Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 25 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage.

Team: George Ranch
2017 Record: 27-5
Conference Finish: T-1st
Conference: 23-6A
THSA Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Greg Kobza
Playoff Run: Area Finalist
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS

 
SEASON PREVIEW

George Ranch returns a talented group from a team that finished with 27 wins last season. But the Longhorns will need to do more than just win their district if they want to make their mark on 2018. The pitching staff will be one of the strongest, and deepest in Texas, headlined by District MVP, the No. 9 ranked player in Texas, and Team USA member LHP/1B Joseph Menefee, a Texas A&M commit. A two-way player, Menefee has the stuff on the mound, and the all-around competitive nature to lead this team. Another two-way player ranked in the Top 100 of the Texas 2018 Class is RHP/OF Ty Abraham, a Houston commit. Abraham can hit for power and runs his fastball into the low-90's on the mound. Another Houston commit, LHP Cole McMillan is ranked No. 68 in TX, and pitches in the mid-to-upper-80's with good curveball. Menefee and Abraham will both add power to the middle of the Longhorn order and provide leadership in the field. 

Bolstering the bullpen and adding depth to the rotation are two uncommitted juniors, 3B/RHP Garrett Arredondo and Nathan Hamberg, both ranked in the Texas 2019 Class. Arredondo's fastball sits in the mid-80's with heavy sink, and he has the off-speed stuff to put hitters away. The two-way player has an athletic-strong frame and should also provide pop in the batting order. Hamberg has a high ceiling on the mound with a projectable frame and feel for three pitches. The right-hander was one of the top performers from the South Texas Underclass Games this past summer. Keep an eye on 2019 RHP/OF Easton Malin, who has made recent jumps on the mound and shows command of three pitches. 

The x-factor for this club could be 2019 OF Jacob Wilson, currently uncommitted. Wilson is a fast-twitch right-handed hitter with a high baseball I.Q and could be the table-setter the Longhorns need at the top of the order. If the Longhorns can solidify the defense in the middle of the field, they have the pitching, and power in the lineup to beat any team they play. 

POWER 25 RANKINGS

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