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: Hallsville Bobcats
Head Coach: Chris Whatley
UIL Classification: UIL Class 5A (District 15)
Team Strengths: Pitching
2023 Record (Playoff Finish): 27-8 (5A Regional Quarterfinalists)
Key Players Lost: Landon Bowden, Connor White, Ashton Garza

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

+ INF Sawyer Dunagan (2024; Tyler JC)
+ RHP/OF Blake Cox (2024; Navarro JC)
+ OF Ethan Miller (2024; uncommitted)
+ C Zane Holder (2024; uncommitted)
+ RHP/INF Kaden Akin (2025; uncommitted)
+ OF/UTL Trentan Johnson (2025; uncommitted)

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TOP NEWCOMERS

+ INF/UTL Hawk Haynes (2025; uncommitted)
+ INF/UTL Kade Chappell (2025; uncommitted)
+ UTL Bryce Grissom (2025; uncommitted)
+ OF/LHP Preston Thomas (2025; uncommitted)
+ OF Cade Stuckey (2026)
+ C/OF Christian Martin (2026)

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FRESHMEN TO FOLLOW

+ INF Dunn Smith (2027)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

After winning nearly 30 games last season and finishing as 5A Regional Quarterfinalists, the Hallsville Bobcats and Coach Chris Whatley bring back another talented roster for 2024. The Bobcats have six key returners coming back this season and a plethora of new and young pieces joining the fold that will give Coach Whatley a lot to look forward to past the 2024 season.

Headlining the 2024 roster is a pair of seniors who have committed to playing at the next level in INF Sawyer Dunagan (Tyler JC) and RHP/OF Blake Cox (Navarro JC). Dunagan is projected to be the team’s opening day starter at shortstop with Cox projected to be the team’s number one arm this year. Dunagan is also currently ranked No. 186 in the state. The Bobcats return a pair of uncommitted seniors in OF Ethan Miller and C Zane Holder, who should both help stabilize the defense and lineup for Hallsville.

Hallsville has an impressive junior class as well to keep tabs on moving forward. Two-way player RHP/INF Kaden Akin (uncommitted), headlines the junior returners as well as OF/UTL Trentan Johnson (uncommitted). The two are projected to be joined by four newcomers this season in INF/UTL Hawk Haynes (uncommitted), INF/UTL Kade Chappell (uncommitted), UTL Bryce Grissom (uncommitted), and OF/LHP Preston Thomas (uncommitted). These six should get valuable playing time in 2024 that should position them well to lead the charge when they are seniors in 2025.

Some underclassmen to watch for Hallsville in 2024 are OF Cade Stuckey (2026), C/OF Christian Martin (2026), and INF Dunn Smith (2027). Stuckey is currently ranked No. 135 in the state for his class, and headlines an impressive crop of underclassmen that should be valuable pieces for Coach Whatley to build around for future years.

With their impressive returning roster and mix of youth that they are bringing into the fold, there is a lot to like with the 2024 Hallsville Bobcats squad. Look for Hallsville to be serious 5A playoff contenders again this season due to this impressive roster.

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Find more information on the 2024 Hallsville Bobcats program below:

+ Prep Baseball Texas, Power 30 Homepage

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