LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — A pair of former area high school gems each earned all-conference honors for their prowess on the mound following the 2019 college baseball season.

The 2019 softball season was similar to 2018 in more than a few ways.

A pair of senior sluggers and a freshman outfielder recently learned they had made the cut for the 2019 Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 6A all-state team.

The brand of hardball played in New Braunfels and the surrounding areas this season was once again gritty and hyper competitive.

AUSTIN — University of Arkansas redshirt junior Devin Clark is back in her home state and prepared to chase a pair of medals at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Smithson Valley pole vaulter Avianna Trinidad capped an incredible junior season by recently being named a Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star selection for Class 5A and 6A.

TYLER — The Texas Lutheran Bulldogs won the 2019 NCAA Division III Softball Championship on Monday afternoon with 12-4 and 6-1 wins over the Emory (Ga.) Eagles at Suddenlink Field and captured a DIII national team championship for the first time in school history.

The curtain may have already been drawn on the 2019 soccer season, but local athletes are still reaping the rewards for their skill and dedication throughout the past year on the pitch.

For local teams New Braunfels, Canyon and Smithson Valley, the 2019 boys soccer season yielded a combined 29 district victories, one league championship and three playoff appearances.

Not only did all three local District 26-6A girls soccer teams qualify for the playoffs this past season, but they also nearly secured a clean sweep of the league’s on-field superlatives.

AUSTIN — Smithson Valley junior pole vaulter Avianna Trinidad entered the state track and field meet in Austin as the Class 6A wild card competitor after a third-place finish at regionals.

AUSTIN — Smithson Valley, New Braunfels and Canyon will all be sending athletes to the upcoming UIL Class 6A state track and field meet this Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.

SAN ANTONIO — The Rangers fought tooth and nail to keep their season alive Thursday night in a must-win Game 2 against Lake Travis at the University of the Incarnate Word, but Lake Travis escaped with a 1-0 victory to cap a bi-district series sweep.

AUSTIN — After seeing Canyon Martine lay down a bunt that allowed Bryce Petro to score from third in the top of the third inning on Wednesday night, Smithson Valley found itself tied 1-1 with District 25-6A champion Lake Travis.

As the humidity soars and the pressure mounts, area baseball and softball teams prepare for the most meaningful moments of the season.

SAN ANTONIO — The final few steps in the journey to Austin’s Mike A. Myers Stadium for the state track and field meet are set to take place today and Saturday at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio.

Smithson Valley avenged its toughest loss of the season Tuesday night at home by cruising past Clemens 7-1.

SPRING BRANCH — The Rangers would’ve been in a strong position to qualify for the postseason regardless of Thursday’s outcome, but Smithson Valley decided to use the better-safe-than-sorry approach during a thrilling comeback victory at home.

SPRING BRANCH — For 23 years, Lisa and Wayne Daigle have been an institution at Smithson Valley High School.

A postseason bid may have eluded the three local Class 6A boys basketball teams during the 2018-19 season, but a bevy of honors from District 26-6A did not.

In a league where the champion went on to prove that they were also the best in the entire state, nothing came easy.

SPRING BRANCH — Smithson Valley collected its sixth straight District 26-6A victory Tuesday night at home after surviving a comeback bid from San Marcos during a 7-5 win at home.

A myriad of athletes punched their ticket to the area meet this week after finishing in the top four of their respective events at the District 26-6A track and field meet held at Canyon High School.

The Unicorns capped a one-sided series sweep of San Marcos Friday night at home by blanking the Rattlers 10-0 in five innings.

SAN MARCOS — New Braunfels nabbed its fifth consecutive District 26-6A win Tuesday night on the road after roughing up the Rattlers 12-1 in San Marcos.

The Cougarettes are threatening to turn their bid for back-to-back district championships into a landslide.

KYLE — The Smithson Valley boys successfully defended their district crown this week at Plum Creek Golf Course in Kyle.

SAN ANTONIO — Of all the ways to see an outstanding season end, penalty kicks have got to be among the most difficult.

AUSTIN — A change in scenery and a boost in the overall intensity level did little to curtail the Canyon girls soccer team’s momentum Friday night during a bi-district playoff match.

KYLE — The most notable aspect of the Lady Rangers’ 11th consecutive district title wasn’t the feat itself.

DEL VALLE — The District 26-6A champion Unicorns stormed out of the gates to blank Del Valle 3-0 Thursday night on the road in their 2019 playoff opener.

SPRING BRANCH — Smithson Valley needed just six innings to show Judson the door Tuesday night during a 12-2 rout in Spring Branch.

They say when it rains, it pours.

SPRING BRANCH — The New Braunfels boys captured their first outright district championship since 2011 on Friday night after recording a 2-1 victory over Smithson Valley on the road.

SPRING BRANCH — The Rangers ended their District 26-6A slide Friday night by subduing East Central 2-1 at home.

CIBOLO — Make it a dozen district wins in a row for the Cougarettes dating back to the 2018 season.

SPRING BRANCH — Smithson Valley fended off a serious challenge from the pesky Lady Rockets Thursday afternoon at home to improve to 2-2 in district play.

For baseball coaches, Spring Break doesn’t represent a time to head to the beach or lounge poolside with a cold beverage in hand.

KERRVILLE — The Unicorns played the role of road warriors Wednesday in Kerrville by taking down Tivy 3-2.

KERRVILLE — For the fourth year in a row, basketball standouts from the New Braunfels area will make the trek to Kerrville to take part in the Chicken Express Basketball Classic.

SPRING BRANCH — Upon seeing his catcher leveled at home plate during a collision in the bottom of the fifth inning on Tuesday, Canyon senior James Perez was one of the first to voice his displeasure toward the Smithson Valley dugout.

The Canyon girls’ win streak stretched to eight matches Tuesday night after head coach Dustin Gold’s squad notched a 4-0 shutout of East Central at Cougar Stadium.

SPRING BRANCH — Following his team’s 12-2 win over New Braunfels to open District 26-6A play, Canyon head coach Kevin Randle said he thought the duo of Aliyah Pritchett and Hunter Vestal still have room for improvement this season.