ONE STEP AWAY: Four Houston softball programs vying for two coveted spots at State

Deer Park Deer v. Pearland Oilers

Deer Park Deer

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
• Regional Quarters: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: W 13-9, Game 2: L 7-11, Game 3: W 10-3) v. Atascocita
• Regional Semis: Series Sweep (Game 1; W 17-3, Game 2: W 8-2) v. Ridge Point

Pearland Oilers

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
• Regional Quarters: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 9-6, Game 2: W 1-0) v. Kingwood
• Regional Semis: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 10-0, Game 2: W 9-0) v. Bellaire

Both of these ball clubs have a storied history in their pursuit of a State Championship.

Deer Park won it all in 2021 and narrowly missed out on a repeat last Spring.

Pearland's most recent title was acquired in 2010, but the squad they have now is more than capable of ending the drought.

With legendary coaches on both sides not to mention an all-star cast of players facing off, this series should go down as perhaps the most pivotal of the season.

Bridgeland Bears v. Langham Creek Lobos

Bridgeland Bears

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
• Regional Quarters: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 18-1, Game 2: W 4-1) v. Spring
• Regional Semis: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: L 2-5, Game 2: W 16-5, Game 3: W 10-1) v. Wylie

Langham Creek Lobos

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
• Regional Quarters: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 1-0, Game 2: W 3-2) v. Klein Collins
• Regional Semis: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 10-0, Game 2: W 1-0) v. Midway

This series will showcase an a heated rivalry between two Cy-Fair ISD powerhouses.

Bridgeland is coming off remarkable turnaround against Wylie, in which they fell in the series opener 2-5, only to respond with monster 16-5 and 10-1 victories in the subsequent matches.

The offensive onslaught in their two wins was spearheaded by senior LHP/OF Haylie Stum, who batted for just over .600, with 10 composite RBIs, three runs scored, plus a crowd-pleasing grand slam in the series clincher.

Props to senior C/SS Lilli Piersons, who hit 2-for-3 with five RBIs and a run scored, as well as juniors Chayne Allen (2-3, RBI, 5R) and Daniela Lopez (3-4, RBI, 2R), who also played major roles in the comeback effort in game two.

On the other side, Langham Creek is looking as scary as ever, especially with Emily Simmons on the mound.

The senior right-hander continues to cook through the postseason, most recently shutting out Midway in both of her starts, while racking up thirteen strikeouts with the Lobos stellar defense taking care of the rest.

Batting-wise, senior C/2B Kasey Simmons led the pack, hitting 5-for-7 in the two-game sweep, with two RBIs, three doubles, and a homer in the series opener.

This is the furthest either team has advanced in the playoffs, so expect the stands to be filled and the dugouts to be loud when they face off, starting Wednesday, at Cy Ranch High School.