In years past, challenging tournaments in February were a necessity for the Deer Park Deer.
District play wasn’t always challenging – the Deer have over a decade track record of dominance – so those early games gave a little glimpse of what the playoffs might be like down the line.
Now with a more competitive district on the horizon, the Deer are using tournaments to prepare for the upcoming schedule in District 24-6A.
On Friday at Doll Field on the second day of the Barbers Hill Tournament, the Deer knocked off No. 11-ranked Keller, 5-4, and then the defending 6A champion Weslaco Panthers, 7-5.
Deer Park (8-4) is 3-1 so far in the loaded tournament that will conclude Saturday.
Deer Park was the rare team to beat Weslaco – which happened during this tournament a year ago. The Panthers went on to shock the Texas high school softball world with the state title win over Waco Midway and a 37-6 record.
“It really is a big deal because I think people count us out already,” Deer Park senior catcher Mia Montemayor said of beating a team like Weslaco. “I feel like we have a target on our back. I think this just shows that we are really competitive and will compete with anybody.”
Deer Park battled from an early 2-0 deficit with six runs in the bottom of the second.
Kayla Barras singled home a run and Mariah Ramirez followed with a bases-loaded walk. Caitlyn Wade followed with a two-run single. Zoie Powell then smashed a ball that was misplayed by the Weslaco shortstop as two runs scored.
“I was super happy about that,” Deer Park head coach Amy Vidal-Bush said of her team’s recovery. “I felt like with the 2-0 start, the kids handled the adversity. There were a couple of bad calls and it just seems how it was today. I think the kids handled that well and that’s a good sign.”
The Panthers got two runs back with Andrea Ortiz providing the big hit with an RBI triple.
Deer Park junior pitcher Braelynn Jones limited the damage and got out of the inning.
In the bottom of the third, Montemayor provided an insurance run on a solo homer blast over the left field fence for her first of the year.
Montemayor explained her patient approach and her reflex on the 1-1 pitch.
“I just kept telling myself that if it’s not in my zone, then I’m not going to swing,” Montemayor said. “I think the first pitch was high and in. So I just took it. I’m just in the box and I tried to calm myself down and keep my thoughts simple.”
The homer made it a 7-4 game.
Weslaco (4-8), which beat Waller 10-0 earlier in the day, threatened in the fourth with an RBI double by Hannah Montelongo. Jones got the next three batters out and the game was called on the 1-hour, 40-minute time limit.
“I’m pleased with the fight we had today,” Vidal-Bush said.
Jones, the Texas Tech commit, allowed four earned runs in four innings. She struck out two, walked three and the Panthers totaled seven hits.
Earlier against Keller, Deer Park trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the fifth where it exploded for three runs and the time limit expired in the sixth.
Kinsley Hyland led off with a hit by pitch. Barra singled and Ramirez knocked both home on a game-tying triple. Journey Calderon followed with a single to take the lead.
The top of the order had a big day as leadoff Barras was 4-for-5 and Ramirez 2-for-4 with three RBIs.
“They had a pretty slow start and to see them light up, it has been exciting,” Vidal-Bush said. “It’s an exciting duo.”
Hyland hit an RBI sacrifice fly in the second and Powell had an RBI groundout in the third.
Madi Alvarado went six innings with five hits allowed and three earned runs. She struck out four and walked four.
Keller (9-3-1) beat Dickinson on Thursday and Waller earlier on Friday.
“It’s huge going into this new district,” Vidal-Bush said of the tough competition seen in this tournament. “We know it’s going to be way more competitive. I just told the kids, my biggest concern has been whether or not we’ve had enough fight to be an elite team. And today is one of the first days I’ve really seen us be down and have to fight it out. I think the kids responded.”
Thursday’s games
The Deer fell to No. 1 Katy 3-0 and bounced back with a 6-4 win over Pearland.
Despite the loss against the Tigers, Deer Park pitchers Alvarado and Jones did what they could to keep their team in contention.
Alvarado lasted five innings with five strikeouts and two earned runs allowed. She allowed just three Katy hits and walked one. Jones fired two innings in relief with one earned run allowed on one hit. She struck out two and walked one.
As Katy had four hits, including a pair of homers by Ella Kate Smith and Lauyrn Soelken, Deer Park was limited to singles from Ramirez and Plocheck.
The Deer were down 3-2 after 3½ innings to Pearland before a huge bottom of the fourth.
Montemayor tied the game with an RBI single to start the four-run rally.
Three batters later, Zoie Powell belted a bases-loaded three-run double to center field as Wade, Barras and Mendoza all came around to make it 6-3.
Pearland added a run in the top of the fifth and the game was called on the time-limit after five innings.
Montemayor finished 2-for-2 while Reiley Hernandez scored two runs.
It was Jones and Alvarado shouldering the load again in the circle.
This time, Jones started and went three innings. She allowed two hits and three walks while striking out one. Alvarado went the final two innings with three strikeouts and one hit allowed.
All four runs for Pearland were unearned.
“This is definitely one of the best tournaments we do all year,” Montemayor said. “There’s a lot of strong teams and a lot of good competition. Every game is a fight and no game is easy.”
Up next
Deer Park wraps up the tournament Saturday at Doll Field against 4A defending state champion Calallen at 11 a.m. and Waller at 3 p.m.
“It’s going to be tough and it’s going to be fun,” Vidal-Bush said. “I feel like we’re in a better spot after watching us fight today.”
Deer Park gathers around home plate after Mia Montemayor’s solo homer in the third inning against Weslaco on Feb. 28, 2025. (Chris Zorzi/SportCast Media)
