Prep Baseball Report

Texas Preseason Power 30: Top 10


PBR Staff

Today we take an in-depth look at the top 10 teams from the Preseason Power 30.

 

#1 Southlake Carroll Dragons

2019 Record: 31-11 6A State Champions, 2020 Record:14-2 


Key Players

2022 LHP Owen Proksch (Duke Commit)
2022 LHP Griffin Herring (LSU Commit)
2021 RHP Ryan Pehrson (Wharton JC Signee)
2023 RHP Jared White (Arkansas Committ).
2021 3B Gunnar Krug
2021 RHP Luke Gornell
2023 MIF Ethan Mendoza
2023 RHP Tice Purpura

Team Summary

Coach Larry Vucan and his Southlake Carroll Dragons were 6A State Champions in 2018 & 2019 and were eyeing a three peat in 2020 before the season was cut short. The Dragons have their eyes on another trip to the State Tournament in 2021 and will rely on their deep pitching staff and young talent stepping up at the Varsity level. Leading the way on the mound will be 2022 LHP Griffin Herring (LSU Commit), 2021 RHP Luke Gornell, 2021 RHP Ryan Pehrson (Wharton Commit), 2022 LHP/1B Owen Proksch (Duke Commit) and 2022 RHP Nate Rusher. 2023 RHP Jared White (Arkansas Commit), 2023 RHP/1B Tyler White, and 2023 RHP Tice Purpura are three young arms that will be in the mix as well. The lineup is led by 2021 3B Gunnar Krug, 2022 LF Tanner Sumer, and 2022 CF Tyson Drake. 2023 MIF Ethan Mendoza, and 2023 SS/RF Ben Tryon are ready to prove themselves at the Varsity level this year. The winning tradition is present and the Dragons will lean on their pitching staff and Varsity newcomers to keep it going. 

#2 Lake Travis Cavaliers

2019 Record: 37-4 State Semifinalists, 2020 Record:14-2-1 / 3-0

Key Players

2022 RHP Pierce George (Texas Commit)
2022 RHP Luke Jackson (Louisiana Lafayette Commit)
2021 RHP Ethan Roark (TCU Commit)
2021 RHP Alec Grossman (Texas Commit)
2022 LHP Ethan Calder
2021 LHP Jack Litowitz (Mars Hill Signee)
2023 UTL/RHP OJ Gonzalez
2021 C John Riden (Wofford Commit)
2022 MIF Kaeden Kent (Texas A&M Commit)


Team Summary

Coach Mike Rogers and his Lake Travis Cavaliers come into the 2021 season with their eyes on another trip to the 6A State Tournament like they did in 2019. The Cavaliers will have a group of high quality arms on the mound with talented defenders behind them in the field. Coach Rogers will have at least 5 new starters in his lineup but has confidence they can step up and produce. The Pitching Staff is led by Future Games Alumni and Super 60 Invitee 2021 RHP Alec Grossman  (Texas Signee), 2021 RHP Ethan Roark  (TCU Signee), 2022 RHP Luke Jackson (Louisiana Lafayette Commit), and Future Games Alumni, 2022 RHP Pierce George (Texas Commit). In the Lineup, Coach Rogers Returns 3 year starting C 2021 John Riden (Wofford Signee), 2022 SS Kaden Kent who moves to SS after starting 2 years at 3B, and 2023 OF OJ Gonzalez who started last year as a Freshman and was 2nd on the team in RBI's. Even with a group of new starters entering the lineup in 2021, Coach Rogers believes his talented pitching staff and the ability to defend behind them will carry them to a District 26-6A Title and a deep playoff run.

 

#3 Tomball Cougars

2019 Record: 29-4-1 Regional Quarterfinalists, 2020 Record:10-3 

Tomball comes into the 2021 season with plenty of talent both on the mound and in the field and look to put it all together this season. Our top ranked team out of Houston is looking to make a deep run into June with all the pieces they have this year.

