2023 Texas (UIL) high school baseball playoffs: 5 regional semifinal matchups you should not have missed
After three exciting weeks of fiercely competitive postseason action during the bi-district, area and regional quarterfinal rounds kicked off the 2023 UIL baseball playoffs, hundreds of Texas high school baseball squads have seen their seasons end.
The Lone Star State’s top teams, though, have separated themselves from the pack to earn regional semifinal berths and emerge as state title frontrunners heading into the ‘Sweet 16’ round of the Texas high school baseball playoffs.
The best Class 6A-1A squads throughout Texas will collided around the state in the regional semifinals (May 24-27), as teams look to move one step closer toward punching their tickets to the 2023 UIL Baseball State Tournament with spots in regional championship series on the line.
Here are five series across classifications you shouldn't have missed in Round 4:
Editor’s Note: Click on individual matchups to access SBLive's 'Pick 'Em' feature and vote for the teams that you think will win their fourth-round matchups in the 2023 Texas High School baseball playoffs.
Head coaches of UIL playoff teams playing against each other may choose to compete in a one-game playoff or a best-of-three series to determine the winner during the regional semifinals round of the UIL baseball playoffs.
CLASS 6A, REGION II:
Cypress Woods def. Rockwall Heath 2-1
R10 Rockwall-Heath Hawks (33-8-1) vs. W16 Cypress Woods Wildcats (34-3)
- Game 1: Rockwall Heath 9, Cypress Woods 1
- Game 2: Cypress Woods 7, Rockwall Heath 0
- Game 3: Cypress Woods 8, Rockwall Heath 4
Cypress Woods won back-to-back elimination games after dropping Game 1 to earn its first regional final berth in program history. The Wildcats rode a four-run eighth inning to a Game 3 win, highlighted by a Tristan Russell two-run triple.
Regional final matchup: Cypress Woods vs. The Woodlands
CLASS 6A, REGION IV:
San Antonio Johnson def. Pharr-San Juan-Alamo 2-1
W28 San Antonio Johnson Jaguars (31-4-2) vs. W31 Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Bears (27-8)
- Game 1: Pharr San Juan Alamo 5, San Antonio Johnson 4
- Game 2: San Antonio Johnson 4, Pharr San Juan Alamo 2
- Game 3: San Antonio Johnson 8, Pharr San Juan Alamo 5
San Antonio Johnson needed to win consecutive elimination games on Friday and the Jaguars rallied, evening the series in Game 2 and winning Game 3 in a dramatic comeback effort. Johnson right-handed junior pitcher Tyler Walton threw a three-hit gem in Game 2 and the Jaguars scored five runs in the fifth to come from behind and win Game 3.
Regional final matchup: San Antonio Johnson vs. Austin Westlake, regional finals
CLASS 5A, REGION I:
Lubbock Cooper def. Grapevine 2-1
W4 Lubbock Cooper Pirates (25-16) vs. W7 Grapevine Mustangs (32-5-2)
- Game 1: Grapevine 6, Lubbock Cooper 2
- Game 2: Lubbock Cooper 8, Grapevine 2
- Game 3: Lubbock Cooper 4, Grapevine 1
Down goes No. 1 Grapevine. The Pirates got strong complete game pitching outings from Jacob Qualia (5 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) and Tanner Spruiell (3 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K). Spruiell turned a strikeout from an 3-0 count to close out the sixth inning and dealt two more in the seventh to finish the game three up, three down and send the Pirates to the regional finals.
Regional final matchup: Lubbock Cooper vs. Argyle
CLASS 5A, REGION IV:
Boerne Champion def. Corpus Christi Ray 2-1
T26 Boerne Champion Chargers (29-9-1) vs. R29 Corpus Christi Ray Texans (34-7)
- Game 1: Corpus Christi Ray 8, Boerne Champion 2
- Game 2: Boerne Champion 3, Corpus Christi Ray 2
- Game 3: Boerne Champion 6, Corpus Christi Ray 2
A two RBI line drive single by senior Nic Cortez to left field gave Boerne Champion a four-run lead in the fourth inning and left-handed pitcher Jacob Schwope dealt two strikeouts in two closeout relief innings to win Game 3 and send the Chargers to the regional finals.
Boerne-Champion went evened the series in Game 2. A ground ball double to left field by junior Cameron Logan gave Boerne Champion a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning and Smith didn't allow an earned run in a complete game start.
Regional final matchup: Boerne-Champion vs. Rouse
CLASS 4A, REGION III:
China Spring def. Carthage 2-1
R17 Carthage Bulldogs (29-7) vs. W23 China Spring Cougars (30-3-1)
- Game 1: Carthage 4, China Spring 2
- Game 2: China Spring 7, Carthage 6
- Game 3: China Spring 6, Carthage 3
Murray State commit Jaydon Honey hit a walk-off double to right field, scoring Garrett and Daniel to complete a furious five-run Game 2 China Spring comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning to avoid elimination and force a Game 3. A six-run second-inning scoring flurry and a three shut-down no-hit relief innings from Hughes fueled China Spring a series win in Game 3.
The magical run continues for the winningest team in program history (33 wins). It's the third straight year China Spring eliminated Carthage from the 4A playoffs.
Regional final matchup: China Spring vs. Taylor
