Look: Ava Brown steals show in Texas high school softball championship — again

Florida signee spoke with SBLive after striking out 15 in a near-no-hitter in repeat UIL Class 5A title

In her high school swan song, Ava Brown was simply remarkable. 

The Florida signee stole the show for the second consecutive UIL Class 5A state softball title. 

She tossed 15 strikeouts, gave up one hit and a walk and drove in her team's lone RBI in Montgomery Lake Creek's 8-0 win over New Braunfels Canyon on Saturday in Austin. 

"This was my last high school game ever," Brown, who was also pivotal in the 5A semifinals, said. "I was trying to leave everything I had out on the field."

>>2023 Texas (UIL) state softball championship live updates: What happened in 4A, 5A, 6A titles

In the second at-bat of the game, Brown blasted a double off the left-center wall that drove in the game's first run. 

Brown finished her senior season 27-0 as a pitcher. She posted a 0.53 ERA with 292 strikeouts in 172 innings pitched and logged 10 or more strikeouts in 17 consecutive games. The Lions have won 85 of their last 86 games.

When she spoke to SBLive reporter Andrew McCulloch postgame after an all-time career performance. Scroll to the top of the post for video. Here is everything she said:

SBLive: Congratulations on a repeat state title. Thoughts on being back-to-back state champs?

Ava Brown: I'm just forever grateful. These are some of my best friends in the entire world and I would not want to do it with anyone else. I was able to do my job because people around me were gonna do theirs and that's all you can ask from a team.

SBLive: You guys have had a heck of a journey these past few years and an incredible senior class. What does it meant to make this journey with this group? 

Brown: It means everything. Not everybody gets to experience what we did. Not only did we get to go back-to-back and win state, butIi got to do it with some of my best friends and that's all you ever ask for.

SBLive: You've had some great pitching performances throughout your career, but this ranks up there with one of the best. What are your thoughts of your performance today, and what was working for you today in the circle?

Brown: I was just trying to do what I had to do for the team. I knew I had to give my best, knew I had to give my all so they would give it back and that's what I did.

SBLive: How much relief does it take off your shoulders as a pitcher to have a lineup that's so dangerous one through nine?

Brown: It makes it so much easier to pitch, it tells you you don't have to pitch perfect, you don't have to strike everyone out. I had full faith in my teammates, full faith in our defense and offense and of course that makes my job so much easier.

SBLive: 15 strikeouts, almost a no-hitter. Tell us about the emotions in the circle, it seemed like you were very fired up.

Brown: This was my last high school game ever, I was trying to leave everything out on the field.

SBLive: How does it feel to end your high school career a state champ?

Brown: Amazing. Best feeling ever.