NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — If you've followed Texas high school softball over the past decade, then you've probably heard of the Vestal sisters from New Braunfels Canyon.
The youngest sister, Harley, is now slugging out her own niche between the lines for the Cougarettes.
“It's just so cool to be here, carrying on the name and being a part of what my sisters have made for me," Harley said. "They've really set the path for my career.”
Brooke Vestal was a four-year standout in the circle for the Cougars, carrying them to a state runner-up finish in 2018. She started her college career at Oklahoma, before transferring to Ole Miss for her final two seasons.
“She was always tagging along to all of our games, whether it was with Mom and Hunter, or Dad and me, or vice versa," Brooke Vestal said.
Younger sister Hunter Vestal was also an integral part of back-to-back state tournament teams as a first baseman in 2018 and 2019, before moving to the circle her senior year. She's now a pitcher at Bucknell University.
“She's not letting herself be the baby," Hunter Vestal said. "She's stepping up. Like, if you're not gonna hear her voice she's gonna make you hear it...she's gonna make a name for herself.”
An independent streak that has a lot to do with being the youngest sibling.
“It honestly motivated me, because I did live in their shadow like with recruiting and everything," said Harley, who's verbally committed to Texas A&M. "People would always say, 'you're gonna go somewhere because of your sisters.'"
She instead made her own name by earning All-State honors as a sophomore and has led Canyon to an unbeaten regular season as a junior.
“I’m a really different player than them," Harley said. "I hit left-handed. I'm fast. I'm an outfielder, catcher, pretty much all the opposite things that they are.”
But still, there are qualities from both sisters that have contributed to her success.
Harley said she's learned leadership skills from Brooke, while taking Hunter's fun-loving approach into account.
"Those are two really big parts of the game that have helped me," Harley said.
Different attributes and different positions for the little Vestal sister who everyone is now watching.
“To know how much she looks up to both of us. It just makes me emotional," Brooke said. "I didn't realize exactly how much we had influenced her in her softball career. She's proud to be our little sister.”
“It's been a great experience getting to learn from them," Harley said. "I just hope that people think of me the same way they think of my sisters.”