BULLARD, Texas (KLTV) – The Bullard Lady Panthers are back in the state semifinals for the first time since 2022 and are a perfect 8-0 in the postseason this year. <\/p>\n
Head coach Julie Murry joined East Texas Now on Monday to talk about the season, the upcoming series and the support from the Bullard community. In the 4A Division I Region 3 final, Bullard beat Livingston 3-2 in the first game and 8-1 in the second game. Murry said the team was ecstatic after the last out was made. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fun to see hard work pay off. And it\u2019s fun to see that for these kids. And I think that they took a lot of joy in celebrating with one another and our coaching staff with one another,\u201d Murry said. \u201cBecause it\u2019s a good moment, it\u2019s a moment to celebrate.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Lady Panthers were bounced from the playoffs in the second round last season. Murry said the message to the team this season was to be the best versions of themselves. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe had unfortunately, you know, two of the top ten teams in the state for sure, maybe top three teams in the state had to match up early last year. And that was very unfortunate in terms of this playoff format. But you know, our message was basically we want to be the best version of ourselves we can be whenever we get to playoff season,\u201d Murry said. \u201cWhatever happens, happens, whoever we get in whatever round, you know, you got to beat the best to be the best. And we want to make sure that we\u2019re trying to get to the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bullard won series against Vidor, Huffman-Hargrave, Sealy and Livingston without dropping a game. Murry said the kids have prepared for this moment. <\/p>\n
\u201cI really feel like their preparation is kind of the key to what\u2019s going on. Their, their preparation feeds them confidence. And, it\u2019s not just the preparation that we\u2019ve provided for them, but years of preparation, you know, going back a long time. And, I think it\u2019s just helped them feel confident,\u201d Murry said. \u201cI feel like, you know, we\u2019re battle tested and we\u2019ve seen some great softball teams. And I think that\u2019s given us some confidence that we\u2019re prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bullard went 10-0 this season in District 17-4A and holds a 34-7 overall record. Murry said the team is a determined group this year. <\/p>\n
\u201cSenior leadership has been a very big factor for us. And I think that this group has competed in region three for four years now. And it\u2019s a tough region,\u201d Murry said. \u201cThey watched our success that happened in region two and it\u2019s been a really tough road to break into this round for us since we moved to region three, but they\u2019re determined and they\u2019re looking to make their own kind of history this week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Being in Region 3, Bullard has had to make several trips south for playoff games. Murry said the community traveling to the games makes the team feel supported. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe have our faithful fans that travel with us no matter where we go, no matter when we go there. And we\u2019re so appreciative of them. We call them our super fans for sure,\u201d Murry said. \u201cNot just our parents, you know, but some actual just fans that just love these kids and love softball and like watching competitive games. And so we\u2019re very appreciative of our community for the support that they\u2019ve shown. And we hope they show up big for us. Two more weeks for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bullard has five seniors on the team, and Murry said this is a class she loves to talk about.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re big impact players, each of them in their own right. You know, they are wonderful humans just outside of softball. They\u2019re amazing students here in our high school. They for sure just have big goals, you know, to continue our season,\u201d Murry said. \u201cI think they\u2019re doing a great job of leading us, you know, and they were led, it\u2019s just so fun for me to get to watch. They were led by some amazing seniors when they were freshmen. And it\u2019s fun to get to see that impact, you know, from previous teams still making an impact on today\u2019s team. And it\u2019s really fun to get to watch that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bullard plays Corpus Christi Calallen this week. Calallen has won the last three state championships in Class 4A. Murry said the team respects all, but fears none. <\/p>\n
\u201cCalallen has great leadership also. They\u2019re a senior heavy group as well. They have a pitcher in the circle that\u2019s led them all three years that they\u2019ve won it. We have a lot of respect for them, but you know, I said this last week and I\u2019ll say it again this week, respect all, fear none,\u201d Murry said. \u201cWe\u2019re going into this week thinking that we have the tools that will pay off for us and that what it takes, in other words, to take care of business this week. And we know it\u2019s a challenge, but it\u2019s not a challenge that we\u2019re ready to back down from. It\u2019s a challenge we can\u2019t wait for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bullard and Corpus Christi Calallen play a best-of-three series at Cy Ranch High School. Game one is Wednesday at 7 p.m.; game two is Thursday at 7 p.m.; game three, if necessary, is Saturday at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n
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