Embracing the spotlight: Brylee Adams poised to be leader, spark on offense and defense for Bushland

Brylee Adams is no stranger to recognition. She was acknowledged as one of the top softball players in the area last year by her teammates, coaches and opponents. That culminated in garnering Amarillo Globe-News Softball Player of the Year honors back in 2022.

Considering none of that changed in 365 days, it only made sense that we honor her again.

Adams, a junior pitcher for the Bushland Lady Falcons, even showed off her power in the batter’s box and can also tout being named the 2023 AGN Preseason Softball Player of the Year.

The Lady Falcons earned the nickname, "The Bushland Bomb Squad" for being one of the top home run hitting teams in the country — and Adams led the way. She hit a team-high 20 homers, while hitting at a .500 clip with 64 hits, 17 doubles and 65 RBI.

It's safe to say she had an outstanding season on offense.

Adams didn't pick up the POY award just because of her bat, however. She was also one of the top pitchers in the area as she went 17-7 with 168 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.82. She also tossed three no-hitters.

“My past coaches have helped me develop well," Adams said. "For my junior year, I’m just looking to do my best and make it past my regional semifinal.”

There will be some changes and adjustments this season, though.

Adams' older sister Jaycee, a former AGN Player of the Year as well, is now playing volleyball for West Texas A&M in Canyon. Also gone is longtime head coach Scott Tankersley, who retired following last year.

Still, she'll have plenty of assistance around her in Abby Howell, Jayce Ornelas, Chloe Cochran and others. The Lady Falcons also made an exciting hire in former Vernon College and Burkburnett coach John Blair, whom Adams praised for the work he's done already.

“Coach Blair is a really good coach," she said. "He's very disciplined and organized. I like that a lot.”

Blair offered up his praise for Adams as well.

“So far in our scrimmages she leads the team in home runs, she’s pitched really well and she’s such an athlete," he said. "If she wasn’t a pitcher for us, she could play just about anywhere in the field. When she’s not pitching she’ll see time at short stop and maybe even first base.”

Right now, Adams is also learning a leadership role. The only seniors on the team this year haven't joined yet due to their commitment to the basketball program. Adams and Blair both said she's adjusting to that role well.

"It’s been new and a change, but I’ve liked it a lot," Adams said. "It’s basically been just about staying consistent and working hard all of the time because hard work pays off."

Now is the time to see what that work has produced. After making it to the region semifinals, Adams has her sights set on even more hardware this year.

If so, that will garner even more recognition.

“I think we can make it all the way to state, especially with our new coach and the drive our team has," she said. "We all want to make it there. We have a couple of girls who played volleyball that made it to state and so we want to make it in softball.”

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Bushland's Brylee Adams is the 2023 AGN preseason softball Player of the Year