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RANKINGS
THE MEEKINS WAY: Westfield's formula has 'Stangs ready for Duncanville
That is the model of consistency.
“Westfield is a special place for me,” Matt Meekins said. “Every day, I’m on duty before school and talk smack to the kids coming into school. I laugh at these kids and tell them that I’ve been at Westfield before their parents were even holding hands.
“These are great kids here. They are fun,” he said “It’s always a great day to be a Mustang.”
The ‘Stangs are 11-2 on the season and 7-0 in district play.
“Our early games got us prepared for the playoffs,” he said. “Games against North Shore and Hightower taught us a lot against really tough competition, along with our district foes.”
Next up is Duncanville Saturday afternoon. It’s the Class 6A DI Region II Final and a State Final Four berth is in the balance. They know each other well.
“We are familiar with Duncanville,” he said. “Last year, we gave ourselves a chance (28-21).”
Duncanville would go on to win the State Title over North Shore.
“It all starts up front with the offensive and defensive lines,” he said. “We have to protect the QB and open up some lanes. It all draws up nice, but if you don’t win the line of scrimmage, you don’t have a chance.”
QB Miles Dent has thrown for 1,800 yards and RB Taji Atkins has rushed for over 2,200 yards… 2,200 yards! WRs Austin Abram, Emmanuel Yancy and Desmond Dixon stretch the field, but it’s all about the trenches.
Ray’quan Bell, Joseph Peters and Ryan Anderson are the bigs. They control the line of scrimmage.
“Duncanville has a strong defensive front,” he said. “We are gonna need to get a push or have a stalemate up front to win the game.”
On defense, District Player of the Year Bryson Balka and Xavier McCray anchor the defense up front. Linebackers Breylon Wyatt and Keshawn Monroe are solid in the middle of the field, while Carson Williams and Joseph Albright patrol the secondary.
The names change, but the philosophy stays the same.
“They go out there and do their job,” Meekins said. “They just hit people. Play from the snap to the whistle and get ready for the next play. All of the other stuff is irrelevant.”
In last season’s game, both teams were heavily penalized for extra-curricular activities. The jawing, the personal fouls, the unsportsmanlike stuff.
“We just need to keep our heads,” he said. “That is extremely important just to keep our composure. I tell the guys, ‘Don’t let it be you’.”
Run the ball, play physical defense and play with pride and the Westfield Mustangs could take down the defending State Champs.
That has been the Mustangs’ winning formula for over 20 years… the Meekins Way.
Bridgeland's Lilli Piersons
THE BREAKDOWN: The can't miss 6A Regional Quarter softball matchups; photo gallery
With the Regional Quarters set to take place this week, one can only hope for similar excitement on the diamond.
Given the superfluous number of powerhouse teams primed to face off, here are VYPE’s picks for the best series matchups to watch in the third round.
H-Town 6A Standouts: Kennedy Hill (Jr. OF/IF)--Heights
Jamie Wright (VYPE)
No. 1--Deer Park Deer v. Atascocita Eagles
2022-23 Deer Park Softball
Jamie Wright (VYPE)
2022-23 Regular Season: 21-8/District 22-6A Champions
Head Coach: Amy Vidal-Bush
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 10-0, Game 2: W 19-1) v. C.E. King
- Area Round: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: L 3-5, Game 2: W 5-4, Game 3: W 5-4) v. Alvin
2022-23 Regular Season: 25-6/District 21-6A Champions
Head Coach: Ashley Boyd
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 14-0, Game 2: W 18-3) v. Pasadena Memorial
- Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 2-1, Game 2: W 5-3) v. Dawson
Leave it Deer Park to recollect themselves after a tough 3-5 loss on Alvin's home field.
The Deer showed their mettle by winning out the remainder of the Area Round series against the Yellowjackets, in two nail-biters no less.
