(SOFTBALL) Kingwood vs. Katy Jordan -- 6A-D2 Region III Semifinals
The stars of 2024-25 Kingwood Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
In what promises to be a competitive third-round showdown in the UIL Class 6A-Division II playoffs, Kingwood and Katy Jordan are set to face off this weekend in a best-of-three series beginning Thursday.
Kingwood enters the matchup with plenty of momentum, having swept Brazoswood in the opening round and dismantled Manvel 17-0 in last Friday’s area-round contest.
Now 28-4-1 on the season, the Mustangs are led by head coach Christa Williams-Yates and a deep, balanced roster.
Anchoring the lineup are Stanford-commit Addy Sheppard, Mia Gagliardi (Virginia Tech), and standout Leilani Garcia. Sophomore pitcher Hunter Quentel has also emerged as a reliable force in the circle.
While Kingwood’s playoff resume is impressive, Katy Jordan has shown it belongs on this stage as well.
Under the direction of coach Alexandria Compte, the Warriors (25-5) finished second in District 19-6A before outlasting George Ranch in three games and sweeping Cesar E. Chavez in the area round.
Jordan’s potent offense is led by junior Ryan McIntosh, who boasts a .463 batting average with 55 RBIs and 13 home runs.
Supporting her are senior Carson Jansky (.378 BA, 33 RBI, 6 HR), juniors Madeline Jovanovic (.358 BA, 29 RBI) and Madison Royse (.321 BA, 24 RBI), along with freshmen Olivia Sexton (.385 BA, 21 RBI, 4 HR) and Madison Douglass (.329 BA, 14 RBI).
Game 1 is scheduled for Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Kingwood High School. Game 2 will be held Friday night at Jordan, with a decisive Game 3—if needed—set for Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at a neutral site in the Cy-Fair area.
(BASEBALL) Pearland vs. Summer Creek -- 6A-D1 Region III Area Round
The stars of 2024-25 Pearland Baseball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
A spot in the Regional Semifinals is on the line as Pearland and Summer Creek prepare to square off in a Class 6A Division I area-round playoff series this weekend at Jim Kethan Field in Deer Park.
Pearland (23-7), under veteran head coach David Rogers, enters the series after a dominant sweep of Fort Bend Travis last week, posting shutout wins of 4-0 and 9-0.
The Oilers, who finished second in District 22-6A, are eyeing a return to the UIL State Tournament for the third consecutive season—and their roster has the firepower to make that run possible.
Leading the way is Texas A&M-commit Nico Partida, a key offensive weapon with a .452 batting average, 22 RBIs, and six home runs.
Senior outfielder Walker Hurst (4 HR, 17 RBI), junior Aidan Avalos (.311 BA), and sophomore Hunter Golden (.316 BA) provide solid depth at the plate, while Southern Miss-commit Cade Adams adds further polish to a deep and talented squad.
Junior Grant Shepherd (1.70 ERA) offers a reliable presence on the mound and contributes as a two-way player.
Summer Creek (21-8-1), guided by head coach DJ Wilson, is also riding high after a two-game sweep of Deer Park in the Bi-District round.
The Bulldogs have already surpassed last season’s postseason mark and are looking to keep their playoff run alive behind an experienced roster.
Texas-commit William Hill leads a veteran group that includes shortstop Ivan Rodriguez (North Lake College), outfielder Gage Gustafson (St. Thomas), and infielder Alex Morales (Wharton JC). On the mound, senior right-hander Jaden Rodriguez will be key to slowing Pearland’s potent offense.
Game 1 of the best-of-three series begins Thursday at 7:00 p.m., with Game 2 scheduled for Friday at the same time. If necessary, Game 3 will be played Saturday at 5:00 p.m.
The stars of 2024-25 Summer Creek Baseball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
(SOFTBALL) Oak Ridge vs. Midway -- 6A-D1 Region II Semifinals
The stars of 2024-25 Oak Ridge Softball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
The stakes continue to rise in the Class 6A Region II playoffs as Oak Ridge is primed to take on the powerhouse Midway Panthers in a best-of-three semifinal series this week at Mumford ISD.
Oak Ridge (23-8), led by head coach Stephani Rougeau, has put together another impressive postseason run following a silver-medal finish in District 13-6A.
The War Eagles opened the playoffs with a dominant 18-3 win over MacArthur, then held off a tough Klein squad in a 7-5 battle to punch their ticket to the Regional Semis. They’re now just one round away from matching last year’s deep playoff push, when they advanced four rounds into the postseason.
Offensively and defensively, Oak Ridge is powered by a balanced roster that includes Kansas-commit and senior catcher Ella Boyer, senior pitcher Hailei Harrell (Grambling State), and junior outfielder Adrienne Thompson.
Sophomore first baseman Macy Browning and standout freshman Anneliesse Pettway provide youthful energy and key contributions on both sides of the ball.
But standing in their way is a seasoned and driven Midway (25-2) squad, coached by Jordan Williams and widely considered one of the premier programs in Texas high school softball.
