No. 1 - St. Agnes Academy Tigers
The champs are ready to defend their title in 2025. St. Agnes Academy went 26-8 overall and won the TAPPS Division I Championship, defeating Antonian College Prep in the title game. Priscilla Riser enters her fifth season (86-44) leading the Tigers and returns seven starters off the State Title team, including Princeton-commit Mia Valenzuela, who hit .515 last year with 11 doubles, five triples, three homers, and 29 RBIs. Valenzuela was also first-team, all-state and the TAPPS Division I State Tournament MVP. Washington University-commit Julia Sullo will roam the outfield after being a first-team, all-state selection after hitting .475 with 17 RBIs and 32 stolen bases. Other key returners include Harvard-commit Kyra Nguyen (.469, .864 slugging, 14 2B, 6 HR, 34 RBIs, 15 steals), Dartmouth-commit Ella Darby (.357, 13 2B, 2 HR, 27 RBIs), Caroline Crocker (11 starts, 60 IP, 62 Ks) and Sophia Deutschen (,372, 1 HR, 16 BB). Deutschen was named second-team, all-state a year ago and hit a homer in the State Semifinal game to send them to the title game. Other players to watch include Penelope England, Emily Paiva, Anna Morton, and Kirsten Moon. Riser’s keys to success for this season include finding consistency in the circle, reloading after losing three starters and their ace, and taking it one game at a time. “With being the defending champions, it’s easy to skip ahead to the end of the season, or add pressure on ourselves thinking we have to repeat,” Riser said. “We need to prioritize our growth as a team and individuals each week.”
No. 2 - Episcopal Knights
This is the softball dynasty in Houston. In 2024, Episcopal captured the SPC 4A Championship after going 22-10 overall. This marked the Knights’ seventh-straight SPC crown and the eighth in 10 years. Episcopal has won 22 SPC crowns in program history. Caitlin Cain enters her seventh year of leading this program and notched coaching win No. 100 last year. Episcopal is set to return eight starters including All-SPC selection Gianna Lewis, who is committed to Stephen F. Austin. Last year, Lewis hit .406 with six homers for the Knights. Other key returners include all-district pitcher Jordan Bey, and all-staters Hayleigh Hubbard (.359, 3 HR, 13 stolen bases) and Alexis Johnson (.340, 3 HR, 25 stolen bases). Keys to success for Cain’s squad this year include having strong pitching, aggressive base-running and clean defense. Their motto for 2025 is very numerical as “8-23” represents their quest for an eighth-straight SPC title and 23rd overall.
No. 3 - The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors
Joshua Culp enters year two of leading The Woodlands Christian Academy on the diamond. Last year, the Warriors went 17-4 overall and reached the Regionals Round of the TAPPS Division II playoffs. Seven starters return for Culp including Clemson-commit Keira Crosby (.725, 11 HR, 32 RBIs; 13-1, 85.2 IP, 194 Ks, 1.39 ERA). Crosby was named first-team, all-state. Texas A&M-commit Reagan Rohrlich (.690, 1 HR, 49 runs scored) is also back after being named second-team, all-state in 2024. Another player to watch is Army-commit Alexis Osterhaus, who was honorable mention, all-state after hitting .500 with five homers and swiping 10 bases. Other players to watch include second-team, alldistrict pick Ashlyn Culp (.364, 17 RBIs), honorable mention, all-district selection Marissa Clarke (.286, 17 RBIs; 4-2, 33 IP, 45K, 4.50 ERA), Kate Rouswell and Alison Chandler. Keys to success for Culp’s crew include staying healthy, having quality at-bats and “limiting physical errors while eliminating mental errors”.
No. 4 - Fort Bend Christian Academy Eagles
Fort Bend Christian Academy went 14-6 a year ago and look to build off that with a relatively young squad. FBCA reached the Regionals Round of the Division II TAPPS playoffs. The Eagles return an impressive 10 starters, including second-team, all-state selection Reese Heflin (.390 batting average; 2.80 ERA, 108 Ks). Also returning for the Eagles are first-team, all-district pick Ariel Yee (.462) and second teamers Fallon Gerke (.370) and Jaleigh Bullard (.385). Other players to watch include Allie Guillot and Ella Romo. Kelli Jacoby enters her fourth year of leading the FBCA program but it is her 18th year on campus. Keys to success for her squad this year include having dedication, outworking everyone and “playing for something greater than yourself”. This FBCA team is loaded with talent and ready for another run at a state crown.
No. 5 - Lutheran South Academy Pioneers
The Pioneers are coming off a 20-win campaign in 2024 that saw them reach the Regional Round of the TAPPS Division II Playoffs. Eighth-year coach Nicole Andrade, who got her 100th career coaching victory in 2024, returns six starters as the Pioneers seek a 10th-straight year of making the playoffs. Wichita State-commit Addi Smith will lead the way after batting .448 with 12 homers and 45 RBIs last season. Smith was named second-team, all-state. Fellow second-team, all-state pick Bri Collazo returns after hitting .402 with nine homers and 39 RBIs. Other key returners include second-team, all-district picks Emily Bankson (.317, 28 RBIs) and Jill Whitehead (.386) and honorable mention, alldistrict selections Jadyn Maldonado (.333, 16 RBIs) and Ava Zamora (.366). Keys to success for the Pioneers this year include having great team chemistry, a strong team bond, winning mentality as a team culture and a strong offense, according to Andrade.
