Texas Power 25: 11-25

TEXAS, USA - Earlier today we released the Top 10 of the Preseason Texas Power 25 High School Team Rankings with Colleyville Heritage taking the No. 1 spot. Now, we bring you the the rest of a talented group of teams from around our great state. 

11. Coppell

Coach Clark has to like this club, and so do we. With six returning position players, and arms 2-7 back from a club that went 30-6, the Cowboys may be as deep as they have ever been. The top of this order is strong enough to carry them through the season with CF Blake Jackson, 1B Nick Vernars (Grayson JC), C Hudson Polk (Oklahoma), OF De Heath, 3B Kalen Clark (Midland JC), and 2B Josh Bartolacci (Panola JC). The pitching staff isnt going to have the same velocity as past rotations, but LHP John Cashimere, RHP Elijah McCormick (UCF), RHP Michael Ozymy (Columbia), RHP Porter Hardcastle, RHP David Jeon, and LHP Dylan Nichols should all log innings and throw strikes. Newcomers Walker Polk, Landry Fee and Ryan Walker have a chance to contribute to an already talented lineup. Our gut feeling is these guys are going to score runs and will be tough for any starter to get through the top of the order three times.

12. Keller

The Indians have got a steady club that returns five seniors and several juniors from a team that won 27 games in 2018. LHP/OF Will Johnston (Texas A&M) is back and will lead his club on the mound and and at the plate, along with 1st Team All-District selections Mikey Brinton, Will Lance, and Hunter Marshall (Oklahoma). Seniors Reid Rice, Parks Bouck (New Mexico), and Gabe Briski (Texas State) should give the Indians plenty of opportunity to score runs in bunches with a nice balance of both power and speed. Look for C Carter Pool to give them a solid presence behind the dish, and Dylan Russo could see time as a two way player. The pitching staff will be rounded out with RHP Collin Horton (Odessa JC) and Hunter Marshall, giving this club a chance to win two games every week.

13. Oak Ridge

The War Eagles won their district last season with a 10-5 record (23-11 overall), and made an appearance in the Regional Quarterfinals. Coach Pierce’s group has a lot to prove this season as they return seven seniors and several talented young guns. 2019 RHP Logan Letney (TCU) bookend the rotation along with 2019 IF/RHP Blane Romero (McNeese State), RHP Trey Valka (Arkansas) and LHP Colby Wyers (Incarnate Word). Both Letney and Romero were 1st Team All-District in 2018. The lineup is explosive with seniors Letney, Romero, Kevin Skweres, Carson Ogilvie (Hill JC), and Cole Rollins, especially when you add in young LHH Lance Hicks and IF Hunter Cramer (Arkansas). When it’s all said and done, this may be one of the most balanced clubs in the state. Would not be surprised to see them rise quickly as the season begins.

14. Marcus

The Marauders rotation has a chance to carry them a long way this season, highlighted by Texas A&M commit, 2019 RHP Blake Mayfield, ranked No. 6 in TX, No. 19 Overall. They also got a very welcome transfer in 2021 SS Hunter Teplansky. 2019 RHP Tyler Morgan will likely be the number two starter, the ACU commit has sharpened his slider this off season and is a bulldog on the mound. Moving down the list of younger arms that will add significant depth are LHP Colin Hudson, RHP Reed Gallant, LHP Tyler Schott, and RHP Collier Mershon. All 6 of these guys are strike throwers with solid secondary stuff. The early season question mark is the lineup, but look for a seniors Brett Hedges (Lubbock Christian), Zachary Davis and Jacob Bushnell to provide consistency to a young batting order, while underclassmen Sam Hunt, Tyler Schott, and Ty Johnson have a chance to contribute as well.

