Texas JUCO Week 9 Preview
March 21, 2019
There is a lot of action going on this week across the state. Grayson and San Jac played on Monday(Grayson won 10-8). North Lake takes on Brookhaven who are the top 2 spots in the DAC. While Odessa looks to stay undefeated in conference play taking on Clarendon in a 4-game series.
This week we dive into three big matchups in Region 14, with 2 teams battling for their top spot in their conference while another takes on a tough out of state opponent.
#3 San Jac vs #13 Blinn
This series has some big potential for how the conference is going to shape up. San Jac is tied for 1st at 9-3, while Blinn is in 5th at 5-7.
San Jac has one of the best pitching staffs in the country so far this season. They are currently ranked 8th in shutouts (6), 3rd in batting average against (.170), 3rd in strikeouts (326), and 2nd in strikeouts/9 (14.17). Leading their offense this season are SO INF Ryan Hernandez (Houston), FR INF Braden Wiget, and SO UTIL Camryn Williams (uncommitted). Hernadez is hitting .277, with 3 doubles, and 13 runs batted in. Wiget is hitting .284, with 8 doubles, a home run, and 9 runs batted in. Williams is hitting .259, with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, and 12 runs batted in.
Blinn has started to get back on track after a tough couple of weeks winning 3 of their last 4 after losing 4 straight. Leading the way for Blinn's offense this season are SO INF Cameron Gibbons (Texas State), SO C/OF Alec Sanchez (New Mexico), and FR 2B Westley Schields. Gibbons is hitting .329 so far this season with 5 doubles, 1 home run, and 13 runs batted in. Sanchez is hitting .292 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 17 runs batted in, and he currently is second in the country with 5 sac flies. Schields has been a solid staple at second for Blinn this season, making only 2 errors in 44 chances for a .955 fielding percentage. At the plate, Schields is hitting .284 with 6 doubles, 1 home run, and 8 runs batted in.
#3 San Jac |
#13 Blinn |
|
Game 1 |
SO RHP Jackson Rutledge (Kentucky)(4-1, 1.07 ERA, 76 K)* |
SO RHP Jacob Millinder (Texas State)(1-1, 4.30 ERA) |
Game 2 |
FR LHP Mitchell Parker (2-0, 1.57 ERA, 65 K)* |
SO RHP Jackson Leath (Tennessee)(2-0, 2.12 ERA) |
Game 3 |
SO RHP Dane Acker (Oklahoma)(6-0, 1.64 ERA, 55 K)* |
FR RHP John Chomko (4-1, 3.00 ERA)* |
*Projected Starters
#6 Panola vs #7 Navarro
This series is between the top two teams in Region 14- East. Navarro is in first with an 8-1 record with Panola just behind them with a 7-2 record. This series has the potential to decide who will be the #1 Seed heading into the regional come May.
Panola has been one of the top offensive teams in the country this season. Being ranked in the Top 20 in 6 different offensive categories:11th in doubles (60), 12th in extra-base hits (87), 14th in both runs batted in (184) and total bases (401), 16th in home runs (23), and 17th in hits (264). Leading that offense this season are SO LF Kade Clemens (uncommitted), FR 3B Austin Bost, and SO INF Cameron Sibley. Clemens has played in all but one game for Panola. He is hitting .253, with 5 Doubles, a team-leading 6 home runs, with 21 runs batted in. Bost has hit .340 this season with a team-leading 10 doubles, 4 home runs, and 19 runs batted in. Sibley has one of the top averages on the team hitting .365, with 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and 14 runs batted in.
Navarro’s offense this season is led by FR INF Cash Rugely, FR UTIL Stacey Bailey, and SO INF Kyle Landers (uncommitted). Rugley leads the team hitting .431 average with 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and 20 runs batted in. Bailey was the Week 8 Hitter of the Week and for good reason. He is currently hitting .379 with 10 doubles, 3 home runs, and 28 runs batted in. Landers is hitting .312 with 9 doubles, a home run, 21 runs batted in and 12 stolen bases.
#6 Panola |
#7 Navarro |
|
Game 1 |
SO RHP Jarret Whorff (LA Tech)(4-0, 2.39 ERA) |
SO LHP Austin Faith (Lamar)(4-1, 3.58 ERA) |
Game 2 |
SO RHP Tyler Davis (Sam Houston)(4-1, 2.13 ERA) |
FR LHP Carson Rollins (4-0, 1.22 ERA) |
Game 3 |
FR RHP Chad Dallas (4-0, .88 ERA) |
SO LHP Angelo Gennari (Sam Houston)*(3-1, 2.14 ERA) |
*Projected Starters
#8 Tyler vs Murray State
Tyler is currently the #1 Divison 3 Team in the Country and for a good reason. They are currently ranked in the Top 10 in 14 offensive categories and are ranked 1st in runs scored (231), doubles (62), runs batted in (194), and stolen bases (87). Not to be outdone by their offense their pitching staff is top 10 in 4 pitching categories being 1st in team strikeouts with 308. Leading the offensive power for them this season has been FR INF Heath Hood, SO OF Erik Owen, and FR OF Jacob Johnson. Hood leads the team with a .417 average along with 5 doubles, 9 runs batted in and 8 stolen bases. Owen’s is hitting .341 with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 21 runs batted in, and is first in the country with 21 stolen bases where he has only been caught once. Johnson is hitting .309 while leading the country in doubles with 14, along with 2 triples, 16 runs batted in and 9 stolen bases.
Murray State comes into the series with a 15-10 record and on a 4 game win-streak. Murray is one of the top offensive teams at the Division 2 level. They are hitting .307 as a team and rank in the top 10 in Sac Flies (3rd), Runs Scored (5th), Walks (6th), Triples (7th), Hits (7th), Extra Base Hits (7th), Total Bases (7th), and Doubles (10th).
#8 Tyler |
Murray State (OK) |
|
Game 1 |
FR RHP Cooper Rawls (3-1, 1.05 ERA, Perfect Game) |
SO P Raygan Dodd (2-1, 2.42 ERA)* |
Game 2 |
SO P Christain Grigsby (2-0, 2.06 ERA |
SO P Cole Shinksy (2-2, 4.44 ERA)* |
Game 3 |
FR P Daylon Farmer (3-0, 1.06 ERA)* |
SO P Bily Wall (2-1, 3.76 ERA)* |
*Projected Starters
Rest of the State
Region 14-South
#14 Alvin vs #25 Galveston
Laredo vs #19 Wharton
Region 14-East
#12 Angelina vs Northeast
Paris vs Bossier Parish
NTJCAC
#9 Cisco vs #20 Ranger
#2 Grayson-Bye
#18 Hill vs #16 Temple
#1 McLennan vs #17 North Central
Vernon vs #5 Weatherford
WTJCAC
El Paso vs Luna (NM)
#16 Frank Phillips vs New Mexico
#10 Howard vs Western Texas
#11 Midland vs New Mexico Military
#4 Odessa vs #22 Clarendon
DAC
Brookhaven vs #23 North Lake
#21 Eastfield vs Cedar Valley
Mountain View vs Richland
Region 14-D3
#24 Coastal Bend vs LSU-Eunice
JUCO WIRE