News

HALTOM CITY -- The text message read: Need to talk to you, you're not going to be happy.

"I honestly couldn't fathom what it might be," Haltom coach Allison Conaway recalled. "In the end, I'm happy for her if she's happy and that's all I need to be concerned about as a high school coach."

It was infielder Chaley Brickey letting Conaway know last summer that 2012 would be her final season in a Lady Buffalos uniform.

Brickey, after tossing around the idea with University of Kansas coaches last season, decided to push her academic meter up a notch and as a result will graduate in May, one year earlier than planned.

Brickey, a sophomore last year, signed a letter of intent with the Jayhawks in November.

"It started out as a joke and just worked into a real possibility," she said. "I take eight classes this year as opposed to the regular seven and I have only one elective class, softball."

And so that's that. After earning a first-team selection on the Star-Telegram Super team last season as a sophomore, it's this season or bust for Brickey.

"I've never heard of that," Keller Central coach Kim Reed said. "But each player has a different situation and you may run across players that were held back and some that just academically achieve faster. I think it's incredible."

When you combine that with her three years of high school softball, she's leaving one year on the table. And that's all right with her.

"Yeah, we discussed that at length," said Brickey, a shortstop. "But I'm ready to get to Kansas. I have been there; I feel weird leaving each time I come back and I just feel like I'm part of a family there, a part of something that can be great. And I really want to coach."

First things first, though. Brickey is part of a team that Conaway said has the potential to be the best in her 13 seasons of coaching.

"We've worked on things with this team that I've never worked on with any others," she said. "If we can put that together, coupled with our experience, yeah, we could do something special. Long way to go, though."

With Brickey in the third spot in the batting lineup, Conaway said Carlie Caruthers will be called on to get the kind of production in the cleanup spot that can separate Haltom from teams past.

"We worked this off-season on offensive strategy, situational hitting and situational base running," Conaway said. "If we can put it together, who knows, but I like what I've seen."

Players to watch

Taylor Davis, Sr., Keller Central: A natural hitter with good instinct for the game. She's surrounded by a crew of experienced players and is coming off a season where she made the Star-Telegram Super first team, batting .465.

Daniella Chavez, So., 1B, Crowley: Shared newcomer of the year with teammate Holly Milam.

JoJo Schaeffer, Sr., Colleyville Heritage: Defensive player of the year in District 6-5A.

Kimberley Potter, Sr., Arlington: Earned utility player of the year for her numerous abilities in different spots.

Savannah Stech, Jr., Mansfield Legacy: She's coming off knee surgery and is 100 percent. She has all the tools to produce on offense and play defense.

Autumn Suydam, Sr., Keller: Described as a tough out, she had a .727 on-base percentage and took home co-MVP honors in district.

Miranda Casey, Sr., Crowley: Standout pitcher has worked on endurance to build on last season's late heroics.

Briana Walker, Sr., Mansfield Legacy: A Star-Telegram Super second-teamer last season. She hit .565 with 26 stolen bases.

Chaley Brickey, Sr., Haltom: Ending her high school career one year early to play at Kansas in the fall. MVP as a sophomore in 6-5A last season.

Celina Ortiz, Sr., Western Hills: 6-4A Offensive Player of the Year. Coach Bryan Mourning said she has improved defensively.