Magnolia West Begins 5A Playoff Series vs Elkins

Media
February 24th, 2026

Magnolia West Mustangs Ready for Playoff Challenge Against Fort Bend Elkins Knights

HUNTSVILLE – The Magnolia West Mustangs, fresh off a dominant regular season that saw them clinch the District 16-5A championship, are set to begin their quest for a Class 5A state title this week. The Mustangs (25-6 overall, 13-1 district) will face the Fort Bend Elkins Knights (20-10 overall, third in District 20-5A) in a best-of-three bi-district playoff series at Don Sanders Baseball Park on the campus of Sam Houston State University.

The series is scheduled to kick off Thursday, May 2nd, at 7 p.m. Game two is set for Friday, May 3rd, also at 7 p.m., with a decisive Game Three, if necessary, planned for Saturday, May 4th, at 1 p.m. All contests will be played at the neutral site in Huntsville, a common practice for early-round playoff matchups to ensure fairness.

Magnolia West enters the playoffs with significant momentum, having established themselves as a formidable force throughout their regular season campaign. Their 25-6 overall record and near-perfect 13-1 run through District 16-5A speak volumes about their consistency and talent.

Head coach James Bruce expressed confidence in his squad, drawing on their recent playoff experience. The Mustangs made a deep run last year, reaching the regional finals, which Bruce believes has prepared his current group for the pressures of the postseason. “This group is ready for it. They’ve been here, they’ve seen it, they’ve played in it. It’s not new to them,” Bruce stated, emphasizing the team’s mental readiness. He also strategically rested some players during the preceding week to ensure they are at peak freshness for the critical series.

Pitching depth is a significant strength for Magnolia West. Junior right-hander Trenton Dillard leads the rotation with an impressive 10-1 record, a stellar 1.25 ERA, and 80 strikeouts. Complementing him is junior left-hander Kase Cosper, who boasts an equally strong 9-1 record with a 2.37 ERA and 65 strikeouts. Senior Brandon Seidl provides further reliability from the mound, holding a 4-0 record with a 2.62 ERA. Bruce highlighted this collective strength, noting, “The good thing is we have Kase and Trenton that have been our workhorses all year. And then we have Brandon Seidl coming in behind them who has done a great job for us.”

Offensively, the Mustangs feature a potent lineup capable of putting up runs. Trenton Dillard is a key two-way player, also leading the offense with a .456 batting average, 29 RBIs, and 10 doubles. Weston Dean has been a significant contributor, batting .388 with 22 RBIs and three home runs. Mason Myska adds power and consistency with a .360 average, 25 RBIs, and 10 doubles. Rounding out the offensive threats are Austin Crawshaw and Chase Vinson, who maintain strong averages at .302 and .364, respectively.

While confident, Coach Bruce anticipates a challenging series against Fort Bend Elkins. He described the Knights as a “good team” with “a couple of good arms,” indicating the Mustangs will need to bring their best to advance. As the postseason journey begins, Magnolia West looks to leverage its experience, pitching prowess, and potent offense to navigate the bi-district round and continue their pursuit of a state championship.

Media

Senior Editor

Share this article:

Comments

No comments yet. Leave a reply to start a conversation.

Subscribe to Space

By signing up, you agree to receive our newsletters and promotional content and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.