Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 10 Port Neches-Groves


Toby Bicknell
Texas Scouting Director

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 25 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage.

Team: Port Neches-Groves
2017 Record:
34-8-2
Conference Finish: 1st
Conference: 22-5A
THSA Classification: 5A
Head Coach: Scott Carter
Playoff Run: STATE CHAMPIONS
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS

Name State School Class Pos Commitment
Josh Hranicky TX Port Neches-Groves 2018 LHP Lamar
Austin Bost TX Port Neches-Groves 2018 3B Panola JC
Brandon Petix TX Port Neches-Groves 2018 LHP Alvin JC
Holden Lane TX Port Neches-Groves 2018 1B Texas Southern
Alec Lebouef TX Port Neches-Groves 2018 OF  
Jamison Simmons TX Port Neches-Groves 2019 RHP  
Khristian Curtis TX Port Neches-Groves 2020 RHP/OF Texas A&M
Drake Varnado TX Port Neches-Groves 2021 RHP/SS South Carolina
Carson Roccaforte TX Port Neches-Groves 2020 LHP  

 
SEASON PREVIEW

Port Neches-Groves is poised to bring home more hardware in 2018. The Indians not only return two starting pitchers from last seasons State Championsip club, but they have top tier young talent that should add depth to their rotation and lineup. 

Headlining the pitching staff is left-hander Josh Hranicky, a Lamar University commit that is ranked No. in TX. Last season, Hranicky was voted 1st Team All-District as a pitcher, 1st Team TSWA 1B, and TSWA Player of the Year after posting an 11-2 record with a 1.92 ERA, 79 K's, and batting .314 with 3 home runs. 2018 LHP Brandon Petix, an Alvin JC recruit, was  2nd Team All-District. And the Indians have young arms in the stable, including recent Texas A&M commit, 2020 RHP Khristian Curtis, 2020 LHP Carson Roccaforte, and South Carolina commit 2021 Drake Varnado. Varnado is a two-way talent and could also see time on the infield. 

Offensively, Panola JC recruit 3B/C Austin Bost returns at third base. Bost earned Post Season MVP awards and was 1st Team TSWA after hitting .366 with 3 triples, 14 doubles and 1 home run. The Indians stay strong on both corners with Texas Southern commit 2018 1B Holden Lane, as well as 2018 OF Alec Lebouef. Look for two-way players Drake Varnado, Khristian Curtis, and Josh Hranicky to bolster the lineup. And keep an eye on freshman switch hitting outfielder Blake Bost to add to an already talented lineup.

POWER 25 RANKINGS

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