With just three and a half months before football season begins, it's time to start researching those teams that will make you look smart, the ones that pop up out of seemingly nowhere and compete for a playoff spot or a district title.

Here are three teams that went under .500 last year that could see vast improvements next season.

Flower Mound

Last year, Brian Basil inherited a program coming off two consecutive 1-9 seasons and five straight under .500. In Basil's first year, the team went 4-6. As the team gets more comfortable in Basil's second year, some key pieces return.

Linebacker Connor Lee, the District 5-6A MVP and a second-team all-area selection, returns, as does safety Matt Greenwood on defense. Quarterback Jackson Averitt will lead the offense after throwing for more than 2,000 yards and scoring a combined 26 touchdowns last season. If Flower Mound can find replacements for its top rusher and top three receivers, it could nab a playoff spot.

Grand Prairie

If Grand Prairie played in a district other than 7-6A it'd probably be a guaranteed playoff team. Instead, it faces an uphill battle with Cedar Hill, DeSoto, Duncanville and South Grand Prairie all fighting for the same playoff spots.

But next season, Grand Prairie may have the most-high end talent it's had in a while. Both safety Reggie Williams and offensive lineman Demarcus Marshall have multiple scholarship offers from Power 5 schools.

Rising junior Qualan Jones should play a major factor in the offense after being named the district's co-sophomore offensive MVP last year.

Skyline

Last season's 5-6 record was a disappointment for the Dallas power, but it was a necessary learning experience for a young team. The good news for Skyline coach Derick Roberson is most of that young team is back, including dynamic dual-threat quarterback Velton Gardner.

Gardner, the rising junior who already has FBS scholarship offers, should take over the reins full-time after being part of a rotation last year.

Defensively, linebacker Garrion Fuller leads a defense that should have Skyline competing for the District 9-6A championship.

On national signing day in February, DeSoto and Cedar Hill tied for the most signees in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with 28 apiece. Looking at the Class of 2018, those same two teams lead the way in recruiting.

DeSoto, last year's Class 6A Division II state champion, and Cedar Hill are the only D-FW schools that have four players ranked among the top 200 recruits in the state by 247Sports.com. Allen, Hebron and Sachse are the only other schools with three state-ranked recruits in the top 190.

Here is a look at each of those five schools' state-ranked recruits in the Class of 2018, with where they are ranked by 247Sports.com.

DeSoto (4)

No. 43, athlete Byron Hanspard Jr. (committed to Arkansas); No. 47, defensive back Gemon Green (committed to Michigan); No. 55, running back Kelan Walker (committed to Houston); No. 131, defensive back German Green (committed to Michigan)

Cedar Hill (4)

No. 41, wide receiver Josh Fleeks (committed to Baylor); No. 71, defensive lineman Shabazz Dotson; No. 111, defensive back Jamarceon Jackson; No. 196, offensive lineman Parker Cupp

Sachse (3)

No. 34, quarterback Jalen Mayden; No. 46, wide receiver Drue Jackson; No. 187, offensive lineman Calvin Barkat

Hebron (3)

No. 40, defensive back Verone McKinley III; No. 120, quarterback Clayton Tune (committed to Kansas); No. 166, offensive lineman Braeden Daniels

Allen (3)

No. 62, offensive lineman Trey Stratford; No. 133, running back Brock Sturges; No. 140, wide receiver Carson Schleker

The area's top recruit in the Class of 2018, according to 247Sports.com, is South Grand Prairie defensive back Atanza Vongor, who is committed to TCU. Vongor is ranked No. 14 in the state, two spots ahead of Justin Northwest offensive lineman Darrell Simpson.

Here is the list of state-ranked recruits from 247Sports.com.

WAXAHACHIE -- When Jalen Reagor soars through the air in the long jump Friday morning, he'll be reaching for more than a UIL state title. The Waxahachie senior will be pushing himself, stretching his body, doing everything he can to beat a legend.

"I'm gonna get him," Reagor said with a smile. "That's my goal."

Reagor is talking about Marquise Goodwin, the three-time UIL long jump champion who won a total of 12 medals in three state meets and helped Rowlett win team titles in 2008 and 2009. Goodwin holds the UIL meet record in the long jump at 26 feet, 1 1/2 inches, as well as the national high school record of 26-10.

Reagor landed a jump of 26-0 at the area meet, which is the nation's best high school mark this year. And the senior, who like Goodwin is also a standout football player, knows he can do better than that.

So Goodwin, he's coming after you -- but respectfully.

"Just being that close to an athlete like Marquise Goodwin," Reagor said, "that's a blessing."

It's also surprising, considering the short time that Reagor has dedicated himself to the event. He's dabbled in the long jump since he was a freshman but didn't make it past the area meet as a sophomore and stopped jumping early in the 2016 track season because of a back injury. Football has been Reagor's main focus, and the 5-11, 185-pound TCU signee is one of the nation's top receiver recruits.

But the long jump has come easily to Reagor, the son of former NFL defensive lineman Montae Reagor. Having a potent combo of talent and desire is a big reason.

"He's probably one of the hardest workers I've been around," said Waxahachie track coach Andre Granger, "and with his dad playing in the NFL as long as he did, he's learned how to be a professional as far as eating right and taking care of his body."

Montae Reagor, who played nine seasons in the NFL, has also taught his son about how to handle himself outside of sports. He's a big believer in paying it forward and joked that his son had no choice but to agree with him.

"I teach Jalen more about impacting than impressing," he said. "Leave an impact so when you're not around, people can remember the things you did."

That's why Reagor was at an elementary school again this week, visiting with students. He did it in the fall with the football team, and now he often goes alone, answering questions from the kids he knows see him as a role model.

"They all have so many questions," Reagor said. "What's your favorite sport? What do you like to do?"

Another common one:

Why are your muscles so big?

That's a sign of the hard work of Reagor, whose first love was basketball. By freshman year, he knew football would be the sport that took him furthest, and he now hopes to follow the path of Goodwin, who has played four years in the NFL.

But Goodwin also competed in the 2012 Olympics, and Reagor's quick rise in the long jump has added track and field dreams to his long-held NFL goal. It's a lot to think about, and to be excited about, but Reagor is trying to take it step by step and let everything fall into place.

One thing almost fell out of place in the region meet, when Reagor's mark of 22-10 was below his standards. He jumped tight instead of relaxed, took off a foot or more before the board, and almost didn't qualify for the state meet.

Reagor now sees it as a blessing, kind of like when an undefeated team loses before the playoffs.

"I feel like that was a sign," Reagor said. "My coach and I kind of took it for granted that I was just going to go in and jump big, and that humbled me. Now I get to go down there and show what I've been working on."

Twitter: @mattwixon

AUSTIN -- The Dallas Christian softball team has had its sights set on revenge since last May.

On Thursday, it came up one win shy of attaining that vengeance.

The Chargers fell to Fort Bend Christian Academy 6-2 in the TAPPS Division II state championship on an overcast day at Concordia University. Fort Bend Christian defeated Dallas Christian 6-1 in last year's title game.

The Eagles' triumph snapped the Chargers' 24-game winning streak and left Dallas Christian wearing silver medals for the second consecutive season.

"We knew it was going to be tough," said Fort Bend Christian coach KellyCarroll. "We knew Dallas Christian was going to be eyeing this game all year long. It feels good to come out with a victory, but hats off to them for putting it all on the line today."

Just like last year, Fort Bend Christian starter Tessa Cantrell was the winning pitcher in the Eagles' biggest game of the season. The junior worked her way out of numerous jams and struck out seven in a complete-game four-hitter, just one day after tossing a no-hitter in a 9-0 win over Holy Cross in the semifinals.

Carroll praised Cantrell for "really stepping up and focusing on getting better this year."

"You can really see the difference from last season to this season," she said. "Mentally, she carries us. The kids know that when she's on, we have a great chance to win. That's what panned out today."

