Three players from Killeen ISD recently received superlative recognition from District 12-6A softball and baseball coaches after putting together standout seasons in 2025.
Harker Heights’ Janelly Rios and Cooper Reaves earned pitcher of the year honors in their respective sports, while Shoemaker senior JoePhillip Guzman was voted 12-6A’s offensive player of the year for the second straight year.
Rios, a sophomore left-hander, notched four wins in the circle during 12-6A action this season, helping the Lady Knights softball team clinch a spot in the Class 6A Division II playoffs.
League champ Waco Midway, which last weekend won the 6A Division I state championship, had three players earn superlatives, including district MVP Peyton Philipp. Copperas Cove had two players receive top awards.
The Lady Knights’ all-time stolen base leader Brianna Warriner and Gabrielle Simmons were voted first-team all-district. It was Simmons’ second straight selection.
Killeen’s Princess Pinedo and Shoemaker’s Nicole Clemente also made first team.
Reaves, a senior right-hander, had an overall record of 7-2 on the mound for the Knights, who finished runner-up in the 12-6A standings behind eventual Class 6A Division I state champion Waco Midway.
Guzman, who also pitched for the Grey Wolves, posted a .500 batting average in district play, with seven of his 15 hits going for extra bases –– including five doubles.
Pitcher Seth Martin, first baseman Jordan Wood, third baseman Gian Martinez, and outfielders Corey McMillan and Cannon Culp were voted first-team honorees. Shoemaker catcher Orville De Jesus and utility player Damian Montanez also were named first team.
Midway’s Garrett Wiethorn was the overall MVP.
All-District 12-6A Softball
Superlatives
District MVP: Peyton Philipp, Waco Midway
Offensive player of the year: Camryn Carter, Midway
Defensive player of the year: Brenna Butler, Copperas Cove
Pitcher of the year: Janelly Rios, Harker Heights
Utility player of the year: Lanee Brown, Midway
Newcomer of the year: Janell Gray, Copperas Cove
First Team
Harker Heights: Brianna Warriner; Gabrielle Simmons
Killeen: Princess Pinedo
Shoemaker: Nicole Clemente
Bryan: Grace Tausch
Copperas Cove: Laila LaCarpa; Isabella Hunt
Midway: Jayden Sadler; Harper Haas; Kallei Alvarado
Temple: Madyson Combs; Kaegan Yepma
Second Team
Harker Heights: Lewansi Luna Guzman; Alexis Newlin
Killeen: Mackenna Dempsey; Nevaeh Hedberg
Shoemaker: Kale Clawson; Taylor McClinton
Bryan: Katia Martinez; Addison Sanchez
Copperas Cove: Gabrielle Wilson; Haylee Jennings
Midway: Kaitlyn Lowe; Addie Gloor
Temple: Jordyn Valdez; Brooke Knox
Honorable Mention
Harker Heights: Leila Osuna; Mackenzie Uschan
Killeen: Korianna Johnson
Shoemaker: Francisca Gines; Yanimarie Nieves; Diana Samuelu-Pedro
Bryan: Bri Ybarra; Jeslen Tijerina; Sophia Ramirez; Lacie Hernandez; Izzy Worrell
Copperas Cove: Karelys Monzano-Morales; Brooklyn Wilson
Temple: Lilliana Gandara; Ava Machuca; Kaitlyn Teeters; Saniya Maxwell
Academic All-District
Harker Heights: Alyssa Allsup; Lewansi Luna Guzman; Alexis Newlin; Janelly Rios; Je’Neiya Russell-Dukes; Kylie Shields; Ashlyn Towlson; Brianna Warriner
Shoemaker: Kale Clawson; Francisca Gines; Sophia Gines; Kadence Taylor; Taylor McClinton; Alanis Torres
All-District 12-6A Baseball
Superlatives
MVP: Garrett Wiethorn, Waco Midway
Pitcher of the year: Cooper Reaves, Harker Heights
Offensive player of the year: JoePhillip Guzman, Shoemaker
Defensive player of the year: Jaxon Chaco, Copperas Cove
Newcomer of the year: Jason Riley, Copperas Cove
Coach of the year: Eddie Cornblum, Midway
First Team
Pitcher: Seth Martin, Harker Heights; Colt Holmes, Midway; Brady Quinn, Midway; Cisco Gonzalez, Temple; Matai Anzaldua, Copperas Cove; Trent Sanders, Copperas Cove
Catcher: Orville De Jesus, Shoemaker
First base: Jordan Wood, Harker Heights
Second base: David Litle, Midway
Shortstop: TJ Woodson, Midway
Third base: Gian Martinez, Harker Heights
Outfielder: Corey McMillan, Harker Heights; Cannon Culp, Harker Heights; Tyler Seith, Midway; Xavier Tools, Temple; Joel Rios, Bryan; Champ Mayo, Temple
Utility player: Damian Montanez, Shoemaker
Designated hitter: Adrian Scott, Temple
Second Team
Pitcher: Gabriel Armenta, Copperas Cove; Austin Barrera, Copperas Cove; Jayden Potter, Bryan; Karson Ramsey, Bryan; Brody Potts, Midway
Catcher: Colton Beeman, Harker Heights; Charley Steen, Midway
First base: Jacob Perez, Temple
Second base: JonJon Mercado, Harker Heights; Cody Lingo, Copperas Cove
Third base: Dru Ohmstede, Midway; Sammy Martinez, Bryan
Outfield: AJ Lemaire, Killeen; Sammie Jordan, Harker Heights; Ashton Aleman, Bryan; Chris Sutton, Copperas Cove; Cavalli Nealy, Temple
Utility player: Jackson Goldstrich, Midway
Designated hitter: Colman Henton, Bryan
Honorable mention
Killeen: Kendall Ridley; Ja Marcus Wilson; Mason Hanusch
Shoemaker: Jomar Rodriguez; Eliel Rivera
Academic All-District
Harker Heights: JonJon Mercado; Cannon Culp; Taneel Nelson; Gian Martinez; Colton Beeman; Irwin Matautia; Cooper Reaves; Aiden Mitchell; Jordan Wood; Sammie Jordan; Nate Brown
