By RANDY BYERS ©Copyright-2009 Houston5ABaseball.com
It was an odd feeling for me, (one most certainly felt many times before by the North Texas media), when the Bellaire Cardinals season was ended by the South Lake Carroll Dragons. Usually the shoe is on the other foot in Round Rock as Houston 5A teams have dominated 5A play since it's inception in 1982. As a matter of fact, Houston
5A teams have won 16 out of 27, 5A Championships on record and played in 20 of the 27.
As proven in 2008, the North Texas teams have made tremendous strides in developing their teams and the upcoming season will be no different. With the overflowing talent in the DFW Metroplex, Houston area teams are going to have to dig deep and send a dominate team or teams to Round Rock if they are to reclaim the 5A championship.
Its opening day
And so here we are, the dawning of the 2009 season in what could be one of the best on record. Why do I say that you ask? Simply put, there isn't necessarily a dominating team out there. There are many very good teams loaded with very good players but no one team stands out as one who would, or will, totally dominate the field, thus, possibly making the 2009 season one of the most exciting on record for the Houston area.
Looking at the H5AB Pre-Season Top 10, it's almost anybody's game out there in 2009.
1. Bellaire Cardinals - The Cardinals return seven position starters (Kyle Chaskin, Alex Silver, Trace Knoblauch, Jarred Higgins, Andrew Burns, Sean Washington, Chris Minifee) and a battery of pitchers (Tyler Duffey, Toller Boardman, Kyle Chaskin) whom assisted Bellaire in the rise to the Region III Championship. But the Cardinals line-up, while every bit a team and the key word is team, doesn't necessarily scream dominating. But the Cardinals do have the talent to become dominating if everything clicks at once.
2. Klein Bearkats - Matthew Purke is the stud of the Klein Bearkats in 2009 while Tyler Boss, Patrick Stanley, Brandon Clark, and Sam Landis are returning and will have to find a way to replace Adam Smith and Kyle Roliard. Klein has the pieces to dominate when Purke is pitching but they must prove they can do the same without him on the mound.
3. The Woodlands Highlanders - The Highlanders could be a dominating team in Region II if they are able to meld together as a team like that of 2006. The pieces are there, Tyler Spurlin, Jameson Tallion, Ryan Benot, Alex Black, Ryan Eastman, Anthony Azar, and Spencer Davis could be a dominating force if they play and produce as a team.
4. Lamar Redskins - Lamar quite possibly lost more talent than any other team to graduation of 2008 but they do return a number of players with varsity experience as well as several newcomers who have proven themselves on the off-season circuit but are yet to do so in the spring. Cole Lankford, Tyler Duffie, Neal Dennison, Matt Killary, Cody Horr, Anthony Chacon, Marquis Kindle, and Michael Resnick all return with substantial varsity experience while John Williamson, David Toups, and Matthew Tindall have proven their wears on the off-season schedule but must do so in the spring varsity schedule if the Redskins are to be successful.
5. SB Memorial Mustangs - The Mustangs are in quite possibly the best position they've been in for quite some time. The 2009 squad features depth at both pitching and offense. Coach York's squads in the past have had a lopsided share of one or the other but 2009 finds him with an abundance of each. Daniel Neumann, Michael Ratterree, and DeMario Thibodeaux, will lead the Mustangs offense while Michael Bentz, Nelson Laswell, Steven Murray, and Baron Davis will provide depth on the hill. The Mustangs also feature many newcomers who will be counted on for support as the season progresses and into the play-offs. If they all click, they could be the dominate team.
6. Brazoswood Buccaneers - The Bucs stormed onto the scene in 2008 with a very young teamn lead by Jacob Gonzales, Tyler Green, Ben Coram, Colton Lindloff, Anthony McIntyre, and Andrew Garner. The Bucs field a roster full of top shelf pitching and power bats but they will have to click on both to be that dominate team. If they find a way to close out those games that they just couldn't quite close out in 2008, they could be on there way.
7. Katy Tigers - The Tigers return much of their line-up from 2008 including the power arm of Keifer Nuncio and the power bat of Andrew Stumph. The Tigers could be that dominate team if the supporting cast of Jarred Fancher, Kyle Guillory, Tyler Herr, Parker Ray, Cole Hansen, Randy Picard, and Justin Cudd all do their part and Nuncio and Stumph stay healthy and produce their usual numbers.
8. Cypress Woods Wildcats - Cy-Woods could be dominating if they are ever to gel their power pitching, finesse pitching, power bats and sure up their defense. If Jeremy Fant, Michael Hilliard, Casey Grayson, Cody Williams, Andy Lada, Chris Florack, Jared Lakind, and Michael Hayes, are ready to take the next step, they might just be that elusive dominating team in 2009.
9. Klein Oak Panthers - The Panthers might just have their best talent mix since the Glory days of Dale Westmoreland. Solid at all positions, the Panthers don't necessarily have that superstar player but rather a group of players who all play their positions at an above average ability. Klein Oak will need Chase Barnett, Ryan Hudnel, Garrett Harrison, and Ethan Carnes, to continue their development on the mound and CJ Manning, Travis Walker, Austin Jackson, and Andy Wilson will need to continue their production both in the field, and at the plate if Klein Oak is to be that team.
