Lady Hornets' s’ball to start '23 at No. 3 in 1A pre-season poll

Dodd City garnered the No. 3 ranking in the Texas Girls Coaches Association
pre-season state softball poll, released on Jan. 30.

The Lady Hornets attained the spot, after being edged last spring by eventual-champion D'Hanis, 2-0, in a Class 1A State softball semifinal game.

It represented Dodd City's fourth appearance in the 1A State tournament in the last five completed softball seasons -- the Lady Hornets, in 2021, won their first title in the sport.

D'Hanis will start the season atop the 1A poll, which also included: No. 2 Hermleigh, No. 4 Blum, No. 5 North Zulch, No. 6 Aspermont, No. 7 Chireno, No. 8 Chester, No. 9 Northside, No. 10 Eula.

The 2A pre-season poll included: No. 1 Crawford (defending champion), No. 2 Weimar, No. 3 Ganado, No. 4 Thorndale, No. 5 Stamford, No. 6 Lovelady, No. 7 Archer City, No. 8 Groveton, No. 9 Como-Pickton, No.10 Bremond.

The 3A pre-season poll included:
No. 1 Hallettsville (defending champion), No. 2 Hughes Springs, No. 3 Coahoma, No. 4 Bishop, No. 5 Lorena, No. 6 Bushland, No. 7 Lamesa, No. 8 Franklin, No. 9 Mount Vernon, No. 10 East Bernard.