AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - It’s playoff time for West Plains softball, and this season means a little bit more for the Lady Wolves after falling short of the postseason last year.
West Plains is back in the win-or-go-home mindset, and it has been a season of growth, resilience and a shift in how they compete day in and day out.
Building from within
After not making it past the regular season last year, the Lady Wolves made it a mission to rebuild from within, and it started with their culture.
Head coach Lexi Velasquez and her squad focused on staying locked in on their own goals and relying on what they need to improve throughout the course of the season. From the first pitch until now, the team has shown improvement and confidence in what it takes to solidify a spot in the playoffs.
Velasquez said having more than one year with the same group made a significant difference.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I think having more than just one year with these girls really helped because last year was a big culture year. We were building culture, understanding expectations, guidelines and routines. After we established that, this year we really got to focus on the fundamentals, the skills and development. Building those relationships last year helped me understand how to coach each of these girls individually,” Velasquez said.
Film study builds bonds
Velasquez explained how the team uses film study not just to improve but also to strengthen relationships.
“There are days like this past Wednesday where most of our practice time was just watching film — watching our swing, how we’re doing. We’re critiquing each other, I’m critiquing them, and it becomes a team bonding moment, an opportunity for those relationships that were built,” she said.
Bi-district series details
The Lady Wolves will take on the Andrews Lady Mustangs in the bi-district round. Game one is set for Thursday at 7 p.m., followed by game two on Friday at 2 p.m. at the Littlefield Softball Complex. If the teams split, a deciding game three will be played 30 minutes after game two. The winner advances to the area round.
Copyright 2026 KFDA. All rights reserved.