Is this the year Colleyville Heritage reaches state? Will Southlake Carroll repeat?
The UIL high school baseball playoffs get underway this week and features some of the top teams in the state like Colleyville Heritage and reigning 6A champion Southlake Carroll.
But can a few schools new to the playoffs squeeze in a win or two and advance?
North Side snapped a 60-year playoff drought while Dallas Skyline is in the postseason for the first time since 2008.
Mansfield clinched the final spot on the final day and Lake Ridge captured its first district title in program history.
IS THIS THE YEAR COLL. HERITAGE GETS OVER THE HUMP?
The Panthers have been close the past two seasons, but not close enough.
Heritage was knocked out in the regional final and semifinal rounds the past two seasons, but still remain one of the top programs in the state with a 101-17-2 record to show the past three years, including 29-2 in 2019.
This might be the year they get over that hump with a strong senior class, led by Bobby Witt Jr., who is the potential No. 1 overall pick in this year’s MLB draft.
But after Witt, the Panthers have six others that are committed or signed to Division I schools including all-state selections in catcher Nick Balsano (Baylor) and pitcher Jakob Berger (Dallas Baptist), and third baseman Mason Greer, son of former Rangers outfielder Rusty Greer (Auburn), Logan Britt (Texas A&M), Jacob Guerrero (New Mexico) and Chandler Freeman (Dallas Baptist).
Britt, the latest baseball player of the week, is coming off a three home run week as he went 8 for 10 from the plate to help Heritage, which is ranked No. 2 in 5A, sweep Grapevine and finish with a 14-0 district championship record.
The Panthers open with a one-game playoff against Denton Ryan at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Dallas Baptist.
WILL CARROLL REPEAT?
The Dragons will be looking for a trip to state for the third consecutive season. They dropped a state semifinal game in 2017, but dominated San Antonio Reagan 7-2 last year to capture their third state title and first since 2002.
They enter 22-11 and No. 7 in the state in 6A. Carroll is tied for the most losses in the Top-25, but the Dragons played one of the toughest schedules.
They began the year in California and started 1-6 with losses to playoff teams Aledo and Flower Mound, but have since gone 21-5 including a district championship in the always difficult 5-6A.
TCU commit Cutter Sippel leads the pack as Carroll has held its past nine opponents to one run or fewer, which includes four shutouts.
Carroll has a tough draw in the first round with Coppell (19-12-3). Carroll hosts Game 1 at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
IT’S BEEN SIX DECADES FOR NORTH SIDE
The Steers will play Burleson Centennial on Thursday for the program’s first playoff game since 1959. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at Everman.
It’s been a long time coming for North Side, but its turned a corner the past two seasons. The Steers nearly clinched a berth last year, but dropped the play-in game for the fourth seed.
North Side was tri-district champs in 1987, but only two teams went to the postseason. The Steers lost a flip then lost a play-in game for one of those two spots.
They get a tough draw to open with 5-5A champ Centennial, which features one of the top pitchers in the state in Jacob Meador, who is signed with TCU and could be a potential selection in this year’s MLB draft.
However, whatever the outcome, North Side has made history.
TOP 5 BI DISTRICT MATCH-UPS
Carroll vs. Coppell
LD Bell vs. Paschal
Little Elm vs. Brewer
Mesquite Poteet vs. Joshua
Castleberry vs. Kennedale
This story was originally published May 1, 2019 at 2:49 PM.
