Grand Oaks proved Monday night it didn’t necessarily need to hit home runs in order to blitz a team on the scoreboard.
The Grizzlies slugged 12 dingers last week and scored 53 runs (8.3 per game) as they won the Space City Classic in League City.
Against The Woodlands as District 13-6A started, Grand Oaks scored all its runs unanswered after falling behind early for an impressive 16-2 win in five innings.
The 7-0 start to the season for Grand Oaks is the best in the program’s brief history and it was the team’s first district win to begin the league schedule since 2022.
“You can’t ask for much more,” Grand Oaks coach Paula Miller said afterwards. “The kids played great this weekend and really came together with some good bonding. We saw a lot of differentiated pitching, so that helped us with our timing tonight with The Woodlands pitcher. It’s always good to just kind of take what we did in the tournament and keep rolling with it.”
The Woodlands (2-3), which came in off wins over Lutheran South Academy and Holmes at the NFCA Texas Leadoff Classic, surged ahead 2-0 in the top of the first, but that lead didn’t last very long.
Gabby Grieco smacked a two-run single to right to plate Cassy Trevino and Allie Tatum.
The Grizzlies – with two outs – rallied for four runs in the bottom of the inning.
“It was hard at first,” Grand Oaks senior center fielder Ava Butler said. “But I was confident we could come back.”
Mayce Burkett knocked in leadoff hitter Butler, who walked to start the inning.
Kiley Milligan followed with an RBI double to the right-field gap.
After an Ella Brown single, Amira Abukhzam hammered a single that deflected off the third baseman’s glove and scored two runs.
“One of the things I’ve been proud of my girls – even in scrimmages – is when they got behind, the vibe in the dugout never changed,” Miller said. “They seemed to have a lot of faith that they can work the process and get back in it. That’s kind of been our ‘M.O.’ all year is to trust it. This weekend, we got down 6-0 and came back to win the championship in that game.”
Grand Oaks opened the game up even more in the bottom of the second with five more runs.
Abukhzam provided the big hit with the bases loaded and two outs. She cleared them all home with a shot to left for a double.
Earlier in the inning, Burkett hit an RBI single and Torres brought home a run on a fielder’s choice.
Burkett added her third RBI in as many plate appearances in the third inning as she drew a bases-loaded walk. The Highlanders, however, limited the damage as they got two straight outs to leave the bases full.
Grand Oaks piled on six more runs in the fourth as Alexis Kennedy rattled an RBI single that hit off the leg of The Woodlands relief pitcher.
Lilo Wright followed with an RBI bloop double into right field. Torres then blasted a two-run double over the center fielder’s head. Two batters later, Milligan smoked a two-run double off the left field wall.
Abukhzam, who was 3-for-4, finished with five RBIs while Torres, Burkett and Milligan each had three. Wright had two hits off the bench.
Torres pitched four innings with two earned runs allowed, two strikeouts, three hits and three walks. McKenna Lemons pitched a perfect fifth inning to secure the win.
“Anytime you see an opponent that has the winning tradition they have, you know that you’ve got to get up,” Miller said. “Our big thing this year is to play everybody like they’re an All-American and you’ll be prepared for anything.”
Grand Oaks split with The Woodlands in two meetings last year. The Highlanders eventually made the playoffs while the Grizzlies missed out by a game. Torres and Milligan each homered in those games.
Miller was previously the assistant coach with the Highlanders before coming to Grand Oaks in 2021.
“I’m really proud of my team,” Butler said. “We were super excited to come out, especially since our coach used to coach at The Woodlands. It always feels good to beat your coach’s old school. We were just really hyped, really excited and we had a great time.”
Grand Oaks will compete in the freezing cold at the Humble ISD Tournament starting Thursday. The Woodlands hosts a tournament starting the same day.
Grand Oaks junior catcher Mayce Burkett tags out a runner from The Woodlands at the plate in the first inning Feb. 17, 2025. (Chris Zorzi/SportCast Media)