It's a tough ending to a fine season for Dallas Christian (34-8), who hadn't lost since March 4, when it fell to Corsicana 3-1. The Chargers entered the championship game outscoring their opponents 340-78.

But Dallas Christian was vexed by a rowdy Fort Bend Christian squad that donned pink cowboys hats and purple jester caps in the dugout.

Said Carroll: "We adopted that from LSU as a way to keep everyone excited and involved."

Dallas Christian had its chances. After falling behind 2-0, the Chargers scored two in the bottom of the third -- one on a triple by Tori Jones, another on an error -- to tie it. They put two runners on base in the fourth and fifth innings, but failed to capitalize.

Fort Bend Christian's Emily Fergusondoubled home two runs in the fifth to make it 4-2. The Eagleswent up 5-2 on a double by Clarie Mckissick later in the inning.

Each team sent four players to the all-tournament squad. For Dallas Christian, it was Emily Garrett, Anna Borgen, Mirela Tornatore, and Victoria Jones. Fort Bend Christian was represented by Cantrell, Ferguson, Kati Ray Brown, and Danielle Sonnier.

ROCKWALL -- On the first day of practice every year, Rockwall-Heath baseball coach Greg Harvey gathers his team around him, then points to the top of the team's scoreboard in left field.

It reads: "2012 4A State Champions."

"He just says that's the expectation," senior pitcher Chandler Mauldin said.

Across I-30, Rockwall has the same belief. As does Rowlett, which sits less than six miles west.

The three schools have long been baseball powers. No more so than this year. For the third time ever, all three finished the regular season in SportsDayHS' area rankings but this is the first year they've all done so while in the same classification.

Rockwall-Heath and Rockwall needed a tiebreaker game to determine the District 11-6A champion. The two finished ranked No. 1 and No. 3 in the Class 6A area rankings. Rowlett has made the playoffs for 18 straight seasons. This year it went undefeated in District 10-6A and finished No. 10 in the area.

The eastern D-FW trio is the counter balance to an area of baseball talent that has mostly clusters to the west of Dallas in the likes of Southlake Carroll, Coppell, Keller, Flower Mound, Grapevine, Argyle and other places.

Over the past 10 years, Rockwall, Rockwall-Heath and Rowlett, separated by 11 square miles, have combined for 18 appearances in the final season area rankings.

Only one area that concentrated has had more success. Flower Mound, Flower Mound Marcus and Coppell -- separated by less than eight square miles -- have combined for 20 appearances.

"Typically baseball follows money," Rockwall coach Jeff Payne said. "It takes a lot of money to play year-round. We have the right kind of affluent area to have year-round baseball guys.

"Good players is a very boring answer but that's the main reason."

The median household income in both Rockwall and Rowlett is more than $80,000 according to U.S. census numbers, almost $30,000 more than the state's median. Heath's median household income is close to $150,000. That combined with a strong baseball tradition, long-established coaches -- all three heads have been in their positions for more than a decade -- and a good school system keeps the talent developing from inside and draws it from the outside.

Rockwall-Heath catcher/first base/outfielder Canaan Smith, an Arkansas signee, lived in Crandall until the sixth grade. Wanting to play baseball on a bigger stage, he and his family moved into Heath's attendance zone.

"I always knew I wanted to play baseball somewhere legit," Smith said. "We saw Heath, we saw Coach Harvey and all the guys before me and were like, 'Let's move to Heath.'"

Now Smith and his teammates are looking to live up to the lofty expectations set by the teams before them. They head into the area round against defending state champion Jesuit.

Meanwhile, Rockwall and Rowlett play each other in a three-game series beginning Thursday.

"We've played them in the playoffs a couple times before. We always have great crowds," Rowlett coach Paul Carmon said. "The communities really get into it. It's really a neat thing."

The winner of that series will move one step closer to breaking the program's ceiling. For all the success the three schools have had, Heath's 2012 title is the trio's only state championship. Rockwall reached the state tournament in 2005 but lost in the championship game.

At programs used to winning, the pressure only begins to mount around this time of year.

"The pressure is if we're going to win state or not," Smith said.

The powerhouses

Looking at the teams with the most appearances in the final area rankings over the past decade:

AUSTIN - Everything was on London time at the UIL state track and field championships Thursday at Myers Stadium.

McKinney North freshman London Culbreath set a meet record in winning the Class 5A 3,200-meter run in a time of 10 minutes, 13.68 seconds. The time not only beat the previous 5A record (10:23.92) set by Highland Park's Nathalie Rathjen in 2014, but the record (10:13.81) for all classes established by Humble Kingwood's Sandie Raines in 2013.

"I really wanted to improve my time," said Culbreath, whose previous best was 10:22.39 set two weeks ago at the Region II-5A championship. "I was trying to go out for the conference record, and then I thought, you know what, I might as well go for the state record as well."

Culbreath was on meet-record pace at the bell lap. By then, she held a commanding lead and the race's outcome was no longer in doubt.

"I was looking at the time, and I was right on it," Culbreath said. "I thought, 'Oh my gosh, I have to push it,' and I was sprinting down the last 200."

Culbreath won the race by nearly 30 seconds. Grapevine's Lauren Edwards finished second in 10:53.36, and Frisco Liberty's Carrie Fish was third in 10:54.97.

Culbreath said it was a challenge to keep pushing for the time.

"It's mental toughness," Culbreath said. "You have to keep going and can't really listen to your body telling you you can't do it."

Triple-double: Mansfield Lake Ridge teammates Jasmine Moore and Valencia Bullock finished 1-2 in the girls 5A triple jump.

Moore, a sophomore, won with a 5A meet-record leap of 43 feet, 43/4 inches she recorded on her final attempt. Bullock set three personal records before settling on a 40-61/2 for second place.

Moore successfully defended her title after she won last year with a mark of 42-13/4. She entered this year's meet with a personal-best 42-111/2.

"I wanted to get that 5A meet record," Moore said. "I knew I could do it. I've jumped past it before at regionals, and it was my last attempt. I wanted to give it my all, and that's what I did."

Moore scratched on her fifth attempt. After that, she focused on trying to get the record.

"I was making sure [the judge] would give the red flag," Moore said. "When I saw it was white, it was a relief to know that I got it."

Bullock, a senior headed to North Texas, hit the 40-foot mark twice. She enjoyed being on the awards podium with Moore.

"I'm really proud of Jasmine," Bullock said. "Just being with her on this whole journey in my high school career has been great."

Marked improvement: Lake Ridge had another gold medalist when junior Faith Ette won the girls 5A shot put with a 44-6 effort on her second attempt.

After earning a silver a year ago, Ette was happy to win.

"Last year on my last throw, I would have won, but I scratched and I was depressed," Ette said. "This year, I thought to myself, 'Don't get second. Don't get second.' Getting first is probably the greatest thing ever."

The only thing that could have made it better was improving on her personal record (44-11).

"I really wanted a personal-best, but first place is first place," Ette said.

Back-to-back: Grapevine senior Peyton Weissmann defended his boys 5A pole vault title with a best effort of 16-0.

He won last year's state title with a 16-6.

David Hinojosa is a staff writer for the San Antonio Express-News.

State power Forney scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to walk off with a 6-5 win over Frisco Lone Star on Thursday in the opener of a best-of-3 area-round playoff series in Class 5A Region II.

Ben Glendenning stole third and scored on a passed ball in the seventh, and Austin Thompson scored on a fielder's choice by Ty Bowring.

Lone Star (19-16), the No. 3 seed from District 13-5A, scored five runs in the top of the fifth to take a 5-2 lead. But District 15-5A champion Forney (25-6) scored twice in the sixth, with the help of Kendall Price's RBI double, to cut Lone Star's lead to 5-4.

Jonathan Childress struck out 15 in six innings for Forney but allowed five runs (two earned), four hits and three walks. Austin Ream pitched a scoreless seventh inning to get the win.

