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5 Big Things: Deer Park, Lake Creek headline Houston-area softball as playoffs begin
HOUSTON – Bringing home the hardware from the softball diamond at year’s end is something that Houston-area teams have been very good at.
Last year, it was Deer Park, Barbers Hill, and Liberty to bring home the crowns in Class 6A, 5A and 4A, respectively. It was the second-straight season (not counting the cancelled 2020 year due to COVID-19) that the Houston-area brought home three titles.
In fact, in the past three seasons, it has been eight state titles and 10 since 2015.
So, which team could bring it home in 2022?
Time to break down 5 Big Things to watch as the 2022 softball playoffs begin Wednesday.
The Back-To-Back Tour
You must start with the champs. Right? All the talk to open the 2022 playoffs will surround the teams that are trying to defend their titles from a year ago.
Deer Park, which won its third crown in program history a year ago, has gone 30-2 overall this season and is ranked No. 2 in Texas by MaxPreps. The Deer rolled through District 22-6A play, outscoring opponents 147-9. They open the playoffs against North Shore.
Barbers Hill was a team that had some question marks around not if they could hit and score runs in 2022 but who would hold down the circle for the talent that had graduated in Sophia Simpson and Samantha Landry. In step freshman Hailey Nutter, who quickly turned into the ace of the team. A perfect record in district, including a sweep of rival Crosby. The Eagles open their title defense this week with a best-of-three against Manvel.
Liberty is the final piece to this puzzle. The Panthers have won two state titles in the past five seasons and looks to add number three in 2022. Liberty just capped off a 25-4 regular season, going 10-2 in district play.
Lions Roar
Coming into the season we knew on paper that Lake Creek with its plethora of college signees and commits was going to be a statistical machine. The Lions entered this week with a perfect 29-0 mark and outscoring foes 249-28 this season.
Let’s start with Florida-commit Ava Brown in the circle. The junior’s numbers have been just flat-out silly in 2022. Brown boasts a 19-0 record with a 0.37 ERA, giving up just six earned runs with 251 strikeouts and 17 walks in 113 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting 0.072 against her.
At the plate, LSU-commit Maddie McKee leads the team with a .582 average, 11 doubles, six triples, seven home runs and 43 RBIs. Syracuse-signee Madelyn Lopez hit .507 with a team-leading 12 doubles and 30 RBIs, while Brown hit .378 with eight doubles, eight home runs and 29 RBIs.
This team is loaded and after making the Region III-5A Championship a year ago has its eyes set on Austin.
According to MaxPreps, the Lions are ranked No. 2 in the nation behind Roncalli from Indiana and No. 1 in Texas, ahead of Deer Park.
Putting a Charge into It
Clear Springs was one series win away from heading to Austin a year ago.
The Chargers fell to eventual Class 6A Champion Deer Park 3-1 in the Class 6A Region Championship in a decisive Game 3.
In 2022, Clear Springs has gone 24-4 overall, went 11-1 in district play and nearly scored 200 runs in the regular season. Junior Anna Soles leads the team at the dish with a .421 average, eight doubles and 28 RBIs, Erianna Garcia is right behind her with a .329 average and 26 RBIs and Clair Pollack is hitting .345 with 24 RBIs. Emma King leads the team in stolen bases with 19.
LSU-signee Emma Strood has hit .384 for the Chargers with six doubles and a team-leading five home runs and 22 RBIs in 2022.
Strood has also been the Chargers’ ace in the circle. The senior boasts a 17-3 record in 21 appearances with a 0.91 ERA for the season. Strood has struck out 215 batters and walked just 20 in 107 2/3 innings.
The Chargers have the hitting and pitching to make a run back to the Regional Championship and beyond in the coming weeks.
The Stat Machines!!
It is always fun to peruse the stats and see who has balled out in 2022. These are the leaders in each category, according to MaxPreps.
Home Runs – Kasidi Pickering, Atascocita (13), Kelsie Kelso, Atascocita (12), Addyson Sheppard, Kingwood (12)
RBIs – Halee Vance, Cypress Woods (53), Kelsie Kelso, Atascocita (48), Kasidi Pickering, Atascocita (47), Karlie Barba, Dobie (46), Maddie McKee, Lake Creek (43), Ahlana Bruins, New Caney (43), Mayson Garret, Angleton (43), Kristyn Whitlock, Pearland (42), Molly Yoo, Cypress Ranch (41), Addyson Sheppard, Kingwood (41), Kaeden Bell, Spring (40)
Strikeouts – Ava Brown, Lake Creek (251), Emma Strood, Clear Springs (215), Kynlei Chapman, Willis (211), Molly Yoo, Cy Ranch (168), Chloe Riassetto, Friendswood (153) Mary Martinez, Kingwood (151), Elise Adams, Memorial (147)
Other Teams to Watch
- -Brazoswood (The Bucs had some nice pieces coming back in 2022. The experience has paid off with a 29-6 overall record and going 11-2 in district play. They made the third-round last year before losing to Deer Park.)
- -Katy (It wasn’t that long ago that Katy was winning a state title in 2019. The Tigers are led by Camryn Harrison, Ashtyn Reichardt, Erynne Castillo and Kailey Wyckoff.
