Southwest Christian softball poses for a team picture to celebrate Lara Langford’s 250th career strikeout Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Mike Waters
Special to the Star-Telegram
FORT WORTH
Two of the best private school softball pitchers in the state took the mound as the Fort Worth Southwest Christian Eagles battled the Fort Worth Country Day Falcons in a non-district contest Tuesday.
SCS, a TAPPS Division II program, and Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) Country Day showcased quite the matchup —Senior Lara Langford of SCS, a UMass-Boston signee, versus Country Day junior Madeline Richey, a Boston College commit.
The duel didn’t disappoint, as Langford and the Eagles broke a 2-2 deadlock, punching across a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to emerge with a 4-2 triumph over the Falcons.
“We knew runs were going to be at a premium,” said Southwest Christian head coach Jennifer Cline. “We have a great pitcher and they [Country Day] do as well. Great pitching duel. Great game.”
Richey laced a one-out single in the top of the third, stole second, and came around on an error to give Country Day an early 1-0 lead.
Langford had the equalizer in the bottom frame, coaxing a walk, which preceded an Emma Rodwell single. Langford would tie the game on a Country Day error one batter later.
Shortstop Rachel Swenson drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the fourth, stole second and third base, and crossed home plate after a Country Day miscue to give the Eagles a 2-1 advantage.
Country Day responded in the top of the fifth, as Richey forced a one-out walk, and came around to score on a Taylor Higgins double to forge a 2-2 tie.
The Eagles’ Jackie Regalado got things started in the home half of the sixth, reaching on an error via a bunt. Swenson delivered the go-ahead RBI with a double. A bunt single by Eva Anderson scored Swenson all the way the second for an added insurance run.
Country Day (3-2) managed to get runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Langford got junior Ryleigh Hall — a Stephen F. Austin pledge — on a game-ending ground out to second, and the Eagles celebrated the victory.
Langford and Richey each turned in impressive outings.
Coming into this matchup, Langford had recorded 62 strikeouts in 33 innings with a miniscule 0.848 ERA. Offensively, Langford was batting .550 with 4 home runs, 14 RBIs and 14 runs scored.
Against Country Day, pitching a complete game while throwing 117 pitches, Langford scattered five hits, walked three and fanned 11 in the victory.
Langford also reached a milestone in this contest. Eight strikeouts shy of 250 for her career entering the game, Langford hit that mark against the lead-off batter in the top of the sixth, and her team gathered around its standout hurler on the mound to celebrate.
“Just a fantastic player,” said Cline. “Pitching. Offensively. A very special talent.”
Langford said she was just “trying to stay focused”, and first and foremost happy the team came away with a win.
“I was just trying to attack their hitters,” said Langford. “And keep them off balance.”
On eclipsing the 250-career strikeouts Langford credited her coaches and teammates, saying it’s a team game with team accomplishments.
Meanwhile, Richey turned in a stellar performance for the Falcons, pitching a complete game, striking out 15 batters, giving up four hits and issuing six walks.
Richey, entering the game, was 3-1 with a 0.519 ERA, 65 strikeouts and just three walks.
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 11:19 PM.