Who's Going To Win The District Title? Meet The Top Teams In This High School Baseball District Update

DISTRICT 13 – As spring progresses, district play has been heating up in high school baseball, with several teams emerging as contenders. With multiple district series played, there are clear teams to watch as we approach April. Let's examine these teams, see what has been working for them, and consider how their seasons might unfold as we head toward the playoffs.

Oak Ridge War Eagles: Perfect Thus Far

Coming off a third-place finish in the 2025 season, Oak Ridge entered this year hoping to improve in district play and contend for a district title. So far, they have been doing just that, with a 7-0 record and sole possession of 1st place in the district. It was a rough start to the season, however, as the War Eagles lost 7 tournament games in February, ending with an overall record of 13-7. Fortunately, that didn’t seem to discourage them in district play, as they swept Cleveland, College Park, and New Caney, starting their series against Conroe with a 15-1 win.

They are a high-scoring team, dominating nearly every district opponent they’ve faced, resulting in 81 RBIs while allowing only 5 runs against them. Standout players like Jonell Rodriguez and Luis Olmeda have been essential. Rodriguez has been hot, scoring in almost every game this season and posting several multi-hit games so far. Olmeda is among the leaders in RBIs, driving in multiple runners nearly every game and helping the War Eagles build huge leads. Others like former War Eagle QB Drayton Urbay, Carson Holamon, and Dereck Hernandez have also made significant contributions to these big wins, each recording a few multi-hit games.

The pitching has been equally impressive, led by pitcher Jacob Howard. He recorded 6 strikeouts against College Park, then followed with 8 strikeouts against New Caney. Behind him, pitchers like Jessie Leija have also delivered outstanding performances on the mound.

Overall, Oak Ridge appears to be an elite team heading into the rest of the season, and it will be interesting to see how they fare against other contenders in the district. They haven’t faced the toughest schedule so far, but they look legitimate and could be on track for a district title.

Grand Oaks Grizzlies: A Budding Powerhouse?

It has been a fantastic 2025-2026 season for Grand Oaks High School, as they have made strides in nearly every sport this school year. Football made the playoffs, boys and girls basketball won district titles, and now baseball is looking better than ever. Currently 6-1 in district play with an overall record of 15-4-2, the Grizzlies have been performing well this season, establishing themselves as strong contenders in the district. Grand Oaks had some outstanding tournament performances, but starting district play with a walk-off win over The Woodlands Highlanders truly put them on the map this season. The Woodlands is often regarded as one of the strongest teams in the district, so for Grand Oaks to defeat them right away sent ripples throughout the district. With clean sweeps of College Park and Cleveland, the Grizzlies appear to be one of the top teams in the district.

While their hitting isn’t always top-notch, it remains solid, helping them get through close games and reach double-digit run totals multiple times. Hitters like Colton Tally, Hector Francia-Linares, and Collin Martin have been essential to these wins, batting in multiple runs per inning and making key hits for the Grizzlies. Others like Braeden Sanches and Andrew Clayton have also been clutch, with Sanches driving in Clayton for the walk-off against the Highlanders at the start of the season.

Pitching has been solid for the Grizzlies as well, although some games were closer than they needed to be. Clayton is one of their top pitchers this season, pitching multiple games with under 2 hits, though he did allow 4 runs in their game against College Park. Cade Calhoun is another pitcher who has seen some action but has surrendered many hits during his time on the mound. Noah Lopez pitched 7 scoreless innings against Cleveland, allowing only 2 hits all game along with his 3 strikeouts. Overall, the pitching isn’t extraordinary, but given the amount of hitting the Grizzlies have, it’s definitely nothing to panic about.

This Grand Oaks squad looks strong and will contend for a district title as the season goes on. It’s a significant improvement from last year, and it will definitely be interesting to see how they perform down the stretch as April gets closer.

The Woodlands Highlanders: As Strong As Ever

After last season’s perfect performance, it was going to be difficult for The Woodlands Highlanders to replicate that success. They performed decently in tournament play, losing to a few strong teams, but overall finishing above .500. The biggest shock of their season occurred right at the start when Grand Oaks managed a walk-off win in their opening district game, instantly ruining any chance at another perfect season. Since then, however, the Highlanders have been on a rampage, avenging their loss to Grand Oaks and then sweeping Willis and Caney Creek before their non-district game against Magnolia West. They have been scoring at an elite level once again, supported by solid pitching. With a 15-5-1 record and a 5-1 district record, they are beginning to look like the contenders we believed they could be at the start of the season.