Rockwall-Heath 6, Jesuit 1: Cole Stilwell drove in three runs, and Josh Thurman went 2 for 4 with two RBIs as Rockwall-Heath beat defending 6A state champion Jesuit in Game 1 of their best-of-3 series in 6A Region II.

Kaden Krowka pitched a three-hitter and struck out five for Rockwall-Heath (30-7).

Rockwall-Heath was clinging to a 2-1 lead before scoring four runs in the top of the seventh. Stilwell hit a two-run single and Thurman followed with a two-run double.

Prosper 6, Highland Park 3: Prosper led 4-0 after two innings and never trailed in winning a one-game playoff in 5A Region II.

Prosper advanced to the regional quarterfinals and will play the winner of the Frisco Wakeland vs. Sulphur Springs series.

Arkansas signee Easton Murrel homered, Kyler Grimsley was 1 for 3 with two RBIs and Zach Wilson scored two runs.

Southlake Carroll 3, Waco Midway 2: Arkansas signee Kole Ramage pitched a five-hitter and struck out seven as District 5-6A champion Carroll opened its series with a win.

Carroll (25-10-1) broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the top of the fourth. Wichita State signee Ross Cadena was 2 for 3 with an RBI for Carroll, and and Ryne Ryskoski went 2 for 3 and scored a run.

Flower Mound Marcus 8, South Grand Prairie 0: Blake Mayfield threw a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts for Marcus in the series opener.

Ryan Hunt led a nine-hit attack for Marcus (23-11), going 1 for 2, scoring two runs and driving in three. Mitchell Dickson and Zach Jordan had two RBIs apiece.

Rockwall 9, Rowlett 3: Rockwall scored seven runs in the bottom of the first and cruised to a Game 1 victory.

Rockwall (30-5) got a home run from Beau Wimpee, who was 1 for 3 with two runs. Justin Childers drove in two, and Diego Muniz pitched six innings and allowed seven hits.

Colleyville Heritage 3, Wichita Falls Rider 0: Michael Stanford's three-hit shutout helped Colleyville Heritage win the series opener and improve to 32-3-1.

Bobby Witt hit a two-run triple that broke a scoreless tie in the top of the sixth. Witt scored the third run of the inning on a groundout.

Frisco Wakeland 6, Sulphur Springs 0: Wakeland's Luke Scaggs pitched six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out 11 in the series opener.

Wakeland (31-3-1) broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and put the game away with three runs in the sixth. Collin McDufee was 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI.

Mansfield Legacy 15, Hillcrest 2: Two home runs by Nate Rombach powered Legacy to the Game 1 win.

Rombach finished 2 for 2 with two runs and four RBIs, and Carter Steenbakkers went 3 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs. Legacy (24-8) scored 10 runs in the bottom of the fourth to turn a 5-2 lead into a 15-2 advantage.

Aledo 5, Richland 4: Aledo tied Game 1 with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, then won it on a walk-off RBI double by Calloway Shands in the bottom of the eighth.

With Aledo trailing 4-2 in the seventh and two outs from defeat, Jacob Arizpe hit an RBI double and Nathan Fingar tied it with an RBI single.

Allen game postponed: Inclement weather forced the finish of Game 1 between Allen and Killeen Harker Heights to be postponed until 6 p.m. Friday. Allen leads 2-0 and is batting in the bottom of the fifth.

Game 2 will follow after the completion of Game 1 at Corsicana. Dylan Ditzenberger has allowed one hit in five innings for Allen.

TAPPS SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES

(All games at Concordia University in Austin)

DIVISION I

Incarnate Word 21, SA Antonian 6 (5)

DIVISION II

Fort Bend Chr. 6, Dallas Christian 2

STATE SEMIFINALS

(All games at Concordia University in Austin)

DIVISION I

Fort Worth Nolan (25-6) vs. SA Antonian (21-10)

SA Antonian 9, FW Nolan 4

SA Incarnate Word (23-7) vs. Hou. St. Agnes (28-4)

SA Incarnate Word 3, Hou. St. Agnes 0

DIVISION II

Dallas Christian (30-5) vs. Fort Worth Christian

Dallas Christian 10, FW Christian 1

SA Holy Cross (20-11-1) vs. Fort Bend Chr. (22-8)

Fort Bend Chr. 9, SA Holy Cross 0

PAST RESULTS

DIVISION I

SECOND ROUND

FW Nolan 9, Beaumont Kelly 2

SA Incarnate Word 8, Bishop Lynch 3

DIVISION II

SECOND ROUND

Dallas Christian 9, Midland Christian 2

FW Christian 9, Bull. Brook Hill 2

DIVISION III

SECOND ROUND

RR Concordia 9, McKinney Christian 6

DIVISION IV

QUARTERFINALS

Sherman Texoma 11, FW Bethesda 5

Temple Central 18, First Baptist 2

TAPPS BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

SECOND ROUND

DIVISION I

TCA-Addison vs. Parish Episcopal

Parish Episcopal 2, TCA-Addison 1

Beaumont Kelly vs. Argyle Liberty Christian

Beaumont Kelly 9, Argyle Liberty 3

DIVISION II

Fort Worth Christian (36-4-1) vs. Bullard Brook Hill

7:00 Friday at Mesquite's Tillery Field

Dallas Christian vs. Grapevine Faith Christian

7:05 Saturday at Plano Prestonwood Christian

DIVISION III

Lubbock Christian vs. Colleyville Covenant Chr. (26-11)

6:00 Saturday at McMurry Univ.

FM Coram Deo vs. FW Lake Country (26-4)

FW Lake Country 3, FW Coram Deo 1

DIVISION IV

Lutheran 9, TC-Willow Park 8

Dallas Covenant (7-5) vs. Watauga Harvest (15-8-1)

Watauga Harvest 9, Dallas Covenant 0

DIVISION V

Olvilla Christian 11, WF Notre Dame 0

FIRST ROUND

DIVISION I

TCA-Addison, bye

Parish Episcopal at Browns. St. Joseph

1:00 Saturday

Bishop Lynch vs. SA Antonian

Gm. 1: San Antonio Antonian 10, Bishop Lynch 0

Gm. 2: San Antonio Antonian 14, Bishop Lynch 0

San Antonio Antonian wins series 2-0

John Paul II at Hou. St. Thomas

Gm. 1: Houston St. Thomas 17, John Paul II 2

Gm. 2: Houston St. Thomas 15, John Paul II 2

Houston St. Thomas wins series 2-0

FW Nolan 9, Beaumont Kelly 2

Argyle Liberty vs. vs SA Central

Gm. 1: SA Central 3, Argyle Liberty 2

Gm. 2: Argyle Liberty 4, SA Central 2

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 5:00 Monday at Argyle Liberty

Houston St. Pius X 4, Prestonwood 0

DIVISION II

Aus. St. Michael's at Fort Worth Christian

TBD

Bull. Brook Hill 6, Frisco Legacy 4

Dallas Chr. 14, Tyler Grace 3

Grape. Faith Chr. at Aus. Hyde Park

Grapevine Faith 1, Aus. Hyde Park 0

DIVISION III

Coll. Covenant Chr. vs. Shelton

Coll. Covenant 7, Shelton 3

Arl. Pantego vs. FM Coram Deo

Gm. 1: FM Coram Deo 5, Arlington Pantego 3

Gm. 2: FM Coram Deo 11, Arlington Pantego 5

FM Coram Deo wins series 2-0

Lubb. Trinity at FW Lake Country

FW Lake Country 12, Lubb. Trinity 2

DIVISION IV

Denton Calvary vs. Lutheran

TBD

Abilene Chr. vs Dallas Covenant

4:30 Thursday at First Baptist Sports Complex

Watauga Harvest 9, Lakehill 0

Plano West coach Mike Ledsome said Wednesday that he wanted to play a best-of-3 series instead of a one-game playoff in the Class 6A Region I quarterfinals.

But after losing a coin flip, Ledsome and his team had to settle for a one-game playoff against District 6-6A rival Wylie.