Coach Vidal-Bush's group is surging at the perfect time, with their key senior play-makers--Bryanna Fuentes (IF), Erin Perez (C), Angelina Morales (1B), Lorelei Graham (OF), pitcher Aubrey Graham, proving exactly why they advanced to the State Semifinals a year ago.
However, Atascocita will be sure to put up a fight to advance.
Oklahoma-bound Kasidi Pickering was one of the primary driving forces behind the team's sweep over Dawson. The senior center-fielder went 4-for-6, with a double and two RBIs, while senior SS Raegan Jennings (2-5, 2 R, RBI), and freshman OF Marigny Thomas (2-5, 3 R, RBI, HR) provided the finishing touches to what was a decisive series for the Eagles.
This matchup may determine more than just who punches their ticket to the Regional Tournament. The winner of this series could potentially be the projected front-runner for the 6A Title.
2022-23 Atascocita Eagles Softball
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
No. 2--Kingwood Mustangs v. Pearland Oilers
2022-23 Kingwood Mustangs Softball
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
Kingwood Mustangs
2022-23 Regular Season: 26-6/Finished 2nd in District 21-6A
Head Coach: DeWayne Singletary
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 12-2, Game 2: W 10-0) v. Channelview
- Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 1-0, Game 2: W 6-0) v. Brazoswood
2022-23 Regular Season: 28-3/District 23-6A Champions
Head Coach: Laneigh Clark
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: 13-0 Win v. Clear Brook
- Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 1-0, Game 2: W 8-4) v. Summer Creek
Kingwood has showcased their remarkable consistency through the first two rounds of the UIL Class 6A Playoffs.
Through two series (4 games), the Mustangs' bullpen, headlined by UTSA-signee Meredith Schmitt (Sr. RHP), has only allowed two runs. What more needs to be said?
Despite facing an equally stingy pitching corps at Brazoswood, the Kingwood bats were opportunistic and showed up when needed. Expect their seniors--Lanie Macicek (OF), Hailey Harvey (UTL), and catcher Tara Wolocko--to keep up this trend as they move on the face Pearland.
Speaking of, the Lady Oilers are fresh off the heels of defeating a red-hot Summer Creek team in another series sweep.
A stacked roster full of college-commits in Hailey Golden (Texas-A&M), Kristyn Whitlock (SHSU) and Abigail Gutierrez (UT-Arlington), with an experienced coach like Laneigh Clark at the helm, sure sounds like a recipe for success.
Believe us when we say this was a difficult series to put as the No. 2 series to watch.
2022-23 Pearland Softball
Justin Hartojo (VYPE)
No. 3--Heights Bulldogs v. Ridge Point Panthers
2022-23 Heights Softball
Jamie Wright (VYPE)
Heights Bulldogs
2022-23 Regular Season: 25-2-1/District 18-6A Champions
Head Coach: Lamont Robins
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 12-2, Game 2: W 14-3) v. Stratford
- Area Round: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: W 7-6, Game 2 L 1-11, Game 3: 7-1) v. Cinco Ranch
Ridge Point Panthers
2022-23 Regular Season: 21-7/Co-District 20-6A Champions
Head Coach: Lindsey Gage
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: 16-8 Win v. Tompkins
- Area Round: 5-0 Win v. Cy-Fair
On the other hand, Ridge Point is a powerhouse in their own right.
Senior RHP Bailey Gray was incredibly efficient in the Panthers' single-game series against Cy-Fair. Not only did she throw a shutout against an imposing Bobcats lineup, but she also knocked in two runs to give Ridge Point the advantage they needed to finish off their 5-0 victory.
Look for Gray, paired with fellow stars Jade Uresti (Sr. IF), Braelyn Daniels (So. C/OF) and senior IF Reagan Green to make some noise in the three-game series.
This is one of the more unpredictable series of the Regional Quarters, which makes it that much more interesting.
