MEEKER | The MHS softball team saw its 2025 season come to a close Saturday in the opening round of the Class 3A regional playoffs, falling 10-0 to powerhouse Eaton.
The two teams met earlier this season on Aug. 23 at the Eaton Tournament, when Meeker suffered a 24-0 loss. This time around, the Cowboys showed just how much they’ve grown, battling through five innings and holding one of the state’s top offenses to only 10 runs.
Despite the loss, the game marked major progress for the Cowboys, who finished the season 6-16 overall and 4-8 in league play under first-year head coach Megan Kuper.
“Eaton has a strong program,” Kuper said. “The team that faced Eaton this time around was completely different from the one that opened the season. We played outstanding defense and kept them from run-ruling us early. We battled through five innings and held them to just 10 runs.”
Senior Addie Knowles recorded Meeker’s lone hit, finishing 1-for-2 at the plate while also pitching all four innings. She allowed nine hits, five earned runs and struck out two.
“I was thinking throughout the game that I was going to leave it all out there,” Knowles said.
Defensively, seniors Emma Bauer and Knowles each finished with a perfect fielding percentage, while juniors Kayla Castillo and Kailynn Watson added solid defensive support.
Knowles led the Cowboys this season both in the circle and at the plate, while Bauer and Castillo were among the team’s most consistent defenders. The young roster — which included key contributions from sophomores Sienna Rolen and Avarie Caulfield and freshman Haigen Harrison — gained valuable postseason experience to build on heading into next fall.
Harrison said the experience of competing in her first postseason was “unforgettable.”
“We figured that since we had nothing to lose, we could give it all we got and not feel pressure because this was for fun.”
Castillo said her role focused on energy and leadership.
“I try to focus on bringing energy, cheering on my teammates, and keeping everyone locked in,” she said. “We’re returning a solid group that’s hungry to build on what we’ve started.”
Kuper echoed that optimism about the team’s direction moving forward.
“I’m very excited about where we’re headed,” she said. “We have a strong group of young players who are eager to learn, work hard, and continue building on what we started. The future of Meeker Softball looks bright.”
With a tight-knit group returning and a renewed sense of confidence, Meeker enters the offseason with something even more powerful than momentum — belief.
Meeker High School softball team members pose for a photo following the 2025 season. Seniors Emma Bauer, Addie Knowles, Jewell McPherson and Autumn Stallings led the team, joined by juniors Aurora Stallings, Kayla Castillo, Kailynn Watson and Rachel Elder; sophomores Sienna Rolen, Avarie Caulfield, Iris Holmes and Abigail Amick; and freshmen Haigen Harrison, Sophia Moody, Mackenzie Denney and Kylee Barrios. Bobby G’s Memories PHOTO
