The 2024 Texas high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Texas.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Austin at the UIL State Tournament in June, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Texas. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 30 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 30 rankings.

Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Clear Creek Wildcats
Head Coach: Brent Kunefke
UIL Classification: UIL Class 6A (District 24)
Team Strengths: Pitching & Defense
2023 Record (Playoff Finish): 13-16-2
Key Players Lost: Connor Clark (Grayson), Scott Martinez (Eastfield JC)

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

+ LHP/OF Tyler Austin (2024; Freed-Hardeman)
+ RHP/UTL Jackson Babcock (2024; Colorado School of Mines) - First Team All-County, First Team All-District in 2023

*2024 Jackson Babcock*

+ RHP/INF Thomas Huang (2024; uncommitted) - Honorable Mention All-County, Second Team All-District in 2023
+ UTL Dylan Russo (2024; uncommitted)
+ LHP Talan Plott (2024; uncommitted)
+ C Tyler Robinson (2024; uncommitted)
+ OF Will Rogers (2024; uncommitted)
+ INF Caden Schindler (2025; uncommitted)
+ RHP Lyndon Auffarber (2025; uncommitted)

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ RHP/UTL Ian Alper (2025; uncommitted)
+ RHP/INF Alex Bechler (2025; uncommitted)
+ C/UTL JJ Hawthorne (2025; uncommitted)
+ RHP/INF Connor Keys (2025; uncommitted)
+ RHP/INF Evan Sanchez (2025; uncommitted)
+ OF Cooper Simonds (2025; uncommitted)
+ RHP/C Zach Clark (2026)

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FRESHMEN TO FOLLOW

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TEAM OUTLOOK

After a rebuilding year in 2023, the Clear Creek Wildcats look to bounce back in 2024 behind nine key returners. Led by Coach Brent Kunefke, the 2024 Wildcats look to be built on their pitching and defense going into the spring.

As of now, the Wildcats return two seniors who are committed to playing at the next level in LHP/OF Tyler Austin (Freed-Hardeman commit) and RHP/UTL Jackson Babcock (Colorado School of Mines commit). Both Austin and Babcock are expected to factor as both pitchers and position players in 2024. Babcock returns after a decorative 2023 season that saw him earn First Team All-County and First Team All-District. Another two-way returner who received both All-County and All-District honors last season is RHP/INF Thomas Huang (2024; uncommitted), who was Honorable Mention All-County and Second Team All-District. The senior class also brings back UTL Dylan Russo (uncommitted), LHP Talan Plott (uncommitted), C Tyler Robinson (uncommitted), and OF Will Rogers (uncommitted). This strong senior nucleus should be pivotal in bringing along the junior class, as well as the few sophomores that will see varsity time in 2024.

Clear Creek’s junior class looks to have depth and versatility throughout the class and should play major roles in the team’s success in 2024. Two juniors return to the varsity squad after playing as sophomores last season in INF Caden Schindler (uncommitted) and RHP Lyndon Auffarber (uncommitted). Four two-way juniors are expected to join the Wildcats this season in RHP/UTL Ian Alper (uncommitted), RHP/INF Alex Bechler (uncommitted), RHP/INF Connor Keys (uncommitted), and RHP/INF Evan Sanchez (uncommitted). Elsewhere in the junior class, the Wildcats bring in C/UTL JJ Hawthorne (uncommitted) and OF Cooper Simonds (uncommitted). RHP/C Zach Clark (2026) is projected to be the lone sophomore to get a crack at varsity to begin 2024, and is another two-way player that should give Coach Kunefke versatility to mix and match his lineup.

After a 2023 season that can be chalked up to being young, look for the 2024 Wildcats to make some noise this season. With the roster being another year older and more experienced, the Wildcats look primed for a potential postseason berth this season.

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Find more information on the 2024 Clear Creek Wildcats program below:

+ <<2024 Schedule>>
+ Follow Clear Creek on X: @creekwildcatbb
+ Prep Baseball Texas, Power 30 Homepage

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