District 24-5A, judged my many as one of the best in Texas, gets into second round action at 7:30 p.m. on Friday with Pearland visiting Clear Lake in possibly the prime pairing.

Pearland and Clear Lake were among three 24-5A teams with 4-1 district starts (Brazoswood was the other), and wins against co-contenders are key, but as many coaches say, every team is a contender, even Clear Creek following an unexpected 0-5 beginning.

"Clear Creek going 0-5 is not what I had penciled in before the season, and Alvin going 3-3 in the first round wasn't really expected," Pearland coach Laneigh Clark said. "It just shows how deep our district is, and anything is possible in this second round, especially with the top five or six teams."

Like every 24-5A team, Pearland can't relax anytime soon with Brazoswood visiting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

"The schedule is tough, and then it gets tougher, but it's been a great team effort by our players," Clark said. "They've performed and played well, and they're having fun, too."

The Lady Oilers' youthful infield of freshmen Lauren Langner at second base and Chelsea Bennett at third, and sophomores Meagan Coronado at second base and Jay Bechtle at shortstop are under the constant supervision of seniors catcher Kelsea Orsak and pitcher Shelby Cockrell.

"The seniors are someone they can look to," Clark said. "With all these young players at key positions, it makes what we've been able to do even more amazing."

Senior right fielder Jenna Guse made an over-the-shoulder diving catch that preserved a 3-2 win at Alvin. While junior Jensen Tydelski supplies more leadership in center field, but the youth movement continues in left with freshman speedster LeAndra Maly, who recently returned from an injury.

"If Guse doesn't make that catch against Alvin, we probably would have lost," Clark said.

Sophomore Brittany Marcet, the twin sister of pitcher Megan Marcet, hits third in the lineup as a designated player, and has seen time behind the plate.

The rest of Pearland's schedule includes a bye on April 4, road games at Clear Creek on April 8 and Ball on April 15, and home outings with Alvin on April 11 and Clear Brook April 18.

"There's still a long way to go, and you can go up or down in a hurry depending on how focused you are," Clark said.

Alvin plans on going up starting with a 7:30 p.m. contest on Friday at Ball, and a 7 p.m. home game on Tuesday against Clear Brook.

The Lady yellowjackets downed Ball, Clear Brook and Clear Creek in round one, and fell to Clear Lake, Brazoswood and Pearland.