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LSA's Marcus Cantu
THE PLAYMAKERS: H-Town's Heavy-Hitters powered by UTMB Health
Here are the UTMB Baseball Athletes of the Week, as we enter the thick of District-play this Spring.
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Garritt Romero -- Dawson Baseball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
After a relatively slow start to the season, Dawson has found its rhythm in district play, surging to a perfect 5-0 start in 22-6A. The Eagles continued their dominance on Saturday with a commanding 9-3 victory over Shadow Creek.
While Dawson’s offense has been productive—highlighted by Jack Dyment (.415 BA, 13 RBI, 1 HR), Aiden Villanueva (.273 BA, 4 RBI), and Maddox Botas (.250 BA, 4 RBI)—it’s their pitching staff that has truly set them apart.
At the forefront of that effort is ace Garritt Romero (Centenary College-commit), who has delivered in multiple ways. On the mound, he boasts a 4-0 record with a 1.93 ERA and 24 strikeouts, while also contributing at the plate with a .233 average and five RBIs.
Competing in 22-6A is no easy task, but if Dawson maintains this momentum, they could be a serious challenger to Pearland for the district title.
Nico Partida -- Pearland Baseball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Picking up right where they left off after last season’s UIL 6A State Final appearance, Pearland has carried that momentum into the spring, posting a strong 12-5 record through the first wave of district play (4-1).
As expected, the heartbeat of this Oilers squad has been none other than Nicholas “Nico” Partida.
The Texas A&M-commit bleeds aura wherever he’s placed—whether commanding the infield from his home at shortstop, taking the mound, or stepping up to the plate and making opposing pitchers think twice before throwing him a breaking ball.
Partida leads the Oilers with an elite .512 batting average, while also tallying 15 RBIs and three home runs so far this season.
Critics may question whether Pearland can replicate last year’s success, but as long as Partida is in the mix, the Oilers remain a legitimate threat to make another deep postseason run come June.
Marcus Cantu -- Lutheran South Academy Baseball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Under the leadership of coach Aaron Schneider, Lutheran South Academy has stormed through the early season with an impressive 18-1-1 record, earning them the No. 2 ranking in Texas, according to MaxPreps.
LSA was already recognized as a powerhouse before the spring, boasting elite talent like LSU commit Omar Serna (Sr. C) and Texas State-bound Victor Coronado.
However, this year’s squad seems determined to avenge last season’s Regional Final loss to Kelly Catholic and take things a step further.
While the Pioneers have no shortage of star power, the most consistent offensive presence thus far has been junior Marcus Cantu. A Texas-commit himself, Cantu has been a steady force both at the plate and on defense, providing reliability in key moments.
If LSA keeps up this level of dominance, a TAPPS-5A State Title might not just be a goal—it could be an expectation.
Hunter Heath -- Clear Springs Baseball
Thanks to a strong core of returning talent, the Clear Springs Chargers have picked up right where they left off after last season’s Regional Semifinal run.
The team has surged to an 11-5-1 record this spring and opened district play in dominant fashion, sweeping Clear Brook (Game 1: 2-1, Game 2: 9-2).
While the Chargers' bullpen has been solid, their clutch hitting has been a driving force behind their early success.
Leading the charge at the plate has been senior Hunter Heath, whose standout performance against 5A powerhouse Barbers Hill (4-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) helped propel Clear Springs to an 8-3 victory last week.
Primarily stationed at third base, Heath also provides versatility across the infield and is more than capable of stepping up on the mound when needed. Furthermore, his all-around reliability ultimately earned him a commitment to Galveston College.
With plenty of baseball left in the regular season, Clear Springs looks poised to secure another postseason berth.
Noah Nelson -- Santa Fe Baseball
Doug Brown (VYPE)
The Indians opened district play on a high note with a 3-1 victory over Angleton this past Friday, improving their record to 7-5 on the season.
While their overall record may not stand out, it doesn’t truly reflect the level of talent Santa Fe brings to the diamond.
The Indians have already faced elite competition, including defending 6A state champion Tomball, SPC-4A runner-up Episcopal, Katy Tompkins, and TAPPS-III state runner-up Bay Area Christian.
Those tough matchups should have them well-prepared to compete for the District 20-5A title.
Among the various weapons in coach Ronnie Wulf’s threatening lineup, the most consistent is Noah Nelson.
The junior OF/RHP boasts a .500 batting average, leading the team with 19 hits while also tallying 12 RBIs, nine doubles, one triple, and a home run—all in just 40 plate appearances.
Nelson is complemented by key contributors like Ronnie Rouse (.343 BA, 13 RBI, 6 2B, 1 HR), Jackson Higgins (.342 BA, 9 RBI, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR), and Jayce Richardson (.345 BA, 7 RBI, 4 2B, 2 HR), rounding out a well-balanced lineup.
Santa Fe has its sights set on surpassing last year’s run to the Regional Semifinals, but first, they’ll have to navigate a competitive district slate featuring Iowa Colony, Friendswood, and La Porte.
Clear Springs' Erianna Garcia
THE PLAYMAKERS: Dominators of the Diamond powered by UTMB Health
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.