In the end, it didn't matter. Plano West, ranked No. 5 in the state, is still moving on.

Elisa Rosado and Sophia Mapes hit home runs to power Plano West to an 8-4 victory. Mapes finished 2 for 3 with two runs and three RBIs as Plano West (28-4) advanced to play the winner of the Keller Timber Creek vs. El Paso Coronado series that begins Friday.

George Washington signee Sierra Lange allowed 10 hits and three walks but struck out 11 for Plano West. She also went 1 for 3 and scored three runs.

Wylie (23-11), the No. 4 seed from 6-6A, scored twice in the top of the first, but Plano West tied it in the bottom of the inning on a two-out, two-run home run by Mapes.

Plano West took the lead for good with two runs in the third. Tatum Boyd made it 3-2 with an RBI double, and Rachel Thimmig scored on a wild pitch.

Northwest Eaton 7, Aledo 6: A two-out, walk-off RBI single by Annabelle Schraub in the bottom of the 10th gave first-year varsity program Northwest Eaton the dramatic victory in Game 1 of the Class 5A Region I quarterfinal series.

District 6-5A champion Eaton was one out from defeat when Kenzlee Zaher tied it 6-6 with a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. That came after 6-5A No. 4 seed Aledo scored twice in the top of the seventh to build a 6-3 lead.

Madelyn Wright pitched all 10 innings for Eaton, throwing 188 pitches according to the team's GameChanger account.

Mansfield Legacy 2, Burleson Centennial 1: Gabby Arguijo hit a walk-off solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to lift Legacy to the Game 1 victory. Sophie Hannabas pitched a five-hitter for Legacy (21-10).

Plano East 13, Waco Midway 7: Amy Jensen hit a grand slam, and Bella Konieczka went 4 for 4 and scored three runs as Plano East pulled away to win the series opener.

Midway scored four runs in the top of the first, but Plano East (23-10) tied it on Jensen's grand slam in the bottom of the inning. After Midway scored twice in the third to take a 6-4 lead, Plano East took its first lead with a three-run fourth that featured RBI singles by Konieczka and Avery Markley.

Midway tied it with a run in the top of the sixth, but Plano East erupted for six runs in the bottom of the inning. Plano East had only two hits -- both singles -- in that inning, but took advantage of two walks, three errors and a wild pitch.

Keller 2, Arlington Martin 1: Katie Dietrich hit an RBI single and then scored the winning run on an error in the bottom of the second as defending 6A state champion Keller escaped with a Game 1 win.

Dylann Kaderka scattered seven hits and struck out six. She worked around a leadoff double in the sixth, an inning that ended with Keller (28-4-1) turning a double play.

Forney 5, Prosper 2: Freshman Savanna DesRochers struck out 11 to help the state's top-ranked 5A team win Game 1. DesRochers, who is committed to Kansas, allowed just two hits.

Prosper (23-10), the No. 3 seed from District 14-5A, led 1-0 until Forney took a 2-1 lead on a two-run single by Jenny McElroy in the bottom of the third. Prosper tied it 2-2 in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Avery Colclaser before Forney took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the inning, with the last two scoring on an error.

Birdville 6, Saginaw 3: Maygan Paul went 2 for 3 with three RBIs as defending 5A state champion Birdville won its series opener.

Birdville (27-5-1) broke a 3-3 tie when Elena Garcia scored on a passed ball in the top of the fifth. Paul added an RBI single as part of a two-run sixth inning.

Oregon pledge Grace Green and Abilene Christian signee Calie Burris combined to pitch a four-hitter with seven strikeouts for Birdville.

UIL STATE TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

(At Mike A. Myers Stadium, Austin)

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

CLASS 5A

Boys

Individual results

TRIPLE JUMP -- 1. Jalen Seals, FW Boswell, 50-2 1/4; 2. Tylan Wallace, FW South Hills, 49-11 1/4; 3. Vonte Davis, Rosenberg Terry, 48-6 1/4.

SHOT PUT -- 1. Aiden Vennard, Waller, 59-7 3/4; 2. Earnest Brown, Denton Ryan, 58-1; 3. Chris Brinkley, Angleton, 56-9.

POLE VAULT -- 1. Peyton Weissmann, Grapevine, 16-0; 2. James Manders, Frisco Heritage, 15-6; 3. Tyler Stafford, Tomball, 15-0; 3. Cameron Johnson, Whitehouse, 15-0.

3200 -- 1. Butare Rugenerwa, Amarillo, 9:20.83; 2. Graydon Morris, Aledo, 9:21.02; 3. Aciel Castillo, CC Tuloso-Midway, 9:22.66.

Girls

Individual results

TRIPLE JUMP -- 1. Jasmine Moore, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 43-4 3/4; 2. Valencia Bullock, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 40-6 1/2; 3. Arielle Mack, EP Burges, 40-0 1/4.

SHOT PUT -- 1. Faith Ette, Mansfield Lake Ridge, 44-6 1/2; 2. Riley Cross, Tomball, 43-2 3/4; 3. Mya Lindsey, S. Ang. Lake View, 41-2 1/4.

POLE VAULT -- 1. Grace Ridgeway, Lovejoy, 12-3; 2. Ryleigh Redding, Victoria West, 12-0; 3. Allyn Tyer, Northwest Eaton, 12-0.

3200 -- 1. London Culbreath, McKinney North, 10:13.68; 2. Lauren Edwards, Grapevine, 10:53.36; 3. Carrie Fish, Frisco Liberty, 10:54.97.

AUSTIN - Running a strong pace but not a record-breaking one, Southlake Carroll senior Reed Brown decided to save energy for a kick in his quest to win back-to-back boys Class 6A state championships in the 3,200-meter run.

Brown led a pack of four halfway through Friday morning's race at Myers Stadium when he tapered his pace. He wasn't worried about anyone getting away from him.

After that, Flower Mound's Alex Maier, El Paso Eastwood's Daniel Bernal and Pflugerville Hendrickson's Daniel Viegra each had brief stints as race leaders until the final lap. That's when Brown took off, regained the lead and held off Maier to win in 8 minutes, 58.02 seconds.

"I knew most of the guys were going to base their race off me," said Brown, who is signed with Oregon. "Since they did that, I slowed my pace down at the mile to give me a little break and it paid off in the end and saved a little bit for that."

Brown won last year's 3,200 in 8:50.43, which established a meet record for all classes. Brown was about six seconds off that pace midway through and that's when he adjusted.

"Going into it, you want to go for a record, but when you are in the race, and you aren't feeling the best, you have to do what you can to win and I did the best I could have done -- slowed the pace down and not worry too much about time," Brown said.

Brown said he knew the runners in the top pack were strong finishers and he didn't want to get caught short.

"I didn't feel like I could have held that pace confidently the whole time, and I wanted to make sure I had enough for the end," Brown said.

Maier, a sophomore, finished second in 8:58.85 to claim his first state medal. He tried not to think about what Brown was doing.

"I try to be real independent with all my races," Maier said. "That's a thing you hear a lot, but in a competition like this, you really have to play off other runners and feel how they're feeling. That's an art, too, in racing."

One more race remains in Brown's high school career. He'll compete in the 1,600 run on Saturday night. Among those entered is New Braunfels Canyon's Texas-bound senior, Sam Worley, the event's reigning state champion. A year ago, Worley passed Brown in the final 100 meters to win in 4:04.59. Brown was second in 4:04.82.

"Every time I run with Sam, it's always super close and usually super fast," Brown said. "Usually when we meet, something good happens. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."

For two games on Saturday, half of the players on the field or more will be already signed or pledged to play for Division I universities.

It's not Cedar Hill vs. DeSoto football. It's Texas high school lacrosse.

The Texas High School Lacrosse League state tournament begins Saturday with Episcopal School of Dallas opening up Division I play against The Woodlands in one semifinal. Highland Park and Jesuit -- the defending state champion -- face off in the other.

Greenhill, Plano, Colleyville and Rockwall will all vie for the Division II title.

