Madi Doty K's 11, is MVP as Grandview wins its first Texas 3A Division I softball championship; live scoring, recap

Jalyn James 3-run double sparks big fifth inning as Zebras gallop to first state championship in program history

Levi Payton | May 29, 2025

Grandview's Madi Doty struck out 11 batters with no walks, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits in 7 innings to lead the Zebras to their first state championship. Doty also had two hits at the plate and was named UIL finals game MVP after they beat Whitesboro 9-3 on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at McCombs Field in Austin to claim the Class 3A Division I title. / Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Whitesboro and Grandview will square off Thursday night at Red & Charline McCombs Field in the Class 3A Division I state championship game, with first pitch set for 7 p.m.

Whitesboro (26-11) has caught fire at the right time. The Lady Cats entered the postseason riding the momentum of a late regular-season push. After a streaky first half that saw them sitting at .500 near the midway point, they won 10 of their final 12 to settle into the tournament with a nice surge.

Since then, they've battled through four multi-game series to reach the final, including comeback wins over Gunter and Iowa Park. Junior ace Avery Howerton has the keys to the collective vehicle, striking out 226 batters and posting a 1.52 ERA over 151.2 innings. Senior Bradi Gallaway has powered the offense, hitting .609 with 19 home runs and 54 RBI.

Grandview (33-3) has been steady and dominant all year, especially on defense. The Lady Zebras have given up just 39 runs in 36 games, and only one team has managed to score more than three in a single outing. That consistency has carried into the playoffs, where they've posted 18 shutouts on the year and outscored postseason opponents 80-7.

Junior Madi Doty (23-1) leads a deep pitching rotation that includes senior Kat Gordy and sophomore KJ Hubbard. Offensively, senior Jaley James leads all starters with a .690 average.

Grandview enters with more experience and the deeper staff, but Whitesboro has proved it can battle back in any situation. The Lady Cats' lineup features pop from multiple spots, and Howerton has been tested against some very good lineups throughout the bracket.

With Grandview aiming to complete a perfect postseason and Whitesboro looking to cap off a remarkable turnaround, expect a competitive final in Austin. Check back here once the game begins for live scoring and updates from the 3A Division I state championship game at McCombs Field.

In the meantime, check out our Class 1A-3A previews, as well as previews for 4A, 5A and 6A state championships.

You can also watch the game (subscription fee required) on NFHS Network.

Whitesboro vs. Grandview: Texas UIL 3A Division I Softball Final; preview, live scoring, updates

Lineups

Grandview: Jaley James, SS; Sydney Mann, CF; Madi Doty, P; Kylie Grafa, DP; Kenna Collins, C; Aubree Nalley, 3B; KJ Hubbard, 1B; Kat Gordy, LF; Jamie Snider, RF.

Whitesboro: Bradi Gallaway, SS; Reagan Downs, 2B, Avery Howerton, P, Cameron Ortiz, C; Tylar Olsen, 3B; Breighlin Rupert, DP, Makayla Wolf, LF; Emma Parish, 1B; Jenna Cole, CF; Jentry Patterson, RF.

Today's game is delayed a bit due to overruns in the prior two games of the day. Lineups are being announced and first pitch should be coming around 7:45 p.m. Central time.

Top 1: Whitesboro 0, Grandview 0

RUN(s) - What a start for Grandview. Jaley James tripled to lead off the game and Sydney Mann used her blazing speed to follow with a 2-run inside-the-park home run on a liner that split the outfielders and made it to the wall. Grandview took a 2-0 lead with nobody out.

Howerton got a double play and then escapes the inning with a grounder.

Bottom 1: Grandview 2, Whitesboro 0

Grandview starter Madi Doty, a Texas commit, fires a 1-2-3 first inning with a strikeout and two grounders on the infield.

Top 2: Grandview 2, Whitesboro 0

After two quick outs, Grandview made some noise on a walk by Kat Gordy and a single by Jamie Snider, but Whitesboro shortstop Bradi Gallaway made a terrific stop to get a force out at second, preserve a run and stop a potential big inning from happening.

Bottom 2: Grandview 2, Whitesboro 0

Doty rolled through another quick inning with two grounders and a strikeout. She has retired all six batters she's faced.

Top 3: Grandview 2, Whitesboro 0

Sydney Mann drew a leadoff walk, stole second and went to third on a groundout by Madi Doty, but Kylie Grafa popped out and, after hitting freshman Kenna Collins with a pitch, Whitesboro's Avery Howerton got a huge strikeout to squash the threat.

