Texas Preseason Power 30: Top 10
February 22, 2022
On Sunday, we released the PBR TX Power 30 Team Rankings. Today, we take an in-depth look at the top 10 teams from our initial release. We will update these rankings weekly throughout the season.
click here for full rankings
#1 Southlake Carroll Dragons
After an uneven season last year, the Dragons got hot in the playoffs last and made a run to the Regional Finals. This year, Southlake comes into this season with High expectations and a run to Round Rock in their sights. They bring back a prolific pitching staff that is headlined by two senior southpaws, Griffin Herring and Owen Proksch. Herring has pitched big game after big game throughout his amateur career, and as long as he is filling up the zone he is one of the best in the state. Proksch is a tough ab, with his upper 80’s fastball and a good change up to back it up. They get back Jared White this year, who is coming off some arm problems. A healthy White gives you an upper 80’s arm with good command of a 3 pitch mix. His twin brother, Tyler, has developed into a big part of the Dragons success. Whether it is on the mound or at the plate, T. White will play a big part. If the Dragons get big years out of Mendoza and Tyron, and the young guys like Cashon and Llera step up, this team will be tough to knock out during playoff time.
Key Players
2022 LHP Griffin Herring (LSU Signee)
2022 LHP Owen Proksch (Duke Signee)
2023 RHP Jared White (Arkansas Commit)
2023 MIF Ethan Mendoza
2023 CIF Ben Tyron (Dallas Baptist Commit)
2023 RHP/CIF Tyler White
2023 OF Colin Robson (Duke Commit)
2024 C Cody Cashon
2024 OF Anthony Llera
#2 Prosper
2021 Record: Overall, 28-13 District, 10-3 (Regional Quarterfinalist)
Coach Holder’s squad comes into this year with high expectations which is expected anytime you have 2 SEC commits leading your pitching staff. Lucas Davenport has looked good in the preseason with a FB up to 93. Jr. Lefty Dane Burns, has really taken off the last 12 months and should help form one of the better Tandems in the state. They also have backstop Easton Carmichael, which not only helps with the pitching staff, but also should be their offensive leader this season. They have depth in every grade, and if they get good defensive play up the middle they have a chance to make a deep run this season.
Key Players
2022 C Easton Carmichael (Oklahoma)
2022 RHP Lucas Davenport (Texas A&M)
2023 LHP Dane Burns (Mississippi State)
2023 RHP/OF Harrison Rosar
2023 INF/OF Jacob Nelson
2025 RHP/OF/C Luke Billings
#3 Katy Tompkins
2021 Record: Overall, 31-9-1 District, 9-3 (Regional Semifinalist)
Expectations are high once again for Coach Humphries and Tompkins Falcons after reaching the Regional Semifinals last year and returning seven starters including five D1 commits led by 2022 OF/LHP Jace LaViolette (Texas A&M commit), 2022 INF Jack Little (Wichita St commit), 2023 INF Drew Markle (Ole Miss commit), who will be taking over at SS this season, and 2023 C Landon West (Rice commit). Along with the returners in the lineup, Tompkins returns experience on the mound with four pitchers returning. The staff is led by 2022 LHP Solomon Rotberg (Erskine College commit), 2022 RHP/INF Trevor Esparza (Tyler JC commit), 2022 RHP Michael DeBattista (Bucknell commit), 2023 LHP/OF Ty Dagley (Houston Baptist commit), and LaViolette. The offense is going to be the focal point of this team in 2022 while the pitching staff has shown improvements during the preseason thus far.
Key Players
2022 OF/LHP Jace LaViolette (Texas A&M)
2022 INF Jack Little (Wichita State)
2023 INF Drew Markle (Ole Miss)
2022 LHP Solomon Rotberg (Erskine College)
2022 RHP Michael De Battista (Bucknell)
2022 RHP/INF Trevor Esparza (Tyler JC)
2023 C/INF Landon West (Rice)
2022 UTIL Cash Russell (Temple College)
2022 OF Tyler Brownlee
2023 OF/LHP Ty Dagley (Houston Baptist)
#4 Lake Travis
2021 Record: Overall, 30-5 District, 12-2 District Champions (Regional Quarterfinalists)
Lake Travis has churned out high end pitchers for quite some time and the 2022 year is no different. The Cavaliers have a stable full of arms with experience and talent. The staff will surely be anchored by Texas A&M signee, Luke Jackson but can follow him up with any combination of five other Division 1 arms. Offensively, LT has a quality mix of speed and power and the ability to create runs via small ball at any time. Kaden Kent (Texas A&M) provides ample experience at the top of the lineup offering the ability to get deep into counts as well as drive the ball to all parts of the park. Look for Cole Johnson, (Oklahoma State) to bust out and have a big year offensively. Johnson should have plenty of traffic on the bases ahead of him allowing him to produce plenty of runs over the year. Defensively Lake Travis is solid all around like always. They make all the routine plays, play catch at a high level, and never seem to beat themselves. If they can pitch the way they look on paper, play high level defense, and be opportunistic in the box, look for LT to make a deep run into the playoffs this year.
