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.
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Were it not for a stunning 7–5 loss in the Regional Semifinals—sealed by Clear Springs’ Eryn Polite on a three-run walk-off—the path to a 6A Division I title looked very real. Despite that abrupt ending, the Tigers have had ample time to regroup and reload for 2026.
It starts with Oklahoma pledge Ella Kate “EK” Smith (Sr. RHP/OF). A true two-way force, Smith dominated every phase of the game last season, going 11–1 out of the bullpen with a 0.58 ERA and 145 strikeouts, while also hitting .614 with 15 home runs and 45 RBIs. The District 19-6A MVP added another line to her résumé in October, earning a gold medal with the United States U-18 national team at the WSBC World Cup.
Still, it’s far from an EK-only show.
Katy Sr. C Maddie Smith (NC State signee)Farrah Sheeren (VYPE/Phlox Photography)
Behind the plate, senior catcher Maddie Smith—an NC State signee—returns after a first-team all-district campaign. Fellow first-team senior Lexie Waugh (UT Arlington) will see time in the outfield when she’s not splitting catching duties. The next wave is already in place, led by first-team infielders Evie Willemssen (Jr., Auburn-commit) and Nevaeh Phillips (So.), while freshman Haley Schmitt (RHP/IF) appears poised for a breakout season.
EK has described this group as “gritty,” and if all goes according to plan, that edge could put Katy in position to hoist its third state championship—and first since 2019.
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