AUSTIN, Texas —
As Calallen Softball prepares to take the field on Saturday for a chance to win back-to-back state titles, a player and her coach share a unique bond.
Center fielder Mia Flores, a standout player from last year's championship game, is Calallen Head Coach Teresa Flores Lentz's niece.
“She expects the best out of me," Flores said. "And I think it’s hard at the beginning but it’s definitely worth it in the end.”
Flores said she looks up to Lentz since she is a great leader. She joined the Calallen softball team as a freshman and played with her sister. She said having family around gave her more space to be comfortable.
“I always have someone to go to if I’m in need of someone to help me,” Flores said.
Flores was not always a softball player, she used to be a gymnast and run track. Lentz said with how fast and athletic she was, she needed to play softball.
By the time she was in high school, she was a Wildcat on the softball team. Her role became greater over the years.
“We needed her more and more as she became upperclassman and, you know, last year I think she was our starting center fielder, and she made some huge plays for us,” Lentz said.
Flores made an impressive defensive play when Calallen won the state title last year.
While Lentz coaches her tough, she said Flores knows she loves her and uses it to make her a better player. Lentz said she is proud of how far Flores came and the confidence she gained.
“If I could go back, I wish I probably would’ve been a little more excited when she did so well this season, but I’m so proud of her and I’ve always seen it in her,” Lentz said.
As Flores nears the end of her senior season, Lentz said she understands how special it is for them to experience everything together.
“I got an opportunity to get to know her in a way that I probably wouldn’t have gotten to know her if she didn’t play softball," Lentz said. "And I know she doesn’t really recognize that possibly just yet, but when she gets older, she will.”
When asked what she will remember most from her time as a Calallen Wildcat, Flores said winning a state title last year was the best feeling.
She said she hopes to do it again this year and will get that chance against Liberty at 10 a.m. on Saturday at The University of Texas Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin.