Regional Finals Showdown
The regional final round of the University Interscholastic League baseball championship will feature three Southeast Texas teams—Port Neches-Groves, Orangefield, and Hamshire-Fannett—each battling for a spot in the state finals. The matchups, scheduled to begin this week, pit the squads against formidable opponents from across the classification spectrum.
Port Neches-Groves enters the series as the recent regional champion, fresh off a 2017 state title that cemented its reputation as a powerhouse. The team will square off against Kingwood Park in the Class 5A‑II finals, with senior pitcher Eli Curtis poised to anchor the rotation after his recent no‑hitter. Curtis’s performance has become a rallying point for a community eager to repeat history.
Hamshire-Fannett’s journey embodies a dramatic turnaround. After opening the season with an 0‑11 slump, the team clawed its way back to earn the fourth seed and now faces Robinson in the Class 4A‑II finals. A two‑game sweep of Salado secured their place, and the underdog narrative has sparked heightened excitement across the region.
Orangefield, meanwhile, has endured just a single loss throughout the postseason and followed it with a decisive sweep of Grandview to reach the Class 3A‑I finals. Their opponent, Huntington, awaits, and the team’s consistency has positioned them as a dark horse contender for the championship.
The upcoming series promises tightly contested games, with each team carrying distinct storylines—title defense, redemption, and relentless momentum. As the schedule unfolds, the Southeast Texas baseball community watches closely, hopeful that one of these programs will advance to the state stage and add another chapter to the region’s rich baseball legacy.