By Uher                                          H.R. No. 183

      75R4380 WMS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, The Sweeny High School Lady Bulldogs softball team

 1-2     has reached the pinnacle of success by winning the 1996 University

 1-3     Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 3A state championship; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Having earned a berth in the playoffs by winning the

 1-5     District 24-3A championship, the Lady Bulldogs took on

 1-6     Huffman-Hargrave High School and overcame three early errors and

 1-7     hitting into a triple play to break open a tie game in the sixth

 1-8     inning and emerge with a 4-2 victory; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, In their second post-season contest against

1-10     Woodville High School, Sweeny pitcher Monica Carrasco dominated the

1-11     game from the mound by striking out 12 batters en route to a 6-0

1-12     shutout win; and

1-13           WHEREAS, The Lady Bulldogs next faced China Spring High

1-14     School, and sophomore Tawana Caldwell sparked the team with a

1-15     clutch two-run triple in the third inning, enabling Sweeny to

1-16     cruise to a 7-2 triumph and lay claim to the area title; and

1-17           WHEREAS, Monica Carrasco was again the star in Sweeny's

1-18     victory over Waco Robinson High School, holding the opposition

1-19     scoreless as the Lady Bulldogs rolled 5-0 to secure a place at the

1-20     state tournament; and

1-21           WHEREAS, Abilene Wylie High School proved no match for this

1-22     phenomenal Sweeny team in their state semi-final matchup, as the

1-23     Lady Bulldogs completely dominated their opponent 13-2 to earn a

1-24     spot in the state championship game; and

 2-1           WHEREAS, Determined to take the state title in only their

 2-2     third year of competition, the Lady Bulldogs demonstrated true

 2-3     championship heart by overcoming Bellville High School in dramatic

 2-4     fashion, winning 7-6 to claim the coveted crown; and

 2-5           WHEREAS, The season's outstanding accomplishments were a

 2-6     result of total team effort from players Lawanna Amey, Becky

 2-7     Burrell, Antoinette Lunford, Celeste Sanchez, Chenikka Williams,

 2-8     Katherine LeMaster, Tawana Caldwell, Monica Carrasco, Melissa

 2-9     Holland, Ashley Moffett, Lori Russell, Kay Ryan, Rebekah Stevenson,

2-10     Janelle Grovey, Janetta Grovey, and Marissa Ryan; and

2-11           WHEREAS, In addition, several team members also earned

2-12     individual honors: Janetta Grovey and Tawana Caldwell were named to

2-13     the all-state team, and Janetta Grovey was chosen Class 3A Player

2-14     of the Year; Janetta Grovey, Melissa Holland, Ashley Moffett, Lori

2-15     Russell, Tawana Caldwell, and Janelle Grovey placed on the

2-16     all-tournament team at the state tournament; and Ashley Moffett,

2-17     Becky Burrell, Katherine LeMaster, Janetta Grovey, Rebekah

2-18     Stevenson,  Melissa Holland, Celeste Sanchez, and Janelle Grovey

2-19     were first-team all-district, with Monica Carrasco and Tawana

2-20     Caldwell making second-team all-district honors; and

2-21           WHEREAS, Inspiration and superb leadership were the hallmark

2-22     of Head Coach Laura Oltman, who was chosen Class 3A Texas Softball

2-23     Coach of the Year in recognition of her efforts, and she was ably

2-24     supported by Assistant Coach Mikel Vigus, athletic trainer Mike

2-25     Carroll, athletic director Tommy Zajicek, principal Randy Miksch,

2-26     and student manager Mary Ann Lawson; and

2-27           WHEREAS, These dedicated young women, along with their

 3-1     coaches and staff, are a tremendous source of pride to the students

 3-2     and faculty at Sweeny High School and their many supporters in the

 3-3     community, and their exceptional achievements are indeed worthy of

 3-4     special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it

 3-5           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 3-6     Legislature hereby congratulate the members of the Sweeny High

 3-7     School Lady Bulldogs softball team on winning the 1996 UIL Class 3A

 3-8     state championship and extend to them best wishes for continued

 3-9     success in the future; and, be it further

3-10           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

3-11     prepared for the team members and coaching staff as an expression

3-12     of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.