Softball | General | 4/25/2022

HS Playoff Preview: Southern Region

Jerry Miller

Photo: Perfect Game

As the calendar turns to May, the prep fastpitch season moves towards an exciting conclusion to league play and into playoff mode. The South Region, which includes Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas (Georgia plays HS fastpitch in the fall), sees some of the best softball in the country played in the spring, and this year is no exception. Playoff season has already started in Louisiana. The remaining other state athletic associations will see their championship rounds begin next week.

Florida

There is an abundance of softball talent in the Sunshine State, especially at the 6A and 7A levels. The regular season concludes on April 30. District Tournament play is scheduled to begin on May 2.The State Championships for all levels begins May 24 at Legends Way Ball Fields in Clermont.

Some of the top clubs that will be favored to make the trip to the finals at the 6A level include Doral Academy, Cooper City, Bartow, and Melbourne. There will, unquestionably, be a few other schools who can and will make some noise, but these four powers have had outstanding seasons to date and are primed for a deep run in the playoffs.

Who comes out on top of the 7A division is anyone’s guess, as the big school level is loaded with outstanding individuals and teams. Lakewood Ranch, Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs), Steinbrenner (Lutz), Newsome (Lithia), Hagerty (Oviedo), Wellington (Clermont) and Venice, just to name a few, have posted tremendous records this year. Each is certainly capable of raising the championship banner in a month or so.

At the smaller school level, Eustis and Deltona head up the 4A class. Baldwin, Parish Community, Coral Springs Charter, Calvary Christian (Clearwater) and Florida State University HS (Tallahassee) are all solid 3A programs, while Oxbridge Academy out of West Palm Beach heads up a competitive 2A division.

Georgia

Like a few states in the country, the GHSA chooses to conduct their fastpitch season in the fall. Champions were crowned last October in seven different classes.

At the 7A, Georgia’s biggest classification, North Gwinnett HS out of Suwanee claimed their second state crown defeating defending champion East Coweta in the finals.

On the 6A side, Lassiter (Marietta) claimed their second-straight GHSA state crown while Starrs Mill (Fayetteville) took home the gold trophy at the 5A level.

In the 4A classification, Central-Carroll (Carrollton) was crowned champion while Appling County (Baxley) took home the 3A championship.

The 2A championship was won for the second straight year by Heard County HS from Franklin. The 1A – Public school winner was ACE Charter from Macon while Wesleyan Academy from Peachtree Corners took home the 1A – Private School championship.

Alabama

The always-competitive Alabama High School season is rushing toward an exciting and highly-competitive finish. The fastpitch playoff season gets underway on April 29. The AHSAA will crown seven champions at Choccolocco Park in Oxford beginning May 17.

There is talent at every level this spring, with some notable schools primed to make a deep run towards a championship.

At the 1A level, Brantley, Holy Spirit Catholic (Tuscaloosa), Sweet Water, Skyline (Scottsboro), and Appalachian (Oneonta), to name just a few, are poised to compete for a trip to Oxford. The 2A division sees a number of quality programs vying for a state crown, including Orange Beach, Mars Hill Bible (Florence), Hatton (Town Creek), Leroy and Long (Skipperville).

The 3A level will be a hard-fought division and whoever comes out victorious will have certainly earned the crown. Schools that have had notable seasons include Mobile Christian, Plainview (Rainsville), Beulah (Valley), Houston Academy (Dothan), and Opp.

The 4A championship won’t be a cakewalk, as this division is loaded with gifted individuals and top teams. It is almost unfair to name just a few. There are a more than a handful of great 4A schools that have posted worthy records this spring. Curry (Jasper), North Jackson (Stevenson), White Plains (Anniston), Brooks (Killen), and Bibb County (Centreville) headline a deep 4A level.

Conference 5A is just as deep and talented as the 4A level and might be an even tougher championship to attain, as this level is truly outstanding. Heading up a division that is unquestionably up for grabs are Alexandria, Brewbaker Tech (Montgomery), Elmore County (Ecletric), Tallassee, and Satsuma. There is a lengthy list of schools not mentioned who are very capable of claiming the 5A crown.

