GAMES
RANKINGS
TIPPING THE SCALE: Several teams shaking up H-Town Rankings amid district-play
As the Spring season reaches its mid-way point, fans eagerly await for the remainder of the district schedule to unfold, with a trip to the 2024 playoffs on the line.
Bridgeland, Klein Cain, and Willis are among the handful of ball-clubs to make considerable strides in Class 6A, while the established heavy-hitters -- Tomball and Pearland -- continue to perform at a high level. Additionally, teams such as Strake Jesuit, Kingwood, Oak Ridge, Cy Woods, and Grand Oaks are well within the fold.
Moving over to Class 5A, the Lake Creek Lions are looking every bit as dominant as they were in 2023, when they reached the Region III Final. It will be interesting to see how the District 16-5A race plays out, given the degree that Porter and Kingwood Park are surging. Also watch out for perennial contenders -- Friendswood, Santa Fe, La Porte, and Foster.
Lutheran South Academy currently leads the private school ranks, as each phase of their game has been clicking on all cylinders. Meanwhile, Concordia Lutheran, St. Pius X, St. Thomas, and St. John's are picking up speed in their respective divisions.
That being said, it's time to unveil the full rankings.
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CLASS 6A TOP-20
1. Tomball Cougars (17-3; 3-0 in district)
2. Pearland Oilers (18-4-2; 4-0)
3. Bridgeland Bears (16-5; 4-0)
4. Klein Cain Hurricanes (15-3; 4-0)
5. Strake Jesuit Crusaders (16-4; 1-1)
6. Willis Wildkats (15-5; 5-1)
7. Kingwood Mustangs (18-6; 5-0)
8. Oak Ridge War Eagles (12-5; 5-0)
9. Grand Oaks Grizzlies (16-6; 4-3)
10. Ridge Point Panthers (15-6-1; 5-1)
11. Katy Tigers (13-8; 6-1)
12. Cypress Woods Wildcats (13-7-1; 3-1)
13. Clear Creek Wildcats (15-7; 4-0)
14. Cinco Ranch Cougars (13-5-3; 4-3)
15. Dobie Longhorns (12-5-3; 1-2)
16. Paetow Panthers (16-4; 5-1)
17. Clear Brook Wolverines (13-8-1; 3-1)
18. Cy-Fair Bobcats (12-8-2; 2-2)
19. Stratford Spartans (12-9-1; 2-2)
20. Klein Oak Panthers (12-9-1; 2-2)
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CLASS 5A TOP-15
1. Lake Creek Lions (16-3; 3-0 in district)
2. Friendswood Mustangs (17-3-1; 2-2)
3. Porter Spartans (16-3-1; 2-2)
4. Kingwood Park Panthers (16-5; 3-2)
5. La Porte Bulldogs (16-7-1; 1-2)
6. Santa Fe Indians (13-7-1; 3-1)
7. Foster Falcons (14-8; 5-0)
8. Fulshear Chargers (13-6; 3-0)
9. Magnolia West Mustangs (11-7-1; 4-0)
10. Magnolia Bulldogs (12-5; 1-2)
11. Crosby Cougars (13-8; 4-1)
12. Barbers Hill Eagles (12-9; 2-1)
13. Milby Buffaloes (11-4-2; 6-0)
14. FB Kempner Cougars (11-10-1)
15. Waltrip Rams (7-5-1; 5-1)
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PRIVATE SCHOOL TOP-10
1. Lutheran South Academy Pioneers (16-4)
2. Concordia Lutheran Crusaders (13-8-1)
3. St. Pius X Panthers (16-2)
4. St. Thomas Eagles (13-5)
5. St. John's Mavericks (14-2-1)
6. TWCA Warriors (12-4-1)
7. Cypress Christian Warriors (12-9)
8. Episcopal Knights (11-6-1)
9. Houston Christian Mustangs (10-8-1)
10. Second Baptist Eagles (8-7)
CLEARING THE BASES: Teeing up the 5A Baseball Bi-District Round
The UIL Baseball Playoffs are finally here.
After a exciting regular season, featuring a multitude of ball clubs defying expectations, the road to the State Championship begins now.
Region III is absolutely loaded, as Friendswood looks to run it back for a State Title, with other 5A contenders–Barbers Hill, Magnolia West and Crosby–right on their heels for a chance to win it all.
Here’s the who’s who of Houston high school baseball (5A) slotted to compete in the first round of the postseason.
