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THEIR TIME: Expectations at an all-time high for Katy Tigers
“That hurt,” said senior Lauryn Soeken, who is signed with LSU. “We literally don’t want to lose a game this year.”
In regards to the bus ride home after the loss to Kingwood?
“We had some great seniors on that team, and it was the last time we would ever play with them,” said Houston-signee Hailey Gore. “It was a punch to the face. We weren’t expected to lose that series. I can speak for everyone... this is a year for revenge. We know we have a lot to prove.”
“I think about that loss every, single day,” Missouri-signee Avery Porter said. “It was the worst day of my life.”
...
It’s a new day for Katy softball.
Long-time coach Kalum Haack has retired, and assistant Meghan Burrell has taken over.
No pressure, right?
“You have to understand that these kids live and breathe Katy softball,” Burrell said. “They came to our ‘Haack Attack’ youth softball camps back when they were 10 years old. They have grown up wanting this for years, and they are on a mission.”
Burrell has been at Katy for over a decade and looks forward to taking over for her legendary mentor in Haack, who had 850 wins in his career.
“I’m not nervous because he has prepared me for this moment,” she said. “It will be hard not to have that extensive knowledge of the game next to me, but I’m ready. He’s put me in a position to be successful.”
Burrell knows what’s at stake, especially this year.
The expectations are at an all-time high, and Katy will get every opponent’s best game.
“This group has had some heartbreak over the years,” she said. “When we have lost in the past, we have pushed the panic button and played not to win, but to not mess up. We have been knocked down, now what are we going to do?
“This is a competitive group with immense talent. When we are at our best, we can’t lose. We are going to have to handle hard, better.”
No one knows this collection of talent better than Burrell, having witnessed their growth for nearly a decade.
“This a is collection of type-A leaders, but they all do it a different way,” she said. “Avery Porter is the leader on defense along with our catcher Madi Smith. Hailey Gore is our serious one, and Montgomery Henderson (Oklahoma State-signee) brings the energy. Lauryn (Soeken) and EK (Smith) are very focused on the mound. It’s a very close group.”The baby of the bunch is Ella Kate Smith, the junior committed to back-to-back-to-back National Champion Oklahoma. She tries to keep this all in perspective.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the passion of the game that you play with,” she said. “This game can be stressful, so I just try and have fun in the moment. I have the words ‘stay spicy’ on my glove to remind me of that.”
Hopefully, the last bus ride this season won’t be sour or spicy, but sweet.
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Dobie's Taylor Pleasants (No. 17) and Lake Creek's Maddie McKee leading No. 2 LSU
TEXAS TIGERS: Houston stars sparking No 2 LSU softball
“LSU and Baton Rouge are very similar to Houston, like the weather and the people,” Pleasants said. “It’s the people that really are the biggest difference. They make you feel like one of theirs and that this is ‘your’ home. The food is incredible also.”
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Taylor Pleasants
Taylor doesn’t have any intention leaving any time soon.
“I’m staying next year to finish my Masters degree and be a graduate assistant here,” she said. “Honestly, I hate being a senior… I’d rather be a freshman. Who would want to leave this place? You have so much support here and it’s really fun.
“I love coaching. This is what I’m going to do in the future. I want to specialize on defense… It’s the best part of the game.”
While Pleasants is wrapping up her playing career at LSU with hopes of being drafted in the Athletes Unlimited or play for USA Softball this summer, freshman Maddie McKee is just beginning her journey after winning back-to-back State Championships at Lake Creek.
“We are an older team with girls who have transferred in and who were already here,” he said. “They have a lot of experience and that is a big reason why we are so good… that senior leadership. The transition has been a little weird, but I’ve always wanted to earn what I got. I’m just starting over here. Next year, we are going to be young and I’ll be fighting to be a starter.
“The transition to college is bigger than I thought. It’s more about time management, being away from home and recreating yourself. But, the great thing about LSU is that it’s only a four-hour drive from home, so my parents can come see me play every weekend.”
With an NIL deal already signed with the Gordan McKernan Law Firm, McKee is projected to be an important piece of LSU softball’s future.
“At LSU, everyone has your back,” she said. “Our fans are incredible along with the coaches and facilities.”McKee, who played shortstop in high school, has been used as a utility player this season and has started at third base a few games.
Playing behind an All-SEC shortstop means limited playing time, but next year Pleasants could be passing the baton to McKee as the quarterback of the defense. Pleasants will be influential her development.
“This is my Mom, at LSU,” McKee said of Pleasants.
“My advice? Don’t be afraid to be different,” Pleasants said. “Stick with who you are.”
Three more Houstonians have signed or committed to LSU in the next two years, and Georgia Clark (Stratford), who led the Tigers in home runs in 2023, and Shelbi Sunseri (Santa Fe), the No. 3 all-time LSU leader in home runs, graduated in 2022.
It doesn't hurt that coach Beth Torino was also an assistant coach at the University of Houston from 2003-07 and is familiar with the area's talent.
So, who is next?
Braelyn Daniels of Ridge Point and Kaylee Schweitzer of Pearland will head to Baton Rouge this summer, while Katy pitcher Lauryn Soeken is just a junior.
“Houston is completely loaded with talent,” Pleasants said. “Being around all that talent just gets you ready for the college game.”
The game right now is LSU for some of the Bayou City’s finest.