22-5a District Projection

[jdawg03]

1. Kingwood -- defending state champion still strong, making the finals of the Minute Maid Classic and saving their ace for the district opener on Tuesday...at West Brook. The pitching duo of Ojala and Toucton (with Torres a solid 3rd) is one of the best in the state. All 3 have already signed with major D1 programs. Coach Denney? He just keeps churning out powerhouse teams year in and year out. This program is the envy of most.

2. Humble -- regional finalists last year (losing in best of 3 series to Kingwood after knocking out West Brook) returns Rice signee Ryan Berry to lead staff. Huge boos this weekend when Chris Corrigan (UH signee) returned to the mound after not playing an inning until then (the reasons for which are an unspoken mystery). They don't hit the ball like they did last year (the lost almost the entire top 2/3rd of their order) but Coach Sitton is good and he usually finds a way.

3. West Brook -- their outlook has improved dramatically since their pitching has performed much better than expected. RHP David Murphy and Josiah Svoboda provides much needed help to the staff led by ace LHP Mark Serna. The Bruins have crushed the ball in preseason -- they have 4 starters (Armstrong, Ferguson, Murphy and Serna) all over .400 with two others (Falgout and Lycan) knocking on that door. Can the continue that pace when the rigors of the 'toughest district in the State" begins?

4. Spring -- a very inconsistent, but talented, team during the preseason. Led by RHP Zack Bucholski, the Lions and their new coach are still 'getting to know each other'...but this is a tradition-rich program. They back down to noone.

5. Baytown Sterling -- the Rangers are one of the disappointments to date. Anchored with a strong pitching staff led by ace RHP Demsay, and backed up by 2 very good LHP (Fuqua and Cervenka), this team has struggled all season. Look for Coach Tadlock to play his best hand -- his front-line pitching-- during district and make a move. Nevertheless, Sterling has dropped from everyone's off-season expectations.

6. Baytown Lee -- although less talented than their cross-town rivals, the Ganders have played better and been more successful so far this season. They are a very tough team at home but, in a district as deep and talented as this, they are in the bottom half lookng up.

7. Spring Westfield -- Westfield was an also-ran last year and it appears nothing has changed on the north side of Houston for these guys. There is some talent there but it is thin.

8. Port Arthur Memorial -- the Titans have a new coach and have won more games than they have in any year of their existence...but, against who? Deweyville? a 1-run win vs. Nederland's JV team.? While it would be wonderful for SE Texas to have a competitive team in South County, this isn't the year. Marcus Freeman is a caliber player but it is going to take more than that to turn this program into a 22-5A contender.

Put together by MIF04....Big thanks to him

http://www.setxsports.com/baseball/districtprojections.html

[KFDM COOP]

The 3A Projections have been posted.