Cardinals, Mustangs high on 4A preseason baseball poll
Published 9:03 am Monday, January 16, 2017
- Leader Photo by Van Wade Bridge City's Kevin Gordon slides safely into home as WO-S catcher Jack Dallas scans the field in last year's Regional Quarterfinals playoff series in Jasper.
There are some familiar faces in the Texas High School Baseball Class 4A Preseason State poll, including three powerful District 22-4A teams.
The Bridge City Cardinals and Silsbee Tigers, who shared the co-title last year are n it as well as the West Orange-Stark Mustangs.
The Tigers, who went 17-10 last year, return six starters including the outstanding pitching duo of Trvis Sundgren and Chase Partain. Silsbee checks into the No. 7 spot.
The Cardinals are ranked No. 10 and return five starters from a 24-10 unit, including All-District selections in catcher Schuylar Thibodaux and outfielder/pitcher Caleb Dubois.
The Mustangs are ranked No. 12 and have the most players back in the district with nine returning starters from a 18-13 unit including pitcher Jack Dallas and second baseman KJ Miller, who both shined as sophomores when the Mustangs advanced to the 4A State Title Game and are now seniors.
Argyle, which returns nine starters from a 28-7 team, is ranked No. 1. Abilene Wylie, defending state champions, return six starters from a 32-2 squad.
Here is the Class 4A Top 20
- Argyle – 9 starters return from a 28-7 Regional Finalist Team. Sr 1B/P Connor Mushinski (District MVP), Sr P Brett Lundy (District Pitcher of the Year)
2. Godley – 9 starters return from a 28-4 Regional Finalist Team. Jr 2B/P Bobby Goodloe (.495, 43 R, 24 RBI), Jr SS/P Brett Brown (.438, 12-0, 101 K)
3. Abilene Wylie – 6 all-district players return from a 32-2-1 State Championship Team. Jr P Connor Carlton (District Pitcher of the Year), Sr P Hutton Frazier (1st Team All-District)
4. Sweeny – 5 starters return from a 30-8 Regional Finalist Team. Sr INF Elijah Smith (.301, 6 2B, 15 RBI), Jr OF/P Ty Ringo (2.03 ERA, 86 K)
5. Robinson – 5 starters return from a 29-4 State Semifinalist Team. Sr OF/P Dru Dziedzic (1st Team All-District), Jr OF/P Mason Cooper (1st Team All-District)
6. Pleasant Grove – 5 starters return from a 27-5 State Semifinalist Team. Sr INF/P Caleb Bolden (.365, 12-0, 0.95 ERA), Sr INF/P Will Hlavinka (7-0, 1.04 ERA)
7. Silsbee – 6 starters return from a 17-10 Regional Quarterfinalist team. Sr 3B/P Trevis Sundgren (THSBCA 3rd Team All-State), Sr SS/P Chase Partain (1st Team All-District)
8. Sinton – 8 starters return from a 24-11-1 Regional Semifinalist Team. Sr SS/P Jordan Martinez (.394, 9-3, 113 K), Jr P Mason Hopkins (6-4, 0.85 ERA, 66 K)
9. Robstown – 7 starters return from a 26-6 Regional Semifinalist Team. Sr 2B Xavier Pena (1st Team All-District), Jr 3B Austin Kwiatkowski (THSBCA 1st Team All-State)
10. Bridge City – 5 starters return from a 24-10-1 Regional Semifinalist Team. Jr C Schuylar Thibodaux (TXSWA Honorable Mention All-State), Jr OF/P Caleb Dubois (1st Team All-District)
11. Decatur – 9 starters return from a 23-11-1 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Sr P Bryce Elder (8-2, 1.36 ERA), Sr 1B/P Jaxon Terrell (7-2, 2.73 ERA)
12. West Orange-Stark – 9 starters return from a 18-13-1 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Sr INF/C/P Jack Dallas (TXSWA Honorable Mention All-State), Sr 2B/OF/P K.J. Miller (TXSWA 2nd Team All-State)
13. Snyder – 6 starters return from a 23-11 Regional Semifinalist Team. Sr 3B/P Matt Bass (.290 5 2B, 16 R), Sr 2B/P Aaron Escobedo (9-3, 2.04 ERA)
14. El Campo – 8 starters return from a 24-8 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Sr C Brock Brandl (THSBCA 2nd Team All-State), Sr SS Kyle Mamerow (1st Team All-District)
15. Geronimo Navarro – 8 starters return from a 28-4 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Sr OF Dean Wallace (.427, 24 SB), Jr SS/P Matthew Maldonado (.373, 11 2B, 1.69 ERA)
16. Pittsburg – 4 all-district players return from a 17-13-1 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Sr 2B Cristian Netro (1st Team All-District), Jr P Brett McGee (1st Team All-District)
17. Huntington – 6 starters return from a 19-9-1 Bi-District Finalist Team. Sr SS Ryan Havard (.371, 32 R), Sr INF/P Chandler Reece (6-3, 1.76 ERA, 81 K)
18. Lufkin Hudson – 6 starters return from a 18-13 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Sr C Kyle Lovelace (District Defensive Player of the Year), Sr SS/P J.T. Penick (1st Team All-District)
19. Boerne – 6 starters return from a 24-6 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Sr INF/P Jonah Bailey (1st Team All-District), Sr OF Bryson Smith (2nd Team All-District)
20. China Spring – 8 starters return from a 21-7-1 Area Finalist Team. Sr C Levi Bass (THSBCA 1st Team All-State), Sr 3B Brett Cain (THSBCA 3rd Team All-State)
