FEATURE: Katy seniors finally reach Austin

FEATURE: Katy seniors finally reach Austin
Vype

This group of eight seniors have been nothing but dominant in their high school careers.

Originally Appeared on VYPE

HOUSTON – It was a moment that they've been so close to for the past three years.

Each time though, the season instead ended in heartbreak and them standing by watching the opposing team celebrate and dog-pile in the middle of the field as Regional Champions.

But not this time.

With a swinging strikeout, Alyssa LeBlanc flung her glove into the air as catcher Cait Calland raced out to her with the rest of the team in tow to embrace and jump around in celebration after a 12-3 victory over Deer Park propelled Katy to its first State Tournament since 2015 on Thursday.

"Our seniors have been in this situation for four-straight years and have been beaten in the Regional Finals," Katy coach Kalum Haack said. "It's not only frustrating but it's disheartening because it's such a great group of kids. I'm really going to miss these guys.

"For them to overcome finally and put it all together, I'm really proud of them and excited for them that they're going to get to experience something very few people get to experience in their careers."


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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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