Pre-season Picks

I take it this is just for the North Texas mafia?

Mansfield
Coppell
Allen
Marcus
Rockwall
Keller
SLC
Denton Ryan
Flower Mound
Grapevine

Not necessarily in that order after the first 3.

For a real "Honest and Unbiased" opinion

Mansfield
Flower Mound
Coppell

Both Flower Mound and Mansfield go to Roundrock.

common theme this year to last, so far, not many Ft. Worth or Arlington teams listed. Any input from the westsiders on some of these teams?

Questions:

1. Flower Mound is going to have very good infield, but who is going to take the place of Italino and Meeker?

2. What does Rockwall have coming back?

3. Allen has two horses on the mound, but what about behind the dish and other position players?

4. Can Plano East find more than 1 top line pitcher to go with all their elite select position players? Same question for Rowlett?

5. Is Marcus rebuilding or reloading this year?

6. Who is Naaman Forest going to have on the bump this year?

7. Duncanville has a "pro guy" in centerfield, but how are they everywhere else?

My pick:

5A- Mansfield- Waldon and Cahoon plus a lot of senior experience

4A- Highland Park- Kershaw...and...?

My Early Guess would be: another good year for two Strong Programs over here in Flower Mound:

FMHS has Millard LHP that signed with DBU and then their is an 07 that was on JV last year Neal (Dallas Mustangs)and another 07 Durand. Think there is still some shuffling over their for positions (infield/outfield/catcher). Always a team that competes and has depth.

Marcus: Reload would be my answer. 06 LHP Herriage is throwing heat and back (add to that 5 more Sr/Jr LHP's on staff and just as many RHP), 06 RHP Baker is back (pitched in that great game at Allen) lots of depth and many, many players to choose from this year, 12 returning Seniors, 18 or so returning Juniors in the program, at least that many Soph's and I think I heard close to 70 Freshman trying out. Lots of speed in the outfield, so hoping for another good/strong year for the Marcus Boys.

That is the scoop over in this neck of the woods.

My opinion is that Flower Mound wont miss a beat. they have a very deep pitching staff. maybe not the overall talent they had last year but they wont miss a beat. (oh and Millard is a LHP.)

I see Allen being their toughest competition.

Southpaw35
My mistake I was thinking in their 07 class will correct my mistake on that.

This is great! Keep posting, love reading about the competition!!!

H&U -- that's the most biased post since....well....EVER!

Longtoss -- how do you omit Mansfield? Who are some of the Jesuit guys?

Kirk -- you're improving when it comes to being politically correct -- remember, Plano East is young.

Texan -- what about south Texas?

For those that are truly gutsy, name the preseason all-Metroplex team.

Tolleson, Kershaw, Walton, Cahoon <-- the obvious picks (ummm, does anyone recognize a common theme there?)

I think two areas teams will make it to the final 4 ---- Mansfield and....Prestonwood Christian Academy!

I love the questions out there this year ---- how will SGP bounce back? How will teams with new coaches adjust? What newcomers will make a splash?

Is it February yet?

Add Kreder (C) and Edwards (RF) from Keller and Johns (SS) from Allen and Comer (3b) from Mansfield to your list PD.

And add Choate from Lewisville for honorable mention at SS (only honorable mention because he will be spending half his time on the bump)

And at Keller, there are 2 or 3 quality players competing for nearly every spot. Stafford should have another great year, and there should be some great competition for that #2 spot.

Should be a fun year over here in a very tough district.

"Politically correct" that hurts! Plano East young, isn't that what you said last year. When are they going to grow up.

Johns from Allen, heard he was still hurt and in jepordy of missing this season?

Don't know, I heard that they were contemplating surgery in the fall, but haven't heard from his mom or dad.

I hope he got better, Brian is one of the nicest kids and what a ballplayer.

KD, where does Marshall go to school?

He is a scary 4 hole hitter. I saw him hit 2 of the longest, highest fly outs last summer. If he got a centimeter more of the baseball, see yah!

PD,

You know, I knew I was missing someone when I was putting this list together and yes like everyone else Mansfield is the team to beat in the DFW area.

PS. Add Blake Beavan to your metroplex list.

Mike is at El Paso Franklin. His dad is managing the El Paso Diablos and moved his family there this summer.

And, yes, I have had the privlidge to watch Mike put on many a show. The most amazing was watching him hit one over the clock tower at Lagrave.

Then there are the three balls hit on/over the road at UTA.

And I could go on and on. Kid has a huge amount of talent, and hopefully he'll make the trek back to D/FW this summer to play with the Marshals

Where does Beaven go to school? Does he have other players around him, i.e. no. 2 pitcher and offense. If so, his school should be listed here.

By the way, where is the East Dallas contingent, Rowlett, Rockwall and Poteet. Why have they not been sounding off. I know Rowlett has some players and if their pitching comes through, they are not a sleeper!

I think he goes somewhere in Irving. And since we are on the bandwagon of adding Tiger players, don't forget Cole Green. I think Green hit the longest home run my son has ever given up.

On a 0-2 count.

Preston Claiborne-Newman Smith 3B
Tyler Herriage-Marcus LHP
Jared Mosqueda-Marcus SS
Ryan Enos- OF
Ryan Millard-FMHS LHP
Zack Britton C Weatherford

KD: who is the pitcher at LHS I am missing?????

Beavan=Irving High School

LT,

Appreciate the optimism regarding Jesuit, however, I would tap the brakes on that one. Their team has some very good young talent. However, without some divine intervention I think this is a rebuilding year. Not only with the new baseball field but with the team as well.

LHS's pitcher is Russo. PantherSon "owned" Russo last year -- he was 1-6 with 5K and a HR! He is a very good pitcher.

