Alicia Hayes Named New South Grand Prairie Softball Coach

0
South Grand Prairie Coach Hayes

Excited To Build On South Grand Prairie Softball Team’s Success

Spring sports at South Grand Prairie High School will have another new face as Alicia Hayes has been named the new head softball coach. Hayes spent the past four years at Prosper HS as the varsity assistant coach and is entering her 13th year of coaching.

Hayes replaces Ted Garcia, who led the Lady Warriors to the second round of the playoffs this season after a District 8-6A championship. It was the third second round playoff appearance in four seasons with him at the helm. They also reached the second round in 2018 and 2019.

The 2020 season postseason was wiped out because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time the season was canceled, the Lady Warriors were 16-6 and 2-0 in district.

“I am so excited about this opportunity to be working with such great student athletes, teachers, coaches and administration,” Hayes said. “The team had a great season last year and I am so ready to get to work and build on what they have started.”

Experience As A Student-Athlete Shapes Hayes Coaching

At Prosper, Hayes was part of a program that posted a 92-33-1 record over her time there, including 35-5 in district play with a district championship (2018). This past season they were second in District 5-6A and reached the regional finals of the playoffs before falling to Flower Mound to finish with a 29-5-1 record. They also advanced deep in the postseason in 2018 and 2019.

“My time at Prosper was great, and I am very lucky to have been able to work the last four years with people I have grown to love and call family,” Hayes said.
Hayes played at Northeast Texas Community College and Southern Arkansas University.

“Playing softball in college was one of the best times of my life,” she said. “No one can truly understand the life of a college student-athlete unless they go through it.

“My freshman year at Northeast Texas Community College, we missed the conference tournament by a game and then made it for the first time my sophomore year. I ended up playing at Southern Arkansas University but my senior year was cut short due to a knee injury.

“Playing at that next level really did help me realize that this game means so much and I have been so fortunate to still be doing this after 12 years. I love that I get to go to work and not only teach young women about softball, but also teach them about being a servant leader to their community and preparing them for their future.”

South Grand Prairie was one of three area teams to win its district in 2021, along with Red Oak in District 14-5A and Venus in District 11-4A. Venus advanced the farthest of any area team in the postseason, reaching the third round.

Area softball recap for 2021

Class 6A

South Grand Prairie: Won District 8. Defeated Richardson in bidistrict, 2-0 (5-3, 13-10); lost to Denton Guyer in area, 0-2 (0-19, 0-13).

Grand Prairie: Third in District 8. Defeated Richardson Berkner in bidistrict, 2-0 (10-0, 10-0); lost to Flower Mound in area, 0-2 (0-10, 2-8).

Mansfield: Second in District 11. Defeated Belton in bidistrict, 2-0 (13-8, 13-0); lost to Rockwal in area, 1-2 (0-5, 7-0, 0-1).

Mansfield Lake Ridge: Third in District 11. Defeated Copperas Cove in bidistrict, 2-0 (6-0, 7-2); lost to Wylie in area, 1-2 (4-3, 6-7, 4-18).

Waxahachie: Fourth in District 11. Lost to Bryan in bidistrict, 0-2 (3-9, 0-13).

Class 5A

Mansfield Legacy: Third in District 8. Defeated Saginaw in bidistrict, 2-0 (11-5, 17-3); lost to Colleyville Heritage in area, 0-2 (2-13, 1-11).

Midlothian: Third in District 14: Lost to Forney in bidistrict, 0-2 (4-7, 4-7).

Red Oak: Won District 14. Defeated North Forney in bidistrict, 2-0 (8-7, 17-6); lost to Hallsville in area, 0-2 (0-18, 2-22).

Class 4A

Venus: Won District 11. Defeated Wilmer-Hutchins in bidistrict, 16-0; defeated Celina in area, 5-0; lost to Van Alstyne in regional quarterfinals, 0-2 (0-1, 1-3).

Midlothian Heritage: Second in District 10. Lost to Celina in bidistrict, 1-2 (0-6, 13-12, 9-11).

Wilmer-Hutchins: Fourth in District 12. Lost to Venus in bidistrict, 0-16.

Previous articleMcDonald’s Celebrates World Famous Fan Day on July 13
Next articleFamily Dollar Presented by Nasher Public Project with Artstillery
Rick Mauch
Rick Mauch is a veteran of more than four decades in the media. He began writing in high school and immediately went into broadcasting for almost a decade after graduating, working his way to morning drive in Birmingham, Alabama. However, realizing how much he missed writing (though he did continue to do some during his time in top-40 radio), Rick returned to what he loved and has been doing it ever since. Rick's career has spanned a plethora of media outlets, including community journalism, sports, entertainment, politics and more. He's worked in print, broadcast and online media. He also spent several years doing public relations for a children's home in East Texas - still writing on the side, of course. When he's not writing, Rick loves to play golf and do Bigfoot research. He's an avid believer. He also made his first hole-in-one in June of 2020. Rick is married to Junell Mauch. They have five children and three granddaughters