Is 19-4A softball the most competitve in Texas this season? In my opinion, the answer is yes and here's why?
First the district has three teams ranked in the top 15 in the state Barbers Hill (#1), Crosby (11) and New Caney (13) going into the April 2nd games on Tuesday night.
Of those three teams, no team has scored more than three runs against the other. Add to that the fact that only one game between the three teams has been decided by more than one run and you have the description of competitive excellence. BH has won by scores of 2-1, 1-0, and 1-0 with one game left against New Caney. Crosby and New Caney have split their series with Crosby winning 3-0 at New Caney and the Lady Eagles avenging the loss with a 3-2 win in Crosby.
All three teams have posted winning road records in district play going a combined 14-1 record. The only road loss being NC's 1-0 loss to BH in Mont Belvieu.
No team has lost more than two straight the entire season.
All three teams are allow less then one run a game against district opponents. BH has allowed just four runs in district play while Crosby and New Caney have allowed nine runs each.
Offensively, the teams match up equally well against district opponents. BH is averaging 10 runs per game while Crosby and New Caney average over seven runs per game.
Each of the three are experienced in one run affairs. BH has played and won four games by one run or less. Crosby has played five one run games winning two and losing three. New Caney has played two one run games losing to BH and defeating Crosby.
All three are adept at pitching shutouts against their opponents. Undefeated BH has tossed nine shutouts, Crosby has six and New Caney five.
As the season winds down, BH closes the season playing two games at home and two on the road. Both away games feature teams with winning records including the finale against New Caney.
New Caney faces five opponents and just two have winning records including the home finale against BH.
With four games left to its season, Crosby has two at home and two away but only one (Kingwood Park) has a winning record.
From the pitcher's circle, each of the three teams has at least one dominant pitcher. BH's Randi Rupp has a 17-1 record with a miniscule 0.08ERA. Rupp has posted 182 strikeouts against 16 walks in 90 plus innings of work. Crosby's Taylor Cole with a 1.07ERA has recorded seven wins this season. The Lady Cougars lefthander has a 126 punchouts against 22 walks in 78 plus innings of work. New Caney's Katy Potter sports 9-1 record and a 0.35ERA.
Aside from these three teams, the argument for competive excellence becomes even more compelling when the Dayton Lady Broncos and Kingwood Lady Panthers are added to the mix. The Lady Broncos are 15-5 overall with a 7-4 district mark. Kingwood Park meanwhile is 6-5 in district play giving 19-4A four teams in the playoff hunt behind Barbers Hill.
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