My list was obviously just a start -- and a little advertising for DBAT.

Okok, add Kaskow -- several of these guys are '07! Coppell will be very good in '06 and '07 -- and they have a nice mix of younger talent.

Lewisville will have two good pitchers and a pretty solid defense.

If they could only hit the ball they'd be a contender.

Beavan goes to Irving High School. They have also recently aquired a tranfer student that is a great catcher / power hitter. Granted 2 players do not make a team, but Irving may surprise some people this season....

What does 4A look like? I'm sure HP will be tough, and Lake Dallas has a very talented group of guys. Keller Central was tough last year, but what do they have returning?

In 4A, I don't think Boerne will make it to state this year. If they didn't last year when they had Suttle, I don't think they will do it this year without him (alhtough Moldenhauer is a pretty incredible player himself). They should get to regionals, I would imagine.

Am waiting on word from a Corpus expert on whether Calallen has a chance to repeat.

Midway lost its one & two pitchers, SS & an incredible catcher. Quite a bit of talent still there, but time will tell. Should go at least a couple of rounds deep.

In 5A, it will be real dogfight in Corpus to see who represents south Texas. And Smithson Valley is still pretty talented. Any game Volz pitches should be a win for SV. I expect SV to handle the San Antonio teams.

So I guess by looking at popular opinion we can put
Mansfield
Coppell
Allen
Marcus
in the Regionals?

At least one of those teams.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
By the way, where is the East Dallas contingent, Rowlett, Rockwall and Poteet. Why have they not been sounding off. I know Rowlett has some players and if their pitching comes through, they are not a sleeper!
________________________________________________________________________________________________

OK, I'll Bite
Rumblings I'm hearing, Rowlett has a better pitching staff than last year and better offense. They won't have that one pitcher to win those 1-0 games for you but they have improved overall on the hill.

Regarding the Allen questions:

Behind the plate will most likely be a senior who saw limited playing time behind Paramore last year. Defensively, he is even with Paramore, quick release, accurate, etc, but offensively he will not provide as much pop. Probably a mid 300 hitter.

Johns is back 100% healthy for the 1st time in a long time. Look for him to have a big year and step up as a leader in his 3rd varsity season.

Pitching could be a big problem after Tolleson. I suggest they hope for rain once a week!!!

Allen's "new" catcher may hit .350??? Ummm, if that isn't plenty, there is a school up the road where he might fit in. I heard that the Eagles #2 hits 90 on the gun -- sandbaggers! D8 will be strong.

Is it late January, at least?

For 4A Region 1, Wichita Falls Rider feels they will have at least as good a team as last year. Better infield, better hitting, deeper pitching. Most experienced senior class ever. The boys felt they choked in Round Rock last year and are very determined to make amends.

quote:

Originally posted by loves_the_game:
Regarding the Allen questions:

Pitching could be a big problem after Tolleson. I suggest they hope for rain once a week!!!

I saw Bingham (stands at least 6'5"), at the Dbat Showcase/tryout, hit 90 a couple of times and cruise 85-87. If ya'll don't want him, we'll take him.

South Garland might have some pitching back, along with a few new position players. As Georgio says
"hoo hoo"...

The top team in South Texas is no doubt, the W.B. Ray Texans. This team will probably start 9 seniors and defeated the Moody Trojans last year twice when they were ranked number 1 in the nation. W.B. Ray was ranked 3rd in 5a in the state of Texas and 9th in the country last year. I expect this team to make it to the region final and if they get past Smithson Valley and Kendal Volz, to win state. However, watch out for Moody, they always find a way to win. There is a lot of talent in South Texas this year/.

Corpus is going to be a rough town for baseball. I wouldn't count out CC Carroll either. Sounds like this will be a good year for Ray or Carroll to knock Moody off the throne.

Anybody going up against SV in the playoffs better hope for winning the toss & playing 2 out of 3. Volz is one heck of a pitcher. He isn't getting the press of some of the other top pitchers in the state, but he can hold his own with any of them.

And now a word from the sticks of East Texas...

In 3A last year's State Champions Carthage should still be the team to beat over here along with Lindale and Bullard. Carthage did lose their both of their pitchers from last year but they have more coming up.

In 4A look for Longview Pine Tree, Marshall, and Kilgore to battle it out in 17-4A. Pine Tree's pitching staff (which was all sophomores last year) is young and good - Brian Shore, Zane Hendon, and Jeff Thompson. Marshall will counter with two very good senior pitchers - Scott Adair and Corey Brown. Kilgore has one solid returning pitcher from last year in Casey Whitmer and will have to come up with a #2 and #3.

In 12-5A look for Rockwall to take the district with Tyler Lee and Longview vying for a playoff spots. Tyler Lee always has alot of pitching. Longview is going to have to come up with more pitching depth to go along with their lone returning starter Carlton Freeman.

Although we do love our hunting, fishing, and four wheelin in East Texas, we do find time to play a little baseball.

quote:

Originally posted by crawdad:
In 12-5A look for Rockwall to take the district with Tyler Lee and Longview vying for a playoff spots. Tyler Lee always has alot of pitching. Longview is going to have to come up with more pitching depth to go along with their lone returning starter Carlton Freeman.

I doubt this district will come down to these three teams. I think Rockwall is a shoe in but Tyler Lee and Longview lost a lot of seniors. I have a lot of doubts about Longviews pitching depth. Don't be suprised if Mesquite or Mesquite Horn sneak in there.

Crawdad
You mentioned Jeff Thompson like he'll be back for you all. I find that hard to believe having TJ six months ago. Just curious but I will wish ya'all good luck this spring and a very merry christmas.