Key Players

2022 OF Arrignton Eason (Lamar Commit) 
2021 RHP/3B Mason Marriot (Baylor Signee)
2022 2B/RHP Chase Mora (Texas State Commit)
2021 1B Casen Neumann (Baylor)
2021 SS Tyler McCuistion (Long Beach State Commit)
2024 C Cade Arrambide (Florida Commit)

 

#4 Rockwall Heath Hawks 

2019 Record: 30-10 Area Finalists, 2020 Record:10-5

Heath comes into the year with high hopes and tons of talent, and some people around the state argued for them to take the top spot in our preseason poll. Heath once again is loaded with talent at the dish as well as on the mound. The Hawks have a quality balance of young talent to go with a veterans that have played a lot of high school games even with a shortened 2020 season

Key Players

2021 SS/C Kevin Bazzell (DBU)
2021 UTL Caden Fiveash (NOC Tonkawa)
2021 MIF Karson Krowka (Tarleton State)
2021 RHP Jax Ortiz (McLennan Commit)
2022 MIF Jett Williams (Texas A&M Commit)
2022 RHP Cade Sharp (Texas Tech Commit)
2022 RHP/3B Johnny Lowe (McLennan Commit)

 

#5 Bridgeland Bears 

2019 Record: 21-10, 2020 Record:8-6 

Key Players

2022 RHP Murphy Brooks (TCU Commit)
2021 UTL Tripp Cromer (Hill JC)
2021 3B Josh Phillips (North Central Texas College)
2022 C Ryan Williams (Mississippi State Commit)
2022 SS Conner Weigman (Texas A&M Commit)
2021 LHP Kyle Dickey (TAMUCC Signee)
2021 3B/RHP Liam Koleci (Blinn Signee)


Team Summary

Coach Paul Orlando and his Bridgeland Bears come into 2021 with a roster full of talented returners. They will have high hopes of returning to the Playoffs and making a deep run after an early exit in 2019. Leading the way on the mound is 2021 LHP Kyle Dickey (TAMUCC Signee), 2021 3B/RHP Liam Koleci (Blinn Signee), and 2022 OF/RHP Murphy Brooks (TCU Commit). Returning in the lineup for the Bears is 2022 SS Conner Weigman (Texas A&M Commit), 2021 1B/ RHP Josh Phillips (NCTC Signee), 2021 OF Tripp Cromer (Hill Commit), and 2022 C Ryan Williams (Miss St. Commit). Coach Orlando will need his team to work toward a higher level of consistency this season, but with options on the mound and plenty of quality players behind them, the Bears are in a position to make this season count. Look for Bridgeland to make some noise in the 6A Playoffs this season.

 

#6 Prosper Eagles 

2020 Record:11-2

Anytime your team strengths are in the middle of the field, you tend to have a pretty good ball club. Well, Prosper definitely fits that mold for the 2021 season. They are strong behind the dish, strong on the mound, have 2 veterans up the middle on the infield as well as a couple athletes that can cover ground in the outfield. 

Key Players

2021 RHP Joshua Barnhouse (Crowder JC)
2022 C Easton Carmichael (Oklahoma Commit)
2022 RHP Lucas Davenport (Texas A&M Commit)
2022 OF Jacob Devenny (Rice Commit)
2021 SS Chase Pendley (Baylor)
2021 RHP/OF Blake McEwan (Grayson College Commit)
2021 UTL Jackson Juvera (North Central Texas College)
2021 2B/OF Case Pettis (Hill College)
2021 RHP Blake Paradis (UTSA Commit)
2021 3B Gabriel Colina (North Central Texas Commit)

 

#7 The Woodlands Highlanders

2019 Record:30-8 Regional Semifinalists, 2020 Record: 13-2-2

The Woodlands is always a team filled with talented baseball players all over the field, and this year is no different. They will be fighting the experience bug a bit early on but, they are a well coached, fundamentally sound team year in and year out. Look for The Woodlands to make noise once again this season.