Together, it might be the most talented state tournament since the league held its first in 2001. The three Dallas-area Division I schools are on the forefront of Texas' transition into a lacrosse recruiting hotbed. A combined 23 players are slated to play for Division I college programs.

"It used to be a risk to take a Texas kid at the next level," Highland Park coach Derek Thomson said. "Now it's a risk not to. I'm very proud of that."

Thomson, in his 14th year of coaching at Highland Park, started the program with about 150 players across all levels, from youth to high school. It has grown to about 600 in part because Thomson has encouraged two- and three-sport players.

He's also seen participation in the area explode since going to Highland Park from St. Mark's in 2004.

"At that time, it was very much deemed a private-school dominated sport," Thomson said. "Now ... it's going the other way."

It's unclear how much participation has increased. The National Federation of State High School Associations doesn't keep track of lacrosse participation numbers in Texas.

But ESD coach Pat Kennedy has seen not only participation but the talent level rise in his six years at the school.

"We used to plan for maybe one top offensive player, maybe two," Kennedy said. "Now you've got to plan for five or six guys on each team now."

But college lacrosse coaches aren't flocking to Texas like they do for football -- the recruits are coming to them.

Highland Park captain Owen Seebold, a Syracuse signee, played on two select teams and one national team in the summer and fall. Those teams traveled to lacrosse hotbeds on the east coast to be seen by colleges. He said "100 percent" of his recruiting came from select ball.

But when the players return from their select teams and settle into the high school season, those one-on-one interactions between major recruits become a regular occurrence during the regular season and playoffs. Highland Park, Jesuit and ESD all played against each other earlier this season. Each game ended with a margin of just two goals. (ESD went 2-0, while Highland Park went 1-1 and Jesuit went 0-2.)

"It's just so much more intense," said John House, another Highland Park captain and two-sport star who will walk-on to Texas' football team. "You can't make a mental mistake. It's who executes better in that particular game because you know both sides, they're going to have the talent to get it done."

While that talent is finally getting recognized, it's been there a little longer than most realize. It took college coaches a few years to catch up.

"My 2009-2010 team was probably better than this team, but we only had two college kids commit," Thomson said. "This team has 10 because those guys paved the way for these guys."

That 2009-10 team? It won the state championship, beating Jesuit 19-4 in the semifinals. Don't expect a similar blowout this season.

Talent surge

A look at all the Dallas-area players competing in the Texas High School Lacrosse League's state tournaments who are committed to Division I universities:

Texas A&M pledge Mason Englert and Austin Ream combined for a one-hit shutout and 18 strikeouts Friday as Forney beat Frisco Lone Star 2-0 in nine innings to sweep their best-of-3 Class 5A Region II area-round playoff series.

They came within one out of a combined no-hitter. Lone Star's only hit was a two-out single to center by Ryan Bogusz in the bottom of the ninth.

Englert pitched 7 1/3 innings of no-hit baseball and struck out 13. But he had to settle for a no-decision as the game was scoreless through the regulation seven innings and on through the eighth.

Forney (26-6) finally broke through with two outs in the top of the ninth. Jonathan Childress hit an RBI single, and Logan Baker followed with an RBI double.

Rockwall-Heath 13, Jesuit 3: Josh Thurman went 2 for 3 with five RBIs to help Rockwall-Heath sweep defending 6A state champion Jesuit in a Region II area-round series.

Rockwall-Heath (31-7) was tied 3-3 before scoring four runs in the bottom of the second and four more in the third in the five-inning game. Jake Wade and Arkansas signee Canaan Smith each had three RBIs, and they combined to draw four walks and score five runs.

Rockwall 5, Rowlett 4: Rockwall broke a 2-2 tie with three runs in the top of the seventh, then held off a Rowlett rally in the bottom of the inning to sweep the 6A Region II series.

Tyler Riebock's sacrifice fly gave Rockwall (31-5) a 3-2 lead in the seventh, and Brooks Helmer added a two-run single in the inning. Texas A&M signee Will Frizzell came on in relief for Rockwall to get the final three outs, closing the game with back-to-back strikeouts.

Flower Mound Marcus 10, South Grand Prairie 0: Zach Jordan doubled twice and drove in four runs as Marcus swept South Grand Prairie in 6A Region I.

Michael Leaumont and Reed Osborn combined on a four-hit shutout for Marcus (24-11). Leaumont also went 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

Flower Mound 8, San Angelo Central 7: Flower Mound rallied from a 7-3 deficit to win Game 1, scoring four runs in the sixth and the winning run in the top of the seventh.

Dylan Antonelli drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the seventh to score the winning run for Flower Mound (26-9).

A two-out RBI single by Kyle Landers got Flower Mound within 7-6 in the sixth, and Lance Russell followed with an RBI double to tie it. Russell finished 3 for 3 with three RBIs.

Southlake Carroll 6, Waco Midway 1: Wyatt Stapp helped Carroll (26-10-1) to the sweep in 6A Region I, going 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Cutter Sippel scattered seven hits in throwing a complete game.

Waxahachie 10, Molina 3: Trevin Robinson homered and was 2 for 2 with five RBIs as Waxahachie completed an unusual two-game sweep of a 5A Region II area-round series.

Molina had to forfeit the first game of this series because every player had been ejected for being involved in what umpires ruled was a benches-clearing brawl with Samuell in their previous game in the first round.

Frisco Wakeland 10, Sulphur Springs 0: Wyatt Marr pitched a three-hit shutout with seven strikeouts, and Wakeland pounded out 12 hits to sweep its 5A Region II series. Wakeland (32-3-1) outscored Sulphur Springs 16-0 in the series.

Colleyville Heritage 6, Wichita Falls Rider 3: A six-run bottom of the third was all that Colleyville Heritage (33-3-1) needed to sweep the 5A Region I series. Texas A&M signee Alex Scherff pitched a complete game, allowing three runs and nine hits while striking out five.

Allen 4-0, Killeen Harker Heights 0-1: Allen finished off a 4-0 win in Game 1, which started Thursday but had to be completed Friday because of inclement weather.

Dylan Ditzenberger pitched all seven innings over the course of the two days, finishing with a four-hit shutout and six strikeouts. Allen was leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth when the game was stopped Thursday, and Joey Crisci hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning Friday.

Daniel Cole pitched a five-hit shutout as Harker Heights won 1-0 in Game 2 later Friday to tie the series. Jacob Mitchell's two-out RBI single in the fourth drove in the only run.

Game 3 is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Corsicana. Cole Maxwell pitched a three-hitter for Allen (23-11).

Keller Fossil Ridge 2-7, Midland 3-5: Dylan Neuse and Isaia Diermier each went 2 for 3 and scored two runs, and Andrew Perez and Max Engels were both 2 for 4 with two RBIs as Fossil Ridge won 7-5 in Game 3 to advance. Fossil Ridge (25-11) will play Weatherford or El Paso Montwood in the 6A Region I quarterfinals.

An RBI single by Carlos Tavera and Neuse's steal of home as part of a double steal gave Fossil Ridge a 5-1 lead in the top of the fifth. Midland scored twice in the bottom of the sixth, but a double play ended what could have been an even bigger inning.

RBI doubles by Diermier and Engels in the top of the seventh extended the Fossil Ridge lead to 7-3 before Midland rallied again. Midland scored twice in the bottom of the seventh and had the potential tying run at the plate before a groundout ended the game.

Fossil Ridge was one out from a sweep in Game 2 earlier Friday. Fossil Ridge had a 2-0 lead with two outs and a runner on first in the top of the seventh.

But a single and walk loaded the bases, and Tyler Klattenhoff's two-run single on a full count tied it. Jaxon Hallmark followed with an RBI single that gave Midland a 3-2 lead and proved to be the game-winner.

Wolfforth Frenship 2, Arlington Martin 0: Brock Erculiani's two-hit shutout and seven strikeouts led Frenship to the Game 1 victory. Maddux Miller threw a two-hitter and struck out nine for Martin (26-6-1).

