Teams to watch out for?

Flower Mound
Allen
Rockwall
Marcus
Keller
Southlake

All will be interesting to watch....but my pick to win it all.

Mansfield

No question Mansfield with Cahoon and Waldon.
Highland Park- Crenshaw
Plano East- a lot of young talent
Rowlett- look at the 16u select ball last summer and you saw Rowlett players all over the place, Mustangs (Sharp, Lowry, Wortham), Tigers Ingram, Panthers, Patriots.
Naaman Forest-

great topic idea, I was getting bored checking in and not seeing much new.

I understand that many teams have young talent and year after year the powerhouse teams in the area rebuild, but is that the same this year?

Examples:
Rowlett lost Top 2 pitchers, Shortstop, Right Fielder plus others

Rockwall lost 8 signees

Flower mound lost there studs


These are teams that we are used to seeing winning every year, and having real shots at the title. My questions is can these teams and others reload and if so with what players or is it time for other teams to take over and if so who? I am talking real contenders.

Yeah,

Those teams are obvious. What about teams that are "layin in the weeds!"

What about some teams that may not be so obvious and could come out of nowhere? Not necessarily to win the state title, but make the playoffs, go a round or two, be a surprise!

Let's hear about those schools.

OK thats great but I want to get an idea of teams are preseaon contenders, i know that doesn't mean much. And whose on those teams. And are the runs for those powerhouse teams over and if so whose about to take over in there place.

Flower Mound and Rockwall JV teams dominated last year.

Plus, when you have a reputation like they do, you will get the "move-in's"

I too think Mansfield is the 5A team to beat in the area. I think Allen and Coppell will be very good. It's always nice to enter the year with at least one stud on the hill. Obvious statement of the year (and all years) --> finding a consistent #2 is key. (duh!) 8-5A should be interesting as FM and Marcus have to overcome key losses. Both have had excellent JV programs, so we'll see if the new coaches can find the right ingredients. Plano East won't be very good (too young).....so, no one needs to pay attention to them.

HP will no doubt be good in 4A -- I think Poteet may take a little tumble after years of success.

Is it January yet?

southpaw -- strong programs find a way to rebuild....so, the cast of characters will be pretty consistent from year to year. Some teams have additional hurdles to clear -- like "expansion"! See Rockwall, Frisco and McKinney again soon?

Another obvious obstacle is a change in coaching. Can Payne carry on where Tally left off? Most of us think the drop-off will be slight (see also expansion).

Statewide -- the Woodlands will be tough as always. I can't remember...are Mansfield and the Woodlands in the same region?

Coppell Cowboys the best of the unknowns that nobody talks about. May have the best 07 pitcher in Dallas Cole Green.Mansfield will Dominant till the playoffs but will need third pitcher come regional playoff time. Just ask the Woodlands or the swingdoc.Got to have a stud #3.Best Dallas area team: Plano Prestonwood, Parents did nice job recruiting over the summer.

Prestonwood landed a potential '07 draft pick -- but who else? Oops, that sounds like recruiting -- -- (and Prestonwood is my church) -- go Lions!

now we know WHY you go to church !!

Good kid came from Garland. Was Garlands district newcomer of the year. Also was a pick up player for Tigers Mickey mantle team.hint hint

hehe -- but I spend more time praying for the Plano East baseball team than the one at Prestonwood -- shhhhhh.

Ok I see the clear Favorite is Mansfield with there pitching. And no the Woodlands and Mansfield are not in the same region. Who is in the same tear as the tigers in the area, is there one. And does any one know who is new to the program player wise at Rowlett, Rockwall, and Other teams. I am taking about move-ins.

If you saw Mansfield at all you have to look their way when looking for a powerhouse. The Woodlands is in Region II and Mansfield is in Region I. The Woodlands didn't fall because of lack of a third pitcher, series only went two and VerHagen never saw the mound. It was what most call the bounce of the ball and good fortune. I don't think anyone will dispute the talent The Woodlands had or has coming back. The Rock-Rowlett-Flowermound will always put on a show because of their JV & Frosh programs. They care about them and don't let the coach who drew the short straw lead them.

Kingwood will be there again. Two pitchers that pitch in the 90s with great second pitches. A couple of big bats from last year will be returning also. A very deep JV team from last year will killing for the spots that opened up from last year.

My Two Cents

Did the 50 year old juvenille graduate or will he be stealing the show again from a talented group of players and fine coaches. Congrats go out to the Mustangs.

Another team to watch may be Arlington Martin, They have both pitchers coming back and a group of Jr's that has lost only 3 games total the past 2 years.

I have to agree with most regarding Mansfield. I think Coppell is a sleeper as well. Lake Highlands may be another. Allen, (Rockwall & Rowlett, Flower Mound reloading but good.).

