DIAMOND PRO CLASS 3A 2023 PRESEASON TOP 20

[KF89]

1. LONDON PIRATES – 8 Starters from 27-13 State Championship including Mason Jacob, Jr, SS (.390, 38 Runs; Honorable Mention All-State and Landon Salinas, Jr, IF/P (.360, 30 RBI, 12 2B; 3rd Team All-State)

2. FRANKLIN LIONS – 7 Starters from 31-6-1 Regional Finalist including Jayden Rocha, Sr, P (Honorable Mention All-State; Cisco Junior College) and Cort Lowry, Jr, 1B/P (20-3A Offensive MVP; 3rd Team All-State

3. GUNTER TIGERS – 5 starters from 36-2 State Semifinalist including Issac Villanueva, Sr, P/1B (13-2, 1.05 ERA, 97 K; 1st Team All-State) and Cade Dodson, Jr, P/SS (.505, 41 RBI; 1st Team All-State)

4. CENTRAL HEIGHTS BLUE DEVILS – 9 starters from 28-8 Regional Semifinalist including Jackson Glymph, Sr, 1B/3B (21-3A Offensive MVP; 1st Team All-State; Blinn College) and Bryce Payne, Jr, SS/P (21-3A Defensive MVP)

5. BROCK EAGLES – 6 starters return from 36-4 State Runner Up including Tyler Moody, Sr, IF/OF (.372, 10 2B; 1st Team All-State) and Sawyer Strosnider, Jr, P/OF (.490, 9 2B; 1st Team All-State)

6. POTTSBORO CARDINALS – 5 starters from 30-10 Regional Finalist including Barrett Kent, Sr, P/OF (10-3, 1.97 ERA, 110 Ks; Arkansas) and Jaxon Jester, Jr, IF/OF (.400, 16 2Bs, 42 RBIs; Honorable Mention All-State)

7. GRANDVIEW ZEBRAS – 7 Starters from 23-10-1 Regional Quarterfinalist including Ely Reeves, Sr, P/IF (9-2, 1.97 ERA, 72 Ks; 17-3A Co-MVP) and Jacob Vernon, Sr, P/IF (.310, 10 2Bs, 2 HRs; 17-3A Offensive MVP)

8. HOLLIDAY EAGLES – 6 starters from 30-6 Regional Quarterfinalist including Peyton Marchand, Sr, P/C (.455; 1.54 ERA, 79 Ks; 2nd Team All-State) and Grant Cox, Jr, P/C/OF (.386; 2.78 ERA, 54 K; 3rd Team All-State)

9. HARMONY EAGLES – 5 starters from 23-12 Regional Semifinalist including Tucker Tittle, Jr, LHP/OF (9-4, 1.25 ERA, 128 Ks; Honorable Mention All-State) and Boston Seahorn, Jr, SS/P (.387, 36 Runs, 16 SB; 13-3A Defensive MVP)

10. LITTLE RIVER ACADEMY BUMBLEBEES – 8 starters return from 28-5 Area Round Finalist including Lane Ward, Sr, SS (.495, 13 2B, 34 RBI; 3rd Team All-State) and Trey Ward, Jr, 1B/P(.443, .565 OBP, 28 RBIs/2nd Team All-State)

11. CAMERON YOE YOEMEN – 4 Starters from 27-9-1 Regional Semifinalist including Landen Greene, Sr, P/3B (.364, 13 2B, 33 RBI; 6-1; 2nd Team All-State) and Ryan Host, Sr, P/SS (.374, 20 RBIs; 3rd Team All-State.

