Barbers Hill once again has the talent to make a legitimate run in the playoffs. Reaching the Regional Finals is something they have done in four of the last six seasons. The 2020 campaign could have been their fourth-straight trip.
Aaron Fuller brings back the talented duo of Sophia Simpson and Samantha Landry, who have signed to Texas and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Simpson, who will be the ace in the circle for the Eagles, is the No. 9 and Landry is No. 37 in the country by Softball America for the Class of 2021.
The talent doesn't stop there for Barbers Hill. Pitcher and outfielder Kaitlyn Dutton (Texas State), pitcher and first baseman Faith Guidry (Michigan State), and catcher Amber Thibodeaux (East Texas Baptist University) are also back in the lineup. This team still has a sour taste in their mouths from 2019 falling in the Regional Final to Angleton and they are ready to get back to State.
How about Barbers Hill throwing a heavyweight like Friendswood for a loop with a series sweep?!
Meanwhile, the challengers -- Magnolia West, Lake Creek and La Porte -- took care of business as usual to advance to the Regional Semis in the UIL Baseball playoffs.
The four remaining Houston teams prepare to duke it out on the diamond, and the fans can’t wait to see what transpires.
Time to tee up this week’s matchups…
H-Town 5A Standouts: Blake Brown (Sr. IF)--Lake Creek
2022-23 Regular Season: 24-4/District 21-5A Champions
Head Coach: Travis Earles
2022-23 Playoffs:
Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 10-0, Game 2: W 10-0) v. Killeen
Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 6-3, Game 2: W 8-0) v. Pflugerville
Regional Quarters: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 10-0, Game 2: W 11-0) v. Lake Belton
In case you've been living under a rock for the past week, Barbers Hill stunned the 2022 State Finalist Friendswood -- in a two-game sweep, no less.
Hats off to the Eagles pitching (senior right-hander Briley Van) and a well-positioned defense, which hindered Friendswood's formidable lineup.
SHSU-signee Jace Martinez (Sr. SS) and Odessa College-signee Gage Kimble (Sr. C) were the driving forces behind the Eagles' offensive push, while senior outfielders Carson Garrett (Tarleton State-signee) and McKade Massengale made significant contributions as well.
Barbers Hill's next obstacle is a red-hot Magnolia West group.
Similar to the Eagles, the Mustangs are on a postseason tear, having yet to drop a single game through the first three rounds. Most recently, Mag West left Lake Belton stunned, outscoring the Austin team 21-0.
The deadly pitching duo of seniors James Ellwanger and Caylon Dygert was simply too much for the Broncos to handle. Meanwhile Jackson Blank (Sr. OF/P) continues to shine in the playoffs, evidenced by his game two performance -- 4-for-4, 2B, HR--which punched the team's ticket to Round 4.
Of all the Class 5A games set to take place this week, this is the one you won't want to miss.
2022-23 Regular Season: 22-8-1/Finished 2nd in District 18-5A
Head Coach: Ricky Torres
2022-23 Playoffs:
Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 4-2, Game 2: W 5-0) v. Goose Creek Memorial
Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 7-0, Game 2: W 9-1) v. Waltrip
Regional Quarters: 2-0 Win v. Fulshear
Lake Creek athletics is enjoying a phenomenal final stretch of the Spring season.
With their softball team already in the Regional Finals, and the baseball program having the opportunity to do the same this week, it is a great time to be a Lions' fan.
The two-punch knockout of senior pitchers -- Weston Moss (RHP) and Jackson Wilkerson (LHP) -- stifled Georgetown's batters to the tune of 9 Ks for Moss in Game 1. Wilkerson followed this up with 11 strikeouts of his own, while combining for a shutout with relief pitcher Jack Haag (Sr. RHP) in the series clincher.
Juniors Sam Lee (OF) and Leighton Scott (IF) led the Lions' lineup in the opener, going 3-for-4 and 2-for-4 on the night, respectively. Game two wasn't nearly as flashy, but Blake Brown (Sr. IF) and Parker Smith (Jr. C/P) each drove in a run to secure Lake Creek's sweep of Georgetown.