At the plate, the Highlanders have been outstanding, run-ruling Caney Creek twice while maintaining their defense against a strong Willis team to sweep a pivotal district series. Players like Cash Clayton, Cruz Romo, and Jack Smejkal have been key for this team. Clayton has been a top-notch hitter all season from the leadoff spot, with several multi-hit games and even a home run against Caney Creek. Romo and Smejkal have been just as impressive, with Romo close behind Clayton in hits, while Smejkal consistently delivers the clutch hits the Highlanders need. The Highlanders also have depth, featuring one of the district’s strongest lineups with hitters such as Cash McWhorter, Bryson Bourn, Johnan Fernandez, and Chase Bradley all playing significant roles in the team's success. This dynamic hitting core has already faced some tough pitching early in the season, and it will be exciting to see what they can accomplish going forward.

On the mound, the Highlanders have been solid, with key contributions from multiple pitchers throughout the season. Jack Smejkal stands out again; along with his hitting, he has delivered several strong starts for the Highlanders this season. He pitched well against Willis and Caney Creek, though he still allows some hits here and there. Other pitchers like Luke Sheeran have also had reliable starts, with Sheeran leading the Highlanders to an easy five-inning win over Caney Creek in the first game of the series. Relief pitching has been crucial as well, with Luke Peterson and Jack Fuller stepping in at key moments to save the Highlanders in tough spots, such as in their first game against Willis. Overall, the pitching could improve, but so far, it hasn’t been a major weakness for the Highlanders and should remain a strong part of the team.

The Highlanders may not quite match their success from last season, but that’s okay because they still look like one of the top teams in the district. They are currently 3rd in the district, but if their winning streak continues, it's reasonable to believe they could repeat as district champions again this season.

Willis Wildkats: A Dangerous Contender

Finishing 2nd in the district last year behind their rivals in The Woodlands, the Willis Wildkats hoped to take the crown from the Highlanders and claim the district title themselves. This hasn’t gone entirely as planned, but the Wildkats remain a strong team with the potential to finish the district on a high note. Since that sweep by The Woodlands, Willis crushed Cleveland, scoring 32 runs in just 2 games, before defeating College Park 7-4. They have an overall record of 11-10 and a 5-2 district record, placing them firmly in the contender tier.

The hitting for the Wildkats has been solid, although it can slump, as we saw at the beginning of the season in tournament play. They are able to score runs efficiently, even making The Woodlands sweat a little bit toward the end of game 1 in the series. Reid Dorwart has been a key hitter for Willis, recording multiple hits in each of the last few games, while scoring at an effective rate. Other hitters like Kash Abke, Gage Blinka, and Keaton Jeffcoat have stepped up for the Wildkats, showing this team has depth in the lineup and can score effectively.

On the mound, the Wildkats have also been impressive, holding tough opponents like the Highlanders to just 5 runs in both games of the series. Shey Holliday has been a reliable starter for them, though he is occasionally prone to a rough outing. Behind him are Brock Brown, Kash Abke, Nathan Vallejo, and Gage Blinka, who all rotate in and out of the lineup. Some games see the Wildkats using over three pitchers, rotating them every couple of innings to keep arms fresh and hitters guessing. While the pitching hasn’t been a weakness for Willis, some overall improvements could help, especially since they tend to give up a lot of runs against strong teams—something that could come back to haunt them in a later series.

In total, Willis remains a strong team, and although they are in 4th place right now, that could easily change with some big wins still possible on the schedule. It will be tough for them to secure the district title, but they certainly look like contenders for the playoffs and could surprise some people down the stretch.

Conroe Tigers: Looking For More Consistency

Last season, the Conroe Tigers managed to make the playoffs as the 4th team in, even though their overall record was one of the best in the district. This season, however, has been tough on the Tigers, as a 3-2 district record places them in 5th so far. They haven’t played as many games as some other teams, so there’s plenty of room for improvement as the season goes on, but they face a tough schedule ahead. An 8-7-1 record puts them in an okay position, but there’s no doubt they’d like to be in a better spot by the end of March.