Grapevine 4, Sherman 0: Connor Neuman's four-hit shutout and 10 strikeouts led defending 5A state champion Grapevine to the Game 1 win.

Frisco Centennial 3, Hallsville 0: Steven Pruett pitched a three-hit shutout, and Jaxon Himel had two doubles and two RBIs as Centennial won the series opener.

Mansfield Legacy 7, Hillcrest 3: Nathan Rooney doubled twice and finished 4 for 5 with four RBIs as Mansfield Legacy completed a two-game sweep after being one strike from losing Game 2 in the seventh.

Trailing 3-2 with two outs and nobody on in the top of the seventh, Legacy (25-8) got a single from David Vargas, a walk from Bryson Collins and a game-tying RBI single from Rooney to force extra innings. Rooney's hit came on a full count.

An RBI single by Grant Moore in the eighth gave Legacy a 4-3 lead. Rooney came up with two outs and the bases loaded and hit a three-run double to make it 7-3.

Coaches from The Colony and Frisco Wakeland both wanted a one-game playoff this week to prepare their teams for the pressure they could face if they reach the state tournament, where there is no best-of-3 series.

The Colony showed Friday night that it can handle the pressure of having its season on the line in a game that goes down to the wire.

Kansas pledge Madison Hirsch hit a walk-off RBI triple to score Oklahoma pledge Jayda Coleman with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to give The Colony a 4-3 victory over Frisco Wakeland in a one-game Class 5A Region II quarterfinal.

The Colony (27-6), ranked No. 8 in the state in 5A, extended its winning streak to 18 games and advanced to play the winner of the Mansfield Legacy vs. Burleson Centennial series. Wakeland (27-6) lost for just the third time in 25 games.

Iowa State pledge Karlie Charles pitched a four-hitter and struck out seven for The Colony, and Coleman was 2 for 4 and scored two runs. Nevada pledge Kendall Fritz allowed five hits and struck out 10 for Wakeland.

The Colony coach Deana Coleman coached against her oldest daughter, Ashlee Wilkerson, who is Wakeland's coach. Jayda Coleman, a freshman, is also Deana Coleman's daughter.

Deana Coleman was diagnosed with breast cancer in December and had surgery in February. Wakeland coaches wore pink Friday to support her battle with the disease.

Keller 8, Arlington Martin 2: Iowa State pledge Kasey Simpson went 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs as defending 6A state champion Keller completed a sweep of its 6A Region I quarterfinal series.

Utah signee Camryn Woodall was 3 for 4 and scored a run for Keller (29-4-1), and Katie Dietrich drove in two runs. Keller advanced to play Plano East.

Plano East 11, Waco Midway 5: Plano East scored eight runs over the first two innings en route to a sweep of the 6A Region I quarterfinal series.

Avery Markley was 3 for 5 with two runs for Plano East (24-10), Ronni Ramos scored three runs, and Amy Jensen had two hits, two runs and three RBIs.

Mansfield Lake Ridge 14, Midlothian 1: Emily Olguin was 3 for 4 with three runs and two RBIs, and Kate Tovar went 3 for 3 with two RBIs to lead Lake Ridge to a sweep of the 5A Region II quarterfinal series.

Lake Ridge, the No. 3 seed from District 10-5A, will next face Forney, the state's top-ranked team.

Midlothian had outscored Lake Ridge 26-14 in sweeping their two meetings in District 10-5A. But in this series, Lake Ridge outscored Midlothian 30-10.

Forney 14, Prosper 6: Kansas pledge Savanna DesRochers homered, had four RBIs and struck out 10 as the state's top-ranked 5A team swept its Region II quarterfinal series.

Jenny McElroy was 3 for 5, scored three runs and drove in two for Forney (33-3).

Forney scored six runs in the top of the first and led 7-0 after two innings. Prosper got within 6-5 after three innings and was within 8-6 before Forney scored seven runs in the top of the seventh.

Birdville 10, Saginaw 0: Oregon pledge Grace Green threw a one-hit shutout with nine strikeouts as defending 5A state champion Birdville swept its 5A Region I quarterfinal series.

Elena Garcia tripled twice and was 2 for 4 with three runs and four RBIs for Birdville (28-5-1). Green retired the first 11 hitters she faced before allowing a two-out double in the fourth.

El Paso Coronado 3, Keller Timber Creek 2: El Paso Coronado scored the winning run on a two-out passed ball in the bottom of the seventh to win Game 1.

Abigale Carney hit two solo home runs for Coronado, including one leading off the bottom of the sixth that tied the score 2-2. Casey Akers and Caitlyn Curlee had RBI singles in the top of the sixth that gave Timber Creek (30-7-1) a 2-1 lead.

Aledo 3, Northwest Eaton 1: Hannah Andrews pitched a four-hitter as Aledo tied the best-of-3 5a Region I quarterfinal series at one win apiece. Game 3 is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at Saginaw Chisholm Trail.

District 6-5A champion Eaton -- a first-year varsity program -- took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth and was six outs from sweeping the series. But Aledo scored three runs with two outs in the sixth, as two runs scored on an error and Andrews hit an RBI single.

AUSTIN -- After they won the first event of Friday's evening session at the UIL state meet, the members of McKinney North's 4x100 girls relay team came off the track smiling. But they still had a lot of work to do at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

"We've just got to stay focused," junior Jania Martin said, "and move on to the next one."

And the next one ... and the next one. McKinney North needed to do it over and over to defend its 5A team title against a Mansfield Lake Ridge team that, in almost any other season, would be hoisting the championship trophy.

McKinney North clinched its second straight team title with a second-place finish in the final event of the night, the 4x400, which gave it a whopping 98 points. Lake Ridge finished second with 78, which equaled or surpassed what 10 of last year's 12 UIL boys and girls team champs scored. It was a total that would've won Lake Ridge the title in the second-largest classification every year since 2007, which takes us back five years before the school even existed.

Lake Ridge was great Friday, piling up points in field events such as the shot put, which was won by Faith Ette, and the long jump, which Jasmine Moore won for the second straight year. Moore also repeated as triple jump champ on Thursday.

Lake Ridge stayed out front with second-place finishes in the 4x100 relay, the 200 (Kelly Rowe) and the 400 (Ariel Ford).

"We've really been working hard," Ford said, "but we never thought that this would be the year we'd win a state championship."

Lake Ridge is a young team, after all. Ette, Rowe and Ford are juniors while Moore is a sophomore. The team finished third last year and second this year, so its championship day might still be on the horizon.

For McKinney North, that championship day -- and night -- was Friday.

"Last year, honestly, we didn't know we were going to win. We just came out to run and ended up winning the whole thing," said senior Julia Madubuike. "This year is more serious."

McKinney North was seriously impressive, led by its 4x100 and 4x200 relays that broke 5A state records. Martin, who won the 400, and Madubuike were joined by Brooke Givens and Elon'a Jones for a 100 time of 45.09, and Danielle Nicholson took Martin's spot on the 200 team that finished in 1:36.15.

Freshman distance phenom London Culbreath, who won the 3,200 meters Thursday, won the 1,600 Friday to help McKinney North add to a hefty total that, in most years, would've eliminated any drama in the team standings before the final event.

But this was a top-heavy year in the 5A girls standings. Lake Ridge pushed McKinney North, and so did Lancaster, which finished third with a point total (66) that would've won the 5A title two years ago.

It was a night when Dallas-area girls teams were at the front of the pack. And McKinney North led them all.

"All of our hard work paid off today," Madubuike said. "We just had to come out and do our thing."

AUSTIN -- As DeSoto began piling up points for another state track title Saturday, sprinter Jada Laye was asked about the team's tradition. What makes DeSoto so formidable, year in and year out?

"Track is life," Laye said.

