Texas high school softball playoffs: 2022 UIL Class 4A Softball State Tournament preview, players to watch

SBLive Texas takes a closer look at the top players, storylines and x-factors to watch during the 2022 UIL Class 4A Softball State Championships on Thursday (June 2) and Saturday (June 4)

Andrew McCulloch | Jun 2, 2022

Texas high school softball playoffs: 2022 UIL Class 4A Softball State Tournament preview, players to watch /

AUSTIN, Texas — The road to the Texas high school softball state championships ends this week at the University of Texas in Austin at the 2022 UIL Softball State Tournament.

The sixth and seventh rounds of the playoffs will get underway at Red & Charline McCombs Field, the Longhorns’ softball stadium, with the last teams left standing throughout the Lone Star State colliding to battle for six state titles.

The five-day state championship weekend is set to start with the UIL’s Class 4A Softball State Tournament when state semifinal matchups begin Thursday (June 2) followed by the 4A state championship game on Saturday (June 4).

Here are the projected first-pitch times for each of those Class 4A state tournament games:

Class 4A state semifinal — Sweeny Bulldogs (30-9) vs. Bullard Panthers (40-3), 4 p.m. Thursday, June 2nd
Class 4A state semifinal — Liberty Panthers (36-6) vs. Iowa Park Hawks (37-3), 7 p.m. Thursday, June 2nd
Class 4A state championship — Sweeny/Bullard vs. Liberty/Iowa Park, 1 p.m. Saturday, June 4th

SBLive Texas will be taking a closer look at the state’s top players, storylines and x-factors to watch in each classification level during the 2022 UIL Softball State Championships throughout the week.

We’ll begin by taking a deep dive to analyze the competition in the four-team Class 4A softball state tournament field, which features Bullard, Iowa Park, Liberty and Sweeny.

Here’s what you need to know about the Panthers, Hawks, Panthers and Bulldogs before they step onto the diamond to duel for a state title at the Class 4A UIL Softball State Tournament:

BULLARD PANTHERS

Season Record: 40-3 overall, Region II champions

How They Got Here: 10-2 postseason record

Bi-district round — W 11-1; W 4-0 vs. Pittsburg
Area round — W 13-1; W 14-0 vs. Brownsboro
Regional quarterfinal — W 17-4; L 6-7; W 10-0 vs. Canton
Regional semifinal — W 5-2; W 14-8 vs. Aubrey
Regional championship — L 4-5; W 5-0; W 2-0 vs. Melissa

Head Coach: Julie Murry (2nd season)

Players to Watch: Senior RF Kaylee Paul; Senior CF Berlyn Grossman; Junior P/1B Hadi Fults; Sophomore 1B/OF Matti Nix; Sophomore P Anistyn Foster

State Tournament Appearances (Most Recent): Two (2021)

UIL Softball State Championships (Most Recent): None

Distance to Red & Charline McCombs Field: 237 miles

IOWA PARK HAWKS

Season Record: 37-3 overall, Region I champions

How They Got Here: 10-1 postseason record

Bi-district round — W 16-4; W 13-0 vs. Stephenville
Area round — W 8-0; W 2-0 vs. Krum
Regional quarterfinal — W 11-1; W 12-0 vs. Glen Rose
Regional semifinal — W 13-2; W 10-0 vs. Monahans
Regional championship — W 4-1; L 0-9; W 10-4 vs. Argyle

Head Coach: Eric Simmons (4th season)

Players to Watch: Junior P Abby Dowell; Junior RF/P Madi Fulfer; Senior SS/P Raylea Parsons; Junior C Paige Gallegos; Junior CF Isabella Dickens; Senior 3B Gracyn Fields

State Tournament Appearances (Most Recent): Two (2021)

UIL Softball State Championships (Most Recent): None

Distance to Red & Charline McCombs Field: 314 miles

LIBERTY PANTHERS

Season Record: 36-6 overall, Region III champions

How They Got Here: 9-2 postseason record

Bi-district round — W 13-3; W 19-4 vs. Vidor
Area round — W 16-0; W 16-1 vs. Navasota
Regional quarterfinal — L 0-4; W 4-0; W 2-1 vs. Bridge City
Regional semifinal — W 7-0 vs. Taylor
Regional championship — W 3-1; L 6-7; W 16-4 vs. Lake Belton

Head Coach: Karen Slack (21st season)

Players to Watch: Senior IF Kendall Daniel; Sophomore P/IF Kamdyn Chandler; Junior IF Reese Evans; Junior OF/P Alex Wiley; Sophomore OF Bailee Slack; Senior OF Maci Beam

State Tournament Appearances (Most Recent): Three (2021)

UIL Softball State Championships (Most Recent): Two (2021)

Distance to Red & Charline McCombs Field: 208 miles

SWEENY BULLDOGS

Season Record: 30-9 overall, Region IV champions

How They Got Here: 10-2 postseason record