The talent and depth of quality teams grows even larger and could be even more apparent at the 6A level. Whoever captures the 6A crown will have run the gauntlet. Hartselle, Helena, Athens, Wetumpka, and Hazel Green have posted almost unblemished records this year and are poised to make deep runs towards Oxford. There are also as many, if not more teams who can get hot and carry quality pitching, timely offense, and air-tight defense to the winner’s circle at the 6A division.

Finally, the highly-competitive 7A division, the “big school” classification in the state, should see some of the best talent, not only in Alabama and the Southern region, but the country. It would be an understatement to say that this conference is loaded with gifted players and top-notch teams. There are many schools who have the depth and ability to walk out of Oxford with the championship. There are a few however, who carry the favorite’s moniker. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville) has one of the top programs in Alabama. This year’s squad is receiving much deserved national recognition, too. Also considered among the favorites to capture the 7A crown include Fairhope, Thompson (Alabaster), Austin (Decatur), Bob Jones (Madison), Spain Park (Hoover) and Hoover.

Mississippi

The fastpitch playoff season begins this week in Mississippi. Following an extremely competitive regular season at every level statewide, a number of teams are in the running for a trip to the state championships to be held at the University of Southern Mississippi from May 17-21.

The 1A crown looks up for grabs as there are a number of schools who bring sparkling records into the playoff season. Northwest Rankin (Brandon), Petal, Hernando, Brandon, and Lewisburg are just a few of the talented squads that are more than capable of taking home the gold trophy from Hattiesburg.

At the 2A level, East Webster (Maben), East Union (Blue Springs), Lake, Puckett, and Pine Grove (Ripley) have put together fine seasons and are primed for a lengthy playoff run. There are a number of other top 2A clubs who could also find their way to USM in a few weeks. This level is wide open.

Kossuth, Mantachie, South Pontotoc (Pontotoc), Hatley (Amory), and Houston are just a few of the best 3A clubs vying for a lengthy playoff run. The competition at this level is fierce and whoever comes out victorious at the end of the playoffs will be a well-deserved champ.

In the 4A division, Kosciusko appears dominant, but will certainly be challenged by the likes of Pontotoc, Caledonia, Tishomingo (Iuka), and Corinth, along with a number of other schools who have the ability and drive to not only get to USM during the third week in May, but to hoist the gold championship trophy.

In 5A, the drive for the crown will be hard-fought to the last out of the last game. There are a bevy of gifted players and talented teams competing for a trip to USM in Hattiesburg. Picking a favorite at the 5A level is nearly impossible, although there are a few teams that have put up commendable records and should be in the fight all the way through. Lewisburg (Olive Branch), Saltillo, Neshoba Central (Philadelphia), Germantown (Madison), and Vancleave are all well-coached teams that should compete for the championship.

Good luck predicting who comes out on top at the big school, 6A, level. Too many outstanding players, teams, and coaches to pick a solid favorite. Oak Grove (Hattiesburg), DeSoto Central (South Haven), Gulfport, South Panola (Batesville), and Ocean Springs are just a few of the pre-tournament favorites. These clubs will be challenged each step of the way as there are more than 15 6A teams that have the ability to win and, win big.

Louisiana

The LHSAA playoffs got underway a week ago, with all participants focused primarily on the task at hand, while hoping for enough wins to advance to the state tournament at the end of the month at Frasch Park in Sulphur.

Louisiana, traditionally, has an incredibly competitive high school season and produces some top-flight talent that matriculates to the college level. This year is no different.

Five division winners will be crowned this weekend. All conferences are stacked with gifted players.

At the 1A level, Montgomery, Merryville, Oak Grove, and Logansport are excellent and have had great springs.

The 2A division is littered with top-flight small school programs. Port Barre, Doyle, DeQuincy, Rosepine, Many, and Kinder all have the pitching and lineup depth to take home the championship. Although these schools appear to be the elite of this division, it would not be a bit surprising to see another program jump to the top.

