Here’s a quick look at the Houston area 5A baseball picture as we head to the final weekend of the regular season, along with some fearless predictions of the first-round matchups.

In Region II, one spot remains up-for-grabs in District 13-5A going into the weekend.  The fourth seed will go to the winner of the Friday night game between Spring and Klein Oak.  Despite losing their last two, Klein is the district champ. Tomball is currently the second seed and Klein Collins is third.  Those two teams play each other on Friday and a Klein Collins win would create a tie-breaker scenario for second place.

In District 14-5A, the four playoff teams are set: College Park, The Woodlands, Lufkin and Oak Ridge.  Where those four teams end up seeded remains in question, though.  Going into the weekend, with two district games remaining for each team, College Park and The Woodlands are tied for the top spot at 10-3. College Park plays two against Conroe while The Woodlands finishes with a pair against New Caney.  Both teams could (and should) win out, giving them 12-3 district records.  College Park won the district head-to-head series against the Highlanders, 2-1, and would earn the top seed should the two school finish that way.  Lufkin currently holds a one-game lead for third over Oak Ridge, but those two square off for two games against each other this weekend.  An Oak Ridge sweep would move them to the third-place spot. 

The Cypress Creek Cougars have made a late-season run, winning four in a row, to position themselves for the fourth-place spot in District 15-5A. But they will have to win at Cypress Woods on Friday to keep their playoff hopes alive.   The Cougars are currently tied for fourth with Cypress Ridge, both 9-7.  Cypress Ridge finishes with district co-leader Cy-Fair.  A win for either Ridge or Creek, combined with a loss by the other, results in the final playoff spot.  If both teams should win or lose, the two would meet Saturday afternoon for a play-in game to determine the fourth seed.  Cypress Falls, Cy-Fair and Cypress Woods are in.

The Cy-Fair ISD teams will likely face this foursome from District 16-5A: Georgetown (clinched district championship), Stony Point (tied for second with one game to go), Leander (tied for second with one game to go), and Cedar Park (one game up on Westwood with one to go).

In Region III, the rarest of occurrences is about to happen.  The Katy Tigers streak of playoff seasons will come to an end this weekend.  The Tigers sit one game behind Mayde Creek, who holds the fourth seed in District 17-5A, but Katy went -0-3 head-to-head against Mayde Creek, so there’s no scenario that would put them into the Region III bracket.  Katy Taylor, Seven Lakes and Morton Ranch (in order of finish) will join Mayde Creek as the 17-5A representatives.

Barring a couple of minor miracles (Northbrook defeating Hastings, Spring Woods defeating Memorial), the District 18-5A teams are set.  Memorial, with a win over Spring Woods wins the district—and their twelfth consecutive game.  Stratford would be the second seed, Strake Jesuit the third seed and Hastings would edge out Spring Woods for the fourth spot.

Humble ISD is well-represented in District 19-5A this year.  Kingwood, Atascocita and Humble will all make the playoffs.  The lone Aldine ISD team will be No. 4 seed Eisenhower.

As usual—and in order—Bellaire, Lamar, Westside and Milby will be the District 20-5A representatives.

In District 21-5A, Channelview, who were the 2009 district champs, needs a win on Friday night against Baytown Sterling coupled with a two-game sweep of West Brook by North Shore to claim the fourth seed.  Baytown Lee and Sterling are already in, along with North Shore.  One win over the Mustangs by West Brook makes them the fourth seed—and a sweep would make them the third seed and North Shore the fourth-place team.

The top three seeds are set in District 22-5A.  Pearland, La Porte and South Houston (in order of finish) will spend Friday evening tuning up for the bidistrict round.  South Houston will be making its first baseball playoff appearance since 1987.  Deer Park and Dobie will vie for the final berth.  Deer Park hosts Pasadena Memorial and Dobie hosts Pearland.  A win by either team coupled with a loss by the other secures the final spot.  If both teams win or lose, a Saturday night play-in game between Deer Park and Dobie would determine the fourth seed.

As usual, District 23-5A is a jumbled mess coming down to the wire.  However, three teams—Clements, Austin and Kempner—have sown up playoff berths.  Dulles and Travis appear to be headed for a play-in game on Saturday to determine the fourth seed.  Both teams are 10-6 heading into Friday night’s final regular season games.  Dulles plays Willowridge; Travis plays Bush.  Both should be wins for Dulles and Travis.  Should one lose, however, the other would be the final playoff team.  Elkins would have a slim hope if they win against Hightower and both Dulles and Travis lose, but that scenario seems unlikely at best.

In District 24-5A, Brazoswood needs wins over Clear Lake and Ball this weekend to wrap up the district championship.  Clear Creek is one game behind in second place and Alvin is securely in the third spot.  Clear Lake has a one-game lead over Clear Brook for the fourth seed.  If Clear Lake wins both its games this weekend (Brazoswood, Clear Creek), it wraps up the spot.  But the Falcons finish against the top two teams in the league, which gives Clear Brook hope.  Should Lake split their two games, Brook forces a fourth-place tie with wins over Clear Springs and Alvin.  Should Lake lose both games, Brook needs a split to force the tie.  Brook would be in with a pair of wins combined with two Lake losses.

PROJECTED FIRST-ROUND PAIRINGS

REGION II

Klein vs. Oak Ridge

Tomball vs. Lufkin

Klein Collins vs. The Woodlands

Klein Oak vs. College Park

Cy-Fair vs. Cedar Park

Cypress Falls vs. Leander

Cypress Woods vs. Stony Point

Cypress Creek vs. Georgetown

REGION III

Katy Taylor vs. Hastings

Seven Lakes vs. Strake Jesuit

Morton Ranch vs. Stratford

Mayde Creek vs. Memorial

Kingwood vs. Milby

Atascocita vs. Westside

Humble vs. Lamar

Eisenhower vs. Bellaire

Baytown Lee vs. Deer Park

Baytown Sterling vs. South Houston

North Shore vs. La Porte

Channelview vs. Pearland

Clements vs. Clear Brook

Fort Bend Austin vs. Alvin

Kempner vs. Clear Creek

Dulles vs. Brazoswood