Already with a successful fund-raising burger sale under their belts held inside the Italy High School Cafeteria last Friday, in which every burger they cooked sold, the Lady Gladiator Softball team geared up for their season opener.

The Lady Gladiators will travel to the Waco Reicher campus for their first tournament of the 2011 season. Game schedules have been released. Italy’s first game of the tournament will be Friday, February 25th against the West High School Lady Trojans at 2:30.

Three Lady Gladiator softball players were named to the Texas Sports Writers Association (TXSWA) Collin Street Bakery 2010 All-State 1A Softball Team. These latest accolades are even more of a testament to the high level of play displayed by the Lady Gladiators this season.

Five members of the Italy Lady Gladiators’ softball team joined some of the state’s best softball players in being named to the 2010 Super Centex Softball Team.

Several members of the 2010 Italy Lady Gladiators’ softball team received all-district accolades to cap-off an incredible season which included an exciting playoff run. The teams four hard working seniors, Meredith Brummett, Cori Jeffords, Courtney Westbrook and Drew Windham helped lead the Lady Gladiators out of district and into the regional semi-finals.

Forney — After tying the best of three regional semi-final series 1-1 with the 10th ranked Blue Ridge Lady Tigers on Thursday, the Italy Lady Gladiators stormed out of the dugout to take a 2-0 lead in Saturday’s game 3. Blue Ridge quickly countered to go up 3-2 and eventually ended the Lady Gladiators’ 2010 playoff run with a 12-7 win over Italy.

Forney — The 1A Regional Semifinal Championship between the Italy Lady Gladiators (26-7) and the Blue Ridge Lady Tigers (26-9) is still up for grabs after the two teams split wins on Thursday.

The Italy Lady Gladiators (25-6) will play a best 2/3 series against the Blue Ridge Lady Tigers (25-8) at Warren Middle School in Forney for the regional semi-final championship. The two teams will play a double header on Thursday, May 20 starting with the first game at 5:00 p.m. followed by the second game at 7:30 p.m. The third game will be played on Saturday, May 22 at 12:00 p.m. if needed.

Joshua — After winning game 1 of the best 2-out of-3 regional quarterfinal-round against Meridian on Thursday 4-1, the Italy Lady Gladiators softball team defeated the Lady ’Jackets 2-0 on Saturday to claim the regional quarterfinal championship. Next up, Blue Ridge.

The Lady Gladiators haven’t been waiting a whole week to play this one. They’ve been waiting a whole year. After the Meridian Lady ’Jackets knocked Italy out of the playoffs last season during their regional quarterfinal matchup, head coach Jennifer Reeves, along with her assistant coaches Tina Richards and Andrea Windham, has been tracking this one on the calendar ever since.

Currently a Biology major at Hardin-Simmons University and a member of the Cowgirls Softball Team, 6-foot Junior righthander #13 Megann Lewis was honored by the coaches of the ASC and named the American Southwest Conference West Division Pitcher of the Year.

The Lady Gladiators have battled their way into the regional quarterfinal game against the Meridian Lady Yellowjackets. These two met at this time last year with Meridian advancing after surviving a late rally by Italy.

Already bi-district champions, the Italy Lady Gladiators were in an area-round rematch against the Tolar Lady Rattlers on Friday and Saturday. Italy dominated game 1 in the best 2-out of-3 with a 7-0 victory. However, Saturday’s game was a bit more dramatic, not decided until the final “Megahit!”

Good luck to the Italy Lady Gladiators (19-6) who will attempt to shed the Tolar Lady Rattlers (14-3-1) today in game 1 of a best 2-out of-3 Class A area-round playoff series rematch from a year ago.

Glen Rose — After a dazzling 10 strikeout performance by Lady Gladiator pitcher Courtney Westbrook on Friday and 2 scores by Anna Viers to help Italy win 3-2 in game one, the DeLeon Lady Cats were desperate for a win on Saturday to force a third game in the best 2-out of-3 bi-district series.