Powerhouses Iowa and Sterlington highlight a tough 3A division. Iowa from the Lake Charles area and Sterlington from suburban Monroe in Ouachita Parish look to be on a collision course but will be challenged along the way by the likes of Grant, Brusly, Lutcher, and Kaplan. The 3A games will be worth the price of admission.

The 4A level is as loaded as any in the state at any division. North DeSoto (Stonewall), Vandebilt Catholic (Houma), West Ouachita (West Monroe), St. Thomas More (Lafayette), Tioga, Neville, Minden, Eunice, Beau Chene, Northwood (Shreveport) and Cecilia are just a few of the teams who can win it all. Good luck predicting the 4A conference as there are just too many teams capable of hoisting the championship trophy.

Finally, at the large school 5A level, the competition is fierce and the talent is noticeably gifted and determined. Like the 4A division, 5A is deep and focused. There is no true favorite, but there are a number of clubs that have posted outstanding records and are certainly capable of not only advancing to Sulphur but winning the championship. St. Amant, John Curtis Christian (River Ridge), Pineville, Live Oak (Watson) West Monroe, Barbe (Lake Charles), Walker, and Central (Baton Rouge) have quality pitching and enough bats to carry the day and each school is capable of winning the coveted crown.

Texas

The Lone Star State takes a backseat to no one when it comes to high school athletics in general, and fastpitch softball in particular. True softball fans know that the rosters of many college programs are filled with grads from Texas. The depth of talent and quality of play at the many high school programs in the state is again, commendable. The playoff season, which begins the last week in April, ends in Austin at Red and Charline McCombs Field on the campus of the University of Texas with the state championships, May 31-June 4.

Each competition level is loaded with talent. Traditional powers at every level highlight the longstanding excellence of some programs, however, there are some upstarts who are ready to make their mark this year.

At 2A, Crawford, as usual, highlights a solid core of teams that have their sights set on Austin. Stamford, Floydada, Ganado, Lovelady, Como-Pickton, and Italy all have the talent to win. The path to the 2A title will be highly competitive.

The 3A division is lead by two undefeated clubs. Mathis and West Rusk have both reeled off 26 straight wins this year and are primed for a lengthy playoff run. There are a few 3A teams, however, who are just as talented and certainly have plans on staying in the hunt a while. Diboll, Hallettsville, Bishop, Hughes Springs, East Bernard, Coahoma, and Franklin are just a few of the top 3A teams who can make noise during the playoffs.

Undefeated Bullard has won 29 straight this spring and the school out of the Tyler area has their sights set on winning it all at the 4A level. Bullard will certainly be challenged along the way by the likes of Iowa Park, Lake Belton, Pearsall, Rockport-Fulton, Melissa, LaGrange, Smithville, Argyle, and Huffman-Hargrave. Each of the teams mentioned has solid pitching and defense and enough offense to cause any opponent trouble. Bullard appears to be a strong favorite, but there are a number of teams capable of winning it all.

Another undefeated club, Lake Creek (Montgomery), sits at 26-0 and looks primed to make a long journey through the playoffs. Just as talented is Heritage (Frisco) out of the suburban north Dallas area. Traditional power Barbers Hill will certainly be a force, as their playoff experience should play dividends. Leander, Hanks (El Paso), Santa Fe, and Sulphur Springs are also in the mist of outstanding seasons and appear ready for the challenge of post-season. The 5A level in Texas is as good as any in the country.

6A is home to the upper echelon of Texas high school softball. The school names are familiar to state high school fans and once again look ready for the grind of the month-long march to Austin. The four regional champions that advance to the state finals will have certainly earned their ticket. Heading up the list of 6A clubs in line for a lengthy playoff run are Deer Park, O’Connor (San Antonio), Pharr-San Juan-Alamo, MacArthur (Aldine), Eastwood (El Paso), Rockwall, Round Rock, Prosper, and Hays (Buda). Other power programs looking to make the trip to Austin are Pearland, Katy, Brazoswood (Lake Jackson), and Bridgeland (Cypress).

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