The hitting hasn’t been elite for the Tigers, but it’s enough to win games. They scored 13 runs in their 2-game series with New Caney but struggled against Oak Ridge in the first game of this series on Friday. Owen Raymer was a solid hitter against New Caney, but many of their runs came from players reaching base through non-hit plays. Other hitters like Jaden Keith, Jackson Reagan, and Landon Norwood are reliable contributors who can get hits for the team. They have a strong core with multiple guys capable of getting hits, but scoring needs to improve if they want to make up for the questionable pitching that’s troubled this start to the season.

Pitching has been somewhat more challenging, as the Tigers seem to give up runs in every game and even allow some teams to walk all over them. Oak Ridge managed to score 15 runs against this team, so they need to improve overall if they want a better chance in the long run. Pitchers Collan Bowley and the mentioned Owen Raymer have led the last couple of starts but surrendered multiple runs each time. This makes pitching a weakness for the Conroe team, and they must improve to keep pace with the rest of the league.

Overall, the Conroe Tigers aren’t a bad team. They still have a shot at a playoff spot if they get hot, but they need to improve in some areas to get there. Pitching is a major weakness, but if that improves during the season, they could make a push for the postseason again. As we mentioned before, they’ve played fewer district games than their rivals, so it’s hard to say exactly what they will look like moving forward, but they are currently somewhere in the middle.

College Park, Caney Creek, New Caney, And Cleveland: Just Looking For Any Win

At the bottom of the district, four teams sit, with three being repeat offenders and one more surprising. The usual suspects, Caney Creek, New Caney, and Cleveland, are all here, with standings that seem to just mirror what they had in football and basketball.

Caney Creek has struggled this season, managing only one district win and holding a poor 4-12-2 record. They’ve been heavily outplayed in several games, with their pitching often targeted, and their hitting just can’t keep pace with the top pitchers in the district. However, the Panthers have faced tough opponents like The Woodlands and Willis in district play, two of the best programs in the area. A win over Cleveland could get them back in the winners' circle, but it's uncertain how long that will last.

New Caney remains a bit of a surprise, but considering their past, it's sad to see them once again near the bottom. They started strong, winning many games during tournaments and entering district play with an 11-2 overall record. However, things quickly fell apart, as the Eagles have failed to win a district game since, now sitting at 0-5 in district and 11-7-1 overall. They are capable of winning, so it’s strange to see them struggle this much in district, but if they can regain that early magic, maybe they can improve their standing by the end of the season. This is their last year in District 13 6A, as they will move down to 5A next season, so we hope they can turn things around and finish strong on their 6A farewell.

Cleveland is still unfortunately winless in district play, with a disappointing 0-7 record after 7 district games. They have been run-ruled in nearly every district game they’ve played and didn’t find much success in tournament play either, once again placing them near the bottom. It’s always sad to write about Cleveland as they often seem to be in this position, but this program just doesn’t seem to keep pace with others in this district across any sport. Hopefully, they can secure a few wins against some of the other lower-ranked teams, but once again, prospects look grim for Cleveland this season.

The real surprise this season has been the Cavaliers' disastrous start. The College Park Cavaliers struggled in tournament play and have only won one district game so far, barely edging out Conroe in their district opener. They can’t seem to hit consistently, going scoreless in several games, and their pitching has been terrible, giving up multiple games with 10 or more runs early in the season. They now hold a 5-13-2 record, with a disappointing 1-6 district record, placing them with schools they usually don't compete with in other sports. It’s an unfortunate downturn for the Cavaliers, who were a playoff team last season, but it all seems to be falling apart this season. They will need serious improvement if they want to save what's left of the season.

Final Thoughts

This baseball season has gotten off to a great start, with several teams all battling it out at the top and some great games being played around the district. Here are the district standings in order:

1^st Oak Ridge: 7-0

2^nd Grand Oaks: 6-1

3^rd The Woodlands: 5-1

4^th Willis: 5-2

5^th Conroe: 3-2

6^th Caney Creek: 1-4

7^th College Park: 1-6

8^th New Caney: 0-5

9^th Cleveland: 0-7

With April approaching, which teams will compete for the district title? Oak Ridge is strong but hasn’t faced a true contender yet, making it hard to tell if they're the real deal. The race might come down to the wire between Grand Oaks and The Woodlands, as their series was split earlier in the season, and one poor loss could cause either team to fall behind. The rest of the season looks to be exciting, and spring will only get more intense as district play continues into April.