MAUD, Texas—Brittany Stewart’s graduation last spring left a huge hole in Maud’s softball lineup.

Stewart, now a member of the Grayson County Junior College team, was a dominating force for the Lady Cardinals among Class A schools in the area a year ago when she piled up 287 strikeouts.

Her possible replacements going into the 2008 season were senior Cara Cloude, sophomore Amanda Wright, or freshman Kara Sutton, who started the year limping with a sprained ankle.

“Kara wasn’t in any kind of playing condition at the start of the season,” said Maud’s first-yea...