Tournament season is over for Magnolia. Now it’s time to continue working toward the playoffs.
The Bulldogs capped their final long stretch of the weekend with a 2-1-1 record over two days in the Brenham Tournament.
Magnolia (9-4-1, 2-0) started strong with an 11-1 win over Willis before topping TAPPS power St. Thomas 3-2. Friday saw a pair of 5A powers in Brenham and Friendswood. Magnolia fell to the Cubs 8-2 and tied the Mustangs 3-3.
Earlier last week, Magnolia picked up a huge nine-inning win at Klein Oak for the series sweep.
In its first season moving up to Class 6A, a sweep of a Panthers program that reached the third round of the playoffs is a good sign.
Under head coach Chris Morris, Magnolia is accustomed to a strong schedule. So it really wasn’t a surprise it beat five 6A opponents in tournament play.
This week, Magnolia will be tested by Morris’ former team, Tomball Memorial.
Morris coached the Wildcats to a district title his lone season there in 2022.
Last year, Tomball Memorial missed the playoffs with a sixth place finish in district play and a 12-16-2 overall record.
The Wildcats appear to be much-improved so far this season with a 8-6-1 record through three weeks. They went 3-1 at their tournament last week with wins over Clear Lake, Colleyville Heritage and Cypress Ridge. Tomball Memorial had a bye to start district play, so Magnolia will be its first opportunity to play catch up.
One thing learned about Magnolia over the first three weeks is its ability to hang in tight games. In games decided by two runs or less, the Bulldogs are 5-1-1.
Unsurprisingly, senior Keegan Chavez has emerged as the ace of the Bulldogs. He stymied Klein Oak twice with 9 innings of work, six hits allowed, two earned runs and 14 strikeouts to just four walks to put Magnolia at the top of the district standings.
Sophomore Jackson Wilcox was first out of the bullpen in both meetings as he picked up the save in the Feb. 26 win and the win in extra innings last Tuesday.
Aiden Luscombe and Braylon Hobbie have also pitched some strong innings in tournament action. Both won their respective outings at the Brenham Tournament.
Magnolia has seen plenty of contributors at the plate, an excellent sign for a team that entered the season with many positions up for grabs. Cleanup hitter Ian Pugh, a junior, has already provided some pop while sophomore outfielder Chase Lowery has been swinging a confident bat in the 3-hole.
Sophomore Jhett Bubke provided the winning RBI in Tuesday’s win at Klein Oak.
This week against Tomball Memorial – starting 7 p.m. Tuesday on the road followed by 7 p.m. at home Thursday – will see the Bulldogs get into more of their routine lineup and pitching rotation.
The two programs aren’t strangers, per say, but it’s been four years since they’ve met in a varsity game. From 2015 through 2018, the two teams were both in Class 5A and district foes. Magnolia is 6-3 all-time against the Wildcats, dropping just one contest since 2016.
Magnolia junior Zach Love (26) bumps fists with assistant coach Ely Whitmire in a game played March 4, 2025 at Klein Oak. (Noah Mabry/SportCast Media)