The Panthers captured their third consecutive undefeated district title (12-0) before sweeping Waxahachie and Rockwall in the opening two rounds of the postseason.
Midway’s veteran core includes senior pitcher/utility standout Lanee Brown and senior slugger Jayden Sadler—both members of last year’s State All-Tournament team.
They’re joined by Baylor-commit Harper Haas in the outfield and junior left-hander Camryn Carter (Northwestern State) in the circle.
With 11 State Tournament appearances and two titles in program history (last one was in 2010), Midway has no shortage of pedigree or motivation, especially after last year’s heartbreaking 11-9 walk-off loss to Weslaco in the State Final.
Game 1 is set for Thursday at 5:00 p.m., followed by Game 2 on Friday at the same time. If needed, a decisive Game 3 will be played Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
(SOFTBALL) Lake Creek vs. Georgetown -- 5A-D2 Region III Semifinals
The stars of 2024-25 Lake Creek Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Two familiar foes are set to collide once again in the Class 5A-D2 Region III Semifinals, as undefeated Lake Creek takes on Georgetown in a highly anticipated one-game playoff Friday night at Mumford High School.
Lake Creek (31-0), under second-year head coach Candyce Carter, enters the semifinal round as not only the top-ranked team in Houston, but arguably in the entire state.
The Lions have cruised through the postseason so far, sweeping Dayton and Port Neches-Groves in the first two rounds.
With their sights set on a third state title—and first since 2023—Lake Creek is determined to finish what they started last season, when they fell just short in the fifth round against Lake Belton.
The Lions feature a deep and battle-tested roster, led by standout junior outfielder Madalyn Davis (North Carolina-commit), senior pitcher/infielder Chesney Davis (Texas State), and junior pitcher Sara Wiggins (Wichita State).
Offensively, Lake Creek is stacked with weapons, including outfielders Gracee Brewer (McNeese State) and Kloie Futch, as well as senior first baseman Maggie Hayward (Hillsdale College).
Between their experience, depth, and two-ace pitching tandem, Lake Creek is as complete as any team left in the bracket.
But Georgetown (24-9-1) is no stranger to deep playoff runs—and they’ve been here before.
The Eagles, led by head coach Melissa Hall, are fresh off their third straight District 23-5A championship and convincing postseason wins over LASAA and Randle.
With a strong mix of veteran leadership and rising talent, Georgetown is aiming to reach the state tournament for a third time—and this time, break through for their first-ever title.
Senior pitcher and team MVP Macie McLellan anchors the Eagles in the circle, supported by a skilled core that includes juniors Kynleigh Ball, Lexi Saucedo, Naomi Bower, and freshman pitcher Caitlin Gomez.
The team is hungry for redemption and eager to flip the script after falling to Lake Creek in the 2022 state championship game.
First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. Friday at Mumford High School, with a spot in the Region III final on the line.
(BASEBALL) The Woodlands vs. Klein Cain -- 6A-D1 Region II Area Round
The stars of 2024-25 The Woodlands Baseball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Two well-armed contenders are set to collide in the Class 6A Region II area round as The Woodlands squares off against Klein Cain in a best-of-three playoff series beginning Thursday at Tomball Memorial High School.
The Woodlands (29-4-1), ranked No. 1 in VYPE’s latest poll, is riding a wave of dominance into the second round.
After sweeping District 13-6A with an undefeated record, the Highlanders opened the postseason with emphatic wins over MacArthur, posting back-to-back shutouts (10-0, 15-0) in the Bi-District round.
Under the leadership of longtime head coach Ron Eastman, the program continues to lean on what might be its greatest strength—depth on the mound.
The Highlanders feature an elite pitching staff headlined by Erich Daigle (Wharton JC), who boasts a 0.27 ERA, Texas commit Jack Smejkal (1.70 ERA), and Houston-bound lefty Max McCraray (2.55 ERA).
Galveston College-commit Caleb Holifield and sophomore standout Cash McWhorter also contribute to a well-rounded lineup that’s built to make a deep run.
Klein Cain (17-7-3), meanwhile, enters the series riding high after making program history.
The Hurricanes stunned Bridgeland in a two-game sweep last week (4-2, 2-1), earning their first playoff series win since the school opened eight years ago.
Head coach Neil Wisener’s squad will now look to continue its Cinderella run against one of the state’s top teams.
Klein Cain is paced by senior outfielder Blaine Bullard, a Texas A&M-commit hitting .485 with 16 RBIs and six home runs.
The Hurricanes also feature a versatile stable of two-way players, including Braden Cox (Colorado Mesa), Chance Kirtley, Collin Aloisio, and Coleman McBride—all of whom have proven capable both on the mound and at the plate.
Game 1 is scheduled for Thursday at 7:00 p.m., followed by Game 2 on Friday at the same time. If necessary, Game 3 will be played Saturday at 1:00 p.m. All games will take place at Tomball Memorial High School.
The stars of 2024-25 Klein Cain Baseball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
