Prep Baseball Report

Texas JUCO Week 4 Preview


Noah Sharp
PBR Texas JUCO Insider

There has been a lot going on in the state of Texas this week. We started out with a midweek series between two of the top Division 3 schools in the state Tyler and Richland (Tyler won both by a total of 3 runs). While this weekend there are some big cross region series between #2 Howard, #11 Ranger and #12 Blinn, #5 Grayson and #17 Galveston. Ending with a Top Ten series between #4 McLennan and #10 Navarro.

#2 Howard vs #12 Blinn vs #11 Ranger

Coming off a huge weekend, Howard will get back on the road and travel to Brenham, Texas where they will play a 4-game series against a very talented Blinn squad. This should be a very interesting match-up; not only because of the talent on both sides but that both coaches (Rob Martinez-Howard and Harvey Mcintyre-Blinn) are Howard alums.

Late Wednesday due to some projected weather there was a shift in plans. Ranger has decided to join Howard and Blinn this weekend. Ranger Will play 2 games (one against each) Saturday.

For Howard: look for FR INF Diego Ramirez, SO INF Lance Russell, and SO INF Brett Cain (Houston Commit) to lead the way both at the plate and in the field.

Blinn has encountered some harsh weather to begin their season; causing them to only play 3 of their scheduled 5 games. Despite their slow start, SO INF Cameron Gibbons (Texas State commit), SO OF Reggie McCallister (uncommitted), and FR INF Westley Schields should lead the way for Blinn at the plate.

Ranger has been one of the hotter teams in the state so far this season. Leading the way from them is RS-FR INF Brandon Holdren (uncommitted), SO OF Tucker Burton (uncommitted) and SO INF Victor Bueno (uncommitted)


Pitching Matchups:


#2 Howard

#12 Blinn

#11 Ranger

Game 1

FR RHP Nicco Cole (Cal State Fullerton)

RS-FR LHP Jacob Millender(Texas State)


Game 2

SO RHP Jordan Mikel (UL-Monroe)

SO LHP Ryan Day (Colorado Mesa)


Game 3


SO RHP Jackson Leath (Tennessee)

RS-FR LHP Austin Smith (UT-Arlington)*

Game 4

FR LHP Ricky Apodaca


So RHP Jose Suero (uncommitted)*

Game 5

FR RHP Tyler Pendley

FR RHP John Chomko

 

*Possible Starters

#5 Grayson vs #17 Galveston-3 Game Series 
To some people, this might be more than just your “normal” cross region series. Both Head Coaches, Kevin Lallman (Galveston) and Dusty Hart (Grayson), have been friends for 15+ years. To say that bragging rights are up for grabs this weekend might be an understatement.

Up for the Whitecaps, are SO M-INF Gus Wilson (uncommitted), SO OF Kyle Wheeler (uncommitted) and SO OF Ian Matos (Alabama State) who are all hitting over .400 on the short season.

Grayson hitters have struggled this season not due to the lack of talent but due to the cold weather that they have had to endure. Leading the way for them is SO UTIL Braydon Webb (uncommitted), SO C Cordell Dunn Jr. (uncommitted), and FR INF Omar Cervantes.

Pitching Matchups:


#5 Grayson

#17 Galveston

Game 1

SO LHP TJ Mullins (uncommitted)*

SO RHP Jacob Jimenez (UTSA)

Game 2

FR LHP Braden Carmichael*

FR RHP Charles Peacock

Game 3

FR RHP Rorik Maltrud or FR LHP Chase Van Dyk*

SO RHP Jacob Potter (Southeastern Oklahoma)

*Projected order for Grayson

Top 10 Match-Up:

#4 McLennan vs #10 Navarro-3 Game Series 
The one and only Top 10 matchup for the week is between #4 McLennan and #10 Navarro. One game will be played in Corsicana on Friday with a double-header being played Saturday in Waco. Both teams took part in the Tournament of Champions in Houston over last week and both split their 4 games.

For the Highlanders, leading the way for them offensively has been FR C/1B Cole Moore, FR SS Jalen Battles, and SO OF Brooks Embry (uncommitted)

The Bulldogs are led offensively by a SO INF Kyle Landers (uncommitted), FR IN Cash Rugely, and FR UTIL Stacey Bailey.

Pitching Matchups:


#4 McLennan

#10 Navarro

Game 1

FR RHP Mason Hilton

FR LHP Carson Rollins

Game 2

SO RHP Alex Deleon (Uncommitted)*

RS-SO RHP Austin Faith(uncommitted)

Game 3

FR RHP Tanner Brooks*

SO RHP Ryan Johnston (Central Arkansas)

*McLennan is undecided who they will start games 2 and 3 but it is between these two players.

 

Texas JUCO Top 25 Ranking

 

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