The accolades continue to honor Pearland head softball coach Laneigh Clark and some of the Lady Oilers after winning the 2023 Class 6A state softball championship.
Clark as been name 6A “Coach of the Year” by the Texas Sports Writers Association after the Lady O’s posted a 41-3 season record while claiming the 6A state title with a 4-2 win over Denton Guyer.
Clark is the winningest 6A coach in Texas and the second-winningest softball coach of any class in the Lone Star State. Clark has a career record of 794-461-8 while posting a 688-227-5 mark at Pearland from 1999 to 2023.
The veteran Hall-of-Fame coach was also named the 2023 Texas High School Coaches Association “Coach of the Year.” Clark was recognized for her outstanding coaching career when she was inducted into the Texas Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2021.
Pearland senior pitcher Abigail Gutierrez was named “Player of the Year” by the TSWA.
The UT-Arlington signee won both games at the state tournament as the Lady Oilers beat San Benito 3-2 in the state semifinal game and knocked off Denton Guyer 4-2 in the state title game.
The first-team All-State selection posted a 26-1 pitching record with 145.3 innings, 1.39 earned run average, 191 strikeouts, and 36 walks.
Pearland senior second baseman Kennedy Drafton was named to the All-State first-team after she hit 473. BA with 6 doubles, 6 triples, 2 HR, 30 RBIs, 55 runs scored, and 28-out-of 31 stolen bases. Drafton will continue her education and playing career at Eastern Kentucky. Drafton was named to the UIL All-Tournament Team.
Named to the All-State second-team was senior centerfielder Hailey Golden who will continue her education and playing career for Texas A&M. Golden hit .509, with .698 slugging percentage, .544 OB percentage, one HR, three doubles, two triples, eight RBIs, 21 runs scored, and four walks. 1. Golden was named Most Valuable Player at the state tournament.