Key Players
2022 SS Kaeden Kent (Texas A&M)
2022 OF/LHP Ethan Calder (Baylor)
2022 RHP Luke Jackson (Texas A&M)
2022 RHP Pierce George (Texas)
2022 LHP Charlie Bower (Baylor)
2023 2B Dylan Schlotterback
2023 1B Cole Johnson (Oklahoma State)
2023 OF/RHP OJ Gonzalez
2023 RHP Jackson Baker (Alabama)
#5 Sinton
2021 Record: Overall, 33-5 District, 12-0 (State Finalist)
Sinton may very well be the most talented team in the state with their starting nine. After making a run to the state semifinals last year, the Pirates will look to cap off 2022 with a State Title. Sinton has an embarrassment of riches to choose from behind the plate with Rylan Galvan (Texas) and Blake Mitchell (LSU) back there. There are many Power 5 teams that would like to have those two on their team right now. When Mitchell isnt behind the dish or on the mound he will likely hold down SS and anchor the infield. The lineup offers many issues for any opposing pitcher. Rene Galvan (UT Tyler) provides a veteran presence and speed from the left side at the top, followed by a plethora of power bats in Rylan Galvan, Blake Mitchell, Jaquae Stewart (HBU), Braeden Brown (Sam Houston St.), and Cannon Chester (UT Tyler). On the mound Sinton will have plenty of arms to make a deep run. The trio of Blake Mitchell, Braeden Brown, and Wyatt Wiatrek will handle the majority of innings but they also have the ability to run another 3 quality arms out of the pen to finish games.
Key Players
2022 C Rylan Glavan (Texas)
2022 OF Rene Glavan (Tyler JC)
2022 OF/1B Cannon Chester (Tyler JC)
2022 RHP Wyatt Wiatrek
2023 1B Jaquae Stewart (Houston Baptist)
2023 C/SS/RHP Blake Mitchell (LSU)
2023 INF/RHP Braeden Brown (Sam Houston)
2023 OF Kaden McCoy
2024 2B Marco Gonzales
#6 Rockwall
2021 Record: Overall, 31-13-1 District, 10-2, Co-District Champion (Regional Finalist)
After a tough game 3 loss to crosstown rivals Rockwall Heath in the Regional Finals, Coach Rose’s squad is poised to take the next step this season. They have an experienced team that is good up the middle. They will be led on the bump by Mac Rose, Giese and Crossland. They have a lot of experience in the infield led by UT commit Brayden Randle. This is a well rounded team that doesn’t have any big question marks. The week of March 15th will be a big week in Rockwall as the Yellowjackets and Rockwall Heath square off in district play.
Key Players
2022 INF Andrew Tellia (Weatherford JC)
2022 RHP Charlie Giese (Weatherford JC)
2022 INF Tate Sloan
2022 LHP Cade Crossland (Ouachita Baptist)
2023 INF Brayden Randle (Texas)
2023 RHP/C Mac Rose
#7 Rockwall Heath
2021 Record: Overall, 38-11-1 District, 10-2, Co-District Champion (State Champion)
The defending 6A state champs have a target on their back this season, but with Coach Harvey leading the way, Heath will be ready for all comers. They are led by Sr. Jett Williams. Jett has an old school feel to his game and plays with an intensity that most can’t match. A big season from him will not only help his team, but could help Jett keep ascending on Draft Boards. On the bump, Jonny Lowe and Baylor Baumann return to anchor the pitching staff. They both threw a lot of big innings for the Hawks last year and will be looked upon to do the same. The two question marks are what will they get out of Cade Sharp. He has battled some injuries, and then who will be Jett’s protection in the lineup? This is a hard nosed group, and I expect we will see them at the end.
