GAMES
RANKINGS
THE RANKINGS: No. 2 - Katy Tigers
A new era dawns on the west side of Houston as the Katy Tigers softball team will be under a new head coach for the first time in 26 years. But it is not an unfamiliar face.
Longtime-assistant Meghan Burrell takes over the program as she enters her 12th year on campus. Burrell takes over a group that went 38-3 a year ago and rose to be the No. 1-ranked team in the nation and reached the Class 6A Region III Final.
This team returns plenty of talent, headlined by Oklahoma-commit Ella Kate “EK” Smith (.465, 1.16 ERA, honorable mention, all-state), LSU-commit Lauryn Soken (.313, 0.93 ERA, first-team, all-district) and University of Houstoncommit Hailey Gore (.509, 1st-team, all-district).
Other players to watch include Oklahoma State-commit Montgomery “MG” Henderson (.486, third-team, all-state), NC State-commit Maddie Smith (.391, first-team, all-district), McClennan-commit Brooke Fechner (.473, first-team, alldistrict) and Missouri-commit Avery Porter (first-team, all-district). Also, be on the lookout for Lexie Waugh (UT-Arlington-commit) and Paige Stall (Cisco-commit).
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THE RANKINGS: No. 3 - Barbers Hill Eagles
Aaron Fuller enters his 11th year leading the Barbers Hill softball program. At The Hill, Fuller has amassed 326 coaching wins and a state crown. Last year, the Eagles posted a 33-5-2 record and reached the Regional Semifinals before bowing out of the playoffs.
This team has plenty of firepower back in 2025 to contend for a deep playoff run. Kentucky-signee and reigning District MVP Hailey Nutter will lead the way.
Nutter posted a 21-4 record with a 0.556 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 2024. She also hit .412 at the plate, driving in 39 runs with six doubles, four triples and three homers. Sam Houston State-signee Peyton Helmly (.420, 11 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR, 45 RBIs) will hold down the catcher spot, while District Newcomer of the Year Savi Barrientos (.349, 39 runs scored, 25 stolen bases) will range the outfield.
Other players to watch include San Jac-signee Bre Norman (.265, 11 RBI, 10 stolen bases), Hendrix College-signee Emerson Naismith, Blinn JC-commit AshLynn Cooper, Macie Bryant (9-1, 179Ks, 0.62 ERA) and Aybrie Corona (.293, 3 2B, 3 3B, 15 RBIs). Others to watch include a solid sophomore group of Macie Bryant, Izzy Lawrence, Aybrie Corona, Savi Barrientos, JosLynn Cooper, Helena Lawrence, Taylor Lozano, Zoey Hood, and freshman Madison Ray.