Weekly Recap & Awards No. 2

Final Tournaments of the Season, District Play Beginning for Many

Tournaments for the season wrapped up this week, and we had a good mix of local teams at different tournaments. The Coastal Bend had teams playing at the Canyon Lake Tournament, Victoria Tournament, Edinburg Tournament, Goliad Tournament, Dripping Springs Tournament, and the Falfurrias Tournament. We were all over!

As we are near a whole month of the season, it is now getting close to, if not already time for, district play. The games that truly matter.

Whataburger Field Action Kicks Off, View Schedule Here

Marcus here! I had the pleasure of sitting through a great game between 5A #19 Victoria East and Robstown at Whataburger Field last Tuesday, and it was awesome! It was the second meeting between the two teams, with the first going entirely in East's favor, winning the season opener 13-3. This game was much more evenly matched, with Christian Moreno and Braddock Raven each getting the start.

It was my first time seeing both teams, and I was impressed. East has been highly regarded to start the season, and Robstown is scrappy as ever. Neither team would go away, and it took a lineout to the right fielder with a runner on third to end the game. East got the win 7-6, but Robstown all but had them. Deacon Chase had 2-RBI for the Titans, while Layland Ring, Ryan Steele, and Christian Ferrier each had an RBI of their own.

The nightcap of the double header featured Falfurrias taking on Orange Grove, two teams that I have already seen during tournament play. Falfurrias was in control almost the entire game, but that was before Orange Grove mounted a comeback, scoring 4 runs unanswered to give them a 4-3 win over the #10 team in 3A. Zach Wright pitched another great game, going 6.0 innings with 8 k's. Michael Pantoja came in clutch with 2 RBI's. We said it last week, but look for Orange Grove to make some noise in District 30-3A this season.

Check out a few photos below of the games.

Robstown’s Christian Moreno Pitches Against Victoria East at Whataburger Field on March 4th

Orange Grove’s Zach Wright Pitches against Falfurrias at Whataburger Field on March 4th

Orange Grove’s Zach Starns Awaits the Pitch on March 4th at Whataburger Field

College Spotlight - Xavier Perez

What do Xavier Perez and a Rake have in common? They both RAKE. Plain and simple. This week’s college spotlight shines on University of Houston Baseball Slugger, Xavier Perez. Known among friends and family as 'X', Xavier is currently playing with the Houston Cougars of the Big 12 Conference as a redshirt sophomore.

You may have seen us sharing his highlights recently, and that's because there are plenty to go around.  The CC Veterans Memorial Alum has been seeing the ball as good as anyone in the country lately. The proof? 10 Hits, 16 RBI, 7 XBH a .500 Avg, and a 1.100 SLG- AND an 8-RBI game last week against Rice. X went 4-8 in their 18-1 thrashing of the owls, including 2 Doubles, 1 Homer, and those 8 RBI's. Combine that with a ton of success over the last few weeks, and X is primed to continue a great season.

Xavier Perez, Photo by the University of Houston Athletic Department

Pro Spotlight - LHP Dustin Saenz

This week’s pro spotlight shines on Washington Nationals LHP Dustin Saenz. Saenz was a stud for the Corpus Christi King Mustangs during his time in high school, before pitching for 4 seasons at Texas A&M University in College Station in the SEC.

Last week, Saenz was named to the Spring Breakout Roster for the Washington Nationals. The MLB Spring Breakout Showcase is an annual event during spring training to showcase some of the MLB's top prospects. It's mostly prospects from one organization playing against prospects of another, so keep that in mind. Saenz was drafted in the 4th Round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Nationals, as the 112th overall pick.

Keep an eye out for Dustin to appear in either, or both, of the games that the Nationals will be playing in. Details for the games will be listed below.

