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WITHIN REACH: Class 6A’s contenders in the Regional Semis

May 23, 2023

Evidently, the UIL Regional Quarters was a week for upsets.

Katy sweeping their district rival Tompkins, Cinco Ranch trouncing Ridge Point in Game No. 3, Clear Springs defeating Kingwood--these are the moments a baseball fan lives for.

Now that we’re into the fourth round of the Class 6A playoff race, these high school ball clubs are closing in on the chance to play for this year’s State Title.

Here’s the lineup for this week in H-Town baseball.

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Cinco Ranch Cougars v. Pearland Oilers

Photo acquired via Twitter: @KatyISDAthletic

CInco Ranch makes school history by advancing to the Regional Semis after defeating Ridge Point

Cinco Ranch Cougars

2022-23 Regular Season: 27-4/Finished 2nd in District 19-6A

Head Coach: Brett Wallace

2022-23 Playoffs:

Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 10-0, Game 2: W 13-4) v. Hightower
Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 4-1, Game 2: W 12-1) v. Memorial
Regional Quarters: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: W 8-1, Game 2: L 2-6, Game 3: W 7-0) v. Ridge Point

Pearland Oilers

2022-23 Regular Season: 27-5-1/District 23-6A Champions

Head Coach: David Rogers

2022-23 Playoffs:

Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 11-3, Game 2: W 11-1) v. Brazoswood
Area Round: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: W 8-0, Game 2: L 6-7, Game 3: W 4-3) v. Atascocita
Regional Quarters: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 4-1, Game 2: W 6-2) v. Clear Falls

Cinco Ranch is the biggest surprise out of the "sweet-16" teams remaining in the Class 6A playoff race--a welcome one, to be clear.

The Cougars defied expectations by defeating Ridge Point in the last round, while setting a school record for the deepest postseason run that the program has ever accomplished.

TCU-commit Lucas Franco (So. IF) provided the gun-show in Round No. 3, knocking two out of the park, including a three-run bomb in the series clincher. Another big-time performance was dealt on the mound by SFA-signee Gavin Rutherford (Sr. P/IF) who let up just one hit in his complete-game shutout in game three.

On the other side, Pearland is coming off a definitive series against Clear Falls.

The two-game sweep was headlined by a standout showing by senior infielder Braeden Morse, who combined for four RBIs, which was highlighted by a two-run shot in game two.

Nico Partida (So. RHP/IF) delivered a classy start in the opener--throwing ten strikeouts, while allowing just one run--and contributed at the plate by driving in two in the series clincher. Texas A&M-signee Caden Ferraro (Sr. 1B/LHP) also drove in two to start the rally in their deciding victory.

Neither of these ball clubs plan on having their season end here. They'll be battling out at the University of Houston starting Thursday to determine who advances and who goes home.

Stay tuned.

Jamie Wright (VYPE)

Some of the stars of 2022-23 Pearland Baseball

Katy Tigers v. Clear Springs Chargers

Justin Hartojo (VYPE)

2022-23 Katy Tigers Baseball

Katy Tigers

2022-23 Regular Season: 22-6-3/Finished 3rd in District 19-6A

Head Coach: Wes Hearne

2022-23 Playoffs:

Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 13-0, Game 2: W 16-6) v. Fort Bend Austin
Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 9-0, Game 2: W 7-3) v. Cy-Fair
Regional Quarters: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 4-3, Game 2: W 5-3) v. Tompkins

Clear Springs Chargers

2022-23 Regular Season: 20-9-1/Finished 3rd in District 24-6A

Head Coach: Chris Floyd

2022-23 Playoffs:

Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 4-3, Game 2: W 7-1) v. Alvin
Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 5-4, Game 2: W 8-0) v. Dobie
Regional Quarters: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: L 0-4, Game 2: W 7-2, Game 3: W 6-2) v. Kingwood

Despite being defeated twice in the regular season to Tompkins, the Tigers went to Cy Springs High School with every intention of defeating their district rivals.

After four innings in the opener, Katy was down by three before flipping the script on the Falcons. By the bottom of the sixth, the game was tied until junior outfielder AJ Atkinson came in the clutch with a two-out RBI-double to give the Tigers the lead and ultimately the win.