Life, once again, was good for the DeSoto girls track team. Powered by another strong performance in the relays, the Eagles defended their Class 6A title at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

DeSoto finished with 65 points, capped by a dominant performance in the final event of the night, the 4x400-meter relay. The Eagles earned 20 points for the win, putting them well in front of second-place Houston Lamar (46). Mesquite Horn (39) finished fourth, and Duncanville (36) was fifth.

DeSoto's 4x400 relay win both clinched the team title and smashed the event record. The Eagles' time of 3:37.85 bettered the previous record of 3:38.52, which had stood for 12 years.

"We really wanted that record," Jalese Moore said.

DeSoto got it, and it also added to its tradition as a team powerhouse. DeSoto has now won five titles in the last seven years, and it's well-positioned for the future with a team loaded with young stars. The 4x400 record-setter featured sophomore Rosaline Effiong, freshman Cierra Wash, sophomore Bryannia Murphy and Moore, who is a junior.

DeSoto's 4x200 champ included Murphy, Wash, junior Jada Laye and sophomore Taylor Armstrong. Not a senior in that bunch, either, and DeSoto's time of 1:34.87 was close to the record in that event, too.

"All the hard work paid off," Armstrong said. "It's hard to try to win it back to back."

DeSoto also finished on the medal stand in the 4x100, placing third. The performances in the relays, always so critical because relays are given double the scoring weight of individual events, provided 52 of DeSoto's points.

Effiong finished second in the 200, but that was the closest DeSoto got to an individual gold. The Eagles made up for it with nearly flawless performances in the relays. With the state title on the line with each handoff, DeSoto got around the track cleanly -- and very, very quickly.

When DeSoto motored to the 4x200 title midway through the evening track session, the Eagles' confidence grew. They knew they wouldn't need individual golds to make their night shine brightly.

After the crowning win in the 4x400, the DeSoto girls smiled, laughed and passed around another state championship plaque. There was a lot of excitement, a bit of relief, and as always, a big DeSoto crowd waiting to celebrate with the athletes.

"We do it for the love of track," Effiong said. "We just want to win because we practice so hard, and we want all our hard work to end up with something great."

Twitter: @mattwixon

UIL SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

(Only games for local teams are listed)

CLASS 6A

REGION I SEMIFINALS

Keller (29-4-1) vs. Plano East (24-10)

Gm. 1: 7:00 Thursday at Plano East

Gm. 2: 7:30 Friday at Keller

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 1:00 Saturday at Flower Mound

El Paso Coronado vs. Plano West (28-4)

TBD

CLASS 5A

REGION I SEMIFINALS

Birdville (28-5-1) vs. Canyon

Gm. 1: 7:30 Thursday at Hermleigh HS

Gm. 2: 6:00 Friday at Hermleigh HS

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 11 a.m. Saturday at Hermleigh HS

El Paso Chapin vs. Aledo

TBD

REGION II SEMIFINALS

Mansfield Lake Ridge (23-6) vs. Forney (33-3)

Gm. 1: 7:00 Wednesday at Waxahachie

Gm. 2: 6:00 Friday at Waxahachie

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 11 a.m. Saturday at Waxahachie

Mansfield Legacy (22-11) vs. The Colony (27-6)

Gm. 1: 7:00 Thursday at Colleyville Heritage

Gm. 2: 7:00 Friday at Colleyville Heritage

Gm. 3: 2:00 Saturday at Colleyville Heritage

CLASS 4A

REGION II SEMIFINALS

Aubrey (27-7) vs. Carthage

Gm. 1: 7:00 Thursday at Mineola

Gm. 2: 7:00 Friday at Mineola

Gm. 3 (if nec.): noon Saturday at Mineola

Krum vs. Rusk

Gm. 1: 7:00 Thursday at North Forney

Gm. 2: 7:00 Friday at North Forney

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 1:00 Saturday at North Forney

PREVIOUS RESULTS

CLASS 6A

REGION I QUARTERFINALS

Arl. Martin (24-9-1) vs. Keller (29-4-1)

Keller wins series, 2-0.

Waco Midway (28-9) vs. Plano East (24-10)

Plano East wins series, 2-0.

Kel. Timber Creek (30-8-1) vs. EP Coronado

El Paso Coronado wins series, 2-0.

Plano West (28-4) vs. Wylie (23-11)

Plano West wins one-game playoff.

REGION II QUARTERFINALS

Rockwall (22-15) vs. Conroe Oak Ridge (25-9)

Conroe Oak Ridge wins series, 2-0.

CLASS 5A

REGION I QUARTERFINALS

Birdville (28-5-1) vs. Saginaw (24-12-1)

Birdville wins series, 2-0.

Northwest Eaton (26-8-1) vs. Aledo (22-14)

Aledo wins series, 2-1.

REGION II QUARTERFINALS

Mans. Lake Ridge (23-6) vs. Midlothian (22-11)

Mansfield Lake Ridge wins series, 2-0.

Prosper (23-11) vs. Forney (33-3)

Forney wins series, 2-0.

Mans. Legacy (22-11) vs. Burl. Centennial (25-10)

Mansfield Legacy wins series, 2-1.

The Colony (27-6) vs. Frisco Wakeland (26-6)

The Colony wins one-game playoff.

CLASS 4A

REGION II QUARTERFINALS

Crandall (26-3-1) vs. Aubrey (27-7)

Aubrey wins series, 2-1.

CLASS 3A

REGION II QUARTERFINALS

Lone Oak vs. Pilot Point (30-3)

Lone Oak wins series, 2-0.

UIL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

(Only games for local teams are listed)

REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

CLASS 6A

REGION I

Arlington Martin (28-6-1) vs. EP Socorro

Gm. 1: 4:30 Friday at Odessa

Gm. 2: 11 a.m. Saturday at Odessa

Gm. 3 (if nec.): Following Game 2

Flower Mound (27-9) vs. FM Marcus (24-11)

Gm. 1: 8:00 Thursday at Dallas Baptist

Gm. 2: 5:00 Friday at Dallas Baptist

Gm. 3 (if nec.): noon Saturday at Dallas Baptist

Keller Fossil Ridge (25-11) vs. El Paso Montwood

TBD

Allen (24-11) vs. Southlake Carroll (26-10-1)

Gm. 1: 5:00 Thursday at Dallas Baptist

Gm. 2: 8:00 Friday at Dallas Baptist

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 3:00 Saturday at Dallas Baptist

REGION II

The Woodlands vs. Rockwall-Heath (31-7)

Gm. 1: 7:30 Thursday at Georgetown East View

Gm. 2: 4:00 Friday at Georgetown

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 10:30 a.m. at Georgetown

Rockwall (31-5) vs. Conroe Oakridge (22-7-2)

Gm. 1: 7:00 Thursday at Corsicana

Gm. 2: 7:00 Friday at Corsicana

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 2:00 Saturday at Corsicana

CLASS 5A

REGION I

Grapevine (26-9) vs. Aledo (25-9)

Gm. 1: 7:30 Thursday at FW Brewer

Gm. 2: 7:00 Friday at FW Brewer

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 1:00 Saturday at FW Brewer

Justin Northwest vs. Colleyville Heritage (33-3-1)

Gm. 1: 7:30 Thursday at UT-Arlington

Gm. 2: 7:30 Friday at UT-Arlington

Gm. 3 (if nec.): noon Saturday at UT-Arlington

REGION II

Burleson Centennial (22-10-1) vs. Mansfield Legacy (27-8)

Gm. 1: 7:30 Friday at Grand Prairie

Gm. 2: 7:30 Friday at Grand Prairie

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 1:00 Saturday at Grand Prairie

Frisco Centennial (21-11-2) vs. Forney (26-6)

One-game playoff: 7:30 Thursday at Highland Park

Waxahachie (27-6) vs. Cleburne

Gm. 1: 7:30 Thursday at Kennedale

Gm. 2: 7:30 Friday at Kennedale

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 2:00 Saturday at Kennedale

Prosper vs. Frisco Wakeland (32-3-1)

Gm. 1: 7:30 Thursday at Jesuit

Gm. 2: 7:30 Friday at John Paul II

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 1:00 Saturday at Jesuit

CLASS 4A

REGION II

Sanger vs. Decatur (24-9)

Gm. 1: 7:30 Thursday at Argyle

Gm. 2: 7:30 Friday at Argyle

Gm. 3 (if nec.): noon Saturday at Argyle

Bonham vs. Argyle

One-game playoff: 7:30 Thursday at McKinney Boyd

CLASS 3A

REGION II

Farmersville (24-7-1) vs. Gunter

Gm. 1: 7:30 Thursday at Anna

Gm. 2: 7:30 Friday at Anna

Gm. 3 (if nec.): 1:00 Saturday at Anna

PREVIOUS RESULTS

AREA ROUND

CLASS 6A

REGION I

Arlington Martin (28-6-1) vs. Wolff. Frenship

Arlington Martin wins series, 2-1.