Nationals vs. Astros | March 14th, 2025 | 2:05 p.m. ET - West Palm Beach, Florida

Nationals vs. Mets | March 16th, 2025 | 5:05 p.m. ET - West Palm Beach, Florida

Saenz Pitching in his final season as an aggie in 2021, Photo by texas A&M Athletics

Notable performances from March 3rd - March 8th

Teams of the Week-4A/5A/6A

6A-La Joya | 5-1

6A-Brownsville Veterans Memorial | 4-0

6A-PSJA | 4-1

6A-Laredo United South | 5-1

5A-Harlingen South | 3-0

5A-PSJA North | 6-0

5A-Mission Sharyland | 4-0-2

5A-CC Veterans Memorial | 4-0-1

5A-Victoria East | 5-1

4A-CC Calallen | 5-0

4A-Raymondville | 4-2

4A-Hidalgo | 3-0-1

Teams of the Week 2A/3A

3A-Goliad | 4-0

3A-Falfurrias | 5-1

3A-Odem | 3-1

3A-London | 4-2

4A/5A/6A Pitchers of the Week

La Joya Palmview | Mateo Garcia | 1GP 1Win 7IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 18Ks *No Hitter/Perfect Game*

Rockport-Fulton | Sean Howell | 1GP 1Win 0H 0R 0ER 2BB 10Ks

PSJA | Jai Arenas | 1GP 1Win 5IP 0H 0R 0ER 1BB 7Ks *No Hitter*

Weslaco East | Antonio Solis | 1GP 1Win 7IP 0H 0R 0ER 18Ks *No Hitter*

La Joya Palmview | Joseph Martinez | 1GP 1Win 5IP 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 10Ks

Brownsville Rivera | Marcos Guerrero | 2GP 2Wins 16IP 0R 0ER 25Ks

CC Veterans Memorial | Jordan Garza | 2GP 2Wins 8IP 4H 0R 0ER 0BB 9Ks

Laredo Alexander | Federico Hernandez | 1GP 1Win 7IP 2H 0R 0ER 0BB 6Ks

CC Calallen | Hayden Brock | 1GP 1Win 5IP 4H 0R 0ER 0BB 4Ks

Los Fresnos | Joaquin Cavazos | 1GP 1Win 6IP 3H 0R 0ER 1BB 5Ks

McAllen | Geovoni Rodriguez | 1GP 1Win 6IP 3H 1R 0ER 0BB 5Ks

Mission Veterans Memorial | Jazhiel Trevino | 1GP 1Win 7IP 5H 1R 1ER 1BB 6Ks

PSJA North | Heriberto Hernandez | 1GP 1Win 5IP 5H 0R 0ER 1BB 8Ks

CC Tuloso-Midway | Pat Acosta | 1GP 1Win 7IP 2H 0R 0ER 2BB 8Ks

CC Tuloso-Midway | Ozbie Buentello | 1GP 1Win 7IP 3H 0R 0ER 1BB 4Ks

Laredo United South | Ivan Saenz | 1GP 1Win 5IP 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 8Ks

Victoria East | Andrew Alavardo | 1GP 1Win 7IP 4H 1ER 2BB 7Ks

Victoria East | Bentley Blinka | 1GP 1Win 6Ip 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 6Ks

