Baseball and softball hit the playoff diamonds this week making a return after successful runs in 2023. 

Softball defeated Leander Rouse in a best of three series on April 26-27 and plays South San Thursday and Friday at Marion High School. Baseball takes on its Rouse counterpart Thursday and Friday.

At first softball started district play with a 3-1 loss to Kerrville Tivy – the only one of a 13-1 district season.

“I think starting our district play with a loss against Tivy humbled us, while also reminding us we need to play every game to our best ability,” senior Brianna Orona said. “Fortunately, it left us with a taste of failure, which isn’t always a bad thing.”

In winning the District 26-5A championship, Coach Amanda Wolf’s squad easily handled Canyon, 8-6 and 11-0. Canyon ended softball’s 2023 playoff run in the region finals on the Cougars’ path to the state finals.

“District champs was just a short milestone to the top goal of state,” sophomore Mia Norton said. “I do believe this team can go far. We truly just need to work hard and stay consistent with ourselves.”

The Rangers lost the first playoff game to Rouse 2-1 but came back Saturday and took away the series by winning twice, 3-0 and 4-2.

Their next game will be May 2nd against South San Antonio at 7:00 p.m. The Rangers are heading into this game with a record of 28-7 against the 23-10-1 Bobcats.

Baseball, the 2023 area champions, only lost two games in district play this year, both to Boerne Champion who clinched the district title.

The 24-7 Rangers go up against the Rouse Raiders, 25-8-1,Thursday at home at 7 p.m. Games two and three will be played at Rouse on Friday.