Both Humble Atascocita and Deer Park have enjoyed solid seasons on the softball diamond, each recording at least 20 wins.
After this weekend, though, one of these teams will see its season come to an end. Atascocita takes on Deer Park in a best-of-three Texas UIL 6A Division I bi-district series starting Thursday night at Deer Park.
The first game takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. That will be the same time as first pitch of Game 2 on Friday, which will be at Atascocita. If necessary, Game 3 is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday at a site to be determined.
Atascocita ended the regular season 23-5, and the Eagles finished third in their district at 11-3. Two of their losses came to Kingwood and another loss came against Montgomery Lake Creek, nationally ranked in the recent edition of The Sporting News Top 25 softball poll.
Rhilynn McCoy, a junior, leads the Eagles in batting (.567), on-base percentage (.606), hits (51) and runs scored (54). Another junior, Kaitlyn Miller, is the team leader in home runs (12), RBIs (48) and slugging percentage (1.044).
Pitchers Allison Burkhalter - a senior - and Maya Hernandez - a junior - have combined for 21 wins. Hernandez is 10-3 with a 2.29 earned run average, and Burkhalter is 11-2 with a 2.51 ERA, and the two have combined to strike out 101 batters.
Deer Park ended the regular season 20-8 and won District 24-6A with a 10-4 record. The Deer come into the playoffs having won two straight and three of their last five ballgames.
On April 17, they defeated Dickinson, 6-1. Senior catcher Mia Montemayor drove in the game’s first run with an RBI single, while Kayla Barras went 2-for-2 and scored three times. Zoie Powell also tripled and drove in three runs.
Senior pitcher Madi Alvarado gave up one hit in six shutout innings and struck out six.
The winner of this series will take on the winner of the bi-district series between Houston Lamar and Cy-Fair in next week’s area round.
Here’s everything you need to know about live streaming the bi-district series between Humble Atascocita vs. Deer Park.
How to watch Humble Atascocita vs. Deer Park softball
•. Live Stream Game 1: Watch on the NFHS Network.
•. Live Stream Game 2: Watch on the NFHS Network.
•. Live Stream Game 3: Watch on the NFHS Network.
Humble Atascocita vs. Deer Park will air live on the NFHS Network. You can subscribe to the NFHS Network on a monthly basis or an annual subscription.
Humble Atascocita vs. Deer Park softball start times
•. Game 1 Date: Thursday, April 24
•. Game 1 Time: 6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT
•. Game 2 Date: Friday, April 25
•. Game 2 Time: 6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT
•. Game 3 Date: Saturday, April 26 (if necessary)
•. Game 3 Date: 3 p.m. CT/1 p.m. PT
The first pitch for Game 1 Thursday will be at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be played at Deer Park High School. Game 2 will be at 6:30 p.m. CT Friday at Atascocita High School, and if necessary, Game 3 will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at a site to be determined.