adminbaberuth Posted February 3, 2013 Report Posted February 3, 2013 [b]SOUTHEAST TEXAS SPORTS 2006 PRESEASON TOP TEN:[/b]1. BRIDGE CITYIsn't it every guy's dream to drive a Big Red Ferrarri? This year, the winner is Coach Bryant. He puts the area's best 1-2 punch on the mound (Angelle and Haymon) with a quality 3rd (Stringer) and the Cards are ready for a return trip to Austin. True, they lost a lot of talent (Hayes, Myers, Stevens, Coulter) but return a solid nucleus including OF Dishon (probably the area's most projectible D-1 and MLB prospect) and Sparks, INF Coleman and Helter, and new C Jackson. This region is loaded (Hudson, Jasper) but there's a reason BC is the State's #1 team -- they're loaded.2. LCMThe Bears are boasting that this is 'the best team ever' at LCM and, if so, it is one heck of a ballclub. Fact? Griff may have the talent to back up such a claim. You start with a racehorse in 2-way standout Clayton Ehlert, the 'ace' of 20-4A and add pitching depth from Dugas, Cassidy, Adams and Hughes then you have a recipe to win and win often. You can add to the mix that LCM returns a deep and experienced team including sweet swinging jr. C Jake Rowell, 1B Landon Womack and smooth fielding sr. Wes Schneider at SS then you are primed for a deep run in the playoffs. The battle of the Bears (LCM vs. Montgomery) may very well determine who punches their ticket to Austin. Best team ever? Maybe not (there'e no Beau Hale here)...but good, very good.3. WEST BROOKUp in District 22-5A, just making the playoffs in the State's toughest district makes you a very good team. New coach Jacob Walton will need all of that just to claim the 3rd spot given a major talent loss (#1 pick Bruce, the Ewings, Ford and both starting pitchers -- Castolenia and Beherns). The Bruins do welcome back 5 starters led by INF Tim Ferguson and David Murphy, 1B John Falgout and OF Mark Serna and Bobby Armstrong. Look for LHP Serna to be the 'ace' of this staff (and he's a good one) but they'll be looking all over for the rest of their pitching staff. Serna could have a breakout, MVP season and the trio of Ferguson, Murphy and Armstrong look to explode offensively. The tournament season could be long given their thin pitching staff but they will be playoff bound come May.4. PNGThe Reservation boasts the deepest playoff-tested pitching staff in the area led by Zach Harwood and Branden Powell and supported by Taylor McInnis and Cody Mire. All of the "Fab Four" can win big ball games for the Indians and each contribute significantly on offense. Offensively, the 'straw that stirs the drink' here is C Blake Buchanan, the area's best behind the dish. Add to the mix INF Kris Hearn and OF Cole Johnson and never, ever count out the Purple & White. Get there early for the PNG-LCM games (they'll be barnburners) and remember...the last time I picked LCM over PNG --the Indians wound up in Austin. Jay Stone isn't making any early vacation plans.5. JASPERHiding up north, the Bulldogs are primed for a long run through the playoffs. You start here with 2-way star Wll Alvis who won't be a well-kept secret to college recruiters or MLB scouts. With an upper 80s fastball, and the ability to rake it at the plate, this kid can carry a team on his own. Add jr. RHP Travis Reagan and soph LHP Justin Parsons, and the 'dogs are ready to roll. They'll cruise thru district and will lie in wait for their chance to go bird hunting in Region III -- looking for some bright red Cardinals....6. NEDERLANDIt speaks volumes when a program is still playoff bound in what is considered a down year for them. Right away, sr. RHP Matison Smith (20-4A Newcomer of the Year) has the ability to shut down any 20-4A opponent. The rest of the pitching staff is suspect but these Bulldogs will rebuild (reload?) with a stout District Champ JV squad. Offensively, INF. Kevin Laird promises to continue his hot hitting along with OF Micah Mosley. 