The Bridge City Cardinal baseball team is ranked No. 8 in the Class 4A Texas High School Coaches Association Preseason State Poll that was released Tuesday.

Long-time Cardinal coach Chad Landry saw the Cardinals grow more confident throughout the year last season and were the youngest team in the district.

The Cardinals, 21-14 last season, improved throughout the season, After earning the third-place berth out of 22-4A, the young crew, filled with freshmen, sophomores and juniors dotting most of the lineup, surprised many in the playoffs, including a superb sweep of Silsbee in the regional quarters before bowing out in the fourth round to China Spring.

Bridge City will be one of the favorites to win a very competitive District 22-4A with such an experienced, but still young crew back.

The Cardinals will be deep in pitching with the likes of Jacob Goodman, Logan Hamm, Justyn Romero and Peyton Havard all returning to the bump with major experience.

The Cardinals return big bats as well in All-State catcher Schuyler Thibodaux, Caleb DuBois, Jackson Tims, Gavin Green and Luc Hollier.

Abilene Wylie is ranked No. 1 in 4A followed by Robinson, Argyle, Pleasant Grove, Godley, Sinton, Sweeny, BC, Madisonville and Boerne.

Defending Class 5A champion Port Neches-Groves is ranked No. 1 in the 5A poll.

Kirbyville chimes in at No. 9 in Class 3A while Evadale is No. 8 in Class 2A.

Here is the entire THSB preseason poll:

Class 6A:

1. San Antonio Reagan
2. Deer Park
3. Southlake Carroll
4. Rockwall
5. Lake Travis
6. Cy Ranch
7. Round Rock
8. Midland Lee
9. Katy
10. San Antonio Churchill

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: The Woodlands, Laredo Alexander, George Ranch, Socorro, Keller, and Mansfield.

Class 5A:

1. Port Neches-Groves
2. Amarillo High
3. Prosper
4. Moody
5. College Station
6. Forney
7. Grapevine
8. Dripping Springs
9. Tomball
10. Mansfield Legacy

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Rouse, Calallen, Magnolia, Boerne Champion, Cleburne and Waxahachie

Class 4A:

1. Abilene Wylie
2. Robinson
3. Argyle
4. Pleasant Grove
5. Godley
6. Sinton
7. Sweeny
8. Bridge City
9. Madisonville
10. Boerne

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Robstown, Midlothian Heritage, Wimberley, and Kilgore

Class 3A:

1. Central Heights
2. Wall
3. Gateway Prep
4. Gunter
5. Brock
6. Edgewood
7. Beckville
8. Bishop
9. Kirbyville
10. Clifton

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES:, Blanco, Falfurrias, Whitesboro, and Pottsboro

Class 2A:

1. Muenster
2. Dallardsville Big Sandy
3. Thorndale
4. De Leon
5. Post
6. Woden
7. Bosqueville
8. Evadale
9. Riviera
10. Kerens

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Bells, Burton, Gary, Valley Mills, and Mart

Class 1A

1. Abbott
2. Booker
3. Fayetteville
4. D’Hanis
5. Lipan
6. Avalon
7. Savoy
8. Springlake Earth
9. Sulphur Bluff
10. Union Hill