GAMES
RANKINGS
Lake Creek Softball celebrates their win in the 5A Regional Semifinals
THE RIVALRY: Lake Creek advances to Regional Finals with sweep of Barbers Hill
The matchup between Lake Creek and Barbers Hill was the most anticipated series in the UIL Softball postseason thus far. The Lions came in as the No. 1 team in country and Barbers Hill was the third-ranked team in the nation going into the game.
Suffice it to say, the two H-Town 5A powerhouses did not disappoint.
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
Over the weekend, fan bases were flocking to the neutral location of Grand Oak High School to witness the spectacle. So much so, that there wasn’t enough room in the stands prompting spectators to watch from the rafters of the adjacent baseball field’s seating.
“It’s fun being able to put on a show, especially for the younger crowd and the fans,” said Lake Creek’s senior catcher Kalee Rochinski. “The fan-support is insane and that helps our drive and motivation to win and want to do bigger things.”
Lake Creek Sr. C Kalee RochinskiMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
The matchup was as close as it gets, primarily because of the pitching battle between Barbers Hill’s Hailey Nutter (So.) and Lake Creek’s senior right-hander Ava Brown (Florida-signee). The two aces combined for over 40 strikeouts in the series, which left little room for error on the batting side.
Lake Creek Sr. RHP Ava BrownMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
Lions' freshman Madalyn Davis ended up being the difference-maker in Game 1, with a walk-off RBI-single to give Lake Creek the 1-0 series advantage.
Friday’s Game 2 face-off provided slightly more action off the bat, with Rochinski initiating the scoring with a two-RBI double in the top of the first.
Subsequently, Barbers Hill would rally to score three runs in the third, making the score 3-2 before Lake Creek would tie the game in inning No. 5, on a bases-loaded HBP.
However, the play that decided the series came off a drag bunt in extra innings, made by none other than Madalyn Davis.
Lake Creek Fr. 2B Madalyn DavisMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
When attempting to throw Davis out at first, the Eagles 3B overthrew the ball into an empty right field allowing both courtesy-runner Abigail Etsay (Fr. UTL) and Davis to run home. That made the score 5-3 and eventually completed the sweep for Lake Creek to advance on to the Regional Finals.
Considering the reigning State Champs have become accustomed to winning games by five runs or more, this gave the Lake Creek stars an opportunity to showcase their resiliency.
“I feel like playing good competition, as a good team, proves how good you really are,” Ava Brown said. “Winning games by 10 runs... yeah, you’re good, but what competition did you face? Coming into this week we knew we’d have some good competition with Barbers Hill, but I felt like we capitalized great.”
Lake Creek will be facing Georgetown, starting Thursday at Mumford High School, to decide who goes to Austin for the UIL State Tournament.
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
The Lions are loaded with college-bound athletes, and they will be bringing an entourage of supporters -- not to mention a record 81-consecutive win streak -- to the Regional Finals, as the last remaining Houston team in Class 5A softball.
“This is an insane feeling -- one that not many people get to experience,” Rochinski said. “We take advantage of the time that we have to play on the field with these girls. We don’t waste any moment of it, we’re grateful for everything. This is for the city.”
Lake Creek's Kalee Rochinski
THE PROSPECTUS: H-Town’s best competing in 5A Regional Semis
Let’s get right into it, shall we?
Here’s the prospectus Regional Semis of the 5A softball playoffs
H-Town 5A Standouts: Sidne Peters (Sr. P)--Santa Fe
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
Barbers Hill Eagles v. Lake Creek Lions
Some of the stars of 2022-23 Barbers Hill Softball
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
2022-23 Regular Season: 32-2/District 17-5A Champions
Head Coach: Aaron Fuller
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: L 1-2, Game 2: W 6-2, Game 3: W 14-3) v. Angleton
- Area Round: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 6-5, Game 2: W 1-0) v. Fulshear
- Regional Quarters: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: L 0-2, Game 2: W 2-1, Game 3: W 11-1) v. Friendswood
2022-23 Regular Season: 34-0/District 21-5A Champions
Head Coach: Michelle Rochinski
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 12-0, Game 2:W 11-1) v. Shoemaker
- Area Round: 11-0 Win v. Elgin
- Regional Quarters: 9-0 Win v. Pflugerville
This is the most anticipated series of the postseason thus far, plain and simple.
In one corner, there is a Barbers Hill team that's coming off a statement win against Friendswood.
Despite narrowly being defeated in Game No. 1 against the Mustangs, the Eagles rebutted with a hard-fought win of their own before running away with the series, in a stunning 11-1 clincher.
Senior IF Reagan Duty led Barbers Hill in the final game with five RBIs, while Emma Hargrave (Jr. IF/P), Sophie Naivar (Sr. OF), and junior OF Brookelyn Livanec drove in runs of their to send the Eagles to Round No. 4.
In the other corner, you have the still undefeated Lake Creek (79-game winning streak) who is coming off yet another one-sided victory against Pflugerville.
The Lions were flexing in the Area Round. Reigning State MVP Ava Brown sat down 15 batters on the mound, while Kalee Rochinski (Sr. C), Madalyn Davis (Fr. 2B), and junior OF Carmen Uribe provided the firepower at the plate--highlighted by Rochinski's three-run homer in the first inning.
Lake Creek and Barbers Hill are among the best in the business. The top-shelf pitching battle alone--Ava Brown v. Hailey Nutter--is enough to draw audiences.
Grand Oaks high school will be the venue of what could be the series of the year.
2022-23 Lake Creek Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Santa Fe Indians v. Georgetown Eagles
2022-23 Santa Fe Softball
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
Santa Fe Indians
2022-23 Regular Season: 24-5-1/Finished 2nd in District 18-5A
Head Coach: Andrew Whittington
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 12-2, Game 2: W 5-3) v. Port Neches-Groves
- Area Round: 10-0 Win v. Terry
- Regional Quarters: 2-1 Series Win (Game 1: L 0-1, Game 2: W 4-2, Game 3: W 4-3) v. Foster
Georgetown Eagles
2022-23 Regular Season: 31-4/District 23-5A Champions
Head Coach: Melissa Hall
2022-23 Playoffs:
- Bi-District: 12-1 Win v. Eastside
- Area Round: 11-1 Win v. Magnolia
- Regional Quarters: Series Sweep (Game 1: W 2-0, Game 2: W 4-1) v. College Station
Santa Fe is quietly emerging as a bona fide contender in the Class 5A race.
They showed their mettle after dropping the opener against Foster, particularly with the series-saving showing made in Game No. 2 by senior Sidne Peters, who batted 3-for-3 with an RBI, while throwing 12 Ks and only letting up two runs.
Others notable performances included that of Mea Slayton (Jr. OF) who drove two runs home in the Indians' 4-2 victory, while seniors Makenna Mitchell (SS) and Brooklyn Spencer (C/3B) provided the consistency at-bat to earn Santa Fe a trip to the Regional Tournament.
Next up for SFHS is a red-hot Georgetown team who have gone undefeated through the playoffs thus far, but with all the speed Santa Fe is picking up, they'll see to it that changes.