High School Varsity Baseball Preview: Will The Woodlands Dominate Again?

THE WOODLANDS – With springtime on the horizon, the sounds of bats and gloves signal the approach of the high school baseball season. This year, the 9 teams in 6A District 13 will enter the season with hopes of a district championship and a shot at the state playoffs. Last season saw some teams dominate, while others fell short of expectations. It should be another exciting year of high school baseball, so let's check in on some of the teams entering the fray in the 2026 season.

The Woodlands Highlanders: Aiming For Perfection Again

Last season was special for The Woodlands Highlanders, as they went 16-0 in district play, showcasing some of the best pitching and hitting in 6A. However, much of the production came from the graduating senior class, leaving new faces to carry the torch and chase the records their former upperclassmen set. Notable among those returning is senior Jack Smejkal, who showed the capability to be a force on both sides of the ball. His pitching was solid, with a 1.32 ERA across 8 appearances, posting 46 strikeouts and only 14 hits, resulting in a 4-0 record. Smejkal’s bat was even better, with 21 hits, 18 runs, 2 HRs, and 13 RBIs; he achieved a .344 average on 61 at-bats, making him one of the most effective hitters of last year's team. Another notable name returning is junior Cash Clayton, who got 23 hits last season, resulting in 2 HRs, 12 RBIs, 16 runs, and a .315 average. Clayton didn’t see the mound much last season, only pitching 5.1 innings and posting a 2.62 ERA, but we might see more of him this season, with all the pitching losses. Some other notable returners are Cruz Romo, Chase Bradley, and Cash McWhorter, all of whom didn’t pitch much but have valuable bats that will be essential for this team's success. The Highlanders will open the season in the Cy-Fair Classic Tournament on Thursday and will look for some big wins to start the season off strong. The other tournaments they will play in, such as the 5-Tool Dallas Tournament and Langham Creek Tournament, will feature some strong teams that should give The Woodlands a solid challenge before district play begins. This team has a very different look from last year, but it still has the same goals and will once again be in contention for the district championship.

The Willis Wildkats: Building Off A Solid Finish

Finishing last season with a 13-3 district record, the Willis Wildkats were strong in district play despite early-season struggles in tournaments. They finished 2nd in the district and won their first-round series in the state tournament, resulting in a solid season for the Wildkats. Hitting will be key this season, as last year's strong finish was powered by a solid offense that held teams off despite some struggles on the mound. With a record of 19-12-3, there’s lots of room for Willis to improve this season, starting with the Cy-Fair Classic Tournament starting this week. They will play some decent teams, like Steele, Fulshear, and Cy-Creek, which could be valuable for when district play really kicks up in March. They will also play in the Lake Conroe Classic from February 26^th-28^th and the Brenham Alumni Classic in March, before district play starts. They will look for a chance to snag a district title, and another chance to do something in the state tournament at the end of the season.

Oak Ridge War Eagles: Looking To Reclaim The District

Heading into last season, the War Eagles were fresh off a district title but struggled to maintain that pace. They finished with a 12-4 district record and a 21-11-2 overall record, placing 3rd behind the Willis Wildcats. It wasn’t a bad season for the War Eagles, however, as they won their 1st playoff series before losing in 3 games to Cy-Woods in the 2nd round. Much like Willis, they struggled early, losing some games in the opening tournaments, but pulled it together in district play. They had solid defense last season, but an improvement in hitting could put this team in contention for more than just a playoff spot. They will face solid competition in their opening tournament, playing teams like Atascocita and Allen, which could provide valuable data on how this team could perform when district play comes around. They will be contenders in the district this season and could be a fun team to keep an eye on.

Conroe Tigers: Eyeing Improvement In District Play

For this season, Conroe will look to improve on last year's performance after struggling in district play despite a solid start. Unlike the two teams ranked ahead of them in the district, Conroe posted one of the better overall records, 24-10-1, while going only 9-7 in district play. They played some fantastic baseball in their tournaments but struggled against district opponents, losing to some of the lower-tiered teams like College Park and Grand Oaks, and failing to take a series against The Woodlands or Willis. They did, however, find success in the playoffs, advancing all the way to the 3rd round before bowing out in 3 games to Midway. They were mostly average across the board in both district and tournament play, resulting in a team that could get hot but also struggle against lesser opponents. This season will hopefully yield better results, as the Tigers will look to get back into contention and back to the playoffs. They have shown to be a capable offense, and if that can come through in district play, they could be a dark horse contender within the district.

College Park Cavaliers & Grand Oaks Grizzlies

Both Grand Oaks and College Park struggled last season, finishing with similar district records and stats. They weren’t very competitive in many games, resulting in .500 records for both teams and a playoff miss. While they could improve this season, they will have a lot of work cut out for them, as some of the teams above them are very strong and have a good history in baseball. It would be really cool for one of these teams to make a massive jump this season, and if they can get some good wins at the beginning of the season in tournaments, they could be in a solid spot to start district play. For now, though, they will be pushing for improvement in any area and will more likely than not be fighting for one of the lower playoff spots if either of them is in contention for it. It is okay, though, as College Park and Grand Oaks already got district titles in both football and basketball, respectively, this season.

New Caney, Caney Creek, and Cleveland: Bottom Dwellers

It's unfortunate to write about whenever they come up, but these three schools always seem to be in the same spots in this district, regardless of the sport. Cleveland was atrocious last year, failing to win a single district game, while Caney Creek won only a couple, and New Caney scraped together 4 wins. This will be the final season the Eagles are part of 6A, meaning this is likely the last time we will see them for a very long time. It would be really fun for one of these teams to make a run this season, but with the track record these three have, it's very hard to see that happening.

Final Thoughts

Now, some teams are clearly stronger in baseball in this district, which is pretty top-heavy when it comes to contenders. However, there is plenty of room for improvement on every team, and we could have an interesting season despite how cut-and-dry the district might feel. The Woodlands will be the heavy favorites to claim the district title again, but Conroe, Oak Ridge, and Willis will be right behind them, fighting for playoff spots. Unfortunately, most teams don’t track stats like The Woodlands does, so we don’t have a clear sense of who to watch on other teams. As the season progresses, we should have a good sense of each team’s star. Tournaments will start this week, with TWHS, College Park, and Willis all playing in the Cy-Fair Classic starting this Thursday. This will be a great chance for these teams to show out against other competition and give us a preview of what to expect from them this season.