Key Players

2021 RHP Justin Barry-Smith (South Alabama)
2022 RHP Tyler Brautigam (TCU Commit)
2021 LHP Will Chaufee (Pepperdine)
2021 1B Cameron Hainebach (Southwestern University)
2021 RHP Cody Howard (Baylor)
2021 RHP Dylan Kerbow (Texas State)
2023 OF Brayden Sharp (Baylor Commit)

 

#8 Keller Indians

2019 Record: 22-11-1, 2020 Record: 11-3

Another team that was mentioned when talking about the top spot this year. With thirteen players either signed or committed to play at the next level, you know talent will be on the field. Keller was off to a fast 11-3 start last year and the will look to start fast once again. 

Key Players

2021 SS Todd Baffa (Seward County CC Signee)
2021 RHP/IF Robert Cranz (Wichita State Signee)
2022 LHP/OF Zachary Erdman (Texas Tech Commit)
2021 RHP Zach Gonzales (Southern Arkansas)
2021 RHP Eric Hammond (Southern California Signee)
2021 OF Trey Orman (East Central College Signee)
2021 MIF/RHP Christian Robb (Vernon Signee)
2021 LHP/OF Braden Davis (Sam Houston signee)
2021 C Whit Thoms (Missouri Signee)
2021 UTL Aidan Connors (William Jewell Signee)
2021 1B/OF Gray Rowlet (Northwestern Signee)
2021 UTL Blake Hadsell (Arkansas-Rich Mountain Signee)
2021 OF Jackson Berg (Arkansas-Rich Mountain Signee)

 

#9 San Antonio Reagan Rattlers 

2019 Record: 33-8 Regional Semifinalists, 2020 Record:13-2-3 

The Rattlers are our top ranked team out of San Antonio to start the year. This has been a common theme on this list, but their arms will be able to compete with anyone, starting with Ryan Beaird in the top spot. Look for the Rattlers to make some noise this year.

Key Players

2021 RHP Ryan Beaird (UTSA Signee)
2021 C Hogan Heller (Temple College Signee)
2021 LHP Jagger Edwards (Columbia Signee)
2021 RHP Cohen Feser (TCU Signee)
2021 UTL Jake Burcham (Tarleton State Signee)

 

#10 Marcus Marauders

2019 Record: 28-8 Regional Quarterfinalists, 2020 Record:11-2

Marcus is a talented, well coached, hard nosed, tough team that seems to figure out ways to win year in and year out. That theme will ring true once again this year. We look forward to seeing their mix of veterans and what they can accomplish once again this year.

Key Players

2021 OF Ty Johnson (McLennan JC)
2021 2B Aidan Legner (Muhlenberg)
2021 RHP Camron Montz (Hill JC)
2021 LHP Tyler Schott (DBU)
2021 OF Owen Shaw (Hendrix College)
2021 SS Hunter Teplansky (TCU)
2021 OF Preston Curtis (Carl Albert State College)
2021 RHP/IF Cameron Bushnell (Regis University Commit)
2021 OF Wesley Jordan (Navarro Commit)
2021 IF Ben McGinnis (Navarro Commit)
2021 RHP/OF Cole Landgraf (Carl Albert State College)
2021 UTL Connor Wyatt (Carl Albert State College)
2021 RHP Michael Lindsey (Howard College)
2021 UTL Jeffrey Martz (Georgia-Gwinnett)


Team Summary

Coach Jeff Sherman and his Marcus Marauders look to return to the playoffs again after being District Champs in 2019. Coach Sherman returns a small group of players in 2021 and has confidence in his lineup, defense and depth overall but will be looking for some pitchers new to the varsity level to step up. Returning on the mound for Marcus is 2021 LHP Tyler Schott (Dallas Baptist commit), who was a member of Team Texas at the 2019 Future Games. In the lineup, Coach Sherman returns four key players in 2021 SS Hunter Teplanszky (TCU signee), 2021 OF Ty Johnson (McLennan CC commit), 2021 OF Wesley Jordan (Navarro CC commit), and 2022 OF Jake Duer who will be looking to continue the production they had during a shortened 2020 season. Also, look for 2022 RHP Tate Evans and 2023 RHP/3B Logan Boertje to potentially make an impact for Marcus this year.

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