Heights softball breezes through bi-district playoffs

By Landan Kuhlmann landan@theleadernews.com

The Heights Lady Bulldogs’ softball team is on a mission to prove that their run through District 18-6A was no fluke. And in last week’s first round of the UIL state playoffs, they made an emphatic opening statement.

Heights opened what the team hopes is a deep playoff run last weekend by sweeping a pair of games against Stratford to advance to the area round. The Lady Bulldogs won a 12-2 decision on April 28 before winning Game 2 by a score of 14-3 on April 29 to punch their ticket to the next round. Heights (27-2-1) is slated to face Katy Cinco Ranch (20-9), District 19-6A’s second-place finisher, in a best-of-three series beginning Thursday at 6 p.m. at Delmar Sta- dium.

Much like they have done all season, the Lady Bulldogs used a combination of strong pitching and their offensive onslaught to overwhelm Stratford in the bi-district series, pounding out 26 hits over the course of two games while allowing the Lady Spartans to muster just seven total hits of their own to extend their winning streak to 15 games dating back to the end of the regular season.

Senior infielder Sydney Palomo was the offensive catalyst in Game 1 for the Lady Bulldogs in going 3 for 3 with her fourth home run of the season to go along with five RBIs, while Angelina del Pozo also had two hits and two RBIs of her own. In Game 2, del Pozo and Helen Maddux led the Lady Bulldogs’ offense with a home run and three RBIs apiece, while Flora Moreno (two doubles, two RBIs) along with Palomo and Alyssa Morris (two RBIs apiece) also contributed strong offensive performances.

The Lady Bulldogs also saw both pitchers dominate in the circle last week, as they have done for much of the season. Hayley Jaime struck out 10 batters with no walks while allowing just four hits in Heights’ Game 1 victory, while Sara Paniagua earned the win in Game 2 by allowing just three hits and striking out four in a complete-game effort.

Washington, Waltrip seasons end

It was not as favorable an outcome for the area’s other two softball teams, as the Waltrip Lady Rams and Booker T. Washington Lady Eagles saw their seasons come to an end.

Waltrip saw its season end with a pair of losses to Rosenberg Lamar

Consolidated, falling 10-0 on April 28 before losing 12-1 on April 29 to draw their season to a close. The Lady Rams closed out the 2023 season with a 17-6 overall record. Booker T. Washington, meanwhile, saw its season end on April 28 with a 15-0 loss to Navasota. The Lady Eagles ended the season with a 7-6 record.

Private schools

On the private school side, St. Pius X bounced back from a 7-5 loss to St. Agnes Academy on April 25 to beat Concordia Lutheran 13-2 on April 27 to secure a TAPPS district title. The Lady Panthers then defeated Bishop Lynch 15-3 in the area playoffs Tuesday thanks to four RBIs each from Victoria Hunter and Kennedy Flenner.

BERING MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

Second Blessings

NEW LOCATION, SAME SITE, DIFFERENT BUILDING!

Spring Sale

1427 HAWTHORNE ST., HOUSTON, TX 77006

Montrose Area • New Building (former Bering Dental Clinic)

FRIDAY, MAY 12TH • 8 AM - 3 PM

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1st floor of Second Blessings: Furniture & antiques 2nd floor of Second Blessings: Linens, vintage linens, men’s clothing, electronics, art, CDs, and DVDs.

Fellowship Hall: Christmas decor, household items, kitchen, glassware, stemware, vases, crystal, silver plate, ceramics, artwork, pottery, china, cameras, figurines, and miscellaneous items.

Bering Boutique: Vintage clothing & accessories, silver, gold, and costume jewelry.

Outside: Tools, power tools, patio furniture, and lawn equipment.

*Masks and vaccines are greatly appreciated inside of the buildings!

For more information: Call 713.526.1017, option 1 in the transfer of real estate.

Full Probate Traditional probate can include uncontested matters (where there are no arguments between the parties) or contested matters (arguments involved). It can also include matters where there is a Will (testate), which is much simpler, or where no Will is involved (intestate), which is not as easy. During probate, the Court will ultimately issue Letters Testamentary to the Executor (or Letters of Administration when there is no Will) directing the person designated to distribute real estate among beneficiaries in a Will, creditors, or anyone else who has an interest in the property.