Likewise, La Porte put together a hard-fought win against Fulshear to earn a spot in the Regional Semis.
Junior OF Landon Kay had yet another successful outing, contributing an early RBI that gave the Bulldogs the push they needed to overcome Fulshear's relentless bullpen.
The ball clubs will meet at Humble High School, beginning this Thursday with hopes of keeping their playoff hopes alive.
The Langham Creek Lobos are having a magical softball season, under the direction of long-time coach Michele Biffle. The Lobos were co-District Champs and now find themselves one series away from a State appearance.
Led by sisters Emily, Kasey and McKenna Simmons, Langham Creek has some serious firepower and chemistry.
VYPE’s Matt Malatesta caught up with Coach Biffle before their Regional Final series with Bridgeland.
Lake Creek Softball celebrates their win in the 5A Regional Semifinals
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
81-0.
The last team to have beaten Lake Creek two years ago in the Regional Finals was none other than... Barbers Hill. The Eagles went on to win State that season. Lake Creek went unblemished last season to win State, so something had to give.
The matchup between Lake Creek and Barbers Hill was the most anticipated series in the UIL Softball postseason thus far. The Lions came in as the No. 1 team in country and Barbers Hill was the third-ranked team in the nation going into the game.
Suffice it to say, the two H-Town 5A powerhouses did not disappoint.
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Over the weekend, fan bases were flocking to the neutral location of Grand Oak High School to witness the spectacle. So much so, that there wasn’t enough room in the stands prompting spectators to watch from the rafters of the adjacent baseball field’s seating.
“It’s fun being able to put on a show, especially for the younger crowd and the fans,” said Lake Creek’s senior catcher Kalee Rochinski. “The fan-support is insane and that helps our drive and motivation to win and want to do bigger things.”
Lake Creek Sr. C Kalee RochinskiMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
The matchup was as close as it gets, primarily because of the pitching battle between Barbers Hill’s Hailey Nutter (So.) and Lake Creek’s senior right-hander Ava Brown (Florida-signee). The two aces combined for over 40 strikeouts in the series, which left little room for error on the batting side.
Lake Creek Sr. RHP Ava BrownMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
Lions' freshman Madalyn Davis ended up being the difference-maker in Game 1, with a walk-off RBI-single to give Lake Creek the 1-0 series advantage.
Friday’s Game 2 face-off provided slightly more action off the bat, with Rochinski initiating the scoring with a two-RBI double in the top of the first.
Subsequently, Barbers Hill would rally to score three runs in the third, making the score 3-2 before Lake Creek would tie the game in inning No. 5, on a bases-loaded HBP.
However, the play that decided the series came off a drag bunt in extra innings, made by none other than Madalyn Davis.
Lake Creek Fr. 2B Madalyn DavisMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
When attempting to throw Davis out at first, the Eagles 3B overthrew the ball into an empty right field allowing both courtesy-runner Abigail Etsay (Fr. UTL) and Davis to run home. That made the score 5-3 and eventually completed the sweep for Lake Creek to advance on to the Regional Finals.
Considering the reigning State Champs have become accustomed to winning games by five runs or more, this gave the Lake Creek stars an opportunity to showcase their resiliency.
“I feel like playing good competition, as a good team, proves how good you really are,” Ava Brown said. “Winning games by 10 runs... yeah, you’re good, but what competition did you face? Coming into this week we knew we’d have some good competition with Barbers Hill, but I felt like we capitalized great.”
Lake Creek will be facing Georgetown, starting Thursday at Mumford High School, to decide who goes to Austin for the UIL State Tournament.
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
The Lions are loaded with college-bound athletes, and they will be bringing an entourage of supporters -- not to mention a record 81-consecutive win streak -- to the Regional Finals, as the last remaining Houston team in Class 5A softball.
“This is an insane feeling -- one that not many people get to experience,” Rochinski said. “We take advantage of the time that we have to play on the field with these girls. We don’t waste any moment of it, we’re grateful for everything. This is for the city.”