2023 Team Preview: Cinco Ranch Cougars
February 13, 2023
The 2023 high school baseball season is underway with practice having started and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Texas
Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in the Austin at the State Tournament, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Texas. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and eventually releasing our preseason Top 30 teams in the state.
Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week and updating the Top 30 teams in the state.
*Please note that all information is based on team preview questionnaires that were sent out and returned by the participating high school coaches.
High School Name: Cinco Ranch
Coach’s Name: Brett Wallace
Classification: 6A (District 19)
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 10
No. of Returning Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Varsity experience. Well rounded team with pitching depth, and solid on offense & defense.
Top Returning Players:
2023 RHP/UTL Charlie Atkinson (DBU)
2023 LHP Cooper Corkrean
2023 LHP Dalen Jensen (Arkansas - Rich Mountain)
2023 2B Rainer Castillo
2023 DH/OF Logan Sosolik
2024 CF/LHP Connor Ficarra
2025 UTL/RHP Lucas Franco (TCU)
Top 2023 Prospects:
2023 RHP/UTL Charlie Atkinson (DBU)
2023 LHP Cooper Corkrean
2023 DH/OF Logan Sosolik
2023 2B Rainer Castillo
Top 2024 Prospects:
2024 CF/LHP Connor Ficarra
Top 2025 Prospects
2025 UTL/RHP Lucas Franco (TCU)
2025 RHP/C Nolan Veeder
Team Outlook:
The 2022 Cougars had a winning record last year, but missed the playoffs. They gained a lot of experience and bring back a lot of talent from last year's team. They have talent at the most important positions and look to find themselves back in the playoffs in '23.
On offense, Coach Wallace has a lot of experience returning. 3B/P/QB1 Gavin Rutherford, Sr. INF Ranier Castillo, and Utility/RHP Charlie Atkinson lead the way offensively. Joining them is last year's newcomer of the year in the district, CF/LHP Connor Ficarra. I also expect them to have a big year from soph. Lucas Franco. The TCU commit is one of my favorite position players in the state for the '25 class and is only going to get better. Some other names to watch for are Jr. Zach Franco, Ethan Muniz and Sr. Logan Sosolik. Brock DeYoung also has a chance to have a big year for the Cougars.
On the mound, Cinco Ranch has a plethora of arms, and an Ace in DBU signee, Charlie Atkinson. Joining him on the mound are Sr.'s RHP Parker Booth, LHP Cooper Corkrean, LHP Carson Andrews, LHP Dalen Jensen (Arkansas - Rich Mountain). Jr. RHP Brayden Hodge has a chance to make a big jump this spring. He can really pitch and the velo keeps ticking up. Soph. Nolan Veeder also has a good arm that could see him get into the upper 80's this spring.
Cinco Ranch has a good combination of Experience and Talent, and I fully expect them to be in the thick of it when district play starts, and with the pitching depth they have, they will be a tough out come playoff time.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| Houston Rising Stars ID | TX | 02/25 | Cotton Ranch Sports Complex |
| DFW Rising Stars ID | TX | 04/08 | Lake Dallas High School - Corinth, TX |
| DFW Summer Open | TX | 05/30 | Lake Dallas High School - Corinth, TX |
| East Texas Summer Open | TX | 06/14 | Tyler Junior College (Mike Carter Field) - Tyler, TX |
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