Key Players
2022 MIF Jett Williams (Mississippi State)
2022 RHP Cade Sharp (Texas Tech)
2022 RHP/3B Jonny Lowe (McLennan JC)
2022 RHP Baylor Baumann (Houston Baptist)
2023 RHP Trevor Tranberg
2024 RHP/CIF Caleb Hoover
2024 RHP Andrew Daniels
#8 Grand Oaks
2021 Record: Overall, 27-11-1 District, 11-4, District Champions (Regional Semifinalist)Coach Lou Ferrell and his Grand Oaks Grizzlies are coming off of Regional Semifinal appearance in only the school’s 2nd varsity season. Grand Oaks brings back four players from last year’s team in 2023 SS/RHP Larry Drake (Rice commit), 2022 UTIL Zack Martinez (Wharton JC commit), 2022 UTIL Sebastian Harden (Coastal Alabama CC commit), and 2023 RHP/1B Hudson Hamilton (Texas commit). Expect to see the combination of Martinez, Harden, and Drake fill the top of the order for Grand Oaks to begin with. Along with Hamilton on the mound, newcomers 2022 RHP/INF Noah O’Farrell (Sam Houston St commit) and 2022 RHP Connor Kelley (Paris JC commit) help form the top of the staff for Coach Farrell. Grand Oaks also brings in some experience behind the plate with 2023 C/INF Bryce Dwyer who transferred in from Oak Ridge.
Key Players
2023 SS/RHP Larry Drake (Rice)
2023 RHP/1B Hudson Hamilton (Texas)
2022 UTIL Zack Martinez (Wharton JC)
2022 UTIL Sebastian Harden (Coastal AL CC)
2022 RHP Connor Kelley (Paris JC)
2022 RHP/INF Noah O’Farrell (Sam Houston)
2023 C/INF Bryce Dwyer
2023 OF/RHP Daniel Garcia
#9 The Woodlands
2021 Record: Overall, 25-10 District, 9-6 (Regional Quarterfinalists)The Woodlands Highlanders and Coach Ron Eastman return experience all over the diamond in 2022. Leading the pitching staff, playing CF, and leading off the lineup again this season will be 2023 LHP/OF Brayden Sharp (Baylor commit). Joining Sharp in the outfield will be two returners in 2023 OF Jake Escovedo and 2022 OF/RHP Connor Doucet (Louisiana-Lafayette commit). Returning on the infield this season will be 2022 INF Parker McGill and 2022 INF Jacob Bulcroft (Galveston CC commit). The Woodlands also returns two catchers behind the dish in 2022 C Nathan Owens (St. Edward’s commit) and 2023 C Enrique Perozo. Along with Sharp on the mound, expect to see Connor Doucet, 2023 RHP Ethan Coronel (Houston Baptist commit), 2022 RHP Tyler Brautigam (Amarillo College commit), and 2023 RHP/INF Tyler Sunseri all get innings throughout the year.
Key Players
2023 LHP/OF Brayden Sharp (Baylor) 2022 C Nathan Owens (St. Edward’s)
2023 OF Jake Escovedo
2022 INF Parker McGill
2022 OF/1B/RHP Conner Doucet (Louisiana Lafayette)
2023 RHP Ethan Coronel (Houston Baptist)
2022 RHP Tyler Brautigam (Amarillo College)
2022 INF Jacob Bulcroft (Galveston JC)
2023 RHP/INF Tyler Sunseri
2023 C Enrique Perozo
#10 Tomball
2021 Record: Overall, 28-13 District, 9-3, District Champion (Regional Semifinalist)After a strong run to the Regional Semifinals in 2021 for Coach Doug Rush and Tomball Cougars, they return a handful of players from last season. 2022 SS/RHP Chase Mora (Texas St commit) and 2023 2B Alan Lopez (Houston commit) return up the middle for the Cougars while Mora will slide into the rotation at their #1 arm to start the season. Behind the plate, Tomball returns two catchers in 2022 C/OF Wade Eslick (Centenary College commit) and 2024 C Cade Arrambide (Florida commit), who will both be key bats for Tomball. Also returning in the lineup will be 2022 DH/1B Micah Andrejczak. Tomball has a handful of new arms in 2022 that could fill in behind Mora in the rotation.
Key Players
2022 SS/RHP Chase Mora (Texas State)2022 DH/1B Micah Andrejczak
2023 2B Alan Lopez (Houston)
2022 C/OF Wade Eslick (Centenary College)
2024 C Cade Arrambide (Florida)