Positive vibes only as Grand Oaks is ready for 2025 season

The vibes are as vibrant as the bright orange and electric blue uniforms the Grand Oaks Grizzlies are wearing again this season.

For the seniors, it’s one last opportunity to break through and reach the playoffs.

For the head coach, Paula Miller, it’s comforting seeing a talented roster come together this spring for a hopeful playoff run.

“I’m feeling really positive about this year,” Miller said. “This is my third year with them, so most of them kind of now feel like mine. They’re pretty much on board with the program. The vibe this year is everybody is committed to being positive. We’ve done some team bonding stuff that I think has been nice.”

Only one player on the varsity roster has experienced the playoffs. Senior Kaitlynn Torres, a University of Houston commit, was around as a freshman when the Grizzlies made a run to the third round.

“I think we all want it really bad,” Grand Oaks senior first baseman Arianna Sanchez said. “So as seniors, we kind of just start pushing everybody to be better.”

Grand Oaks went 19-15 last year and 8-8 in the remarkably tough District 13-6A. The district mark was one game outside of the playoff picture.

“Everybody got a taste of what the playoffs could have been last year,” Miller said. “Us missing out has left them pretty hungry. I’m looking forward to seeing what they put on the field.”

Grand Oaks lost a bulk load of seniors from last year, but many of the returning players started.

“I’m returning seven starters,” Miller said. “That’s really good. The seniors that we lost, we lost a couple of key things. But we are returning the bulk of the defense. We have some young players who could be impact players. But mostly, they are very comfortable with each other. I think we have depth. If something unexpected happens, there’s another kid in the wings that’s ready to step up at the varsity level.”

Junior Mayce Burkett is a major piece returning. The catcher of the Grizzlies returns with plenty of knowledge of the pitching staff and is a little bit more at ease on the recruiting scene after committing to a major SEC program.

“We return Mayce behind the plate,” Miller said. “Obviously, that’s a really big one. She verbally committed to University of Kentucky this fall and brings a lot of stability behind the plate with our pitching staff.”

Burkett, a leader on and off the field, was a second-team All-District selection last year and belted five homers.

“Our character,” Burkett said of what this year’s biggest strength is. “It’s the biggest part. We have a lot of personality on this team. Once we learn to use it all, I think we’ll be perfectly fine.”

Burkett will handle catching Torres, who enters the year as the top pitcher and was an All-District honorable mention as a junior. But as Miller stated, the four-year varsity player’s talent can be used many different ways.

“(Torres) is probably coming in as the No. 1,” Miller said. “But she’s also our No. 1 shortstop. So we may play with what that looks like. Are we better with her on the mound and someone else at short, or are we better with her at short and someone else on the mound.”

In the infield, Grand Oaks returns starting third baseman Ella Brown, who was also honorable mention All-District. Amira Abukhzam could provide some depth there.

At second base, Larissa Taveres returns and first base has been up for grabs during scrimmages. Miller said Sanchez (a Paine College commit) and Jazlyn Leveston were getting long looks there. Evelyn Ynostrosa is working at shortstop when Torres is pitching.

In the outfield, second-team All-District selection Kiley Milligan returns (she had a team-high eight homers last year), along with senior Ava Butler (a Lafayette College commit), and Julia Veilleux.

“Up and down, I think we have a really good lineup,” Sanchez said. “Defense has never really been a problem for us, but our hitting…we’re going to have a good lineup this year.”

Team bond has been a major focus. Burkett said that much of that is achieved behind the scenes.

“During practice, we’re all pretty much enjoying each other’s presence,” Burkett said. “We are more in-tune with each other in the way we play because of how much we enjoy it.”

“As seniors, we’ve been focusing more on team chemistry,” Sanchez added. “Just working through our struggles and if we have problems, we fix it on the field. Off the field, we have a better team bond. I think it’s going to lead us to the playoffs.”

Burkett now has two years experience dealing with District 13-6A. Last year, Oak Ridge and Conroe tied for the district title while The Woodlands and College Park tied for third. In order, New Caney, Willis, Caney Creek and Cleveland finished behind Grand Oaks.

Burkett has kept up with who’s gone from each team and knows that compared to some, Grand Oaks returned a lot.

“That gives us a little leeway,” Burkett said. “Other schools (in the district) lost some kids who were starting every game (and) pitched every game. That gives us a little bit more confidence than normal. But we’re feeling strong this year.”

Grand Oaks started playing at the varsity level in the much-abbreviated 2020 season that ended quickly due to COVID-19. The Grizzlies twice made the playoffs (2021 and 2022) and Sanchez wants to be a part of the next team that does.

“I think we all want it really bad,” she said. “So as seniors, we kind of just start pushing everybody to be better.”

Grand Oaks gets things going Tuesday with a non-district home agame with Aldine Davis at 6 p.m.

The Grizzlies have three tournaments – the Bayou City Classic (Feb. 13-15), Humble ISD (Feb. 20-22) and the Southeast Texas Tournament (Feb. 27-March 1).

District play starts Feb. 18 against The Woodlands.

“We’re just really excited to be done with practices and scrimmages and get into some real games,” Miller said.