2013 Baseball Preview: Teams to Watch

TEAMS TO WATCH

Class 4A

Hallsville
Head Coach: Scott Mitchell
2012 Record: 23-10 (Class 4A area finalists)

Key Returners

• Ronnie Gideon, INF/P, Sr. (.374, 5 HRs, 43 RBIs; 2-2, 4.04 ERA, 19 Ks, 17.1 IP)
• Connor Reich, P/OF, Jr. (.404, 2 HRs, 37 RBIs; 6-3, 1.85 ERA, 102 Ks, 75.2 IP)
• Jacob Walker, OF, Soph. (.452, 19 RBIs, 47 runs, 21 SBs)

Lindale
Head Coach: Russell Bowker
2012 Record: 21-5-1 (Class 3A area finalists)

Key Returners

• Jon French, OF/C, Jr. (District Newcomer of the Year)
• Sam Sitton, P/INF, Jr. (Second team all-district)
• Ryan Dudley, OF/P, Soph. (First team all-district)

Pine Tree
Head Coach: Lance Standley
2012 Record: 20-12-1 (Class 4A area finalists)

Key Returners

• Mason Liu, OF, Sr. (.330, 4 HRs, 26 RBIs, 29 runs, 22 SBs)
• Christopher Chadwick, INF/P, Jr. (.359, 22 RBIs, 3-1)
• Blake Adams, C, Jr. (.337, 13 RBIs)

Whitehouse
Head Coach: Derrick Jenkins
2012 Record: 28-6 (Class 4A regional semifinalists)

Key Returners

• Patrick Mahomes, P/OF, Jr. (11-3, 2.30 ERA, 90-plus Ks)
• Ryan Cheatham, P/UTL, Jr. (5-2, 2.15 ERA, 50-plus Ks)
• Michael Nuon, SS/P, Sr. (40 SBs; 5-0)

Class 3A

Carthage
Head Coach: Jim Goldman
2012 Record: 28-5 (Class 3A area finalists)

Key Returners

• JayDon Day, P, Sr. (11-2, 2.29 ERA, 62 Ks, 73.1 IP)
• Jared Twomey, INF, Sr. (Second team all-district)
• Brody Colle, OF/P, Sr. (3 HRs)

Diboll
Head Coach: Edd Trotter
2012 Record: 17-14 (Class 3A area finalists)

Key Returners

• Eric DeJesus, INF/P, Jr. (District Player of the Year)
• Sergio Castillo, P/OF, Sr. (First team all-district)
• Alex Grimaldo, OF/P, Sr. (First team all-district)

Lufkin Hudson
Head Coach: Glen Kimble
2012 Record: 20-10-1 (Class 3A area finalists)

Key Returners

• Riley Smith, P, Sr. (District Pitcher of the Year)
• Trevor Adams, INF/P, Sr. (First team all-district)
• Micah Ellison, INF, Sr. (Second team all-district)

Pleasant Grove
Head Coach: Craig Jones
2012 Record: 35-5 (Class 3A state champions)

Key Returners

• Alex Alsup, INF/P, Sr. (First team all-district)
• Cason Cordray, OF/P, Sr. (First team all-district)

Class 2A

Elkhart
Head Coach: John Adair
2012 Record: 36-5 (Class 2A state semifinalists)

Key Returners

• Levi Smith, C, Sr. (.392, 5 HRs, 58 RBIs, 16 2Bs)
• Jacob Cheatham, INF/P, Sr. (.458, 1 HR, 40 RBIs, 44 SBs; 9-2, 1.30 ERA, 55 Ks, 53.2 IP)
• Jordan White, INF/P, Sr. (.361, 1 HR, 32 RBIs; 10-3, 1.08 ERA, 71 Ks, 71 IP)

Hughes Springs
Head Coach: Kent Craig
2012 Record: 26-4 (Class 2A regional quarterfinalists)

Key Returners

• Cody Hawkins, OF, Sr. (Second team all-state; District Offensive MVP)
• Dylan Moore, P, Jr. (District Defensive MVP)
• Chad McKinney, C, Jr. (First team all-district)

Queen City
Head Coach: Josh Turner
2012 Record: 23-10 (Class 2A regional semifinalists)

Key Returners

• Jay Hawley, INF/P, Sr. (District Offensive MVP)
• Briley Barnwell, INF, Sr. (First team all-district)
• Jonathan Boucher, OF/P, Sr. (First team all-district)

White Oak
Head Coach: Charles Foshee
2012 Record: 23-8 (Class 2A regional quarterfinalists)

Key Returners

• Hunter Owens, P, Sr. (7-3, 2.88 ERA, 90 Ks, 58.2 IP)
• Jansen McCurdy, INF, Sr. (.433, 3 HRs, 27 RBIs, 10 2Bs, 22 SBs)
• Josh Benson, P, Jr. (5-1, 0.82 ERA, 57 Ks, 51 IP)

Class A

Carlisle
Head Coach: Wesley Colley
2012 Record: 25-3 (Class A state semifinalists)

Key Returners

• Gunner Baker, INF/P, Sr. (.512, 3 HRs, 47 RBIs, 36 SBs; 14-0, 0.24 ERA, 155 Ks, 84 IP; signed with Hill Junior College)
• Caleb Colley, INF, Jr. (.403, 30 SBs)
• Shadow Sanders, P/OF, Sr. (5-0, 0.48 ERA, 47 Ks, 29 IP; .381, 14 RBIs, 13 SBs)

Cayuga
Head Coach: Greg Branch
2012 Record: 27-4 (Class A regional semifinalists)

Key Returners

• Chantz Holland, P/INF, Sr. (10-2, sub-2.00 ERA; signed with Vernon Junior College)
• Chandler Rigdon, P/INF, Soph. (7-2; transferred from Turkey Valley)

Douglass
Head Coach: Eugene Lafitte
2012 Record: 26-4 (Class A regional finalists)

Key Returners

• Reed Westbrook, P/INF, Sr. (7 wins, 1.62 ERA, 68 Ks; .541, 11 SBs)
• Kolten Rhoudes, UTL, Jr. (.406)