Bottom 3: Grandview 2, Whitesboro 0

RUN(s) - After Madi Doty gets two quick strikeouts, an error extends the inning and Bradi Gallaway triples to center, driving in a run to cut the deficit in half, 2-1, with two outs left. Sydney Mann initially misread the liner hit right at her, then fell down, allowing Gallaway to get to third.

Doty bounced back with a strikeout to end the inning, stranding Gallaway at third.

Top 4: Grandview 2, Whitesboro 1

Kat Gordy smacked a 1-out single for Grandview and Jaley James was hit by a pitch with two outs, but Avery Howerton got Sydney Mann to ground out to end the frame.

Bottom 4: Grandview 2, Whitesboro 1

Avery Howerton (Texas Tech commit) led off the bottom of the fourth with a double off Doty and goes to third on a grounder by Cameron Ortiz. But Madi Doty gets a big strikeout - her sixth of the game - and strands Howerton at third. That was a big missed opportunity for Whitesboro.

Top 5: Grandview 2, Whitesboro 1

After ending the fourth with a huge strikeout, Madi Doty opened the fifth with a leadoff single and Kylie Grafa followed with a double to put runners at second and third with no outs.

RUN(s) - Doty scored on an error and Grandview extended its lead to 3-1 with nobody out and runners at first and third.

Aubree Nally was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out.

RUN(s) - KJ Hubbard drew a walk with the bases loaded to force it a run, making it 4-1.

RUN(s) - Howerton nearly escaped the jam with a pop up and a strikeout, but Jaley James ripped a 3-run double to break it open, 7-1.

Bottom 5: Grandview 7, Whitesboro 1

Doty gets three quick outs to end the fifth - two grounders and a strikeout. She seems to be just as strong in the circle right now as she was at the start of the game.

Top 6: Grandview 7, Whitesboro 1

Doty led off the sixth with a double off the wall in left and is likely well on her way to MVP honors.

RUN(s) - Doty scored on an RBI single to center by Aubree Nalley to make it 8-1.

RUN(s) - Kat Gordy drove in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 9-1.

Bottom 6: Grandview 9, Whitesboro 1

Bradi Gallaway singles to open the sixth inning. It was only the third hit against Madi Doty today.

RUN(s) - Tylar Olsen flipped an RBI single up the line behind first base to bring home Gallaway with 2 outs to make it 9-2.

RUN(s) - Jentry Patterson strikes out, but reaches safely when the pitch goes off of the catcher's glove. Cameron Ortiz scored on the play to make it 9-3.

After a pair of unconventional runs score, Madi Doty gets a pop up to the catcher to end the threat.

Top 7: Grandview 9, Whitesboro 3

Sydney Mann got down a perfect bunt single, but that's the only thing Grandview would get in the seventh. Whitesboro comes up with three outs left.

Bottom 7: Grandview 9, Whitesboro 3

Madi Doty strikes out the side in order and Grandview wins the Class 3A Division I state championship.

Recap

Pitching inside the same circle she will pitch in for the Texas Longhorns, Madi Doty ended her high school career with three strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh inning and won UIL Class 3A Division 1 state finals MVP as her Grandview Zebras rolled past Whitesboro 9-3.

After coming close each of the last two seasons, Grandview finally claimed its first state championship in program history and largely did so on the sparkling right arm of Doty. She improved to 24-1 in the circle - picking up the win after pitching 7 dominant innings, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on four hits - two of which came in the sixth inning - with 11 strikeouts and no walks. She needed 112 pitches to complete the task and threw 79 for strikes.

Jalyn James, Sydney Mann and Doty led Grandview’s offense with two hits apiece. James also doubled and tripled and finished with 3 RBI and scored two runs. Mann had 2 RBI and scored a run, while Doty doubled.

Aubree Nalley, Kylie Grafa, KJ Hubbard, Kat Gordy and Jamie Snyder each had a hit for the state champs. Grafa doubled. Doty (24-1) went the distance in the circle and earned the win after allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks in 7 innings. She threw 112 pitches – 79 for strikes.

Bradi Gallaway led Whitesboro with a pair of hits, an RBI and scored a run. Tylar Olsen and Avery Howerton had the other hits. Howerton took the loss and fell to 24-8 to complete her season. She went the distance in the circle, allowing 9 runs (6 earned) on 11 hits with 6 strikeouts and 3 walks in 7 innings.