Video: Catch preserves no-hitterJacob Palisch of Dallas Jesuit got this catch from teammate Matt Horvath last year to preserve a no-hitter last season.
2017 Texas Preseason Baseball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Dallas Jesuit
Head coach: Brian Jones
2016 record: 36-8-2
The defending Class 6A state champions lose MaxPreps National Player of the Year Kyle Muller to graduation, but there's still plenty to like about the Rangers. Stanford signee and returning All-State pick
Jacob Palisch led the Dallas Jesuit pitching staff last year with an 11-1 record and 0.72 ERA. He's joined on the mound by
JJ Montenegro, who has signed with the University of Arizona. A pair of infielders return in
J.T. Mix (.323) and
Mark Ready (.286).
See last season's MaxPreps Texas baseball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard2. Johnson (San Antonio)
Head coach: Gordy Gessell
2016 record: 32-6
The Jaguars reached the Class 6A state final, where they fell to Dallas Jesuit 6-2. Johnson returns five starters from that team, led by All-State pitcher
Richard Gilbert. Headed to Texas Tech, Gilbert is joined on the pitching staff by returning starter
Ryan Day. The infield looks solid for the Jaguars with starters
Dalton Shuffield (shortstop),
Derek Martinez (3B) and
Hunter Wall (1B) all returning. Shuffield, Gilbert and Martinez were All-District selections last year.
See the MaxPreps Texas baseball pro photo galleries3. Deer Park
Head coach: Chris Rupp
2016 record: 37-3
Deer Park was one of the surprise teams in Texas last year, going undefeated for much of the season before finally exiting the playoffs in the regional finals to Langham Creek. Deer Creek returns its top pitcher from last year in
Peyton Sherlin (11-2) along with pitcher
Clay Aguilar (5-1). All-District infielder
Josiah Ortiz (.300) also returns.
See last season's MaxPreps Texas baseball playoff brackets4. Fort Bend Travis (Richmond)
Head coach: Rodney Hernandez
2016 record: 25-5-1
Cole Turney of Fort Bend Travis at the Perfect Game All-American Classic.
File photo by Rudy Schmoke
Although
the Tigers exited the Class 6A state playoffs in the second round last
year, they could be in for a deeper run in 2017. Fort Bend Travis has
one of the state's top players in outfielder
Cole Turney.
An All-State pick and the District MVP, Turney is also a MaxPreps
preseason All-American. He's joined by fellow All-District picks
Wesley Faison at first base,
Dominic Cox in the outfield and
Brandon Pruitt at shortstop.
See last season's MaxPreps Texas baseball stat leaders5. Midland
Head coach: Barry Russell
2016 record: 23-12
The
Bulldogs advanced to the second round of the state Class 6A playoffs,
but could be ready to advance even farther in 2017. Midland had the top
defensive player in the district in shortstop
Jaxon Hallmark, who has
signed with Nebraska. Midland also has returning All-District players
Sam Bertelson in the infield and
Chris Sims in the outfield. Midland
played Midland Lee, a regional finalist, to three one-run games during
the regular season and finished second in district play.