12. BOYD YELLOWJACKETS – 8 starters from 23-6-2 Area Round Finalist including Braden McIntire, Jr, P/SS (8-1, 0.35 ERA, 89 Ks; 2nd Team All-State) and Eric Rogers, Jr, P/2B/OF (9-1, 0.81, 87 K; Honorable Mention All-State)

13. WALL HAWKS – 7 Starters from 27-8 Regional Quarterfinalist including Dylan Gidney, Jr, 1B/P (8-2, 1.72 ERA, 58 Ks; .381; 2nd Team All-State) and Luke Kemp, So, OF/SS/P (8-2, 2.14 ERA, 91 Ks; .352; 3rd Team All-State)

14. BUSHLAND FALCONS – 8 starters from 23-8 Regional Quarterfinalist including Josh Bass, Sr, SS/P (.525; 10-1, 56 KS; 1st Team All-State) and Stratton Molloy, Jr, OF (.527, 16 2B, 46 Runs; 1st Team All-State)

15. SHALLOWATER MUSTANGS – 4 starters from 33-3-1 Regional Semifinalist including Brooks Carter, Sr, C/SS/P (.541, 16 2Bs, 10 HRs, 51 RBIs; 1st Team All-State) and Brandt Carter, Sr, 1B/P/3B (.475, 10 2Bs, 33 RBIs, 59 Runs)

16. WHITE OAK ROUGHNECKS – 4 starters from 26-10 Regional Semifinalist including Gavyn Jones, Sr, LHP/1B/OF (.483; Honorable Mention All-State; Texas Tech) and Tyler Puckett, Sr, P/3B/1B (.371; 7-2, 1.05 ERA, 57 K; Honorable Mention All-State)

17. LORENA LEOPARDS – 7 starters from 25-5 Regional Quarterfinalist including Bowdy Shane, Sr, P/1B (9-4, 2.30 ERA, 49 Ks; 17-3A Pitcher of the Year) and Caleb Carrizales, So, C/P/UTL (.446, 9 2B, 27 RBIs; 3rd Team All-State)

18. BLANCO PANTHERS – 4 starters from 29-4 Regional Semifinalist including Devin Newsome, Sr, P/SS (.419, 13 2Bs, 46 Runs/3rd Team All-State) and Carson Smith, Jr, P/3B (.381, 3 HR; 7-1; 1st Team All-District)

19. DIBOLL LUMBERJACKS – 4 starters return from 38-5 State Semifinalist including Carson Morales, Sr, OF/P (8-0, 1.79 ERA; .402, 35 Runs, 29 SB) and Izaac DeJesus (4-1, 2.35 ERA; .333, 34 RBIs, 15 SB)

20. HOOKS HORNETS – 8 starters from 19-10 Area Round Finalist including Kameron Choate, Sr, SS/P (.402, 9 2B, 5 HR, 38 RBI; 14-3A Offensive MVP) and Matthew Hays, Sr, P/OF (6-2, 1.47 ERA, 53 Ks; .360; 14-3A Pitcher MVP)

[BBfan061]

Buna didn’t make this list but should be pretty decent this year

[longball24]

Orangefield and Anahuac both should be in the top 20 probably top 10 both are loaded.

[pine curtain]

5 minutes ago, longball24 said:

Orangefield and Anahuac both should be in the top 20 probably top 10 both are loaded.

orangefield and Buna  will be battleing for 1&2. anahuac will be a distant 3rd

anahuac lost their coach and will not be as good as they were last year.

[longball24]

Anahuac in my opinion has a better coach this year than last year Chase Franklin. Comes from a Baseball family. Cameron Edmonds. Probably will win every game he pitches. University of Houston signee with basically everyone returning from last season. They will be in the mix for the district championship.

[pine curtain]

2 hours ago, longball24 said:

Anahuac in my opinion has a better coach this year than last year Chase Franklin. Comes from a Baseball family. Cameron Edmonds. Probably will win every game he pitches. University of Houston signee with basically everyone returning from last season. They will be in the mix for the district championship.

chase is not tracy. 

the games anahuac will win this season will because of what bennett left them.

anahuac will be a 3-4 place team and will be 1 and done in the playoffs.

