GAMES
RANKINGS
CLIMBING THE CHARTS: H-Town Softball Rankings midway through the season
The district portion of the Spring season is well underway, which entails the struggle of familiar opponents vying for playoff seeding in the coming weeks.
As it stands, Katy and Pearland seem poised for a deep run in the postseason, which could potentially land them in Austin, come June. However, teams such as Oak Ridge, Langham Creek, and Alvin have re-established themselves as premier contenders, with fellow challengers -- Bridgeland, Kingwood, Deer Park, and Brazoswood -- right on their heels.
Barbers Hill and Lake Creek are still the clubs to beat within Class 5A. But the hierarchy can always change, as long as Angleton, Foster, Kingwood Park, and Crosby remain in hot pursuit.
Meanwhile, in the private school sector, LSA and TWCA appear to be the front-runners in their respective TAPPS divisions, while Episcopal and Houston Christian look to be on a collision course in the SPC.
Given that information, check out the full list of teams that need to be on everyone's radar as the second half of the season unfolds.
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CLASS 6A TOP-25
1. Katy Tigers (23-1-1; 8-0 in district)
2. Pearland Oilers (19-2; 4-0)
3. Oak Ridge War Eagles (24-2; 8-0)
4. Langham Creek Lobos (22-3; 6-0)
5. Alvin Yellowjackets (19-3-1; 4-1)
6. Bridgeland Bears (19-4; 5-1)
7. Kingwood Mustangs (19-6; 6-0)
8. Deer Park Deer (18-6; 4-0)
9. Brazoswood Buccaneers (18-7; 5-0)
10. Houston Memorial Mustangs (18-2; 6-0)
11. Cy-Fair Bobcats (16-7; 6-0)
12. Clear Springs Chargers (16-6; 5-1)
13. Conroe Tigers (16-9; 7-1)
14. George Ranch Longhorns (16-5; 9-0)
15. Summer Creek Bulldogs (16-8-1; 5-1)
16, Klein Oak Panthers (15-7; 5-1)
17. Heights Bulldogs (14-9; 4-0)
18. Dawson Eagles (13-5-1; 3-1)
19. Grand Oaks Grizzlies (16-11; 5-3)
20. Katy Taylor Mustangs (14-9; 7-1)
21. Tomball Cougars (13-10-1; 5-1)
22. Spring Lions (10-8; 6-0)
23. Ridge Point Panthers (9-7; 7-1)
24. Bellaire Cardinals (9-6; 1-1)
25. Travis Tigers (9-6; 7-2)
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CLASS 5A TOP-15
1. Barbers Hill Eagles (22-3-2; 6-0 in district)
2. Lake Creek Lions (19-5; 4-1)
3. Angleton Wildcats (18-5-1; 5-0)
4. Foster Falcons (13-4-1; 3-0)
5. Kingwood Park Panthers (17-5; 2-1)
6. Crosby Cougars (17-6; 3-2)
7. Lamar Consolidated Mustangs (16-4; 4-2)
8. Dayton Broncos (19-5; 2-0)
9. Friendswood Mustangs (13-6; 3-2)
10. La Porte Bulldogs (11-5; 3-2)
11. Magnolia Bulldogs (16-9-1; 3-3)
12. Manvel Mavericks (15-8-1; 3-2)
13. Santa Fe Indians (17-8-1; 1-4)
14. Fulshear Chargers (13-13; 6-0)
15. Magnolia West Mustangs (15-11; 3-2)
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PRIVATE SCHOOL TOP-10
1. Lutheran South Academy Pioneers (12-1)
2. TWCA Warriors (9-0)
3. Episcopal Knights (13-8)
4. St. Agnes Academy Tigers (10-6)
5. Cypress Christian Warriors (9-7)
6. Houston Christian Mustangs (10-8)
7. St. Pius X Panthers (10-9-1)
8. St. John XXIII Lions (5-3)
9. Kinkaid Falcons (6-9)
10. FBCA Eagles (4-8)
BURN THE SHIPS: Houston Christian Softball galvanized to claim first-ever SPC Title
There’s no doubt that last year’s Houston Christian team was the best that audiences have witnessed on the softball diamond in recent memory.
The Mustangs finished the 2023 season with a final record of 18-12, highlighted by an appearance in the SPC State Championship, in which they ultimately fell to fellow powerhouse Episcopal.
That narrow defeat is still fresh in the minds of coach Cassidy Bowen and her team, which feeds into the mentality they possess this Spring.
“We expected our team to make a run for it and play in that game (SPC Championship) last year,” she said. “This year, we’re expecting to go and win that game. We’re back and we didn’t graduate anybody off that team. We’re not going to compete anymore, we’re going to win.”
All-SPC selections Jadyn Granere (Sr. C), MC Been (Jr. CF/1B), and Emily Thompson (Sr. 3B) return to the lineup, and will be complemented efficiently by the talents of Maddie Pickett (Jr. SS), Riley Warnica (Sr. OF/P), and junior 2B Lily Herveat, just to name a few.
“The difference between this year and others is the fact that we just don’t have a weak spot in the lineup,” said Bowen. “Everybody, top to bottom, puts a bat on the ball and can hit with power.”
Their lack of any discernible weaknesses should put the Mustangs in prime position to fulfill their team’s ultimate motivation.
“Our motto for this year’s team is ‘Burn the Ships’,” Bowen said. “We want to leave it all on the field. The senior class this year has been the group that has built what Houston Christian Softball is today, and we’re trying to give them a send-off in a big way.”
With a 6-2 start to the season – highlighted by exceptional initial performances by the aforementioned Granere, Been, and Warnica – it would appear that HCHS is certainly starting off on the right foot.
April’s SPC Championship is already within throwing distance for Coach Bowen and company.