ROAD TO STATE GLORY WRITES OPENING CHAPTERS IN DISTRICT 23-5AA

ATHLETES in District 23-5A will be laying on the line in track and field, boys golf along with boys and girls tennis. Meanwhile, the Astros continue their opening homestand of the season and the Rockets play their final home game of the regular season as the NBA playoffs loom next weekend.  TODAY, WEDNESDAY: District 23-5A’s track and field meet continues at Santa Fe.  The event will conclude on Friday with the finals, setting the stage for the top finishers to advance to the regional meet in Huntsville later this month.  The day also means it’s the turn of the District 23-5A boys to take aim at Battleground Golf Course in Baytown as their two-day tournament commences. District titles are also up for grabs both today and Thursday in the 23-5A boys and girls tennis meet at Manvel, with the top finishers advancing to the regional finals later this month.  The Astros conclude their first series at home with a 1:10pm clash against the Orioles.  Dallas Keuchel, who won his Opening Day start at the Rangers, gets the nod for Houston against Dylan Bundy. AT&T Sportsnet Southwest will air the game live, starting with the pregame show at 12:30pm.  TOMORROW, THURSDAY: The Rockets host the Trail Blazers at Toyota Center starting at 7:00pm. Houston has won all three previous meetings against Portland this season, with the most recent victory coming in a 115-111 nail biter on the road on March 20. AT&T Sportsnet Southwest will begin its coverage with the pregame show at 6:30pm.  FRIDAY: The baseball schedule will have Dickinson at Alvin, Friendswood at Clear Creek, Clear Brook at Clear Lake, Clear Falls at Clear Springs La Marque at East
Bernard, Texas City at Fort Bend Elkins and Santa Fe at Fort Bend Marshall. Each game will start at 7:00pm.  In softball, Friendswood at Clear Brook, Clear Falls at Clear Lake, Clear Springs at Dickinson, Galena Park at Galveston Ball, Hitchcock at Rice Consolidated and Santa
Fe at Texas City each starting at 6:30pm while Clear Creek at Alvin will get underway at 6:45pm.  Old National League West foes collide when the Padres visit Minute Maid Park for a weekend set starting at 7:10pm. Lance McCullers Jr. gets the start for the Astros and will be opposed by San Diego hurler Luis Perdomo. AT&T Sportsnet Southwest’s pregame show will begin at 6:30pm.  SATURDAY: Two high school baseball games are on tap with each starting at 1:00pm. Texas City crosses the causeway to meet Galveston Ball while Santa Fe makes the run north on Highway 6 to meet Fort Bend Elkins.  The Rockets host the Thunder in a nationally televised game that will be aired on
ABC-13 beginning at 7:30pm. Houston has split the previous two meetings this season against Oklahoma City, winning 122-112 on the road on March 6 before OKC after the Thunder pulled out a 112-107 home win on Christmas night.