Subsequently, Katy carried their momentum into Game No. 2 by striking early with four runs in the first--highlighted by a three-run inside-the-park homer by HCU-signee Graham Laxton (Sr. IF).

In addition, game two saw three pitchers--Lucas Moore (Sr. RHP), Cade Nelson (So. P/IF), and Cole Kaase (Sr. RHP)--combine for a no-hitter to cap off the sweep over Tompkins.

Katy is back in the Regional Semis for the second-straight year, whereas Clear Springs reaches Round No. 4 for the second time in school history.

The Chargers showed tremendous resiliency to come back from a 4-0 defeat in game one against Kingwood, responding with back-to-back wins of their own.

Clear Creek ISD's reps will look to keep the streak alive when the two ball clubs face off at Deer Park High School, starting Wednesday.

Cy Woods Wildcats v. Rockwall-Heath Hawks

Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)

2022-23 Cy Woods Baseball

Cypress Woods Wildcats

2022-23 Regular Season: 28-3/District 16-6A Champions

Head Coach: Phil Schwarz

2022-23 Playoffs:

Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 11-1, Game 2: W 7-2) v. Tomball Memorial
Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 7-5, Game 2: W 4-2) v. Oak Ridge
Regional Quarters: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 10-0, Game 2: W 15-0) v. Klein Oak

Rockwall-Heath Hawks

2022-23 Regular Season: 27-7-1/Finished 2nd in District 10-6A

Head Coach: Greg Harvey

2022-23 Playoffs:

Bi-District: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: L 0-1, Game 2: W 5-3, Game 3: W 4-3) v. Wylie
Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 12-2, Game 2: W 4-2) v. Mansfield Legacy
Regional Quarters: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 3-2, Game 2: W 2-0) v. Midway

Cy Woods' hot-streak persists into Round No. 4 after outscoring Klein Oak 25-0 in another series sweep.

The series clincher saw several Wildcats share the spotlight, as the majority of the lineup made significant contributions to the 15-run barrage.

Just to name a few, senior 3B Ethan Farris went 2-for-3, with two runs scored and four batted in. Brady Sullivan (Sr. OF) had McClane Helton (Jr. 1B) each two RBIs, while Tristan Russell (Sr. SS) had three. On the mound, senior LHP Chase Morgan pitched a shutout with seven Ks through four innings before being retired.

Coach Phil Schwarz's squad will be traveling to Baylor Ballpark this week more emboldened than ever. The next obstacle in their path is Rockwall-Heath, so look for Cy Woods to make a statement.

The Woodlands Highlanders v. Rockwall Yellowjackets

The Woodlands Highlanders

2022-23 Regular Season: 25-6-1/District 13-6A Champions

Head Coach: Ron Eastman

2022-23 Playoffs:

Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 1-0, Game 2: W 6-0) v. MacArthur
Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 5-0, Game 2: W 7-0) v. Klein Collins
Regional Quarters: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: W 2-0, Game 2: L 3-4, Game 3: W 9-1) v. Tomball

Rockwall Yellowjackets

2022-23 Regular Season: 29-6/District 10-6A Champions

Head Coach: Barry Rose

2022-23 Playoffs:

Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 8-2, Game 2: W 13-3) v. Naaman Forest
Area Round: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: L 1-9, Game 2: W 8-5, Game 3: W 6-0) v. Mansfield
Regional Quarters: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 11-6, Game 2: W 10-0) v. Lake Ridge

The Highlanders made it clear that they're here for the long haul after their decisive victory over Tomball.

After a hard-fought game one victory, followed by an unfortunate error late in the second game tying up the series, The Woodlands made a statement with their 9-1 win to clinch the series.

Senior right-hander Ethan Coronel was stellar in the opener, shutting out a tough Cougars lineup, while sitting down six batters. Despite the bats being quiet early on, seniors Tyler Howard (4-8, 2 RBI, 4 R) and Logan Ellefson (4-8, 2 RBI, R) spearheaded the TWHS offense to the Regional Semis.

Their matchup this week invokes a little deja vu, as coach Ron Eastman's crew prepares to take on Rockwall--the team that defeated them almost a year ago to the day (2-1 series).

With the tension turned up to 11, this will be a series you won't want to miss.