A perfectly timed fastball by Katy High School freshman pitcher Haley Schmitt and a quick throw from catcher Maddie Smith to first base picked off the runner to seal the deal. A sea of red erupted in the stands at McCombs Field in Austin as Tiger fans cheered the newly crowned UIL 6A Division II Softball Champions. The team stormed the pitching circle to celebrate as the 7-2 victory over Forney capped off a dominating 39-5 season.

The Tigers finished the season on a 22-game winning streak, proving to be the most balanced team in the state. Schmitt, who won the championship game MVP Award, pitched a complete game, with eight strikeouts, five hits and two runs. The nation’s most powerful offense kept its foot on the gas with 10 hits, including its 6A record and national-leading 97th home run, garnering the Tigers their third state championship.

“It’s just the perfect finish to everything we’ve worked for,” Katy Tigers Coach Meghan VanEtta said.

Katy High School, led by a veteran lineup of hitters known around the softball world as “Death Valley,” pummeled their way through the state tournament and finished the job in the state championship game. Seniors Ella Kate (EK) Smith and Maddie Smith will ride off into the sunset as the best in Texas, while junior Evie Willemssen and sophomore Abby Eldridge, who tallied a home run and three RBI, look to launch another championship run in 2027.

This Katy High School team joins elite company. With their 2026 state title state championships in 2015 and 2019, the Tigers’ three state championships are the most held by any 6A school since 2010. That speaks to the consistency, excellence and resiliency of the program.

“This team represented everything that makes Katy athletics special — toughness, discipline, teamwork and an unwavering belief in one another,” Executive Director of Athletics Lance Carter said. “What they accomplished this season against elite competition is extraordinary, and they have earned their place among the great teams in Texas high school softball history.”