2006 will have a lot of surprises (good and bad) for this Mid County team but, when push comes to shove, they'll be playing when others have been sent home.7. WOSThe 'Stangs would be a serious threat to be District Champs....if they were in a district other than Bridge City's. Do not count out the Blue & Silver, though. They return two bona fide starters on the mound in seniors Sparks and Ayers and, when not on the hill, Nick Ayers anchors the middle of their infield. No question the Mustangs are thin but pitching wins....and WOS has that. They'll finish second in district and then let their pitching do their talking in the playoffs.8. SILSBEEThese guys are the area's 'Dirty Little Secret'. You don't hear about 'em, don't see 'em and then there they are -- back in the playoffs. The Tigers are led by jr. OF Rocky Calhoun, a catalyst at the top of the lineup. Depth is always an issue here (their baseball numbers have been historically low) and their long-term playoff success will depend on the status of oft-injured jr. RHP Chris Stoudt. They'll finish behind Jasper but they are athletic enough to cause a lot of teams and lot of problems. It may fall to youngsters Kevin McDonald and Joel Schooling (both soph.) to carry the pitching burden...if they step up, this young team will get better by leaps and bounds.9. OZENThis team is probably a year away and are probably #4 in 20-4A. They are young and should be a playoff team in 2007. They have future stars in soph. LHP DD Lott and soph. INF Josh Gardiner and need some immediate help for 2006. MEMO TO NEDERLAND: Remember 2 years ago? This Ozen team can sneak up on people.10. KELLYThese Bulldogs are in a tough district (St. Thomas and St. Pius) but return a core of strong pitchers in jr. LHP Charlie Jones, soph. RHP Anthony Fazio and sr. RHP Jake Henderson (brother of Lamar 1B Will Henderson). Coach David Huggins is a miracle worker with pitchers and he'll mold these guys into winners. SS Kevin Talbot leads their position players and one can look for Kelly to go a long way once the playoffs begin.[b]SETXSPORTS.COM BASEBALL PRE-SEASON 2007 TOP TEN[/b]With the start of practice only two weeks away, your editors at SETXSPORTS.COM present the first rankings – the Basebal Pre-Season Top Ten:1. WEST BROOKThe Bruins return nearly everybody from last year’s 20-9 team including pre-season MVP David Murphy and other 1st teamers Tim Ferguson, Mark Serna, Bobby Armstrong, Thad Lycan and Josiah Svoboda. The Bruins should score runs by the bunchs and if the pitching trio of Svoboda, Murphy and Serna (with help from Josh Fisher and newcomer Ronnie Mitchell) remain solid, it could be a very special year for Coach Walton and the boys from Beaumont.2. NEDERLANDCoach Robbins and the ‘Dogs are the prohibitive district favorites this year. Why? Start with Beau Helmke as the staff’s ace as the Lamar signee has gotten even better during the off-season. Add stalwarts such as Micah Mosely, Alex Moshier, Ryan Sampere and big bopper Aaron McFarland and the Bulldogs are ready to take a bite out of their opponents in 2007.3. SILSBEEYou win championships with pitching and defense, right? Pre-season Pitching MVP Joel Schooling leads a Silsbee staff that is as good as any 3A team in the area. Add standout RHP Kevin McDonald and the Tigers hold a pitching edge nearly every Tuesday and Friday during district. Add sr. CF Rocky Calhoun along with 2B Blake Moss and C Colby Hargrave and the Tigers are certainly strong up the middle. 4. BRIDGE CITYSo, the Cardinals made someone mad at the UIL and got re-aligned with Silsbee and Jasper in the most competitive 3A district in the Region. No problem. They lost starting pitchers and position players. No problem – the Cardinals follow the old adage – they don’t rebuild, they reload. LSU signee Johnny Dishon and C Casey Jackson lead a potent offense and LHP Jeff Stringer leads a solid pitching corps that also includs RHP Philip Meeks. What a good district race this will be.5. BARBERS HILLThe Eagles pushed BC to the limit in last year’s playoffs and return stronger and more experienced this year. Jr. LHP Ross Hales (who shut out BC during those playoffs) and Chase Barrera