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5 Big Things: Deer Park, Lake Creek headline Houston-area softball as playoffs begin
HOUSTON – Bringing home the hardware from the softball diamond at year’s end is something that Houston-area teams have been very good at.
Last year, it was Deer Park, Barbers Hill, and Liberty to bring home the crowns in Class 6A, 5A and 4A, respectively. It was the second-straight season (not counting the cancelled 2020 year due to COVID-19) that the Houston-area brought home three titles.
In fact, in the past three seasons, it has been eight state titles and 10 since 2015.
So, which team could bring it home in 2022?
Time to break down 5 Big Things to watch as the 2022 softball playoffs begin Wednesday.
The Back-To-Back Tour
You must start with the champs. Right? All the talk to open the 2022 playoffs will surround the teams that are trying to defend their titles from a year ago.
Deer Park, which won its third crown in program history a year ago, has gone 30-2 overall this season and is ranked No. 2 in Texas by MaxPreps. The Deer rolled through District 22-6A play, outscoring opponents 147-9. They open the playoffs against North Shore.
Barbers Hill was a team that had some question marks around not if they could hit and score runs in 2022 but who would hold down the circle for the talent that had graduated in Sophia Simpson and Samantha Landry. In step freshman Hailey Nutter, who quickly turned into the ace of the team. A perfect record in district, including a sweep of rival Crosby. The Eagles open their title defense this week with a best-of-three against Manvel.
Liberty is the final piece to this puzzle. The Panthers have won two state titles in the past five seasons and looks to add number three in 2022. Liberty just capped off a 25-4 regular season, going 10-2 in district play.
Lions Roar
Coming into the season we knew on paper that Lake Creek with its plethora of college signees and commits was going to be a statistical machine. The Lions entered this week with a perfect 29-0 mark and outscoring foes 249-28 this season.
Let’s start with Florida-commit Ava Brown in the circle. The junior’s numbers have been just flat-out silly in 2022. Brown boasts a 19-0 record with a 0.37 ERA, giving up just six earned runs with 251 strikeouts and 17 walks in 113 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting 0.072 against her.
At the plate, LSU-commit Maddie McKee leads the team with a .582 average, 11 doubles, six triples, seven home runs and 43 RBIs. Syracuse-signee Madelyn Lopez hit .507 with a team-leading 12 doubles and 30 RBIs, while Brown hit .378 with eight doubles, eight home runs and 29 RBIs.
This team is loaded and after making the Region III-5A Championship a year ago has its eyes set on Austin.
According to MaxPreps, the Lions are ranked No. 2 in the nation behind Roncalli from Indiana and No. 1 in Texas, ahead of Deer Park.
Putting a Charge into It
Clear Springs was one series win away from heading to Austin a year ago.
The Chargers fell to eventual Class 6A Champion Deer Park 3-1 in the Class 6A Region Championship in a decisive Game 3.
In 2022, Clear Springs has gone 24-4 overall, went 11-1 in district play and nearly scored 200 runs in the regular season. Junior Anna Soles leads the team at the dish with a .421 average, eight doubles and 28 RBIs, Erianna Garcia is right behind her with a .329 average and 26 RBIs and Clair Pollack is hitting .345 with 24 RBIs. Emma King leads the team in stolen bases with 19.
LSU-signee Emma Strood has hit .384 for the Chargers with six doubles and a team-leading five home runs and 22 RBIs in 2022.
Strood has also been the Chargers’ ace in the circle. The senior boasts a 17-3 record in 21 appearances with a 0.91 ERA for the season. Strood has struck out 215 batters and walked just 20 in 107 2/3 innings.
The Chargers have the hitting and pitching to make a run back to the Regional Championship and beyond in the coming weeks.
The Stat Machines!!
It is always fun to peruse the stats and see who has balled out in 2022. These are the leaders in each category, according to MaxPreps.
Home Runs – Kasidi Pickering, Atascocita (13), Kelsie Kelso, Atascocita (12), Addyson Sheppard, Kingwood (12)
RBIs – Halee Vance, Cypress Woods (53), Kelsie Kelso, Atascocita (48), Kasidi Pickering, Atascocita (47), Karlie Barba, Dobie (46), Maddie McKee, Lake Creek (43), Ahlana Bruins, New Caney (43), Mayson Garret, Angleton (43), Kristyn Whitlock, Pearland (42), Molly Yoo, Cypress Ranch (41), Addyson Sheppard, Kingwood (41), Kaeden Bell, Spring (40)
Strikeouts – Ava Brown, Lake Creek (251), Emma Strood, Clear Springs (215), Kynlei Chapman, Willis (211), Molly Yoo, Cy Ranch (168), Chloe Riassetto, Friendswood (153) Mary Martinez, Kingwood (151), Elise Adams, Memorial (147)
Other Teams to Watch
- -Brazoswood (The Bucs had some nice pieces coming back in 2022. The experience has paid off with a 29-6 overall record and going 11-2 in district play. They made the third-round last year before losing to Deer Park.)
