In the quiet halls of Southwest High School in San Antonio—habitually buzzing with lockers slamming and cleats on turf—the halls now echo with a profound stillness. There, the school community is grappling with the profound loss of one of its brightest stars: 17-year-old softball pitcher Angelina Terrazas. Surrounded by family and teammates, she passed away on November 8, 2025, after a brave battle with Stage 3 ovarian cancer, leaving behind a legacy of fierce determination and boundless warmth.
From day one, Angelina was more than just a player for the Dragons; she was their champion and their soul. As a standout athlete on the field, she dominated with strength—most notably by striking out 14 batters in a February district opener. Off the field, she led with vulnerability, compassion and an unwavering belief in her teammates. “Her work ethic was unmatched,” Assistant Coach Taylor Doege noted, reflecting the way Angelina held the team accountable while lifting them up when it counted.
Her journey took an unexpected turn earlier this year when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer. Undergoing surgery in March that removed a tumor, her left ovary, fallopian tube and surrounding lymph nodes, she ramped up chemotherapy and steeled herself for the fight ahead. Even as treatment sidelined her from the circle, she returned to the dugout, combing balls during practice and cheering from the bench—her teammates affectionately calling her “Mother Hen” for the way she nurtured them through the uncertainty.
In the final chapter of her life, Angelina’s spirit stood as a beacon for her peers and the broader community. On the morning of her passing, the school district made a deeply meaningful gesture: awarding her diploma in a tender ceremony at the hospital. Undeterred by her own pain, she remained focused on her team and her dream of earning a softball scholarship to the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky. “She never did anything halfway,” one coach said, capturing the heart of her legacy.
Friends and family, along with coaches and teammates, gathered at the softball stadium on Tuesday, November 12, for a Prayer Circle—an event filled with stories, shared tears and hopes raised in her memory. All proceeds from the gathering will go directly to support the Terrazas family during this difficult time, transforming grief into action and love into support.
Angelina’s strength didn’t just inspire onlookers—it mobilized them. Local rival teams sent baskets, cards and wore ribbons, promising she was not alone in the fight. Her teammates stepped up on the mound, playing not just for themselves but for her, carrying her spirit in every pitch.
As the Southwest Dragons continue their season, Angelina’s absence will be felt in every glove shake, every cheer and every dugout huddle. But her legacy remains—etched in the green and white uniforms, whispered in locker-room encouragements, and carried forward in the courage of those she mentored. Forever “#AngelinaStrong,” she remains the heart of a team, a school, and a community that she loved with everything she had.