Muniment of Title

If the decedent had a Will, but did not have any creditors against his estate (other than a mortgage), the family can probate the Will as a Muniment of Title. This means that the Will, if accepted by the Court, can serve as proof of title once it is filed in the real property records and can transfer ownership to the beneficiaries named in the Will. In an action for Muniment of Title, however, there is no Executor or Administrator appointed and there can be nothing else in the estate, other than real property, that requires administration or transfer.

Small Estate Affidavit

If the decedent died without a Will (intestate), and the total value of the estate not including the decedent’s homestead is less than $75,000, the family can file a Small Affidavit in the probate court. This process is more economical than the traditional probate process, but there are many limitations. For example, the homestead can be the only real property owned by the decedent. In addition, the homestead must only be inherited by the decedent’s surviving spouse or children, who were also living there. Like the Muniment of Title alternative, there is no Executor appointed and no administration of other assets should be needed.

Avoiding Probate for Real Estate

When planned in advance, people can avoid the probate process for real estate through the use of a revocable living trust or a Texas Transfer on Death Deed.

If no plans in advance were made, families can sometimes use an Affidavit of Heirship to transfer title when someone has passed, but that is only possible when no Will was left. In that case, the house will go to the people Texas states should inherit and not necessarily who the decedent would have wanted to inherit. To make sure your plan gets in place, and not the “Texas plan,” be sure to plan in advance. For help with probate, or planning your estate, please contact Jennifer Solak at 713-588-5744 or jennifer@solaklegal.com.

Jennifer M. Solak Attorney & Counselor at Law

713.588.5744 jennifer@solaklegal.com

Baptist Temple / “Heights Church”

Begin Run on 12/03/22

Baptist Temple / “Heights Church”

10” x 2”

Begin Run on 12/03/22

10” x 2”

Edward Crowell 713.628.2468

Edward Crowell

713.628.2468

Woodlawn Funeral Home & Garden of Memories is proud to provide Domani for Grief and Loss resources to support families as they deal with the difficult loss of a loved one.

Join us for our grief support group receptions. Delicious breakfast compliments and refreshments will be served.

Our section Support Local will provide local businesses each week to you, our readers. There is no time like the present to strengthen and invest in our community! Call The Leader at 713-686-8494 or email jblack@theleadernews.com to advertise in this section.

We are a church for the Heights.

We are a church for the Heights.

Hymns and Hers.

Hymns and Hers.

Bible Study @10am | Worship @11am

Bible Study @10am | Worship @11am

230 W. 20th St. 77008

Everyone is welcome at Heights Church. We are an exciting blend of old and new, and we warmly invite you to visit.

230 W. 20th St. 77008 Heights Church @heightschurchhouston Heights Church, Houston, Texas HeightsChurchHouston.org

Heights Church @heightschurchhouston Heights Church, Houston, Texas HeightsChurchHouston.org

Everyone is welcome at Heights Church. We are an exciting blend of old and new, we warmly invite you to visit.

COFFEE 930AM | BIBLE STUDY 1OAM | WORSHIP 11AM | 230 W. 20TH ST. 77008

COFFEE 930AM | BIBLE STUDY 1OAM | WORSHIP 11AM | 230 W. 20TH ST. 77008 Heights Church @heightschurchhouston Heights Church, Houston, Texas HeightsChurchHouston.org

Heights Church @heightschurchhouston Heights Church, Houston, Texas HeightsChurchHouston.org

Playground from P. 1 have also been sidewalk upgrades made and decorative fencing put up, as well as new picnic tables, benches, trash receptacles and a drinking fountain.

“(My son) literally asks to come here,” Garden Oaks resident Lindsey Broadwell said. “He’s not even two years old, and he says ‘Park!’ He loves it.”

The legwork in raising funds for the new playground – which cost roughly $1 million according to Carroll – began with former Mayor Pro Tem and District C councilmember Ellen Cohen, and continued when Cohen reached term limits and current District C councilmember Abbie Kamin took over. And Kamin said that seeing all the kids out and about, made the wait and the investment worth every penny and every second dedicated to its creation.

“I think this is one of