Big-School Softball: Balance

CORPUS CHRISTI - District 30-5A softball teams don't break into zones of five or six and play a double round-robin slate of eight or 10 league contests like their baseball brothers.
The ladies play a 10-game, one-time-through schedule. Whichever the format, with so few district games, nightly situations are pressurized, and therefore, results magnified.
If the 2018 South Texas Preseason Large-School Softball Team is any indication, expect a balanced battle for the four UIL playoff spots.

Carroll, Flour Bluff, Moody, and Veterans Memorial have two players each, while Calallen, Gregory-Portland, King, and Tuloso-Midway send one. Five seniors, five juniors, and two sophomores comprise the honor squad.
The Bluff boasts two repeating senior corner infielders, one who made this team as a 2016 sophomore. She's Araya Ayala, who plays the hot corner. Teammate Riley Grunberg is one of three returners from the 2017 all-stars, joining G-P junior pitcher Sydney Ouellette and Moody senior outfielder Jordan Meza.
Junior catcher Samantha Gaona and senior outfielder Kelli Serrato (Carroll), junior pitcher Alexa Garza and junior second baseman Celeste Salazar (Veterans Memorial), junior pitcher Karyme Carreno (Moody), senior outfielder Jessica Johnson (Calallen), sophomore shortstop Crystal Davila (King), and sophomore pitcher Breanna Reyna (Tuloso-Midway) complete the unit.
All 12 team members will be recognized with their small-school counterparts at the 14th South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet on Thursday, January 18, at the Port of Corpus Christi's Solomon P. Ortiz Center. Doors open at 6:30, and tickets are on sale at the Whataburger Field Box Office. To order by phone, call 361-561-HOOK (4665).
The all-stars were nominated and voted on by area Class 5A coaches.
2017 Honors
Samantha Gaona, Carroll:Caller-Times 1st-Team All-South Texas; District 30-5A Offensive Player of the Year
Kelli Serrato, Carroll:Caller-Times 2nd-Team All-South Texas; 1st-Team All-District 30-5A
Araya Ayala, Flour Bluff:Caller-Times 2nd-Team All-South Texas; 1st-Team All-District 30-5A
Riley Grunberg, Flour Bluff: 2nd-Team All-District 30-5A
Karyme Carreno, Moody: 2nd-Team All-District 30-5A
Jordan Meza, Moody:Caller-Times 3rd-Team All-South Texas, 1st-Team All-District 30-5A
Sydney Ouellette, Gregory-Portland:Caller-Times 2nd-Team All-South Texas; 1st-Team All-District 30-5A
Crystal Davila, King: Caller-Times 3rd-Team All-South Texas
Breanna Reyna, Tuloso-Midway:Caller-Times 1st-Team All-South Texas; District 30-5A Newcomer of the Year