GAMES
RANKINGS
Whataburger Team of the Week: Katy Surges Toward State After Spectacular Regional Semifinal Victory
The following night, Libby Hroch ignited the offense with an RBI double in the bottom of the second inning, giving Katy an early advantage it would never relinquish. From there, the Tigers leaned on a stellar collective effort in the circle and on defense to keep Kingwood scoreless throughout the contest. Ella Kate “EK” Smith, Hroch, and freshman Haley Schmitt — who stepped in following Hroch’s untimely injury — combined to preserve the shutout.
Katy’s feared “Death Valley” trio — Evie Willemssen, Ella Kate “EK” Smith, and Maddie Smith — pose with their home run balls after Game 2 vs. Kingwood (5/8/2026)Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
However, the defining moment of Game 2 arrived in the sixth inning, when Katy’s formidable heart of the lineup — nicknamed “Death Valley” — delivered in emphatic fashion. EK Smith (Oklahoma signee), Maddie Smith (NC State), and Evie Willemssen (Auburn commit) launched back-to-back-to-back solo home runs over the center-field wall, breaking the game open and powering the Tigers to a 4-0 victory and a berth in the Region III Final.
In just her second season at the helm, head coach Meghan VanEtta has Katy on the verge of its first State Final Four appearance since the Tigers conquered the 6A brackets in 2019. Their Regional Final series against Clear Creek begins Thursday at 6:30 p.m., with all games set to be played at Summer Creek High School.
The stars of 2025-26 Katy Softball
HEAT INDEX: Final VYPE Houston Softball Rankings Ahead of the 2026 UIL Playoffs
It came as no surprise that Kingwood (29-3) responded immediately to its lone district loss to Summer Creek, winning out to close the regular season and claim the 23-6A crown with a 13-1 record. The run included an 11-0 victory over the Bulldogs and a six-game shutout streak.
The same can be said for Katy (28-5), which cruised to its 11th straight district title (excluding the 2019-20 COVID season), capping the 19-6A slate on a 10-game winning streak while allowing just three runs in that span.
Tomball (23-3) and Bridgeland (26-5) remain the headliners out of Region II, both well-positioned to make a push toward the state stage in the coming weeks. One of the most impressive runs of the back half came from Grand Oaks (30-6), which won its final 11 games to steal the District 13-6A title from Willis (24-9)—another scrappy squad.
Region III again shapes up as a gauntlet in Houston’s 6A brackets, featuring powerhouses such as Pearland (28-4), Atascocita (23-8), Summer Creek (26-7), Deer Park (21-10), Jordan (21-5), Clear Creek (19-7), Foster (24-8), and Clear Springs (22-13).
Rounding out the notable Class 5A programs are La Porte (20-3), Friendswood (21-7), Santa Fe (24-7), and Kingwood Park (21-9), while Liberty (29-5) and Needville (29-2) pace the 4A field.
All that being said, let’s tap into the who’s who of H-Town with the postseason on the horizon.
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Barbers Hill Eagles
Dana Strange (VYPE)
*Second section denotes current record according to MaxPreps
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VYPE Houston Top 25 Softball Rankings (6A-4A) -- End of Regular Season (April 2026)
1. Barbers Hill Eagles (5A) -- 30-3 // 14-0 in District 19-5A
2. Lake Creek Lions (5A) -- 29-1 // 12-0 in 17-5A
3. Kingwood Mustangs (6A) -- 29-3 // 13-1 in 23-6A
4. Katy Tigers (6A) -- 28-5 // 15-1 in 19-6A
5. Tomball Cougars (6A) -- 23-3 // 16-0 in 15-6A
6. Bridgeland Bears (6A) -- 26-5 // 13-1 in 16-6A
7. La Porte Bulldogs (5A) -- 20-3 // 11-1 in 20-5A
8. Liberty Panthers (4A) -- 29-5 // 12-0 in 19-4A
9. Pearland Oilers (6A) -- 28-4 // 16-0 in 22-6A
10. Atascocita Eagles (6A) -- 23-8 // 11-3 in 23-6A
11. Summer Creek Bulldogs (6A) -- 26-7 // 11-3 in 23-6A
12. Friendswood Mustangs (6A) -- 21-7 // 9-3 in 20-5A
13. Deer Park Deer (6A) -- 21-10 // 11-3 in 24-6A
14. Grand Oaks Grizzlies (6A) -- 30-6 // 13-3 in 13-6A
15. Needville Bluejays (4A) -- 29-2 // 12-0 in 29-4A
16. Jordan Warriors (6A) -- 21-5 // 13-3 in 19-6A
17. Clear Creek Wildcats (6A) -- 19-7 // 10-4 in 24-6A
18. Foster Falcons (6A) -- 24-8 // 10-0 in 20-6A
19. Willis Wildkats (6A) -- 24-9 // 13-3 in 13-6A
20. Clear Springs Chargers (6A) -- 22-13 // 9-5 in 24-6A
21. Santa Fe Indians (5A) -- 24-7 // 8-4 in 20-5A
22. Magnolia Bulldogs (6A) -- 22-8 // 13-3 in 15-6A
23. Kingwood Park Panthers (5A) -- 21-9 // 10-2 in 18-5A
24. Cy-Fair Bobcats (6A) -- 17-9 // 13-1 in 17-6A
25. Cypress Woods Wildcats (6A) -- 22-11 // 10-4 in 16-6A
Others to Watch/Honorable Mentions: Oak Ridge War Eagles (13-6A), Cypress Ranch Mustangs (16-6A), Klein Oak Panthers (15-6A), Ridge Point Panthers (21-6A), Cypress Ridge Rams (17-6A), Crosby Cougars (18-5A), Conroe Tigers (13-6A), Dobie Longhorns (22-6A), Hargrave Falcons (19-4A), Fort Bend Travis Tigers (21-6A), Goose Creek Memorial Patriots (23-6A), Stratford Spartans (17-6A), Montgomery Bears (17-5A), Memorial Mustangs (17-6A)