Italy — The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team lead by their four graduating seniors, Meredith Brummett, Cori Jeffords, Courtney Westbrook and Drew Windham, won their final District game of the season over the Frost Lady Polar Bears on Friday. It’s Playoff time!

With the district race winding down, the Italy Lady Gladiators Softball team had a chance to secure sole possession of 1st place in the division on Tuesday. To make it happen, Italy would have to overpower the Hubbard Lady Jaguars who had already defeated the Lady Gladiators earlier this season, 5-2 in Hubbard.

Tonight the Lady Gladiator Softball team plays in Italy at 7:00pm. They will not have face painters, nor will there be a hot-dog eating contest; but what there will be is a great game against a respected rival, the Hubbard Lady Jaguars. This contest will determine the top spot in the district. It is all on the line tonight. Please come and support your Lady Gladiators as they battle for #1.

While it was “Stafford Night At The Ballpark” during the Gladiator baseball game back in Italy, it was “Lady Gladiators Night” at the ballpark in Dawson as Italy’s Darlings of the Diamond played softball toss, went slipping and sliding around the bases and participated in the loudest cheer challenge. The team even had a dugout dance contest with Coach Andrea Windham stealing 1st place.

The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team tested their might against the 4A TAPPS Waco Reicher Lady Cougars (25-3) on Monday after the JV Lady Gladiators wrapped up their season against the JV Lady Cougars, both games in Italy.

Italy Head Softball Coach Jennifer Reeves utilized two pitchers, Courtney Westbrook and Megan Richards, to keep Mildred’s hitters off balance in this one. The strategy worked and the Lady Gladiators pulled out another win in front of their home fans on Saturday.

Frost — The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team singed the fur on the Lady Polar Bears in Frost on Tuesday. Italy exploded out of the batters box to cook the Bears in 5 innings, 14-0.

The Italy Lady Gladiators J.V. Softball Team was just that on Monday against Red Oak, a team. Together, Italy’s J.V. built a 9-0 lead, and together, they held off a Red Oak rally to hold on for an impressive 14-8 victory.

Softball — The Lady Gladiators fell prey to the Hubbard Lady Jaguars on Thursday in Hubbard 5-2. A minor setback as far as Coach Jennifer Reeves is concerned as the Lady Gladiators will now head to Frost to challenge the Lady Polar Bears on Tuesday, April 6 at 4:30 p.m. Fan support will be mandatory!

Farmers Branch, Texas — The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team competed in the Spring Break Classic in Farmers Branch this past Thursday and Saturday. The only 1A school in the tournament, Italy finished in 3rd Place within the Silver bracket.

Kerens — The Lady Gladiators softball team, coached by Jennifer Reeves, Andrea Windham and Tina Richards, continue to crush their competition. In the Kerens Tournament held Friday, March 5 thru Saturday, March 6, the Lady Gladiators dominated to win the championship.

There was a slight breeze at the IHS softball park on Thursday evening. It may have been a change in the weather or it could have been something new and exciting in the air-the winds of change. Lady Bulldogs fell prey to the JV Lady Gladiator bats, with an ending score of 8-7.

In their first game Saturday, the Lady Gladiators (6-1-1) pulled out a come from behind win against the 2A Maypearl Lady Panthers, 7-6. Game two saw Palmer come from behind to win 9-7 over Italy in a bottom of the 7th thriller.

Waxahachie, Texas — Two games on Thursday meant two more wins for the Lady Gladiators as they won impressively against 5A Duncanville 7-3 and then 3-0 over 2A Blooming Grove in the afternoon game.

Waxahachie, Texas — At 8:00 a.m. Friday morning, the Lady Gladiators run-ruled the 4A Cleburne Lady Jackets in six innings 16-5 and then out battled the 5A Arlington Lamar Vikings 9-7 in the 4:00 p.m. game during a Softball Tournament at the Waxahachie Sports Complex.