- -Katy (It wasn’t that long ago that Katy was winning a state title in 2019. The Tigers are led by Camryn Harrison, Ashtyn Reichardt, Erynne Castillo and Kailey Wyckoff.
- -Bridgeland (The Bears could make a lot of noise in the 2022 playoffs. They are coming off a 26-5 regular season, won a district title for the first time ever and have a talented roster. Trinity Allen leads the squad with 32 RBIs, while hitting .380 with 12 doubles and four long balls. Haylie Stum has hit .486 for the season with 29 RBIs and eight doubles, while Makenzi Jenkins has batted .490 with 25 RBIs, seven double and five homers. In the circle it has been a combo of Sydney Jackson and Jenkins to carry the Bears.)
- -Kingwood (The Mustangs are coming out of one of the toughest softball districts in the city. They split the district title with Summer Creek and knocked off rival Atascocita. Freshman Addyson Sheppard has been a charge to the lineup, hitting .427 with 12 home runs, 11 doubles and 41 RBIs. Senior Mary Martinez has been the leader of the team with a .471 average, 38 RBIs and been the ace in the circle for the ‘Stangs. Martinez has gone 4-0 this season with a 2.17 ERA, striking out 151 and walking 33 in 93 2/3 innings.)
- -More To Watch: Santa Fe (23-4), Foster (15-3), Klein Collins (26-7), Friendswood (23-6)
The PLAYMAKERS powered by UTMB Health
The Greater Houston-Area is loaded with elite talent in every sport. Welcome to the VYPE Playmakers powered by UTMB Health, where we will head down south and recognize of Galveston and Brazoria County's best athletes.
Emma Strood, Clear Springs, Softball
Clear Springs is the reigning District 24-6A Champions and are not to be tangled with in 2022. The Chargers went 31-2 overall a year ago and reached the Region III-6A Finals, falling to eventual Class 6A State Champion Deer Park. Clear Springs brings back eight starters as they seek a sixth-straight trip to the postseason in 2022. The most important of those returners is LSU-commit Emma Strood. Strood is the returning District MVP, a TGCA All-State selection and NFCA All-American pick last year. She was 21-0 as a starter with a 0.52 ERA and 234 strikeouts. She also led the team in RBIs (31), doubles (10) and home runs (6).
JoJo Medellin, Bay Area Christian School, Baseball
Break up the Broncos! The Bay Area Christian School are the defending State TAPPS DIII Champs after going 28-4 and 6-0 in district play. Coach Kyle Kennedy has to be licking his chops to get back out on the diamond as he returns a decorated crew of experienced starters. JoJo Medellin is the man… literally. He was the TAPPS 4A Male Athlete of the Year after earning the District MVP; first-team, all-state honors and an all-tournament team selection. The shortstop has signed to Baylor and is the heartbeat of the team.
Dylan Maxcey, Friendswood, Baseball
Cory Benavidas enters his fourth season as the head coach of the Mustangs, and he hasn’t missed the postseason yet. Friendswood reached the Regional Finals in 2021 with a 33-3 record and have no plans of slowing down until they win a Class 5A title. The anchor of every great baseball team is its catcher and the ‘Stangs have a good one. Texas Tech Red Raider-signee Dylan Maxcey, the District’s Defensive MVP and school record-holder for RBIs, is the straw that stirs the drink for Friendswood.
Victoria Valdez, Alvin, Softball
The Alvin Yellowjackets have the talent. Now, it’s time to get into the Regional conversation as a real contender. Last season, Alvin reached the Area Round for just the second time in the last three seasons, but this roster is loaded with talent. Returning for her senior season is reining District 23-6A MVP Victoria Valdez, who is committed to Texas Tech. The catcher will be the leader behind the dish and is lethal at the plate. Her leadership in unmatched and will carry the ‘Jackets to a big-time season in 2022.
Deundre' Jones, Lutheran South Academy, Baseball
If you can win TAPPS DII District 5, you can win the State Tournament. Lutheran South Academy is a power baseball program, period. Coach Aaron Schneider has led the Pioneers to four TAPPS State Titles over the past six years. That’s a dynasty, folks. Pulling the wagons is Deundre’ Jones (Kansas State), the big-hitting first-baseman who has a fist full of rings. Jones is a talented lefty, who can spray the ball all over the field.