VYPE
Originally appeared on VYPE
Last season, Shadow Creek knocked off Foster twice as they reached the Class 5A DII State Championship game.
Both teams are loaded and could meet again in the regional finals. But that's not the end of the story. Angleton, Friendswood and Hightower are in the next cut and could make playoff runs of their own.
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VYPE Preseason Rankings
Shadow Creek
Foster
Friendswood
Angleton
Hightower
Terry
Texas City
Galveston Ball
(Bold Denotes Playoff Teams)
VYPE Preseason Awards
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Alec Bryant, Shadow Creek
CO-OFFENSIVE MVPS: Ryan Stubblefield, Foster Jordan Jones, Angleton
CO-DEFENSIVE MVPS: Xavion Alford, Shadow Creek Chidozie Nwankwo, Foster
BREAKOUT PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kyron Drones, Shadow Creek
SLEEPER TEAM: Hightower
Shadow Creek Sharks
"Them Creek Boys" are back after making history in their first varsity season. The went 15-1, just falling short in the state title game against Highland Park. Coach Brad Butler is at the epicenter of this program as Shadow Creek becomes a state power. The defense will be the strength with LSU-commit Alec Bryant (70 tackles, 13 sacks) and Kansas State-commit Ronald Triplette leading the charge up front. The linebackers are Kansas State-commit Jeremiah Harris (90 tackles), Warren Shankle, TJ Harris and Courtney Brown. The back end is elite with national recruit Xavion Alford (58 tackles, 6 INTs) and Jaylen Lane patrolling the secondary. The new quarterback will be Kyron Drones, the son of Sharks' defensive line coach Kevin Drones. He has a big arm and is a physical runner. The OL is anchored by Damien Jackson, while WR Jared Jackson will be the deep threat. Tight end Trent McGaughey has become a national recruit for 2022 and should play a bigger role in the offense. The bar has been set high at Shadow Creek.
Read more HERE
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After riding high from a statement sweep of the Dodgers, the Astros limped into the All-Star break, having lost five of their last six games, including two of three to the rival Rangers. They still hold a five-game lead in the American League West, but the momentum they carried into July has cooled considerably.
While it’s tempting to point to the battered lineup as the reason for Houston’s recent struggles, the more pressing issue has been on the mound. For much of the season, elite pitching has masked an offense operating in the league’s bottom third. But during this six-game slide, the script flipped. Over the last seven days, Houston ranks 24th in team ERA at 5.37. The offense hasn’t been great either, 20th in runs, 22nd in OPS, 23rd in batting average, but those numbers aren’t that far off their season-long identity. The difference is that the pitching has stopped bailing them out.
The good news? Help may be (somewhat) on the way.
Astros GM Dana Brown recently provided updates on three key contributors. Shortstop Jeremy Peña isn’t expected back immediately after the break, but Brown said it shouldn’t be long before he returns from a fractured rib. Yordan Alvarez, meanwhile, is progressing well from his hand injury. According to Brown, Alvarez has “absolutely no pain” and will be re-evaluated Thursday. If cleared to swing, the Astros plan to expedite his return. Center fielder Jake Meyers, however, remains at least three weeks away as he recovers from a calf injury.
On the pitching front, expectations for late-season contributions from Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia remain uncertain. Both pitchers have thrown rehab starts recently in the Florida Complex League. Garcia has now been out for over two years following Tommy John surgery. If he’s not able to return this season, serious questions will need to be asked about his long-term outlook. Javier, also rehabbing from Tommy John, may be an option in August, but expectations should be tempered. As Brown himself has admitted, he tends to be optimistic. Fans would be wise to stay grounded.
Another arm to watch is Spencer Arrighetti. With no major injury (thumb) holding him back, Arrighetti may be Houston’s most viable rotation boost in the second half.
Fortunately, the schedule sets up favorably after the break. Over the next seven series, the Astros face four sub-.500 teams. But that doesn’t mean anything is guaranteed, especially if current trends continue.
Lance McCullers remains an enigma. When he’s locked in, he gives Houston a legitimate No. 3-caliber arm. When he’s off, he’s out of the game early and the bullpen pays the price. Manager Joe Espada faces one of his toughest managing challenges every time McCullers takes the hill.
Cam Smith has cooled off at the plate, hitless in his last 11 at-bats. He’s also been bounced all over the batting order. A simple solution? Plant him in the cleanup spot and let him adjust without the added mental shuffle.
And then there’s Josh Hader. The All-Star closer has surrendered home runs in three of his last four outings. If Houston is going to continue winning tight games with a low-margin offense, Hader has to be lights-out. His dominance alongside a top-tier setup man (Bryan Abreu) has been a pillar of the Astros’ success model this season. They need that foundation to hold.
The Astros aren’t panicking — nor should they. But after a hot run turned lukewarm, the margin for error is shrinking. The second half opens with an opportunity to bank wins and regain rhythm. Whether Houston capitalizes depends on health, consistency, and maybe a little creativity from the front office.
There's so much more to discuss! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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