Arlington Lamar (18-17) vs. El Paso Socorro

El Paso Socorro wins series, 2-0.

San Angelo Central vs. Flower Mound (27-9)

Flower Mound wins series, 2-0.

S. Grand Prairie (24-9-1) vs. FM Marcus (24-11)

Flower Mound Marcus wins series, 2-0.

Midland vs. Keller Fossil Ridge (25-11)

Keller Fossil Ridge wins series, 2-1.

Weatherford (19-16) vs. El Paso Montwood

El Paso Montwood wins series, 2-0.

Allen (24-11) vs. Killeen Harker Heights

Allen wins series, 2-1.

Southlake Carroll (26-10-1) vs. Waco Midway

Southlake Carroll wins series, 2-0.

REGION II

The Woodlands vs. Rich. Pearce (22-11-1)

The Woodlands wins series, 2-0.

Rockwall-Heath (31-7) vs. Jesuit (23-14)

Rockwall-Heath wins series, 2-0.

Rowlett (23-8) vs. Rockwall (31-5)

Rockwall wins series, 2-0.

Coppell (24-11) vs. Conroe Oak Ridge

Conroe Oak Ridge wins series, 2-0.

CLASS 5A

REGION I

Grapevine (26-9) vs. Sherman

Grapevine wins series, 2-1.

Richland (20-17) vs. Aledo (27-9)

Aledo wins series, 2-0.

Justin Northwest vs. Birdville (19-15-1)

Justin Northwest wins series, 2-0.

WF Rider vs. Colleyville Heritage (33-3-1)

Colleyville Heritage wins series, 2-0.

REGION II

Woodrow Wilson vs. Burl. Centennial (22-10-1)

Burleson Centennial wins series, 2-0.

Hillcrest vs. Mansfield Legacy (25-8)

Mansfield Legacy wins series, 2-0.

Hallsville vs. Frisco Centennial (21-11-2)

Frisco Centennial wins series, 2-0.

Forney (26-6) vs. Frisco Lone Star (19-17)

Forney wins series, 2-0.

Waxahachie (26-6) vs. Molina

Gm. 1: Molina forfeits because of player ejections from previous round

Waxahachie wins series, 2-0.

Cleburne vs. Bryan Adams

Cleburne wins series, 2-0.

Prosper (29-4-1) vs. Highland Park (21-13)

Prosper wins one-game playoff.

Frisco Wakeland (32-3-1) vs. Sulphur Springs

Frisco Wakeland wins series, 2-0.

CLASS 4A

REGION I

Abilene Wylie vs. Midlothian Heritage

Abilene Wylie wins series, 2-0.

REGION II

Aubrey vs. Sanger

Sanger wins series, 2-1.

Melissa vs. Decatur

Decatur wins series, 2-1.

Argyle vs. Princeton

Argyle wins one-game playoff.

CLASS 3A

REGION II

Sunnyvale vs. Whitesboro

Whitesboro wins series, 2-1.

Farmersville vs. Eustace

Farmersville wins one-game playoff.

While it's long been thought that District 5-6A played the best baseball this season, there are now some numbers to back it up. The district has three teams advancing to the regional quarterfinals, yhr highest of any in the Dallas area. Flower Mound and Flower Mound Marcus now must play each other, while 5-6A champion Southlake Carroll plays 6-6A champion Allen.

Two other 6A districts sent three teams to the regional quarterfinals: 26-6A and 29-6A.

Two 5A districts, 26-5A and 30-5A, had all four teams advance to the regional quarterfinals.

Rockwall-Heath's Canaan Smith has an outside shot at a national record: In Heath's area-round series win over Jesuit, Heath senior 1B/C/OF Canaan Smith, an Arkansas signee, walked six times, bringing his season total to 53. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) record book, the national record for walks in a season is 72, set by Jeff Clement of Marshalltown (Iowa) in 2002.

If Heath makes it to all five of the remaining rounds, Smith would need to average 3.8 walks per round. But he needs just four more walks to enter the top 10 of the NFHS record book. That should happen in this week's three-game series vs. The Woodlands. Smith is averaging 2.2 walks per game this playoffs.

Flower Mound vs. Flower Mound Marcus - The two teams split the 'Mound Showdown' season series. Both game were decided by one run. Now the two run face off for a third game (and possibly a fourth and a fifth) with each playing some of the best baseball they've played all year. Both schools have swept through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Prosper vs. Frisco Wakeland - Both schools were highly ranked in the 5A area rankings all season. Prosper has survived two one-game series. Wakeland, meanwhile, has swept two series by a combined score of 33-7 and has thrown shutouts in its last three games while starting three different pitchers. But Prosper's lineup - led by Arkansas signee Easton Murrell -- will be one of the best they've faced all season. The two teams tied, 5-5, in tournament play earlier this year.

Rockwall-Heath vs. The Woodlands - Entering the playoffs, Rockwall-Heath was ranked No. 5 in the state by txhighschoolbaseball.com. The Woodlands was No. 19. Heath knocked out defending 6A champion Jesuit last weekend with two dominating performances. The Woodlands hasn't scored less than seven runs in a playoff game this season.

With just three and a half months before football season begins, it's time to start researching those teams that will make you look smart, the ones that pop up out of seemingly nowhere and compete for a playoff spot or a district title.

Here are three teams that went .500 or worse last year that could see vast improvements next season.

Lovejoy

Like most teams who got a new coach last year, Lovejoy should see a bump in year two. It could be the biggest of any in the area after going 3-7 in head coach Todd Ford's first year. Lovejoy has as many players returning as almost anybody in the area.

Linebacker Bumper Pool, an Arkansas pledge and one of the top recruits will lead the defense. On offense, quarterback Carson Collins who threw for almost 2,400 yards as a sophomore last year, should take another step forward as leading receiver Chase Van Wagoner (759 yards, 10 touchdowns) also returns.

Frisco Heritage

Two years removed from a 10-3 season and a tie for the district championship, Heritage went 2-8 last season. But the year wasn't as bad as it looked. Three of Heritage's losses came by four points or less.

Heritage gets quarterback Amare Jones, one of the most dynamic players in the area, back for 2017. Running back Andrew Henry also returns, as does Heritage's top four receivers from 2016, including tight end Nic McTear, an Oklahoma State pledge.

Points should come easy for a team that posted a year of basketball scores (64-61 win, 77-49 loss, 76-58 win). If the defense can improve, Heritage can make a run at a district title in an always wonky 13-5A.

Lake Dallas

After losing a lot of seniors from the team's state semifinal run in 2015, Lake Dallas posted a 5-5 record in 2016.

But a number of offensive weapons return for an explosive Lake Dallas team including rising junior running back Ky'lee Smith and receiver Charles Williams. At quarterback Lake Dallas has Ryan Depperschmidt and Drew Sanders both returning. Both saw some action last year.

Sanders, a rising sophomore, already has scholarship offers from the likes of Georgia, Oklahoma, TCU and others. He actually led Lake Dallas in rushing last season (438 yards, eight touchdowns), so he should be a weapon in some form whether he earns the starting job or not.