State semifinal softball: Aledo stuns nationally ranked Melissa, advances
Aledo sophomore starting pitcher Tempe Perry had some “bitterness on the tongue” going up against state power Melissa.
It would be hard not to. Melissa eliminated Aledo 15-4 in the 2025 state semifinals, handing Perry a loss in a game that was hardly competitive. But in the rematch, Aledo struck back with a vengeance, taking a stunning 5-4 victory against nationally ranked Melissa in a one-game, winner-take-all Class 5A Division I state semifinal Wednesday at Denton High School.
Aledo’s Brooklyn Taloa hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, and Perry thrived in a complete game against one of the nation’s best offenses, conceding one earned run en route to ending Melissa’s 28-game win streak.
“We came in with a lot of emotions and a lot of plans,” Perry said. “We executed all those plans tonight. We didn’t go down without a fight. My team had my back in the box and on defense tonight. Just feeding energy into me and encouraging me, and that’s what it took to get the job done tonight.”
The Bearcats (31-10) will face Barbers Hill or Leander in the Class 5A Division I state semifinal Friday, May 29, at the University of Texas’ Red & Charline McCombs Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The joy on the Bearcat players’ faces was evident after eliminating a back-to-back UIL state champion — one that was aiming to be the third school to three-peat in UIL softball. Aledo isn’t nationally ranked like No. 3 Melissa (33-3) and barely snuck into MaxPreps’ Texas rankings at No. 25.
“We are the underdog, and we have less to lose,” senior catcher Breleigh Mayer said. “Just playing our game. Trusting our preparation. Doing what we know how to do and just trusting ourselves.”
Perry, in seven innings, gave up six hits, walked six and tallied five strikeouts in a strong performance against a squad that has developed a reputation as one of the best in Texas’ history.
“We have so much confidence in her,” Taloa said of Perry. “And she had confidence in us, and we just work really well together.”
Melissa set a national record with 122 home runs last year and had 99 this season. Against Perry, the Cardinals put the ball in play often, yet Aledo’s defense made plays, helping Perry compete against Melissa’s power.
“They’re very disciplined hitters, so I had to work around the zone,” Perry said. “But work in the zone to make sure that balls didn’t leave the yard.”
After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, Aledo retaliated with a solo home run from Delaney Rosser in the first inning and a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior Kellyn Overturff in the second inning.
In the fourth inning, a two-run home run from Mayer gave the Bearcats their first lead.
“I knew she was going to come right at me with the first pitch strike, so I was ready to swing after my first at-bat,” Mayer said. “ ... I just trusted myself and my swing. And I got ahold of one.”
Melissa trailed until the sixth inning, when Amariee Bradford hit a game-tying home run to left field to make it 4-4. After Taloa hit her home run, Aledo still needed to slam the door.
“I’m thinking mostly that the game’s not over yet,” Mayer said. “[The home run] is a huge relief for me and Tempe, but obviously we still have to get three outs, and [Melissa] is a great team. And we knew that we still had some work to do.”
Ultimately, Taloa’s clutch hit and Tempe’s dominant pitching paved the way to a win.
“We put in so much preparation in this week, and we knew going to this game that we were the better team,” Taloa said. “And we were going to win. It showed out there.”
Overturff and junior Kennedy Cardenas were also key contributors with two hits each. As a team, Aledo outhit Melissa 7-6 and kept getting timely knocks.
“Just really proud of their discipline at the plate,” Aledo head coach Heather Myers said. “I feel like they’re prepared. .... We worked all week on that speed and staying behind the pitchers. The maturity they showed at the plate to lay off the up pitch, to lay off the change up — and really look for [Melissa] to work into the zone. I thought they did a really good job.”
There’s still one game left in the program’s quest for a state championship. Aledo has been searching for a title win and has often been close. Against Melissa, the Bearcats appeared in their third consecutive state semifinal and fifth since the 2015 title game.
“We’re going to go in, we’re going to be humble, and we’re going to take it one pitch and one play at a time,” Perry said.
This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 8:40 PM.
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