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Here are the UTMB Softball Athletes of the Week, as we enter the district portion of the Spring season.
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Kaylee Schweitzer -- Pearland Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
The Oilers have wasted no time proving themselves as contenders once again.
Under second-year head coach Michelle Hyden, Pearland has stormed to a 18-6 record this spring, including a definitive 8-0 start in District 22-6A play. Their latest statement came in a commanding 17-1 victory over Sam Rayburn on .
While the team’s success has been a collective effort, senior outfielder Kaylee Schweitzer has been a driving force behind their resurgence.
A UT-Arlington-commit, Schweitzer was part of Pearland’s 2023 state championship team and played a key role in last year’s playoff run to the Regional Quarterfinals.
With standout teammates like Payton Shugart (Texas State), Layla Bennett (Central Florida), and Laila Nobles (North Texas), the Oilers have all the tools to make another deep postseason push—and perhaps, another run at a state title.
Erianna Garcia -- Clear Springs Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
With head coach Jennifer Knight at the helm, Clear Springs has powered its way to an impressive 11-2 start, earning recognition from MaxPreps, which currently ranks them No. 9 in Texas.
Winners of 6-straight, the Chargers have dominated early district play, securing decisive victories over Clear Brook (19-7), Clear Lake (7-6), Brazoswood (13-2), and most recently, Clear Falls (17-3).
A high-powered offense has been the driving force behind the team’s success, headlined by standout senior catcher Erianna Garcia, an Abilene Christian-commit.
Garcia leads the Chargers with a .543 batting average, 24 RBIs, and five home runs, making her one of the most dangerous hitters in the district.
While she’s complemented by strong performances from Makenzie Thomas (.463 BA, 16 RBI, 5 HR), Alana Strever (.449 BA, 14 RBI, 1 HR), and Eryn Polite (.370 BA, 12 RBI, 2 HR), Garcia remains the undisputed alpha of a lineup poised to make a deep postseason run in the coming months.
Braelynn Jones -- Deer Park Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Riding a nine-game winning streak, Deer Park improved to 15-4 on the season with a thrilling 7-5 victory over Clear Lake, sealed by freshman Journey Calderon's walk-off home run on Friday.
The win also marked a 4-0 start in District 24-6A play, an encouraging sign for a program eager to bounce back after last year’s Area Round exit.
With tough district competition ahead, the Deer have already proven they can handle top-tier opponents, securing key wins over defending 6A state champion Weslaco, Keller (13-5-1), and Pearland (17-6) earlier this season.
Leading the charge is ace pitcher Braelynn Jones, a Texas Tech commit, who has shown poise in high-pressure moments—most notably during the Barbers Hill Tournament in early March, where she delivered numerous clutch performances with senior Madi Alvarado (Temple) providing relief.
Offensively, Deer Park boasts plenty of firepower, with standout contributions from Mia Montemayor (Texas Southern), Aleena Carrizales (Texas Southern), Camryn Plocheck (Texas State), Zoie Powell (San Jacinto CC), and the rising star Calderon.
This should keep some of the pressure off of Jones, when the Deer eventually turn their attention towards the postseason.
Charleigh Esparza -- Friendswood Softball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Friendswood is off to one of its hottest starts in years, boasting a near-perfect 19-1 record as they enter the first half of district play (4-0).
Their lone setback came in a tightly contested 5-3 loss to 6A powerhouse Clear Springs in late February. However, the Mustangs remain focused as they navigate a competitive District 20-5A, which features strong opponents like Angleton and La Porte.
Among the key contributors for coach Jarrod Hunter’s squad, senior Charleigh Esparza has been the steady force at the heart of the lineup.
The Baylor-commit has not only provided offensive firepower but also anchors the team defensively as the catcher, guiding the Mustangs with her leadership and experience.
With a playoff berth all but certain, Friendswood has its sights set on a deeper run, and with Esparza leading the charge, they’ll be a tough team to stop.
Persephone Soria -- Dobie Softball
Doug Brown (VYPE)
Though the first half of the season has been filled with ups and downs, a strong 6-2 start to district play has Dobie (10-8) firmly in the playoff conversation.
Offense hasn’t been a concern for coach Robin Rackley’s squad, as the Longhorns have lit up the scoreboard against tough opponents such as Dawson (19-3), O’Connor (9-1), and Manvel (14-1) this season.
That production has been fueled by a well-balanced lineup featuring Chloe Nunez (.515 BA, 8 RBI), Amaya Corona (.367 BA, 15 RBI, 1 HR), and Lili Sepulveda (.302 BA, 19 RBI, 1 HR), among others.
However, the emergence of sophomore Persephone Soria has been a difference-maker. Soria is hitting for a .386 average, while having contributed 18 RBIs, including three doubles, two triples, and a home run.
Dobie hasn’t missed the playoffs in over a decade, and if Soria and company continue their strong play, that streak isn’t ending anytime soon.
THEIR TIME: Expectations at an all-time high for Katy Tigers
“That hurt,” said senior Lauryn Soeken, who is signed with LSU. “We literally don’t want to lose a game this year.”
In regards to the bus ride home after the loss to Kingwood?
“We had some great seniors on that team, and it was the last time we would ever play with them,” said Houston-signee Hailey Gore. “It was a punch to the face. We weren’t expected to lose that series. I can speak for everyone... this is a year for revenge. We know we have a lot to prove.”
“I think about that loss every, single day,” Missouri-signee Avery Porter said. “It was the worst day of my life.”
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It’s a new day for Katy softball.
Long-time coach Kalum Haack has retired, and assistant Meghan Burrell has taken over.
No pressure, right?
“You have to understand that these kids live and breathe Katy softball,” Burrell said. “They came to our ‘Haack Attack’ youth softball camps back when they were 10 years old. They have grown up wanting this for years, and they are on a mission.”
Burrell has been at Katy for over a decade and looks forward to taking over for her legendary mentor in Haack, who had 850 wins in his career.
“I’m not nervous because he has prepared me for this moment,” she said. “It will be hard not to have that extensive knowledge of the game next to me, but I’m ready. He’s put me in a position to be successful.”
Burrell knows what’s at stake, especially this year.
The expectations are at an all-time high, and Katy will get every opponent’s best game.
“This group has had some heartbreak over the years,” she said. “When we have lost in the past, we have pushed the panic button and played not to win, but to not mess up. We have been knocked down, now what are we going to do?
“This is a competitive group with immense talent. When we are at our best, we can’t lose. We are going to have to handle hard, better.”
No one knows this collection of talent better than Burrell, having witnessed their growth for nearly a decade.
“This a is collection of type-A leaders, but they all do it a different way,” she said. “Avery Porter is the leader on defense along with our catcher Madi Smith. Hailey Gore is our serious one, and Montgomery Henderson (Oklahoma State-signee) brings the energy. Lauryn (Soeken) and EK (Smith) are very focused on the mound. It’s a very close group.”The baby of the bunch is Ella Kate Smith, the junior committed to back-to-back-to-back National Champion Oklahoma. She tries to keep this all in perspective.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the passion of the game that you play with,” she said. “This game can be stressful, so I just try and have fun in the moment. I have the words ‘stay spicy’ on my glove to remind me of that.”
Hopefully, the last bus ride this season won’t be sour or spicy, but sweet.