Tuesday’s games shook up the playoff race even more in Katy ISD, with teams moving up and down the standings. Morton Ranch earned its first district win against Taylor, while Katy outlasted Paetow in extra innings, Cinco Ranch shut out Jordan and Seven Lakes earned a win over Mayde Creek.

Heiliger leads Morton Ranch past Taylor

Morton Ranch earned a huge win on Tuesday, beating Taylor a team towards the top of the district standings, to clinch the Mavericks first win of District 19-6A play, improving to 7-17-1 on the season and 1-9 in district play in the process. Zane Heiliger led the way for the Mavericks, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing just one run on six hits while striking out four and walking five.

Kelvin Malone gave Morton Ranch the lead in the bottom of the first inning on a single, but Taylor answered back in the third inning, scoring on a Peter Dworaczyk single. Morton came right back to take the lead in the bottom of the third when Edgar Flores-Gutierre grounded into a fielders choice and scored a third later in the inning on a Chris Soto bases loaded walk. Morton Ranch held Taylor scoreless the rest of the way to clinch the win and complete the upset.

Easton Wolf pitched for 2.2 innings for Taylor and allowed two earned runs on four hits, striking out two and walking one. Dworaczyk had Taylor’s lone RBI in the game. The Mustangs fell to 15-10-1 overall and 5-3 in district and are tied for third place with Paetow and Seven Lakes.

Barrientes home run lifts Katy past Paetow

Katy found a way past Paetow on Tuesday, beating the Panthers 1-0 in extra innings. The Tigers stayed in first place in district with the win, improving to 16-8 overall and 9-1 in district play.

It was a pitchers duel all day, Connor Udland was nearly perfect for Katy, pitching a complete game over eight innings and only allowing one hit and one walk while striking out 10 in the shutout.

Camden Phillips was nearly as good for Paetow, also going eight innings and allowing just the one run on four hits, striking out four and walking one, as Paetow fell to 16-6 overall and 5-3 in district as the Panthers sit tied for fourth in district with Taylor and Seven Lakes.

The game remained scoreless until the top of the eighth, when Barreintes came in to pinch hit for Jeremy Mazariegos and hit a deep solo home run. Once it got to the bottom of the inning, Udland struck out the side to end things.

Cinco Ranch shuts out Jordan

Cinco Ranch continued its hot run of late, beating Cinco Ranch 6-0 behind a huge game from Josh Morelli, pitching a complete game and allowing no runs on six hits while striking out six and walking one. On the offensive side Lucas Franco led the way, driving in three runs on two doubles. The Cougars improved to 16-5-3 overall and 7-3 in district, moving into sole possession of second place.

The Cougars jumped ahead in the first inning when Luis Gomez hit a sacrifice grounder and added three more in the third inning on a Franco double. They kept it going in the third inning and Zach Franco hit a single that drove in one before an error allowed Cinco’s sixth run to get across. Cinco didn’t allow another run the rest o the way to clinch the shutout victory.

Eddie Buroz took the mound for Jordan and went 2.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on six hits while striking out two and walking none. The Warriors fell to 11-10 overall and 4-4 in district play, they are in a tie for sixth and are a game back from fourth place.

Levin leads Seven Lakes to fourth straight win

Seven Lakes won its fourth straight on Tuesday, beating Mayde Creek 8-1 behind a big day on the mound from James Levin, who went 6.2 innings and allowed no earned runs on three hits, striking out 14 and walking one.

Seven Lakes got in front in the top of the second when they got a run on an error, they kept pushing and added two more on a Carter Nannini double. Two more runs scored on an error and Max Greathouse hit a single to drive in another and Ty Berra drove into a fielders choice to bring home a seventh. Seven Lakes added an eighth in the fourth inning on a passed ball and didn’t allow another run until the seventh inning, with mayde Creek getting a run on a passed ball as Seven Lakes clinched the win.

Brandon Lumkins started on the mound for Mayde Creek and allowed six runs on two hits over 1.1 innings, striking out one and walking four. The Rams fell to 2-20-1 overall and 0-10 in district.