Thing you have to remember with established programs, most of these kids don't hit the Varsity field until their Junior years. Some may say, well its better to start on Varsity as a Fresh or Soph. But if a program has too many Fresh and Sophs starting, they have a tough time competing (5A) for titles. There are exceptions, but not many.

I'm not saying younger ages can't compete, but if a program has talented Sr.'s & Jr's, it's hard to beat them with younger kids.

That is why Flower Mound, Rowlett, Rockwall, and others stay at the top each year.

Throw in the fact that they get to play 40+ games compared to 27 to 30 and it can't hurt.
Those extra games are playoff action games that can only make a kid stronger mentally.

I predict Keller will underachieve.

quote:

Originally posted by Panther Dad:
I predict Keller will underachieve.

You so funny

Wow, sounds like Prestonwood will have an even stronger lineup with the new kids. Good coach, good players, nice facility. Sounds like a plan for success.....hmm, no one there is recruiting my kid! (parental issues, I'm sure)

PD,

You left out priceless...oh, well I guess there would be a little financial tag to go there.

BTW, is there enough competition in the privates outside a few schools? Sounds like a good way to pile up stats.

"Did the 50 year old juvenille graduate or will he be stealing the show again from a talented group of players and fine coaches. Congrats go out to the Mustangs."

Too funny I can only imagine what New York High School baseball is like if its anything like the Yanks or Mets

My Predictions

Southlake Carroll
Trinity
Smithson Valley

Oops, wrong sport, I thought it was FOOTBALL SEASON. Anyone have any thoughts on who will win District 5-5A in 2010.

2010 -- T-ball prediction -- Ken Guthrie's son's team wins the Triple Crown World Serious! --don't forget you heard it here first

Yeah, but that would be a "bootleg" championship. Maybe the Rhode Island U. coach will be there scouting.

Other then Mansfield, who clearly has the best pitching staff, who else has a good pitching staff, now i am talking about more then a ace. now maybe even the teams with just 2-3 good pitchers and no ace. And then who are the teams that will be praying for the one game series come playoff time.

And if i do recall, this is the high school BASEBALL web, meant to talk BASEBALL year round. but i could be wrong.

[quote]Other then Mansfield, who clearly has the best pitching staff, who else has a good pitching staff, now i am talking about more then a ace. now maybe even the teams with just 2-3 good pitchers and no ace. And then who are the teams that will be praying for the one game series come playoff time.

And if i do recall, this is the high school BASEBALL web, meant to talk BASEBALL year round. but i could be wrong.[/quote

Along with D/FW area, Houston has alot of excellent pitching. Randy Byers does an excellent job with his site and he posts here often. http://eteamz.active.com/5abaseball/index.cfm

You can ask questions in each individual district. Thats a nice option if you want to get a specific area of town.

My two cents

If you drop down to 4A, I think Wichita Falls Rider will have as good a trio as anyone next year. Three seniors; LHP Scott Crook has recovered from some nagging aches and pains which slowed him most of last season and has had a great summer throughout the Midwest, RHP Ryan Brasier who drew alot of attention this spring & summer on the mound and behind the plate, & RHP Chase Anderson who picked up alot of the slack from injured Chris Ingram during Riders playoff run. Two other seniors, RHP Michael Mowery and LHP Sean McCulloch can burn up alot of innings when needed.

Oh, Lighten up softballutsa. It was a joke.

Actually, VL, how do you think SV will do in baseball this year? Volz is back and they have some good juniors. But Pawelek & a couple of seniors are gone.

Boerne graduated Suttle, but still has some good players returning. Don't know about Calallen. Midway graduated a great catcher and its #1 & 2 pitchers, along with a couple of other starters.

Hope talking 4A is okay, utsa.

5sdad,

I agree with you on Martin. With Karns and Marshall back on the hill, plus their bats, plus the Garcia kid at the top of their line-up...they are the team to beat in their district.

Out west watch for El Paso Socorro (should have beaten Mansfield last year), Midland (Varsity last year was almost all Juniors), and Amarillo (returns 5 quality varsity pitchers).

9-4A

Mckinney North....again
Hebron.....again
Then it's anybody's guess.
Keller Central was very competetive
and young last year.
Mckinney is always good.
Lake Dallas lost their ace (Jones) and starting catcher but are always in the hunt.
Justin, Frisco, Frisco C. should all be better.

Lake Dallas has a bunch of studs in their Junior Class.

Junior class in Dallas/Ftworth as a whole will be a good one.

Interesting. The junior class in the San Antonio area is also stronger and deeper, for the most part and with the usual exceptions, than the senior class.