2022 Area Round Preview

May 11, 2022
PBR TX Scouting Staff

TEXAS - Playoffs are in full swing in Texas and after an eventful Bi-District round, we move into Area. With 64 teams left in each class, the competition is getting fiercer, the crowds are getting bigger and the stakes are getting higher. There are plenty of competitive matchups throughout the state in the 2022 Area round, and today our scouting staff takes a look at their most anticipated matchups for this year's round of 64.

6A Series to Watch

EP Americas vs. Southlake Carroll

After each team played a 1 game series in the opening round, they will do it again. One of Carroll’s strengths is their pitching depth, but their top arms are also usually the best on the field. Americas threw a shutout in the first round, and they are going to need the same type of effort this week.

Cy Ranch vs. The Woodlands

For the 1st time, two of the top programs in the Houston area will face off in the playoffs. The Woodlands’ strength this season has been their starting pitching, ‘23 Baylor commit Brayden Sharp and ‘23 Houston Baptist commit Ethan Coronel, with Sharp also being the leadoff hitter. Cy Ranch is a balanced team on the bump and at the plate. ‘22 RHP/1B Charlie Feris leads the team on the bump and hits cleanup behind ‘23 Rice commit SS Tobias Motley, ‘22 Rice commit OF Christian Salazar, and ‘22 Houston Baptist commit 1B/OF Joshua Ibe.

Tomball Memorial vs. Grand Oaks

A rematch from last year’s 2nd round matchup that went 3 games with Grand Oaks coming back to win after dropping Game 1. Tomball Memorial is led on the mound by ‘22 Texas State commit Brian Panneton, who went CGSO in Game 1 vs Grand Oaks and has routinely been going deep into games. Grand Oaks also brings experience on the mound with ‘23 Texas commit RHP Hudson Hamilton, who won the series clincher last year.

Rockwall Heath vs. Mansfield Lake Ridge

While most people are going to pick Rockwall Heath this week, don’t sleep on Lake Ridge. They are a very talented team that have the ingredients needed to make a run. They have a stable of hard throwers to run out on the mound, they are really talented up the middle of the field, and the 1st 6 in the lineup really pack a punch. With all that being said, they have to take down the defending state champs who are led by the #9 player in the country, Jett Williams. They also have a deep pitching staff that has been there before.

Summer Creek vs. Clear Falls

Clear Falls will be looking to keep the momentum going from their win over Alvin in the 1st round. Falls battles every AB led by ‘22 Alvin CC commit SS Tristan Zarella and ‘22 Galveston College commit C Evan Aslaksen. On the bump, ‘23 RHP Alec Beversdorf and ‘22 Richland College commit LHP Will Hughes lead the pitching staff. Summer Creek won their district for the 1st time in school history this year led by ‘22 Texas commit SS Jayden Duplantier, ‘22 Prairie View A&M commit 2B/RHP Ahmar Donatto, and ‘22 Cisco College commits Diego Arcay and Erick Arcay.

Smithson Valley vs. Westlake

Westlake is riding the momentum of a pretty incredible comeback against Vista Ridge. After dropping game one and down 9-1 in the 6th inning of game two, the Chaps made an unreal comeback to take game two 12-10, and game three 13-2. Westlake will have its work cut out for them with a battle tested and talented Smithson Valley roster. Smithson is also coming off a three game series where they gave up a total of 6 runs, 5 of those came in their game 2 loss. Look for this to be another early postseason battle with one really good team heading home.

Lake Travis vs. SA Johnson

This will be a battle of two fundamentally sound, well coached teams. Lake Travis and Johnson will roll out quality players up and down the lineup across all four classes. OJ Gonzalez and Ethan Calder should be heading into the weekend matchup with plenty of confidence following their round one performances against an athletic Vandergrift lineup. San Antonio Johnson is no slouch either as a 3 seed and will also roll out a couple really talented arms and a scrappy lineup that can score runs in multiple ways. With the offenses up against some of central Texas’ best arms, they will surely have their work cut out for them but both are battle tested and ready for anything at this point.

5A Series to watch

Forney vs. Nacogdoches

Two teams that have had great years meet up in the 2nd round. The teams had very different 1st round series. Forney dominated and won in 2 games pretty easily, and Nac had 3 very close games that ended with them winning on Monday. It’s a quick turn around for them, but maybe they ride the momentum into this series. There is a good individual matchup between 2024 RHP Aiden Sims for Forney against 2022 1B Will Furniss (Ole Miss) for Nac.

Hallsville vs. Cleburne

Two HS programs that have a long history of deep playoff runs meet up in the Area Round. Hallsville had to battle and win in 3 games in round 1. They are led by two TCU commits, Landon Bowden and Sawyer Dunagan. Cleburne also had to win in 3 pretty close games against some good pitching. They are led by Dodge City CC. signee Cooper Schneider.

Lufkin vs. North Forney

Both schools won their 1st Rd. matchups without much stress. They meet for a 3 game series starting on Thursday. Both teams have had a great year with neither losing more than 5 games so far. Both teams have the ability to put up a lot of runs, whichever team limits the big inning will come out on top.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE	STATE	DATE	LOCATION
DFW Open Showcase	TX	05/31	Cowboy Field (Coppell ISD Complex)
Houston Open Showcase	TX	06/07	University of Houston - Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park
Top Prospect Games: DFW (Invite-Only)	TX	06/21	Texas Christian University
Central Texas Open Showcase	TX	06/28	St. Edward's University
Top Prospect Showcase: Houston (Invite-Only)	TX	07/12	University of Houston