15. South Grand Prairie

What we know about the Warriors is they are offensive, but they also return three arms with sub-3 ERA’s, including 2019 RHP Jeremy Meier, 2019 RHP Benny Emmons, and 2020 RHP/3B Tony Garza. Garza was the District MVP in 2018 after hitting .372 and going 6-1 on the bump with a 1.09 ERA. Emmons was also an AD selection with six wins of his own and a miniscule 0.99 ERA. Garza is a polished hitter, but look for 2020 SS Tyler McShane, 2020 IF Garrett Williams, 1B Cole Kracmer, and 2020 C Jackson Duke to provide even more offense for Coach Senato. SGP may not be the biggest name in the Power 25, but if you ask coaches around the metroplex, nobody wants to play them.

16. Cleburne

The Yellowjackets return 7 starters from a club that went 32-9 in 2018, and No. 1 Starter 2019 LHP Willie Rangel (Texas Tech). When Rangel is on the mound, Cleburne wins, 13-0 last season. This could be the biggest sleeper team inside the Power 25, as they have the athleticism in the lineup to hit and defend. Returners include C/3B Slayton Day, SS Cason Gregory, CF Dryden Taylor, C/1B Marcos Guereca, RHP/OF Major Jobe. Look for newcomers Kevin Duran, Ethan Flores, Cooper Schneider, and Prestyn Russell to impact the lineup as well.

17. Cypress Fair

The Cypress area of Houston is talent rich, and the Bobcats bring back a solid core of returners that won their district last season. After seeing these guys first hand, their ability to win games and compete is what stands out. 2020 LHP/OF Rhett McCaffety is back, and thats good, but they will need several arms step up on the mound if they want to make another run like they did last season. While McCaffety, SS Peyton Chatagnier (Ole Miss), LHH OF Jacob Schoenvogel (Baylor), and DH Justin Flores give them a solid top of the order, look for Tyler McCloskey and Kyle Reece and Mitchell Andrews to have larger roles this season.

18. Plano

If you are following along, you are starting to see a theme associated with the Power 25 Preseason Ranking, stacked lineups and front line arms. The Plano Senior Wildcats may have as much firepower in their batting order as any club on this list, but they will have to find the right mix on the mound if they want to stay here. These guys have speed and power up and down the batting order, led by 2020 SS Cole Foster (TCU), who is ranked No. 4 in TX, No. 20 Overall. The switch hitter has power from both sides of the plate and can play all three infield positions. Adding to the thunderous lineup are middle of the order corner bats 2019 3B Anderson Acinger (NCTC JC) and 2020 1B Hunter Reid, both these guys can bang it around the yard. Look for speedy SS Braley Hollins (Oklahoma State), OF Matt Bryant (Ouachita Baptist), and OF Quentin Frederick (Coffeyville JC) to move around the bases quickly as all three guys can scoot. Jonathan Huff and Brannen Blakley both have varsity experience and should round out a formidable lineup. As for the pitching, 2019 LHP Beau Leonards (Wichita State) should bounce back this season to lead the staff, but Coach Robertson will have to find another starter and depth in the pen if they want to finish games. Either way, this lineup can elevate an ERA in a hurry.

19. Frisco Wakeland

First year Head Coach Darrell Preston and the Wolverines have a talented club with a solid mix of seniors and juniors that all cut their teeth last season on varsity. 2020 C J.D. Gregson has quickly become a household name in the scouting circles with his projectable frame and bazooka arm strength behind the plate. Also back is senior right-hander Justin Karbowski, the District Pitcher of the Year in 2018. Look for Hayden Foster and Cal Strandt (ACU) to hold things down in the middle infield, while Donovan Corley and Hunter Pennel will likely spend time all over the field. Offensieve right-handed hitter Trent Warstler is also back, while sophomores LHP Robert Fortenberry (TCU) and Luke Robertson are two young arms that should help solidify a quality staff.

