Which Texas UIL softball playoff regions are the toughest?

Video: Lauren Bazan's highlights Dobie
See the Atascocita junior tearing it up on the diamond.

The first round of the UIL girls softball playoffs proceeded close to form, save for one upset, in bi-district action involving MaxPreps highest-ranked teams.

In last week's bi-district playoff round, the top 10 in five Texas classifications advanced to the second round with a 98 percent success rate.

The lone upset came in Class 6A Region III where Dawson (Pearland) swept a best-of-three series from No. 3 Alvin.

Dawson was one of five lowest playoff seeds (based on district standings) to oust Class 6A district champions in the opening round. Other fourth-seed winners were Wylie, Lake Highlands (Dallas), Montgomery and Clear Creek (League City).



Six more fourth-seeds made it through the opening round at the expense of district champions in Class 5A: Aledo, North Forney (Forney), Texas City, Dayton, King (Corpus Christi) and Calhoun (Port Lavaca).

One of the top match-ups this week comes in a Class 5A Region IV area playoff with No. 5 Angleton facing No. 6 Dripping Springs.

The UIL playoffs will culminate with the state tournament set for May 31-June 3.

Here's a look at which regions rate the strongest going into the second playoff round based on MaxPreps' top 10 rankings in classifications 6A through 2A.
Class 6A:
Region III
1. Katy
4. Kingwood
5. Deer Park
7. Ridge Point (Missouri City)
8. Atascocita (Humble)
Region IV
2. Johnson (San Antonio)
10. Canyon (New Braunfels)
Region I
9. Keller
Region II
6. Hendrickson (Pflugerville)

Class 5A
Region IV
1. Carroll (Corpus Christi)
2. Foster (Richmond)
5. Angleton
6. Dripping Springs
Region III
4. Barbers Hill (Mt. Belvieu)
7. Santa Fe
8. Willis
Region II
3. Forney
9. Lovejoy (Lucas)
Region I
10. Canyon

Class 4A
Region II
2. North Lamar (Paris)
3. Crandall
4. Krum
6. Bonham
9. Carthage
10. Aubrey
Region III
1. Liberty Hill
8. Lorena
Region IV
7. Sweeny
Region I
5. Brownwood



Class 3A
Region II
1. Hughes Springs
4. White Oak
5. Pilot Point
8. Hooks
Region III
2. West
7. Grandview
9. Little River Academy
10. Malakoff
Region IV
3. Santa Gertrudis Academy (Kingsville)
6. Hallettsville

Class 2A
Region IV
4. Milano
5. Shiner
6. Normangee
7. Kaufer (Riviera)
8. Thorndale
Region II
1. Bells
2. Tom Bean
3. Crawford
Region I
10. Archer City
Region III
9. Martins Mill (Ben Wheeler)