Valley softball teams set to start postseason

Edward Severn

It was a magical softball season in 2024 for the Rio Grande Valley. Weslaco High won the Class 6A state title and Harlingen South made it to the state final in Class 5A.

Could there be another memorable run for Valley teams in 2025?

Maybe. It won’t be as easy of a road like 2024. For instance, the Panthers outscored San Antonio Brennan 37-5 in two games to capture the Region IV title.

It is going to be tough to make it back to state, but not impossible. If they do, it won’t be as dominant.

Click here to see the complete bi-district playoff schedule and results for teams across the RGV.

FOUR TEAMS THAT HAVE A CHANCE

Weslaco High

The Panthers are peaking at the right time. They lost some power, hitters with high on-base percentages and some solid defensive players. They did return enough to win District 31-6A against a very talented PSJA High team.

The Weslaco High Panthers at RGVSports.com Media Day. Photo by Christian Inoferio – Special to RGVSports.com.

If they beat Los Fresnos they will likely face Buda Johnson in the second round. The Austin-area team is regarded as one of the best in that area. Lake Travis, San Benito, Brennan and East Central all are solid teams as well in the Panthers bracket.

The Panthers’ lineup is solid, but any injuries to key players could hurt their chances of making it back to the show.

Region IV is up for grabs in the 6A DI bracket.

PSJA High

The Bears had San Antonio O’Connor on the ropes in 2024, but could not come through. That would have made things interesting last year in 6A.

The PSJA High Bears at RGVSports.com Media Day. Photo by Christian Inoferio – Special to RGVSports.com.

This year in DII, the Bears do not have it easy against a solid Brownsville Veterans team that match up well with them. PSJA High beat Brownsville Veterans 13-5, but the Chargers have the potential to compete at times during the series.

The Bears could face Cibolo Steele in the area round. They finished second behind Buda Johnson.

Harlingen High

Another 6A DII team on the list. The Cardinals face Edinburg High in bi-district. They beat the Bobcats 16-6 in non-district.

Harlingen Lady Cardinal Zuelly Cruz (17) celebrates with her teammates after hitting a homerun Tuesday evening. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald)

The Cardinals keep improving the last few seasons and will have a chance against Eagle Pass or Schertz Clemens in round two.

The best case scenario for the Valley would be PSJA High and Harlingen High in the regional title game, but Dripping Springs, San Antonio O’Connor, Austin Bowie and Cedar Ridge are all tough opponents along the way.

Harlingen South

The Hawks have a chance at making it back to state if University of Washington signee Amira Rodriguez is healthy. She’s one of the best players in the nation for a reason. Like Weslaco, they lost some really good ball players, but even without Rodriguez the Hawks are good enough to compete.

The Harlingen South Hawks at RGVSports.com Media Day. Photo by Christian Inoferio – Special to RGVSports.com.

Class 5A DI is tricky. PSJA North, Weslaco East, Flour Bluff, Corpus Christi Veterans, South San Antonio, Smithson Valley and Leander all have a chance along with Harlingen South to win the region.

CC Vets looks really strong and are probably the second best team all-around in the region, Class 4A’ Calallen is regarded as the best.

Overall, there is a lot of parity in the region. The Valley teams have pitching. And that could tip a series in their favor.

BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Sharyland Pioneer vs. Brownsville Lopez

These two went to Game 3 in 2023 with the Diamondbacks coming out victorious. Pioneer has been one of the most consistent programs in the Upper Valley. They have made it every year, besides the canceled Covid season, to the playoffs. The 14-15 season was Pioneer’s first in UIL softball.

The Lobos are solid and are battle tested out of 32-5A. This matchup is probably the most even and likeliest to go to a Game 3.

The winner has a tough area round series against Corpus Christi Carroll, likely, nothing is guaranteed.

Mercedes at McHi

Just the single game for the Tigers and Bulldogs. On paper it looks like it could be another extremely competitive matchup.

District 32-5A was great this season. There was seven really good teams and some nights the Tigers looked the best. They split games with Harlingen South, but were swept by Weslaco East to finish third – they were close games.

The Bulldogs also played close games with some of the better teams in their district as well. The single elimination games have a different vibe to them, so it could be a fun game to watch.

Edinburg North at San Benito

Another one-game playoff that could be a good watch is the Greyhounds hosting the Cougars on Friday. San Benito finished tied for second with Brownsville Veterans in 32-6A.

The Greyhounds have a good mixture of youthful and veteran talent while the Cougars played PSJA High close losing the latest game 5-3. They finished third out of 31-6A.

The winner likely faces San Antonio East Central in the next round. The Greyhounds beat the Hornets in the 6A Region IV final in 2023.

PSJA North vs. Weslaco East

Another with potential for a Game 3. That is what happened last year.

The Raiders came out on top. The District 31-5A champs take on a No. 2 seed, one of the caveats with splitting up the teams. They would have faced a four-seed, like last year.

They both have talented players and if either makes it past the second round, they could win the region in DI.

District 30-5A

The Coastal Bend is really really good this season and that is who 30-5A runs into every year. Rio Grande City vs. Gregory-Portland has potential to be another one of those good one-gamers, but G-P is a dangerous fourth-place team that has good showings this against Valley opponents.

Mission High had a good first season in 5A finishing second behind RGC. They play Flour Bluff. Carroll and Vets are the best up in the Coastal Bend, but Flour Bluff and G-P are solid this year.

The Mission Eagles at RGVSports.com Media Day. Photo by Christian Inoferio – Special to RGVSports.com.

La Joya Palmview takes on CC Vets, again one of the best 5A teams in the state.

Sub-5A

Lyford usually makes a deep run in Class 3A. The Bulldogs are always one of the Valley’s best small-school teams, but this year, a really good Santa Gertrudis awaits. The Lions finished second behind Bishop, also really good, in district. They split games.

It is not an impossible task. The Bulldogs have wins over San Benito and Harlingen High this year. Class 3A DII has some other really good teams like Hallettsville, Jourdanton, waiting if they make it past the Lions.

Raymondville and Rio Hondo look safer on paper in 3A DI. The Bearkats play Falfurrias, should be competitive, and if Rio Hondo makes it to the second round they will probably face Mathis. The Pirates have been in the news lately thanks to an on-field scuffle that led to a Mathis coach being arrested.

The La Villa Cardinals at RGVSports.com Media Day. Photo by Christian Inoferio – Special to RGVSports.com.

La Villa and La Feria both cruised to district titles respectively. La Villa in Class 2A and La Feria in Class 4A. The Lionettes have to face Tuloso-Midway, again, another Coastal Bend team that is good.

The Cardinals face La Pryor, south of Uvalde, and could take on one of the best 2A teams in the state in round two, Woodsboro. They are ranked No. 1 in the latest TGCA Softball Poll, but the Cardinals are ranked No. 15 – Class 1A and 2A combined.

The post Valley softball teams set to start postseason appeared first on MyRGV.com.