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2023 Texas high school softball playoffs: Class 2A UIL State Softball Tournament preview

SBLive takes a closer look at the state title picture heading into the Class 2A UIL State Softball Tournament (May 30-June 3)

Andrew McCulloch

2023 Texas high school softball playoffs: Class 2A UIL State Softball Tournament preview
2023 Texas high school softball playoffs: Class 2A UIL State Softball Tournament preview /

After a rollercoaster of a regular season and five wild weeks of postseason action across the Lone Star State, the top teams in the 2023 Texas high school softball playoffs have reached the end of the road on their quest to capture a state title: the 2023 UIL Softball State Tournament.

For five days at the University of Texas’ Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin, the state’s best players and most elite Class 1A-6A squads will compete for an elusive UIL state championship during the sixth and seventh rounds of the 2023 Texas high school softball playoffs.

After wrapping up Day 1 state tournament competition late on Tuesday, May 30th, the Lone Star State’s top teams in Class 2A will collide in the UIL state title game at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31st, to crown a state champion.

Here’s a closer look at all four teams — the Como-Pickton Eagles, Crawford Pirates, Stamford Bulldogs and Weimar Wildcats — that will be vying for the 2A state championship during the 2023 UIL Softball State Tournament (May 30-June 3).

2023 TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS — CLASS 2A UIL STATE TOURNAMENT PREVIEW

Editor’s Note: Click on individual matchups to access SBLive's 'Pick 'Em' feature and vote for the teams that you think will win their UIL state tournament matchups in the 2023 Texas high school softball playoffs.

Class 2A state semifinals:

Weimar 3, Crawford 0 (Tuesday, May 30th)

Como-Pickton 7, Stamford 1 (Tuesday, May 30th)

Class 2A state title game:

W30 Weimar Wildcats (39-6-1) vs. W17 Como-Pickton Eagles (38-2), 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 31st, at Red & Charline McCombs Stadium at the University of Texas in Austin

STAMFORD BULLDOGS

Record: 27-6-1 overall, 7-1 in District 7-2A

How They Got Here: 8-1 postseason record, Region I-2A champs

  • Bi-district round — BYE
  • Area round — W 22-2, W 15-0 vs. Miles
  • Regional quarterfinals — L 3-2, W 3-2, W 17-3 vs. Cisco
  • Regional semifinals — W 2-0, W 13-2 vs. Colorado City Colorado
  • Regional finals — W 6-1, W 15-1 vs. Forsan

Offense: 10.7 runs scored per game

Defense: 2.7 runs allowed per game

Head Coach: Sean Slavin (2nd season)

Players to Watch: Senior SS/INF Laylonna Applin (.664 AVG), Freshman P/OF Emma Follis (18-4 record; .538 AVG), Senior LF/C Emily Patterson (.445 AVG), Freshman 2B/3B Gabby Torres (.444 AVG), Junior C/OF Jay’Lynn Hatley (.442 AVG), Sophomore RF/1B Raylan Villanueva (.403 AVG), Senior 3B/P Brylee Strand (.402 AVG; 5-2 record), Senior CF/OF Jameson Bell (.365 AVG)

UIL State Tournament Appearances (Most Recent): Three (2022)

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

Distance to Red & Charline McCombs Field: 253 miles

CRAWFORD PIRATES

Record: 34-2 overall, 14-0 in District 13-2A

How They Got Here: 8-0 postseason record, Region II-2A champs

  • Bi-district round — W 19-0 vs. Hubbard
  • Area round — W 6-0, W 7-0 vs. Whitewright
  • Regional quarterfinals — W 17-2, W 11-2 vs. Italy
  • Regional semifinals — W 14-0, W 10-0 vs. Collinsville
  • Regional finals — W 7-0 vs. Trenton

Offense: 11.4 runs scored per game

Defense: 1.1 runs allowed per game

Head Coach: Kirk Allen (17th season)

Players to Watch: Senior P/1B Kenzie Jones (30-2 record; .544 AVG), Junior CF/SS London Minnix (.696 AVG), Junior SS/LF Savanna Pogue (.650 AVG), Junior RF/C Addie Cox (.578 AVG), Junior 2B/SS Madi Green (.494 AVG), Senior 3B/1B Taylor Gohlke (.420 AVG), Senior C/3B Haley Holmes (.415 AVG)

UIL State Tournament Appearances (Most Recent): Seven (2022)

UIL Softball State Championships (Most Recent): Four (2022)

Distance to Red & Charline McCombs Field: 98 miles

COMO-PICKTON EAGLES

Record: 37-2 overall, 8-0 in District 17-2A

How They Got Here: 8-0 postseason record, Region III-2A champs

  • Bi-district round — W 12-0 vs. Simms Bowie
  • Area round — W 1-0, W 4-1 vs. Malakoff Cross Roads
  • Regional quarterfinals — W 7-2, W 16-0 vs. Harleton
  • Regional semifinals — W 5-2 vs. Groveton
  • Regional finals — W 13-1, W 4-0 vs. Shelbyville

Offense: 9.1 runs scored per game

Defense: 1.0 runs allowed per game

Head Coach: Trevor Wallace (6th season)

Players to Watch: Senior P/INF Mattison Buster (34-1 record; .462 AVG), Senior 2B/INF Lauren Lewellen (.438 AVG), Junior C/P Addison Monk (.485 AVG; 1-0 record), Freshman 3B/C Gracie Thompson (.347 AVG), Sophomore DH/OF Judah Van Rijn (.340 AVG)

UIL State Tournament Appearances (Most Recent): Two (1999)

UIL Softball State Championships (Most Recent): Seeking first UIL state title in program history

Distance to Red & Charline McCombs Field: 284 miles

WEIMAR WILDCATS

Record: 38-6-1 overall, 11-1 in District 29-2A

How They Got Here: 10-1 postseason record, Region IV-2A champs

  • Bi-district round — W 10-0, W 14-1 vs. Falls City
  • Area round — W 16-0, W 14-0 vs. La Villa
  • Regional quarterfinals — W 18-1, W 6-0 vs. Schulenburg
  • Regional semifinals — W 2-0, W 5-0 vs. Milano
  • Regional finals — L 4-3, W 13-7, W 5-3 vs. Shiner

Offense: 8.4 runs scored per game

Defense: 1.9 runs allowed per game

Head Coach: Roger Maupin (20th season)

Players to Watch: Senior P Reagan Wick (31-3 record; .391 AVG), Junior 1B/RF Kaelyn Williams (.441 AVG), Sophomore 3B/P Taylor Smith (.465 AVG; 5-2 record), Sophomore CF/RF Claire Pavlu (.364 AVG), Junior RF/2B Izzy Reeves (.345 AVG), Junior SS/2B Hannah Fisbeck (.358 AVG), Senior C/3B Paige Pavlu (.340 AVG)

UIL State Tournament Appearances (Most Recent): 10 (2022)

UIL Softball State Championships (Most Recent): Five (2014)

Distance to Red & Charline McCombs Field: 83 miles

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Andrew McCulloch
ANDREW MCCULLOCH

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