NEDERLAND — Nederland graduate Madyson Guidry thought her time in a Bulldogs uniform was over.
Fellow grad Lindsey Taylor thought the same.
Guidry and Taylor both will compete at 6:30 p.m. today in the Southeast Texas Coaches Association All-Star game held at Lamar. The game is sponsored by CHRISTUS.
The Bulldogs duo is a part of the East Team coached by Nederland coach Will Mallette.
“It feels great preparing for a softball game,” Guidry said. “It is exciting to be back on the field already after losing that last playoff game. I definitely did not think I would put a Nederland uniform on again. It is exciting to show Nederland off one last time.”
Guidry had an amazing senior year for the Bulldogs who finished 25-11 this past season. Nederland, along with Port Neches-Groves, won a share of the District 22-5A title and went two rounds deep in the playoffs.
Guidry threw 103 1/3 innings and had a 1.42 ERA and a 12-6 record. She finished with 128 strikeouts and 34 walks.
She said she is really looking forward to playing for Mallette one last time.
“We have a close bond,” Guidry said. “He is the only coach I have played for in high school so I am happy to play for him again.”
Taylor did her damage at the plate for the Bulldogs. She will play college softball at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, Okla.
Taylor batted .421 her senior year and collected 40 RBI and 29 runs. She had nine doubles and two homers.
“I am glad to be back on the field with one of my best friends again (Guidry),” Taylor said. “It is also great getting out here with some new people. It has gone well. We have really come together. I have played with several of them outside of high school.”
Orangefield’s Haley Fontenot, Maleah Saucedo and Morghan Kelley are all on the East Team and so are Bridge City’s Baili Thibodeaux, Faith Kaufman and Hannah Carpenter.
Mallette called it an honor to be the coach of the East Team.
“It means a lot,” Mallette said. “When the playoffs ended that was the last time we would play but I knew I would get to coach those two again. They are my first, four-year kids since I have been here. We have a pretty special bond. They have a lot of other things on their mind being graduates. It is just a blessing.”