Photo credit: Midland ISD

What to watch: The No. 3-ranked team across Texas, the Midland Bulldogs, and Legacy Rebels both enter the second round of the UIL 6A baseball playoffs this weekend in best-of-three series, with spots in the regional semifinals on the line. Midland (30-5) faces Southlake Carroll (13-21), while Legacy (18-13-2) takes on Euless Trinity (22-11-2). Midland and Legacy finished as co-champions of District 2-6A, each going 13-2 in district play.

The big picture: The Bulldogs enter as the No. 49-ranked team across the county. They’ve outscored opponents 291-107 and bring a 14-game winning streak into the series. Midland swept El Paso Eastwood in the first round of the playoffs. The Rebels scored 216 runs and allowed 190, advancing after a playoff opener series win over El Paso Eastlake that included a 17-1 third game score.

Go deeper: The Bulldogs have allowed just over three runs per game and consistently separate early, while Southlake Carroll has struggled to generate consistent offense across the season. The Dragons have kept games close at times, but the gap in run differential and overall record points toward Midland controlling the series if it plays to form.

Legacy and Trinity present a tighter matchup. Trinity holds the advantage in run differential (+43) compared to Legacy (+26) and has been more consistent across district play. The Trojans have also proven they can win close postseason games.

Legacy, however, has shown a higher offensive ceiling, including multiple double-digit scoring games and a decisive Game 3 win in the opening round. The difference in this series likely comes down to consistency — Trinity has it, while Legacy has shown more variability from game to game.

What’s next: Series winners advance to the UIL 6A regional semifinals, moving one step closer to the state tournament.