20. Georgetown

Georgetown pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the entire playoffs last season, knocking out highly ranked Magnolia. One thing you can count on with the Eagles, is the way they compete. Coach Foster and his staff do an outstanding job of preparing their guys to play in big games and their early season tournament schedule will be challenging. With six returning starters on defense and seven pitchers back from a club that won 32 games, these guys have a chance to make another deep run in 2019. Jack Brinley, Grant Wood (Blinn JC), Noah Thompson,  and Jackson Sioson, are back on the mound, to go along with newcomer Braxton Pearson. Boise State commit 2019 SS Cole Posey will anchor the defense, along with seniors OF/LHP Noah Thompson, 3B Jeffrey David (Paris JC) and C Wyatt Childress (Texas A&M).

21. Kinkaid

Coach Maas enters year fourteen with one of the strongest clubs he has ever had. The Falcons finished 2018 with thirty wins, and a strong group of returners looks to put them on top of the SPC Championship. With 8 returners back from last years team, Kinkaid is led by seniors OF Wyatt Young (Oregon State), RHP Stone Simmons (Furman), Carlos Abello (Princeton), RHP Cade Moulton (Air Force), James House (Dartmouth). Alongside underclassmen RHP Chase Pelter, OF Chris Stallings (Air Force), SS Ryan Erikson, P/3B Michael Duncan, P William Scott , Behr Bruce, and UT Strater Zarr. Kinkaid will be strong at just about every spot in the batting order and on the mound.

22. Midway

Coach Cornblum’s club made big strides last season, going all the way to the Regional Quarter Finals, and they return 8 starters in 2019, including highly touted right-hander Will Rigney (Baylor) and talented shorstop Couper Cornblum (Wichita State). Adding to the intrigue is the team speed and athleticism, not just with Cornblum, but also LHH OF Elijah Rodriguez, OF Joseph Redfield, and OF J.J. Davis. Trip Clark will hold things down behind the plate, while Jackson Berry should provide valuable innings on the mound.

23. Calallen

The Wildcats are in good shape for Coach Chapman’s 37th year as head coach with five seniors leading the way, including 2019 RHP Hambleton Oliver (Baylor), LHH 1B Bryce Balusek (Texas A&M CC), OF/RHP Hunter Nevilles, SS Brandon Maldonado, and CF Matt Castro. Adding to the strength of this club is 2020 2B Zach Almendarez, 2021 SS Luke Smith, Riggs Barrett, Brent Green, and Parker Tennill. This club may not be the best known group, but with Oliver on the mound, and their strong defense, they could make a serious push in the post season.

24. CC King

The Mustangs have what most high school teams would call a solid recipe for winning with 7 starters and 5 arms back from a club that finished 2nd in their district and made a Regional Quarterfinals appearance. 1st Team All-District 2019 LHP Jon Barrera (Texas Tech) is back on the mound, along with Jacob Garza and Andrew Delgadillo. Coach Perez also can call upon 2020 RHP Derek Saenz out of the bullpen. On the other side of the ball is standout 2020 SS Orlando Salinas, Jr. (Oklahoma State), a dynamic left-handed hitter. Add in 2020 C Scott Siebenthall with gap power, 2020 OF/LHP Jose Amador, 2021 Eddie Molina, 2019 Stuart Diegel, 2019 Matt Moreno, and powerul right-handed hitter Andrew Garcia and these guys should not only be able to score runs, but also pitch and defend.

25. McAllen

The Bulldogs return seven starters from a 30-5 District Championship team that made it to the Regional Quarterfinals. Coach Pompa’s club is going to be led by All-State 2020 SS/RHP Aaron Nixon, a Texas commit ranked No. 9 in TX. District Newcomer of the Year 2020 1B/P Hector Garcia hit .397 last season, and 2021 C Christopher Bernal hit .310 and is one of the top ranked catchers in his class. 2019 RHP/SS Gibby Mata looks to add to his 4-0 record on the mound last season, as well his stellar .371 batting average.

FULL 2019 PBR TEXAS POWER 25 RANKING