2A/3A Pitchers of the Week

Falfurrias | Andre Cisneros | 1GP 1Win 5IP 0H 0R 0ER 1BB 12Ks *NoHitter*

CC London | Zac Tyrone | 1GP 1Win 8IP 5H 1R 0ER 5Ks

Banquete | Justin Ramirez | 1GP 1Win 5IP 1H 0R 0ER 1BB 10Ks

Banquete | Norman Ramirez | 1GP 1Win 6IP 1H 0R 0ER 0BB 12 Ks

Orange Grove | Eli Arias | 1GP 1Win 5IP 5H 1R 0ER 1BB 6Ks

Raymondville | Luis De La Paz | 1GP 1Win 7IP 2R 1ER 14Ks

Premont | Elian LaFuente | 1GP 1Win 5IP 2H 1R 0ER 2BB 4Ks

San Diego | Jayden Lozano | 1GP 1Win 5IP 4H 0R 0ER 2BB 6Ks

John Paul II | Ryan Escamilla | 1GP 1Win 5IP 3H 0R 0ER 0BB 12Ks

Orange Grove | Zac Wright | 1GP ND 6IP 5H 1ER 1BB 8Ks

Santa Gertrudis | Adam Hinojosa | 1GP 5IP 4H 1R 1ER 1BB 8Ks

4A/5A/6A Hitters of the Week

PSJA North | Darren Garcia | .750Avg 16AB 12Hits 10RS 8RBI 1-2B 1-3B 3BB 3SB

CC King | Marco Barrera | .667Avg 18AB 12Hits 5-2B 9RBI 2RS 

La Joya | Matthew Ortiz | .642Avg 14AB 9Hits 8RS 12RBI 2-2B 1-3B

Harlingen South | Joaquin Torralba | .636Avg 11AB 7Hits 4RS 7RBI 2-3B 

CC Calallen | Blake Quinn | .583Avg 12 AB 7Hits 1-2B 4RS 4RBI 2BB 

Laredo LBJ | Luis Nino | .571Avg 14AB 8Hits 9-RS 4BB 1-2B 

CC Veterans Memorial | Andrew Bonilla | .571Avg 14AB 8Hits 2-2B 5RBI

Sinton | Nate Multcher | .571Avg 14AB 8Hits 4RS 3RBI 

CC Ray | OJ Ruiz | .545Avg 11AB 6Hits 3-2B 1HR 7RBI

CC Ray | Aidan Ortiz | .538Avg 13AB 7Hits 3-2B 4RBI 5RS

CC Calallen | Chase Lynch | .533Avg 15AB 8Hits 2-2B 3RBI 5RS 2SB

Laredo United South | JP Briseno | .533Avg 15AB 8Hits 2RS 8RBI 2-2B

Alice | Maddex Carrillo | .529Avg 17AB 9Hits 1-3B 5-RS 3RBI 3BB

CC Calallen | Dallin Debellas | .500Avg 12AB 6hits 1-2B 5RBI 1RS 3BB

Mission Sharyland | Edgar Quintanilla | .500Avg 16AB 8Hits 4RS 2-2B 10RBI

CC Moody | Elohim Ramirez | .500Avg 18AB 9Hits 2RS 4RBI 

CC Ray | Josh Hernandez | .500Avg 14AB 7Hits 1-3B 2-2B 3RBI 

2A/3A Hitters of the Week

Odem | Chase Ford | .1000Avg 6AB 6Hits 4RS 4RBI 1-2B 1-3B 2BB

Riviera | C.J. Silva | .857Avg 7AB 6Hits 2-2B 4RBI

Santa Gertrudis | Adam Hinojosa | .600Avg 10AB 6Hits 8RS 5RBI 1-2B 1-3B 9SB

Raymondville | Jacob Sosa | .600Avg 15AB 9Hits 4-2B 4RS 5SB

CC London | JJ Villegas | .600Avg 15AB 9Hits 7RBI 5RS 3SB

Bishop | Jaylen Arriaga | .545Avg 11AB 6Hits 6RS 6RBI 3-2B 1HR

Bishop | Gabe Garcia | .529Avg 17AB 9Hits 5RS 1-2B 3RBI

Freer | Oscar Luan | .500Avg 12AB 6Hits 2RS 7RBI 

Premont | DeMarcos Gonzalez | .500Avg 12AB 6Hits 8RS 4RBI 1-2B 2-3B 5SB

Premont | Jayden Chapa | .500avg 10AB 5Hits 4RS 3RBI 3BB 1-2B 4SB

Special Feature: Calallen makes statement Going 5-0 at Dripping Springs Tournament

It is no surprise that the Calallen Wildcats are good. Like, really good. They were the Preseason #1 Team in Class 4A, and their record up to last week backed it up. However, their first real test would come at the Dripping Springs Tournament, one known for hosting some of the best teams in the state.

Despite the tough schedule, Calallen went out and did what they do- WIN. The Cats went 5-0 against 5A and 6A teams. They disposed of multiple Top-20 Teams in Class 6A. Don't miss your chance to get out and see them locally.

Wins for the Wildcats included the following

4A #1 Calallen over 6A #20 Flower Mound Marcus | 5-4
4A #1 Calallen over 6A #14 Dripping Springs | 4-3
4A #1 Calallen over 6A #5 Dallas Jesuit | 10-4
4A #1 Calallen over 5A Georgetown Eastview | 6-3
4A #1 Calallen over 6A Austin Bowie | 10-0

As always, thanks for the support and sticking around to read this. Be sure and share with your friends and get them to sign up too! We will be doing a giveaway soon!

- Marcus Sarate