High School

2023 Texas high school softball playoffs: Class 6A UIL State Softball Tournament preview

SBLive takes a closer look at the state title picture heading into the Class 6A UIL State Softball Tournament (May 30-June 3)

Andrew McCulloch

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 sixth-round playoff action to begin their state tournament stints late on Friday, June 2nd, the Lone Star State’s top teams in Class 6A will collide in the UIL state title game at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 3rd, to crown a state champion.

Here’s a closer look at all four teams — the Cypress Bridgeland Bears, Denton Guyer Wildcats, Pearland Oilers and San Benito Greyhounds — that will be vying for the 6A state championship during the 2023 UIL Softball State Tournament (May 30-June 3).

2023 TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS — CLASS 6A 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 6A state semifinals:

W23 Pearland Oilers (39-3) vs. W32 San Benito Greyhounds (40-5), 4 p.m. on Friday, June 2nd, at Red & Charline McCombs Stadium at the University of Texas in Austin

W5 Denton Guyer Wildcats (37-1) vs. R16 Cypress Bridgeland Bears (36-7-1), 7 p.m. on Friday, June 2nd, at Red & Charline McCombs Stadium at the University of Texas in Austin

Class 6A state title game:

TBD vs. TBD, 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 3rd, at Red & Charline McCombs Stadium at the University of Texas in Austin

DENTON GUYER WILDCATS

Record: 37-1 overall, 14-0 in District 5-6A

How They Got Here: 8-1 postseason record, Region I-6A champs

  • Bi-district round — W 2-1, W 12-6 vs. Flower Mound Marcus
  • Area round — W 8-0 vs. Arlington Martin
  • Regional quarterfinals — W 8-0 vs. Plano West
  • Regional semifinals — W 12-2, W 4-3 vs. Southlake Carroll
  • Regional finals — L 5-4 in 8 innings, W 3-0, W 8-0 vs. Keller

Offense: 9.0 runs scored per game

Defense: 2.1 runs allowed per game

Head Coach: Keith Medford (18th season)

Players to Watch: Senior 3B Avery Jefferson (.533 AVG), Junior 2B Kaylynn Jones (.554 AVG), Freshman P Finley Montgomery (21-0 record), Senior CF Tehya Pitts (.449 AVG), Junior SS Erin Peterson (.421 AVG), Junior RF Lauryn Jones (.391 AVG), Junior P Jenny Robledo (12-1 record; .328 AVG), Sophomore LF Briana Williams (.380 AVG), Junior C Jordan Osborne (.361 AVG)

UIL State Tournament Appearances (Most Recent): Two (2010)

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

Distance to Red & Charline McCombs Field: 222 miles

CYPRESS BRIDGELAND BEARS

Record: 36-7-1 overall, 13-1 in District 16-6A

How They Got Here: 9-2 postseason record, Region II-6A champs

  • Bi-district round — W 4-1 vs. Klein
  • Area round — W 6-0, W 5-4 vs. Conroe
  • Regional quarterfinals — W 18-1, W 4-1 vs. Spring
  • Regional semifinals — L 5-2, W 16-5, W 10-1 vs. Wylie
  • Regional finals — L 3-1, W 5-1, W 3-2 in 8 innings vs. Langham Creek

Offense: 8.3 runs scored per game

Defense: 1.9 runs allowed per game

Head Coach: Candi Weige (6th season)

Players to Watch: Senior C/INF Lilli Piersons (.361 AVG), Junior P/INF Sydney Jackson (22-5 record; .293 AVG), Sophomore OF/UTL Abby Bvunzawabaya (.533 AVG), Senior 3B/UTL Trinity Allen (.400 AVG), Junior 1B/INF Dani Lopez (.482 AVG), Senior OF/P Haylie Stum (.448 AVG; 6-1 record), Junior C Mady Taylor (.444 AVG), Junior OF Chayne Allen (.388 AVG), Junior INF/UTL Brooke Gonzales (.368 AVG)

UIL State Tournament Appearances (Most Recent): Making first UIL Softball State Tournament appearance in school history

UIL Softball State Championships (Most Recent): None

Distance to Red & Charline McCombs Field: 139 miles

PEARLAND OILERS

Record: 39-3 overall, 11-1 in District 23-6A

How They Got Here: 9-0 postseason record, Region III-6A champs

  • Bi-district round — W 13-3, W 4-0 vs. Friendswood Clear Brook
  • Area round — W 1-0, W 8-4 vs. Humble Summer Creek
  • Regional quarterfinals — W 9-6, W 1-0 vs. Kingwood
  • Regional semifinals — W 10-0, W 9-0 vs. Bellaire
  • Regional finals — W 9-8 vs. Deer Park

Offense: 8.7 runs scored per game

Defense: 2.2 runs allowed per game

Head Coach: Laneigh Clark (25th season)

Players to Watch: Senior OF Hailey Golden (.512 AVG), Freshman C Payton Shugart (.522 AVG), Senior INF Kennedy Drafton (.482 AVG), Senior P Abigail Gutierrez (24-1 record; 1.000 AVG), Sophomore INF Laila Nobles (.439 AVG), Sophomore OF Kaylee Schweitzer (.463 AVG), Senior INF Kristyn Whitlock (.426 AVG), Sophomore OF Jordan Smith (.433 AVG), Sophomore UTL Kailey Monsef (.484 AVG), Senior OF Darian DeLeon (.413 AVG)

UIL State Tournament Appearances (Most Recent): Seven (2016)

UIL Softball State Championships (Most Recent): Two (2010)

Distance to Red & Charline McCombs Field: 181 miles

SAN BENITO GREYHOUNDS

Record: 40-5 overall, 10-0 in District 32-6A

How They Got Here: 9-2 postseason record, Region IV-6A champs

  • Bi-district round — W 18-0, W 19-2 vs. Mission
  • Area round — L 5-3, W 3-2, W 3-1 vs. San Antonio Brennan
  • Regional quarterfinals — W 4-0 vs. San Antonio Harlan
  • Regional semifinals — W 9-7, L 12-9, W 11-1 vs. New Braunfels
  • Regional finals — W 11-1, W 2-0 vs. San Antonio East Central

Offense: 9.1 runs scored per game

Defense: 1.8 runs allowed per game

Head Coach: Elias Martinez (20th season)

Players to Watch: Senior P/SS Emily Danielle Delgado (22-2 record; .478 AVG), Sophomore SS/P Amira Rodriguez (.450 AVG; 16-3 record), Senior 2B Bethany Aguilar (.400 AVG), Senior 1B Kylie Sanchez (.416 AVG), Senior RF Alyssa Ruvio (.432 AVG), Jozanna Montes (.315 AVG), Junior 3B Jenna Torres (.302 AVG)

UIL State Tournament Appearances (Most Recent): Three (2015)

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

Distance to Red & Charline McCombs Field: 331 miles

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Andrew McCulloch
ANDREW MCCULLOCH

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