[KF89]

2023 Anahuac Baseball

Coach- Chase Franklin 

Assistant Coaches-Trevor White, Donald Houser

2022 Record- 17-11 / 11-3 district, 3rd Place/Bi-District Finalist

Returning Starters- 9

Cameron Edmonds, Sr, P/IF 

Bryson Campbell, Sr, C 

Holden Smith, Sr, IF 

Jake Previte, Sr, P/IF 

Jathan Sherman, Sr, P/UTL 

Jamie Granger, Sr, OF 

Brooks Henicke, Jr, OF 

Kye Till, Sr, P/OF 

Braedon Edmonds, So, UTL/DH

[KF89]

2023 Buna Baseball

Coach- Kevin Terrier (18 Years as Head Coach, 266 Career Wins)

Assistant Coaches- Kyle Clark, Jeff Speer

2022 Record- 21-11 /12-2 district, 2nd Place/Regional Quarterfinalist

Returning Starters 

Kale Knox, Sr, OF/P (.388 BA, 30 RBI, 22-3A POTY)

Toby Marse, Jr, IF/P (2.50 ERA, District Defensive MVP)

Evan Whitehead, Jr, SS/P (.309 BA, 26 R, 1st Team AD) 

Denton Peveto, Sr, OF/P (19 RBI, 17 SB)

[KF89]

2023 Orangefield Baseball

Coach- Tim Erickson (7 Years As Head Coach, 174 Career Wins)

Assistant Coaches- Jake Nash, Kolby Morgan, Ryan Pickering

2022 Record-28-4-1 / 10-2; District Champs/Regional Semifinalist in 4A

Returning Starters

Jason Bodin, Sr, P/OF (TSWA 2nd Team All State) 

Kyle Michael, Jr, 1B, (22-4A Offensive MVP) 

Caleb Fregia, Jr, 2B (All Dist. Hon. Ment.)

Rusten Traxler, Sr, C 

Morgan Sampson, P/DH

[KF89]

2023 Kirbyville Baseball

Coach- Jeremy Hogan

Assistant Coaches- Wesley Moss, Bryce Armstrong

2022 Record- 6-17 / 3-11 District

Returning Starters

Luke Fussell, So, P/SS (2nd Team AD) 

Jaxxon Mordente, Jr, CF (2nd Team AD) 

Ethan Gatlin, So ,C

 J.C. White, Sr, IF 

Kierstin Danna, Sr, OF 

Bron Melvin, Jr, IF 

Brent Garner, Jr, P/IF

[KF89]

2023 Warren Baseball

Coach- Scott Kay 

Assistant Coach- Justin Haney

2022 Record- 4-20 / 1-13

Returning Starters

Parker Brocato, So, P/SS (.286 BA, 1.95 ERA, 1st Team AD)

Payton Tupper, Jr, P/3B (.274 BA, 3.98 ERA)

Mason Scarborough, Jr, SS/2B (.269 BA)

Caden Carney, So, SS/3B 

Bryston Holyfield, Sr, C/OF

Landon Broussard, Jr, 3B/1B

[KF89]

2023 Kountze Baseball

Coach- Brandon Hillin (3 Years As Head Coach, 34 Career Wins)

Assistant Coaches- Kyler Bumstead

2022 Record-16-9 / 8-6, 4th Place/Bi District Finalist

Returning Starters

Jack Hutchison, So, P/SS (.348 BA, District Newcomer OTY)

Aaron Bumstead, Sr, SS/2B (1st Team AD)

[longball24]

Buna has a good core group but I just can’t see them beating Anahuac or Orangefield. They will face University of Houston Signee Cameron Edmonds every time they play and they will have to face Bodin the Texas A&m signee from Orangefield in both games as well. Buna just doesn’t have the pitching to do very much. D1 athletes are different animals. 

[KF89]

Anahuac has a very solid team, should be a good district race between them, OF & Buna.  

[BBfan061]

20 hours ago, longball24 said:

Buna has a good core group but I just can’t see them beating Anahuac or Orangefield. They will face University of Houston Signee Cameron Edmonds every time they play and they will have to face Bodin the Texas A&m signee from Orangefield in both games as well. Buna just doesn’t have the pitching to do very much. D1 athletes are different animals. 

Buna has a player or two playing that didn’t play last season from what I’m told that are solid. As well as some good young guys. 