Some of the stars of 2022-23 Ridge Point Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
No. 4--Bridgeland Bears v. Spring Lions
2022-23 Bridgeland Bears Softball
Justin Hartojo (VYPE)
2022-23 Regular Season: 27-5-1/Co-District 16-6A Champions
Head Coach: Candi Weige
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: 4-1 win v. Klein
- Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 6-0, Game 2: W 5-4) v. Conroe
Spring Lions
2022-23 Regular Season: 21-8/District 14-6A Champions
Head Coach: Julie Wyrick
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 4-2, Game 2: W 10-1) v. Oak Ridge
- Area Round: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: W 4-2, Game 2: L 1-2, Game 3: W 7-3) v. Cy Woods
Bridgeland solidified themselves as Title contenders with their series sweep against a red-hot Conroe team.
The Bears delivered a statement win in the series opener, smacking the ball over the fence four times, while denying the Tigers of a rebuttal in Game No. 2 to secure their playoff advancement.
Senior SS/C Lilli Piersons highlighted the gun-show, hitting for a .625 batting average through the series, while batting two runs in, scoring two herself, with a home run tacked on.
Other performances of note include that of senior LHP/OF Haylie Stum (3-7, 2 RBI, 2 R, HR), senior UTL Trinity Allen (3-7, 2 R, RBI, HR), not to mention Sydney Jackson (Jr. RHP) throwing for an 0.00 ERA, with 11 K's, while hitting a homer for herself.
The Spring Lions are a difficult team to pin down, given how any one of their players have the potential to go off.
Spring's thrilling matchup against Cy Woods showcased how effective their bullpen 's one-two punch of Isabella De Los Santos (Sr.) and sophomore London Park can be. Each threw 11 strikeouts during the series, while De Los Santos and Park threw for an ERA of 2.33 and just over 1.00, respectively.
The Lions' batting proved to be imposing as well, particularly with freshman 3B/C Hailey Jones-Calais going 4-for-8, with two RBIs, three runs scored, and a home run. In addition, Mariah DeBose (Sr. CF) could be a game-changer at the plate, considering the impressive stats she put up in Game No. 3 (1-3, 3 RBI, R, 3B).
2022-23 Spring Lions Softball
Justin Hartojo (VYPE)
No. 5--Langham Creek Lobos v. Klein Collins Tigers
2022-23 Langham Creek Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
2022-23 Regular Season: 25-7/Co-District 16-6A Champions
Head Coach: Michele Biffle
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 11-1, Game 2: W 8-0) v. Klein Oak
- Area Round: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: W 7-6, Game 2: L 7-10, Game 3: 2-0) v. New Caney
Klein Collins Tigers
2022-23 Regular Season: 26-7/District 15-6A Champions
Head Coach: Meghan Fisher
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 3-1, Game 2: W 6-0) v. Cy Ranch
- Area Round: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: W 3-1, Game 2: L 2-13, Game 3: W 11-7)
Langham Creek is picking up steam heading into this week's matchup against Klein Collins.
The Lobos took care of business in their three-game series against a staggering New Caney team. Although she hit a few snags on the mound through games one and two, senior RHP Emily Simmons showed her mettle in the shutout series clincher, capping her strikeout totals at 13.
Simmons was even more impressive at bat, going 4-for-7, with three RBIs, a pair of runs, plus a homer. Furthermore, junior OF/1B Lindsay Durham hit for .500, while tacking on two RBIs and two runs scored.
Klein Collins has already outshined their 2022 performance (Bi-District Finalist) which was punctuated by their exhilarating series win against the The Woodlands, but they don't plan on stopping now.
The Tigers have talent to spare. From junior right-hander Savannah Carter and Arianays Garcia (Jr. C), who each played key factors in their team's victory over TWHS, to Za'Riya Bell-Morris (So. OF) and senior IF Daniela Gutierrez who are sure to play major roles in the decisive series against Langham Creek.
2022-23 Klein Collins Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
OTHERS TO WATCH
2022-23 Jersey Village Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Jersey Village Falcons (16-14-1/Finished 2nd in District 17-6A) v. Bellaire Cardinals (14-12/Finished 2nd in District 18-6A)