A reprisal of one competitive rivalry and the continuing advancement of Katy Taylor softball highlight the weekend’s baseball regional quarterfinal and softball regional semifinal schedule.

District 20-5A champion Lamar (28-5) will play Bellaire (33-5) in a best-of-three series beginning Thursday. The top three teams from that district remain in the playoffs – Westside plays Memorial in another quarterfinal.

The two softball semifinals pit Katy Taylor (19-10) against Brazoswood (33-4) and Bellaire (31-9) against Alvin (28-8).

Complete schedules for area teams are listed below.

The Redskins and Cardinals, who split their regular-season series, haven’t met in the playoffs since 1998.

Bellaire handed Lamar its only district loss as the two teams split their season series. The Cardinals won the first meeting, 11-9 on April 7, and the Redskins won 9-3 on April 25 in the regular-season finale for both teams.

The series will be played in two days at Butler Stadium – Game 1 is Thursday, and Games 2 and 3 will be Friday.

“It is extremely good for this district we’re all still playing,” Lamar coach Mike McGilvray said. “We get knocked sometimes for the district we’re in, and while the bottom of the district may be below par, we’re the only district in the state that has three teams left. And this will be a good matchup.”

Lamar advanced by outlasting Langham Creek in two games, winning 8-7 and 22-21.

Bellaire eliminated Katy in three games, winning two in 90-degree heat Saturday.

Memorial (27-3) and Westside (25-3) advanced in memorable fashion – Memorial avenged a 10-0 loss to Cypress Creek Friday night by run-ruling the Cougars 13-3 in Saturday’s Game 3; and Westside used mostly excellent pitching to eliminate defending state champion Cy-Fair in three games.

All three games will be at Langham Creek, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday if necessary.

The other two Region III quarterfinal series pit Alvin against Pasadena Memorial and Baytown Sterling against Fort Bend Elkins.

In softball, Katy Taylor will play Brazoswood.

Katy Taylor, which prior to this year hadn’t advanced past the first round of the playoffs since making the regional tournament in 2004, eliminated District 18-5A rival Cinco Ranch in a one-game quarterfinal, 5-2 Friday night.

The Mustangs have allowed only three runs in five postseason games.

Brazoswood defeated Taylor 4-0 in the Brazoswood ISD tournament in late February.

That entire series will be played at Manvel, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and noon Saturday, if necessary.

The other softball semifinal has Bellaire (31-9) playing Alvin (28-8). The Cardinals making their first regional semifinal appearance since 1994.

The complete list of games for area teams next weekend:

BASEBALL
Regional quarterfinals
Memorial (27-3) vs. Westside (25-3)
Game 1: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Langham Creek
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Langham Creek
*Game 3: 2 p.m. Saturday, Langham Creek

Lamar (28-5) vs. Bellaire (33-5)
Game 1: 7 p.m. Thursday, Butler Stadium
Game 2: 5 p.m. Friday, Butler Stadium
*Game 3: 45 minutes after Game 2

SOFTBALL
Regional semifinals
Katy Taylor (19-8) vs. Brazoswood (33-4)
Game 1: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Manvel
Game 2: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Manvel
*Game 3: Noon Saturday, Manvel

Bellaire (31-9) vs. Alvin (28-8)
Game 1: 7 p.m. Thursday, Fort Bend Elkins
Game 2: 6 p.m. Friday, Fort Bend Elkins
*Game 3: 30 minutes after Game 2

* if necessary

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