The already impressive resume assembled by the 2024 Cardinal softball team continues to lengthen.
Add to it a Region XIV Conference championship. Yes, the first in the 15-year history of the program.
The 16th-ranked Cardinals wrote another chapter of history Monday night with a sweep of Navarro College in their final doubleheader of the regular season. The Cardinals won 9-5 and 4-1 in the games played at Corsicana High School.
The wins improved the Cardinals to 44-14 going into the Region XIV Tournament May 4-7 in Houston. They completed conference action with a 20-4 mark.
Navarro saw its season end with 21-30 and 9-15 record.
The Cardinals, the top seed in the North Zone, are scheduled to open the regional tournament Saturday against Alvin, the No. 4 seed in the South, at 5 p.m.
Alvin is 26-27 on the season.
Here's a recap of the games:
GAME 1
Cardinals 9, Navarro 5
After scoring three runs in the bottom of the first to take early control of the scoreboard, the Cardinals had to rely on a two-spot in the sixth inning to put away the Bulldogs.
Destiny Menchaca, who was a combined 6-for-7 at the plate in the doubleheader, went 3-for-3 and scored three runs in a 13-hit Cardinal attack.
Addison Wittram was the only other Cardinal with multiple hits. She went 2-for-3 with a double and scored two runs and drove in one.
Jaeden Burnham also had a double.
Working two and-a-third innings, Mirana Pena picked up the win in the circle. She gave up three hits and struck out three.
GAME 2
Cardinals 4, Navarro 1
Menchaca doubled home a run to break open a 1-1 in the top of the seventh and then Wittram stepped to the plate to crush a ball over the centerfield fence with a two-run blast to send the Cardinals into a celebratory mode after retiring the Bulldogs in the bottom of the inning.
Menchaca drove in Miraha DeBose, who had reached on a fielder's choice.
The Cardinals had six hits in the nightcap.
Nicole Stuhr went the distance in the circle. She surrendered five hits and struck out five.