The Lady Gladiators Softball team is off to a fast start this season thanks to strong senior leadership and consistent play from pitcher Courtney Westbrook. The Lady Gladiators used the Rice game to set the standard for their season.

Wednesday, the Lady Gladiator Softball team scrimmaged the McGregor Lady Bulldogs on a cold night in Italy. Despite the weather, several Lady Gladiators got hits, McGregor’s players got hits and even a snow storm hit.

On Monday, June 8, 2009, the Ellis County Commissioners court held a short meeting and recognized the Italy Gladiators Softball, Baseball, Track and Powerlifting teams. The students were invited by Commissioner Heath Sims.

The Lady Gladiators took on the Meridian Lady Yellow Jackets last night in a Class 1A, Region 2 Quarterfinal matchup. To say that it was a heart stopper is an understatement. This game defined the spirit, the heart and the grit that this team has exemplified all year long.

The Lady Gladiators defeated the Tolar Lady Rattlesnakes for the Area Championship this past Friday night. Next up is the Regional Quarterfinal against Meridian. This matchup is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19 at the Whitney High School softball field in Whitney, Texas. Game time is 7:00 p.m.

The Lady Gladiators made quick work in defeating the Lady Eagles of Goldthwaite on Monday night in round one of the playoffs. Winning the game 11-1 in six innings, the Lady Gladiators came away as Bi-District Champions.

The Italy Lady Gladiators Softball Team will be playing in the 1st round of the playoffs today, Monday, May 11 in McGregor at 7:00 p.m. against Goldthwaite.

Due to necessary changes to the schedule, the Lady Gladiators will be on the road for the rest of the season. With that said, Tuesday was Senior Night for the Lady Gladiators. Seniors Angelica Garza and Blanca Figueroa were escorted onto the field by their teammates and presented flowers. After a few snapshots were taken it was all business the rest of the night.

Italy and Hubbard were two undefeated teams with one game to decide who stays undefeated. It was brutal and scary…but we’ll discuss Dana Hamby’s and Rita Garza’s concession stand abilities at a later time.

The Lady Gladiators played the Itasca Wampus Cats on Friday evening. The game, scheduled to be played in Itasca, had to be played in Italy. Recent rains caused the Itasca softball field to be unplayable. Regardless of the location the Lady Gladiators took to the field ready to play.

Coach Jennifer Reeves is taking 2009 Softball T-shirt orders between now and Monday so don’t delay! Email Coach Reeves at [email protected] or contact Italy High School at 972-483-7411.

Last night the Lady Gladiator Softball team hosted the Covington Lady Owls in Italy’s first district softball game of the season. Our Ladies made short work of the game winning by run-rule in the 5th inning. The Lady Gladiators seemed to be “Focused on the Playoffs.”

The Italy Lady Gladiators kick the sand from their pre-season cleats and tighten the leather straps on their softball gloves a bit tighter, as they hope to get their mitts on another District Title.

What a difference a day can make! After a bad game last Friday the Lady Gladiators came out on Monday like they had something to prove. And prove they did! Our “Ladies” beat Waco Connally 10-4 in a pre-season contest.

The Lady Gladiators took to the field Friday night in a non-district game against the Rice Lady Bulldogs. In these two teams’ previous game the Lady Gladiators defeated Rice 5-3. This time…not so much. The final score in this contest was 7-0 in favor of the Lady Bulldogs

The Lady Gladiators made their presence known at The Classic of Ellis County softball tournament this past weekend. This tournament, sponsored by the Ellis County Umpires Association, had a total of 14 teams from all over Texas participate.

Rice, Texas — Monday night the Lady Gladiator Softball team opened up their regular season in Rice. The Lady Gladiators took on the Rice Lady Bulldogs and came out of the game with a mark in the win column. The score at the end of 7 innings was Italy 5, Rice 3.