While the season is still young for the Prowlers softball team, there is plenty of reason to believe that Darrian Roberson’s program is in good hands for many years to come.

Freshman Kriselda Porras exemplified her potential to begin the season on the mound and fellow classmate Mia Garcia has followed suit at the plate, leading her Class 4A 20th ranked Prowlers in hits, doubles, and runs to start the Prowlers’ 2022 campaign.

"Mia has been great for us. She has not let the word “varsity” intimidate her. She has been very consistent at first base and the batter's box," Fort Stockton head coach Darrian Roberson said. "This is very big for her as a freshman because she is very coachable, so she learns and develops extremely fast."

Fort Stockton and their freshmen duo were put to the test against their toughest competition to date last Thursday and Friday at the Seminole tournament.

The Prowlers amassed a 2-4 record at the two-day tourney after starting the season with a 6-2 record.

Fort Stockton claimed wins against Shallowater (6-2) and Palo Duro (12- 0) on March 4 to conclude the event on a high note.

Fort Stockton’s defeats came against Brownfield (7-3), River Road (5-2), Plainview (9-1), and Dumas (10-2).

"The team overall played really well. They pushed through some hard moments together and were able to pull out some W’s. We definitely saw better pitching at this tournament, which is what we needed to see coming into district play," Roberson said.

The Prowlers used four different starting pitchers – Adree Bueno, Alyana Dominguez, Kriselda Porras, Aryanna Gonzalez – over the course of six games. Bueno and Dominguez picked up wins at the event.

Bueno tallied a tourney-best 12 strikeouts and 3.5 ERA in three pitching stints that featured eight innings total on the mound.

Garcia scratched out a team-best seven hits and was walked twice in 16 plate appearance, giving her a .500 batting average. The mark was the highest for the Prowlers and was one of three players to reach a batting average of over .400 or higher.

Fort Stockton had five batters tally at least four hits at the tournament including Garcia, Bueno, Porras, Ivanna Ortiz, and Dmaya Vaughn.

Bueno hit the team’s lone home run of the event.

By the Numbers

• The Prowlers had 35 hits compared to 23 strikeouts at the plate

• Fort Stockton’s pitching staff accumulated a 5.88 ERA, striking out 27 batters, walking 19, and allowing 29 hits.

• The Prowlers defense committed 10 errors in 91 total chances.

• Fort Stockton batters accumulated a .324 batting average.

• Fort Stockton stole 13 bases and were caught stealing four times.

• The Prowlers tallied a .419 batting percentage with runners in scoring position.