[gogo173489]

On 1/24/2023 at 10:36 AM, BBfan061 said:

Buna has a player or two playing that didn’t play last season from what I’m told that are solid. As well as some good young guys. 

This is true. While OF and Anahuac have an Ace at the top of their staff, Buna does as well in Kale Knox. (Supergold MVP and District POTY last season.) Buna will also have Jr. Carson Burks returning from an elbow injury. He was a huge part of the playoff run in 2021 as a freshman, and did not pitch or play last season. Same goes for Denton Peveto who played but was unable to pitch last season. Sophomore Daniel Midkiff was the number 2 starter last season. He notched shutouts of Central Heights and Anderson-Shiro in the playoffs. I'd argue that collectively, Buna has more pitching than anyone in this district. Knox is more than capable of going toe to toe with Bodin or Edmonds.

[pine curtain]

3 hours ago, gogo173489 said:

This is true. While OF and Anahuac have an Ace at the top of their staff, Buna does as well in Kale Knox. (Supergold MVP and District POTY last season.) Buna will also have Jr. Carson Burks returning from an elbow injury. He was a huge part of the playoff run in 2021 as a freshman, and did not pitch or play last season. Same goes for Denton Peveto who played but was unable to pitch last season. Sophomore Daniel Midkiff was the number 2 starter last season. He notched shutouts of Central Heights and Anderson-Shiro in the playoffs. I'd argue that collectively, Buna has more pitching than anyone in this district. Knox is more than capable of going toe to toe with Bodin or Edmonds.

i heard they did some recruiting in the off season and have a move in or two?

[gogo173489]

12 hours ago, pine curtain said:

i heard they did some recruiting in the off season and have a move in or two?

Recruiting? 😂 We had one kid move in from Evadale. That's it.

[pine curtain]

5 hours ago, gogo173489 said:

Recruiting? 😂 We had one kid move in from Evadale. That's it.

who just happens to be a pretty good player/pitcher....

[gogo173489]

2 hours ago, pine curtain said:

who just happens to be a pretty good player/pitcher....

To my knowledge he doesn't pitch much at all. I believe he's a 3rd baseman.

[BayBaller]

On 1/23/2023 at 11:31 AM, pine curtain said:

chase is not tracy. 

the games anahuac will win this season will because of what bennett left them.

anahuac will be a 3-4 place team and will be 1 and done in the playoffs.

What Bennett left them? The team produced in spite of the coaching the last couple of years. The coaching that won Anahuac games took place outside of the high school. Trust me. The new coach will produce because of the time and effort he is putting into the boys. I believe that Anahuac finishes 3 or 4 in district as well. 

[pine curtain]

On 1/23/2023 at 8:32 AM, longball24 said:

Anahuac in my opinion has a better coach this year than last year Chase Franklin. Comes from a Baseball family. Cameron Edmonds. Probably will win every game he pitches. University of Houston signee with basically everyone returning from last season. They will be in the mix for the district championship.

How is the season going so far?????

[pine curtain]

On 1/28/2023 at 7:13 PM, BayBaller said:

What Bennett left them? The team produced in spite of the coaching the last couple of years. The coaching that won Anahuac games took place outside of the high school. Trust me. The new coach will produce because of the time and effort he is putting into the boys. I believe that Anahuac finishes 3 or 4 in district as well. 

Will Anahuac make the playoffs this year?

asking for a friend.......

[longball24]

Yes, I believe they will. 2 of the losses they have in district were flukes. If they don’t make it there will be some playoff teams in region 3 breathing a sigh of relief.

[pine curtain]

3 hours ago, longball24 said:

Yes, I believe they will. 2 of the losses they have in district were flukes. If they don’t make it there will be some playoff teams in region 3 breathing a sigh of relief.

Central Heights Blue Devils	5	0		16	3	1
Woodville Eagles	4	1		16	4	0
Pollok Central Bulldogs	3	2		8	6	1
Diboll Lumberjacks	3	3		16	5	1
Hemphill Hornets	2	3		9	8

If Anahuac is lucky enough to sneak in I dont think Central height or Woodville will be too worried about them.