10. Alvin Yellow-Jackets - Just one season removed from one of their most successful seasons ever, the Jackets have the mighty task of replacing Nathan Eovaldi, Travis Jenkins, and Travis Snider. Aaron Stewart and Josh Land will be charged with the starting duties in the hill while big first baseman Andrew Gross, CF, Chris McDonald, 2B, Robert Hoffman, and 3B, Josh Taylor will have to make up for a lot of offense. C, Ricky Taylor will need to fill the huge shoes of former Alvin catcher Travis Snider. Alvin appears to have the pitching needed to continue their success but the offense will be the big question mark in 2009.
H5AB POWER PLAY
H5AB takes a look at some of the most powerful players on the mound and in the infield for the 2009 season.
Ten Power Pitchers worth the price of admission
1. Matthew Purke, LHP, Klein; Purke is nasty on the hill regularly bringing it in the 90's with a devastating repertoire of off-speed pitches. Many scouts feel Matthew will be drafted high in the first round of the June first year player draft.
2. Cameron Coffey, LHP, Houston Christian; Cameron has picked up where he left off a year ago and added a few more mph to his heaviest of heavy fastballs. Lighting up the gun at 94-95 mph as recently as Feb 2009, Coffey's draft stock is rising by the day and Duke University may never reap the benefits of the big LHP.
3. Matthew Graham, RHP, Oak Ridge; Graham has been a household name in the power pitching department since his sophomore year and has drawn many of interest from Pro Scouts everywhere. Graham is bigger, stronger, and throws harder then ever before now in his senior year. Matthew has committed to North Carolina but may never see a college field.
4. Jameson Tallion, RHP, The Woodlands; recently named the number one prospect nationally of the class of 2010, this huge RHP, was clocked in the mid 90's in Florida a few months ago. Tallion has committed to the Rice Owls verbally in what started a fairly new trend of early verbal commitments for underclassmen in baseball.
5. Keifer Nuncio, RHP, Katy; Nuncio has been pitching in the power department since his freshman year at Katy and features a variety of off-speed pitches to go with his 92 mph fastball. An added feature of Keifer's game is his power bat which he has displayed emphatically during the scrimmage season. Signed to play at UT in 2010, Nuncio is sure to become another in a long list of top shelf power pitchers for the Longhorns.
6. Kevin Hahn, LHP, Stratford; Kevin has been on the rise since his sophomore year and now in his senior year, he could be the most underrated of all the power pitchers. Hahn has the brilliance of a fastball in the 90's and a bevy of off-speed cruelty to offer his opponents. The big left hander is signed to play for the Rice Owls in 2010 but in 2009 will be one of those power guys worth the price of admission in 5A Baseball.
7. Shawn Blackwell, RHP, Clear Creek; Shawn Blackwell sports an impressive resume in his rise to stardom in the 5A ranks. Blackwell has participated in numerous professional scout camps by invite and has been carving up quality lineups since his sophomore year. A high 80's to low 90's fastball is made even more devastating by his ++ knee buckling curve ball. Shawn has signed with Kansas University for 2010.
8. Tyler Spurlin, RHP, The Woodlands; Tyler is another high 80's to low 90's guy on the hill that sports a very good stick at home plate. Tyler has posted a 437BA, and 25RBI in 30 Varsity games played. On the mound he posted an impressive 7-1 record with a 2.96ERA as a junior. Spurlin has signed to play at Rice in 2010 but for 2009 is set to lead his Highlanders back to the play-offs.
9. Toller Boardman, LHP, Bellaire; This big lefthander is going to be something special at Bellaire High School and has already established himself as one of H5AB's up and coming power pitchers. A high 80's to low 90's guy, Boardman is sure to dazzle the scouts for the next few years as he is only a sophomore. Boardman was instrumental in Bellaire's play-off success in 2008 as a freshman and will be for years to come for the Cardinals.
10. Tyler Duffey, RHP, Bellaire; Tyler Duffey is a high 80's guy who mixes it up nicely with his off-speed. A major contributor to the Bellaire pitching staff since his sophomore year, Duffey should certainly be tabbed as the Cardinals #1 in 2009. Signed to play at Rice in 2010, Tyler will attempt to lead his Cardinals back to Round Rock where he was the Cardinals' starter in the 2008 State Semi-Final game.
Five Power Infielders worth the price of admission
1. Daniel Neumann, 3B, SB Memorial; Daniel destroyed opposing pitchers in the 2008 season posting a ridiculous line of 14HR, 46RBI, and a 383BA, and looks even more powerful for the 2009 season.
2. Andy Lada, 3B, Cy-Woods; Andy recently signed with Navarro College but definitely has the bat to perform on the Division I level. In 2008 Lada was named Varsity Newcomer of the Year by Houston 5A Baseball for compiling a line of 13HR, 36RBI, and a 361BA.
3. Michael Ratterree, SS, SB Memorial; Michael is signed to play for the Rice Owls in 2010 but in 2009 you can expect big things out of this slick fielding infielder who in 2008 produced mightily for his mustangs compiling a line of 11HR, 41RBI, and a 381BA.
4. M.P. Cokinos, C, SB Memorial; M.P. is signed with the University of Houston
for 2010 but in 2009 you can expect this big things from this big catcher. Cokinos will attempt to best his 2008 line of 8HR, 32RBI, and a 407BA.
5. Grant Clyde, 3B, Atascocita; Grant burst onto the scene a couple years ago and has improved each season. Clyde, an Angelina signee, could be one of the best power hitters in 2009 and to go with that power, Grant carries a more than respectable 365BA from 2008 to go along with 9HR, and 38RBI.
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