San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
H.S. baseball preview: Reagan eyeing long playoff run.
Rattlers returning 7 starters from team ranked No. 1 in state before shutdown
Reagan has set the standard for high school baseball excellence in the San Antonio area.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic prematurely ended last season, Reagan — the only area team to reach a state final in the previous six years — was the state’s top-ranked Class 6A team and was aiming for a third state tournament appearance in four seasons.
This year’s hopes are equally high, with the Rattlers (11-2-3 last season) returning seven starters.
Stalwarts like Travis Sthele (Texas) and JT Moeller (A&MCorpus Christi) have graduated, but Rattlers have the personnel for a long run.
Reagan enters the season as the Express-News’ top-ranked team and is No. 5 in the state’s 6A coaches poll. Senior Stayton Ankrom (.362, 12 RBIs, four doubles), a staple at second base, moves to shortstop.
Senior infielder Jacob Burcham returns as the team’s leading hitter (.429, four doubles, four triples, 18 runs scored, 12 RBIs). Senior first baseman/designated hitter Hogan Heller is a dependable veteran.
The pitching staff will be led by TCU signee Cohen Feser (1-1, 3.19 ERA) and UTSA signee Ryan Beaird (3-3, 0.93 ERA).
Reagan will face fierce competition within its own district from Johnson, the ExpressNews’ No. 2 team, No. 7 Brandeis and No. 8 Churchill.
Johnson (9-3) returns seven starters, including senior shortstop Chris Cardona, who belted three home runs a year ago, and senior pitcher Josh Coleman (three wins).
Brandeis (9-6) returns six starters and looks to make an impact in a new district. Junior second baseman/shortstop Jalin Flores, who is committed to Texas, hit .333 with five doubles and scored 14 runs last year. Versatile junior John Michael Ramirez, who plays catcher, designated hitter and pitcher, provides good production at the plate (.354) and the mound (2-0, 19 strikeouts).
Churchill (7-6) returns six starters, including senior outfielder Wes Campbell (.436) and junior catcher Levi Castilleja (.368).
O’Connor and Brennan of District 29-6A will challenge Reagan for area 6A superiority.
Third-ranked Brennan (11-3-1) returns seven starters, including several all-district performers led by senior catcher Xavier Martinez, senior infielder Vincent Banda and senior pitcher Keegan Adams.
Fourth-ranked O’Connor (113-1) will be led by big-hitting senior outfielder Carson Jones (.515, 10 stolen bases). Jones tore his ACL playing football, but the Panthers hope to have him back by the end of district play.
The Panthers will have a strong pitching tandem with junior Cross Valdez, who moves from closer to a starting role, and sophomore Miguel Bustamante, who earned a victory against state power Austin Lake Travis.
District 27-6A will be a tossup, with Smithson Valley and New Braunfels leading the way.
In smaller classes, Kerrville Tivy (14-3-2) of District 26-5A is ranked No. 7 in the state and No. 6 by the Express-News. The Antlers are the area’s only stateranked 5A squad.
Tivy is paced by senior catcher Travis White (.377), a Houston
signee, and senior pitcher Coleson Abel (4-0, 41 strikeouts, 1.35 ERA), a Texas Tech signee.
Blanco (8-4), a Class 3A state finalist two years ago, could be in for another long playoff run with the return of senior third baseman Baylor Smith (.438, two home runs), senior outfielder Ty Adkinson (.353), junior catcher Dylan LaRue (.400, 14 RBIs) and junior second baseman/catcher/pitcher Caleb Meyer (.474).
Antonian’s season already has started under first-year coach David Collenback, who came out of retirement after 21 seasons at O’Connor.
The Apaches (2-0) are led by senior outfielder/pitcher Maddox McDonald, junior outfielder/pitcher Carson Laws, senior catcher Will Bomersback and senior shortstop Adrian Losoya.