are forces to reckon with on the ‘bump’ while 1st team C Cameron Campbell leads an offense that should again be potent. Criticized for last year’s easy pre-season schedule, this year is different. An early season gem? West Brook vs. BH in game 1 of the Houston Christian tourney.6. PNGDisappointment reigned supreme last year at The Reservation as the senior-laden Indians struggled all season. This year, youth will be served for Coach Stone’s bunch led by promising RHP Shawn Flores along with juniors Jon Carnahan and Eric Harrington and soph Jerin Spikes. The Indians may be inexperienced but they are very talented. They will keep up their end of the bargain for baseball’s version of “Mid County Madnessâ€.7. JASPERA sleeper at #7, these Bulldogs will be very, very good if they catch a few breaks. They need complete, healthy seasons from pitchers Travis Regan and Justin Parsons and offensive support from C Robert Shelhammer but SS Taylor Hart has already taken his place among the area’s elite. Coach Mixon should be able to squeeze every ounce of talent from this group and, in the ‘new and improved’ district, they’ll need it.8. HUFFMANLike Silsbee, the Falcons start with strong pitching in District MVP Michael Listi and mound-mate Heath Arnold. A healthy Arnold gives Huffman a strong 1-2 punch for district play and, with offensive support from Zac Sipes and Jeff Schmidt, they will be a strong contender in their 4A district.9. AND 10. (TIE) OZEN and LCMWe like the battle here for our last 2 spots (and potentially the last play off spot). The Panthers could surprise with 3 deep pitching of Josh Gardiner, Deston James and DD Lott and overcome an overall lack of depth. The Battlin’ Bears return only Jake Rowell but what a stick – as good as you’ll see anywhere in the area. LCM also returns this guy named “Griff†– that alone makes them dangerous and a contender from Feb thru May.ON THE BUBBLE:Early season tournament play always provides some topsy turvey moments in our poll so watch for someone like the Vidor Pirates to make some noise. Kyle Greens’ group is talented and experienced. Ditto for Woodville as Coach Hennigan’s group is the #10 team statewide in 2A. Of course, last year no one mentioned HF during the preseason and all the Longhorns did was dang near run the table during preseason play. Surprises, surprises…that’s why they still play the games… [b]SETXsports 2008 Pre-Season Poll[/b]1..Barbers Hill…..Pitching is deep as anyone in the State2..Jasper……..Defending state champs3..Little Cypress-Mauriceville….Solid returning squad4..Westbrook..must reload in tough district5..Port Neches-Groves…need to find a No.26..Vidor..throwback of baseball 7..Bridge City…can hit with anyone8..Kelly.. 90 on the bump9..Nederland….time to step up10..Woodville..can they compete again.Honorable Mention……Hardin-Jefferson, Hamshire-Fannett, Buna, Ozen, Silsbee and Orangefield[b]SETXsports 2009 Pre-Season Poll[/b]1. Port-Neches-Groves2. Little Cypress-Mauriceville3. Nederland4. West Brook5. Barbers Hill6. Bridge City7. Vidor8. Huffman9. Kelly10. JasperOrangefield, Hamshire-Fannett, Buna[b]SETXsports 2010 Pre-Season Poll[/b]1. Nederland….good showing in Houston2. Orangefield…took care of business in Lumberton3. Jasper…a sweep in vidor tourney4. Port Neches-Groves…split with Sulphur, Reyenga 1 hitter5. Lumberton..a sweep in own tourney6. LCM..plays defense, clutch hitting7. Bridge City..who will be no.2 in rotation8. Vidor…who will be no.2 in rotation9. Kelly..solid team10.Hamshire-Fannett..ho hit HJ, gave Hudson a game10. WOS..beat Kelly and competed with Jasper[b]SETXsports 2011 Pre-Season Poll Members poll[/b]1. PNG 632. Nederland 593. West Brook 574. Bridge City 335. WOS 226. Jasper 157. Evadale 108. Huffman 99. Kelly 810. Silsbee 610. LCM 6[b]SETXsports 2012 Pre-Season Poll[/b]1. Nederland [6] 2. Barbers Hill [1]3. Bridge City [1]4. Goose Creek MemorialT5. JasperT5. Little Cypress-MauricevilleT7. Beaumont West BrookT7. Silsbee9 Port Neches-Groves10. Huffman
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