Justyce Malone, a freshman at Prosper Richland, has been named Newcomer of the Year in Class 4A Division I softball. The recognition follows a debut season in which she established herself as a primary offensive force for the Lady Raiders.
Malone compiled 70 hits during the campaign, a total that placed second among all players in Class 4A. She finished with a batting average of .476. Her offensive production included 21 extra-base hits, comprising 11 doubles and nine triples. She also recorded 44 runs batted in and scored 59 times. Additionally, Malone stole 28 bases throughout the year.
Her consistency was notable, as she recorded at least three hits in 10 games compared to seven games with zero hits. Her performance extended through the postseason, where she contributed two hits in the Class 4A Division I state championship game against Bullard. Those hits accounted for all of Richland’s offensive production in that final match.
In addition to the Newcomer of the Year award, Malone was selected to the 4A Division I all-tournament team. The Lady Raiders benefited from a mix of experienced starters and emerging underclassmen, with Malone’s emergence being a key factor in the team’s high-powered offense, which averaged 9.6 runs per game.
Prosper is located approximately 12 miles southeast of Aubrey.
