The UIL Regional Final round began on Thursday night for high school baseball teams, as Johnson battled Pharr-San Juan-Alamo in Class 6A, Boerne Champion faced Corpus Christ Ray in Class 5A and Kenedy took on Johnson City in Class 2A.

The New Braunfels Canyon softball team carries their undefeated record into the Class 5A Regional Final against district rival Smithson Valley, and although they swept the Rangers in the regular season, the Cougarettes aren't worried about remaining unbeaten. They simply want to play the best they can and win.

After back-to-back season-ending losses in the Area Round, the East Central softball team finally got over the hump this season and used that momentum to key the deepest playoff run in program history.

The Cougars are 30-0 this season and will need to beat Smithson Valley in the UIL Class 5A Regional Finals to return to State for the first time since 2019.

Thanks to their thrilling Game 3 victory over O'Connor on Saturday afternoon, the East Central softball team joins Boerne, New Braunfels Canyon, Smithson Valley and Jourdanton in the Regional Finals this week. Meanwhile, defending Class 1A State champs D'Hanis have already punched their tickets to Austin with a Regional Final sweep of Slocum.

Eagle Pass scored six unanswered runs to defeat O'Connor 6-1and clinch a third round sweep in the UIL Class 6A baseball playoffs, while Johnson defeated Lake Travis in a decisive game three to advance.