*Teams are displayed in alphabetical order
Barbers Hill Eagles
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
2022-23 Regular Season: 21-10-1/District 17-5A Champions
Head Coach: David Denny
Player(s) to watch: Jace Martinez (Sr. SS), Carson Garrett (Sr. CF), Gage Kimble (Sr. C)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Galveston Ball
Crosby Cougars
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
2022-23 Regular Season: 19-9-2/Finished 2nd in District 17-5A
Head Coach: Steven Hutcherson
Player(s) to watch: Sean Bazmore (Sr. IF/RHP), Carter Underwood (Sr. 2B), Keith Kennemer (Sr. RHP/OF)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Santa Fe
Foster Falcons
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
Foster Falcons
2022-23 Regular Season: 23-9/Finished 2nd in District 20-5A
Head Coach: Mick Tosch
Player(s) to watch: Chase Batten (Jr. P/OF), Jackson Low (Sr. P/OF), Ridge Aventurado (Jr. IF), Coleman Biggs (Sr. 2B)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Galena Park
Friendswood Mustangs
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
2022-23 Regular Season: 24-4-2/District 18-5A Champions
Head Coach: Robert Benavides
Player(s) to watch: Boots Landry (Sr. IF), Easton Tumis (Sr. RHP), Kyle Lockhart (Jr. RHP/OF)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Port Neches-Groves
Fulshear Chargers
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Fulshear Chargers
2022-23 Regular Season: 22-8-1/District 20-5A Champions
Head Coach: Robb Jensen
Player(s) to watch: Lane Arroyos (Sr. 1B), Austin Vargas (Sr. P), Tyler Schumann (Sr. SS)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Austin (Houston ISD)
Galena Park Yellowjackets
Galena Park Yellowjackets
2022-23 Regular Season: 22-4/Finished 3rd in District 19-5A
Head Coach: James Turrubiartes
Player(s) to watch: Josue Carrizales (Sr. P/OF), Matthew Mendez (Jr. C), Nehomar Ochoa (Sr. P/OF)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Foster
Goose Creek Memorial Patriots
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
Goose Creek Memorial Patriots
2022-23 Regular Season: 16-9-2/Finished 3rd in District 17-5A
Head Coach: George Banda
Player(s) to watch: Sammy Ibarra Jr. (Sr. P), Andrew Perez (Sr. C), Jacob Mooney (Sr. OF)
Bi-District Matchup: v. La Porte
Kingwood Park Panthers
Kingwood Park Panthers
2022-23 Regular Season: 20-13-1/Finished 2nd in District 16-5A
Head Coach: Chris Buechner
Player(s) to watch: Marshall Burke (Sr. SS), Gabriel Bernal (So. LHP/OF), Blake Ward (Jr. RHP)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Whitehouse
La Porte Bulldogs
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
2022-23 Regular Season: 22-8-1/Finished 2nd in District 18-5A
Head Coach: Ricky Torres
Player(s) to watch: Diego Luzzardo (Sr. P/OF), Jack Bilski (Sr. C), Tristan Spears (Sr. IF)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Goose Creek Memorial
Lake Creek Lions
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
2022-23 Regular Season: 20-9/Finished 2nd in District 21-5A
Head Coach: Jeremy Schramm
Player(s) to watch: Ethan Uribe (Sr. IF/P), Samson Pugh (Sr. IF), James Kennedy (Sr. OF)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Shoemaker
Lamar Consolidated Mustangs
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Lamar Consolidated Mustangs
2022-23 Regular Season: 14-15-1/Finished 3rd in District 20-5A
Head Coach: Ryan Baudoin
Player(s) to watch: Jonathan Anders (Sr. P/1B), Tylan Hill (Sr. 2B), Randall Sosnowski (So. OF/C)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Milby
Magnolia West Mustangs
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
2022-23 Regular Season: 24-4/District 21-5A Champions
Head Coach: Travis Earles
Player(s) to watch: Caylon Dygert (Sr. C/IF), Jackson Blank (Sr. 3B/RHP), James Ellwanger (Sr. P)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Killeen
Milby Buffaloes
Jamie Wright (VYPE)
Milby Buffaloes
2022-23 Regular Season: 23-5-1/Finished 2nd in District 19-5A
Head Coach: Carlos Morales
Player(s) to watch: Arthur Perez (Sr. P/OF), Fredy Romero (Jr. IF), Omar Montemayor (Sr. IF/OF)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Lamar Consolidated
Porter Spartans
Porter Spartans
2022-23 Regular Season: 22-9-1/District 16-5A Champions
Head Coach: Wayne Ralph
Player(s) to watch: Zane Adams (Sr. LHP/1B), Josh Evans-Pickens (Sr. OF), James Tidwell (So. OF/IF), Payton Evans-Pickens (Jr. OF)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Longview
Santa Fe Indians
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
Santa Fe Indians
2022-23 Regular Season: 18-13/Finished 3rd in District 18-5A
Head Coach: Ronnie Wulf
Player(s) to watch: Kyeler Thompson (Sr. OF), Brice Smith (Sr. 1B/LHP), Caleb Berrow (Sr. RHP/2B)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Crosby
Terry Rangers
Juan De Leon (VYPE)
Terry Rangers
2022-23 Regular Season: 15-13-1/Finished 4th in District 20-5A
Head Coach: Justin Gougler
Player(s) to watch: Michael Cuevas (Sr. 1B/DH), Andrew Hernandez (So. SS), Juan Rodriguez (Sr. C)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Waltrip
Waltrip Rams
Waltrip Rams
2022-23 Regular Season: 25-1/District 19-5A Champions
Head Coach: Richard Burriss
Player(s) to watch: David Medina (Sr. IF)
Bi-District Matchup: v. Terry