- -Bridgeland (The Bears could make a lot of noise in the 2022 playoffs. They are coming off a 26-5 regular season, won a district title for the first time ever and have a talented roster. Trinity Allen leads the squad with 32 RBIs, while hitting .380 with 12 doubles and four long balls. Haylie Stum has hit .486 for the season with 29 RBIs and eight doubles, while Makenzi Jenkins has batted .490 with 25 RBIs, seven double and five homers. In the circle it has been a combo of Sydney Jackson and Jenkins to carry the Bears.)
- -Kingwood (The Mustangs are coming out of one of the toughest softball districts in the city. They split the district title with Summer Creek and knocked off rival Atascocita. Freshman Addyson Sheppard has been a charge to the lineup, hitting .427 with 12 home runs, 11 doubles and 41 RBIs. Senior Mary Martinez has been the leader of the team with a .471 average, 38 RBIs and been the ace in the circle for the ‘Stangs. Martinez has gone 4-0 this season with a 2.17 ERA, striking out 151 and walking 33 in 93 2/3 innings.)
- -More To Watch: Santa Fe (23-4), Foster (15-3), Klein Collins (26-7), Friendswood (23-6)
GHAGBA All-Star Game set for Saturday on VYPE
HOUSTON - The area's best girls basketball players will descend upon Wheeler Fieldhouse on Saturday for the annual GHAGBA All-Star Game, which is slated for a 2 p.m. tip-off.
All-Star teams will be divided into Team Blue, led by Manvel coach Jhared Marshall, and Team White, led by Summer Creek coach Carlesa Dixon.
"I feel honored to be selected for that," Dixon, who also coached in the 2019 game, said. "It's a big game representing the best of the best in the Houston area. I just feel fortunate to be a part of it."
Both teams are headlined by some big-time stars that we will see at the next level. Summer Creek's Kaitlyn Duhon is signed to Auburn University and will actually be on Team Blue, meaning Dixon will have to coach against her star player that helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to the UIL State Basketball Tournament in San Antonio this season for her final high school game.
"That's going to be different," Dixon said with a laugh. "Luckily, I know how she plays. I know how to get into her head. It's going to be fun ... She's very competitive, I'm competitive, so it's going to be interesting to see us two go against each other. That hasn't happened."
Along with Duhon, the rosters for both teams is chuck full of talent.
On Team Blue joining Duhon are the likes of Lamar-signee R'Mani Taylor from Shadow Creek, Georgetown-signee Victoria Rivera from Dobie and University of Mary--Hardin Baylor-signee Kenna Gibson of Clear Springs rounding it out. On Team White, University of Texas at Arlington-signee Nya Threatt of Fort Bend Dulles, Siena College-signee Savannah Wilson from Kingwood Park and Dayton-signee Saija Cleveland of Langham Creek.
"It shows that there's a lot of talent in the area," Dixon said about the rosters. "All these girls can play and play next level. It's going to be a fun and competitive game because each one of these kids on these rosters they are winners in some sort of capacity, so they don't like to lose. I think it's going to be an intense game but also fun just being able to appreciate the greatness we do have in the Houston area in girls basketball."
Another fun roster note heading into Saturday's all-star game is that twin sisters Caitlin and Cortni Harris of Crosby, who are both signed to the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor will be on opposite teams as well.
Earlier this week the teams held practices, which Dixon said are all about "having fun" and "enjoying the moment" but when the game starts, it will be business as usual.
"Once that ball goes up in the air, I'm going to be all business," Dixon said with a laugh. "I'm going to have to keep reminding myself it is just an All-Star game but at the same time I want to win.
"Most importantly, I want the kids to have fun and enjoy that moment."
TEAM Blue – Coach Jhared Marshall
Kaitlyn Duhon- Summer Creek (Auburn)
R'Mani Taylor- Shadow Creek (Lamar)
Victoria Rivera- Dobie (Georgetown)
Dai Dai Powell- Dulles (University of Texas of Permian Basin)
Anita Ivery- Foster (University of Louisiana at Lafayette)
Jada Grigsby- Hightower
Tia Mitchell- Cy Lakes
Sian Phipps- Cy Springs
Jasmine Green- Stratford
Emei St. Laurent- Oak Ridge
Kenna Gibson- Clear Springs (Mary-Hardin Baylor)
Cailtin Harris-Crosby (Mary-Hardin Baylor)
Amanda Crowninshield- Bridgeland
*Blake Matthews- Atascocita (Bucknell)
TEAM White - Coach Carlesa Dixon
Anahlynn Murray- Summer Creek (Tyler JC)
Jasmyn Jackson- Cy Creek
Brooklin Brown- Shadow Creek
Nya Threatt- Dulles (University of Texas at Arlington)
Alyssa Berry- Clear Brook
Aleah Franklin- Hightower
JJ Schmaltz- Clear Creek
Atria Dumas- North Shore
Katelyn Chomko- Tomball Memorial (Mineral Area College)
Savannah Wilson- Kingwood Park (Siena College)
Cortni Harris- Crosby (Mary-Hardin Baylor)
Jasmeen Lemons- Hastings (Milwaukee Area Technical College)
Jalyn Wright-Hardin Jefferson
Peyton Foster-Langham Creek (Hill College)
*Saija Cleveland- Langham Creek—on bench-can not play due to injury (Dayton)