .917 fielding percentage with 23 putouts and 10 assists. Zuniga helped turn four double plays. 

With the bat, Zuniga finished with a .260 batting average with 19 hits and 14 RBIs. Zuniga walked 20 times compared to nine strikeouts. 

Van Vleck had three first-team all-district selections: catcher Adia Kile, infielder Kylie Sazera and infielder Ierial Garcia. 

The sophomore Kile took a large role in her second varsity season. Kile appeared in five games as a freshman but played in 25 as a sophomore campaign. Kile posted a .411 average, one of five Lady Leps with an average over .400. She recorded 23 hits and drove in 14 runs. 

Sazera was a big hitter in the middle of Van Vleck’s lineup. She batted .369 with 24 hits, including 15 for extra bases. 

Garcia was another player who took a sophomore leap. She totaled 22 hits with 16 RBIs for a .415 batting average. Additionally, Garcia swiped 12 bases and helped turn one double play.

Van Vleck had three second-teamers: infielder Kamryn Waller, outfielder Aamry Gutierrez and outfielder Nicole Ryman.

The sophomore Waller and senior Ryman tied for the team lead in home runs with two. Waller posted a .412 average with the second-most hits at 28. She drove in 16 runs and had nine doubles. 

Ryman’s two home runs were the first two in her career. She drove in 14 runs for the Lady Leps offense. The sophomore Gutierrez boasted a .340 average with 16 hits and 15 RBIs. Ryman and Gutierrez each walked more than 11 times in the season. 

Freshman Crystal Garcia and senior Cydnee Hahn were honorable mentions. 

Matchett, Zuniga, Kile, Sazera, Ierial Garcia, Waller, Gutierrez, Ryman, Crystal Garcia, Hahn and Layla Downs were Van Vleck’s academic all-district members. 

Zuniga, Hahn and Ryman will not be on the team next season after graduating. The Lady Leps have a lot of young talent and will be one of the top teams in 24-3A.