Texas JUCO Week 10 Preview

This week there is a lot of big series going on across the state. One between the two top teams in Region 14-South, a series between two bubble teams in Region 14-East, and a series between the two teams tied for second in the WJCAC.

#8 Howard vs #9 Midland

This series has big implications on how the final conference standings are going to play out. Both Howard and Midland are tied in second with an 11-2 conference record. On top of that, both teams come in hot. Both teams come in having gone 13-2 in their last 15 games since conference play started at the beginning of March.  

Howards offense has been led by FR INF Brandon Pimentel, SO INF Lance Russell (uncommitted), and SO RHP/OF Nick Jodway (Marshall). Pimentel leads the team with a .442 average and has 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 28 runs batted in, 16 runs and an impressive .506 on-base percentage. Russell is hitting .370 with a team-leading 9 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 18 runs batted in and 21 runs scored. Jodway is hitting .300 with 5 doubles, a team-leading 6 home runs, 28 runs batted in and 14 runs.

Midland has been led by SO C Garrett Wilkinson (Liberty), FR INF Mason Weathers, and SO OF Jordan Billups (Marshall). Wilkinson leads the team with a .421 average, he has 13 doubles which is 9th in the country, 6 home runs, 29 runs batted in and 27 runs scored. Weathers is hitting .350 with 10 doubles, 4 home runs, 22 runs batted in and 22 runs scored. Billups is hitting .274 with 6 doubles, 4 home runs, 24 runs batted in and 16 runs scored.

*Projected Starters

#14 Alvin vs #6 San Jac

This matchup is for who controls the #1 spot in Region 14-South. Both teams are tied at 11-4 in conference play.

In the month of March, Alvin has been on a tear. They are 12-2 this month and have not lost back to back games since February when they played San Jac the first time. Leading the offense for them has been SO OF Dylan Dougherty (uncommitted), OF Javeon Cody, INF Garrett Poston. Dougherty is currently hitting .379 with 14 doubles which is 3rd in the country, with a triple, 2 home runs, 15 runs batted in and 27 runs scored. Cody is hitting .378 with 7 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs, 21 runs batted in 32 runs scored, a .528 on-base percentage and 26 stolen bases which is 5th in the country. Poston is hitting .365 with 7 doubles, 5 home runs, 30 runs batted in, 14 runs, and a .504 on-base percentage.

San Jac has been led by FR OF Hunter Townsend, SO UTIL Camryn Williams (uncommitted), and SO INF Ryan Hernandez (Houston). Townsend  is hitting .302 with 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 14 runs batted in 27 runs, and 13 stolen bases. Williams is hitting .280 with 7 doubles, a team-leading 5 home runs, 18 runs batted in and 26 runs scored. Hernandez is hitting .260 with a team-leading 8 doubles, 1 home run, and 9 runs batted in.

*Projected Starters

#11 Angelina vs #23 Paris

This series is between the two teams battling for the last 2 spots in the playoffs. Paris currently sits in 3rd with a 5-6 record,  while Angelina sits in 4th at 5-7.

Paris has had one of the most under the radar offensive in the entire country. They are currently 19th in Doubles with 62, 17th in Walks with 161, 10th in Triples with 16, 9th in Extra Base Hits with 103, and 3rd in Stolen Bases with 103 only being caught 18 times. Leading that offense this season has been SO OF/C Nick DeNicola (Oklahoma State), SO OF Tristan Kalina (New Mexico State), and SO C/OF Ian Groves (uncommitted). DeNicola has been one of the top hitters in the country this season. He is currently 8th in the country with a .489 average, 4th in On Base % with .618, 3rd in Slugging % with .989, 3rd in doubles with 14, 4th in Home Runs with 10, 9th in Runs Batted In with 36, and 3rd in Total Bases with 87. Kalina is hitting .281 with 9 doubles, 4 triples, and is 8th in the country with 23 Stolen Bases. Groves comes off a hot week where he was the PBR Texas Hitter of the Week, he is currently hitting .306 with 11 doubles, 3 triples, 5 home runs, 32 runs batted in, and 28 runs scored.

Leading Angelina’s offense this season has been SO INF Rylan Meek (uncommitted), SO OF Euro Diaz (uncommitted), and SO C Sam Gotlieb (uncommitted). Meek has been hitting .404 with 5 doubles, 2 home runs, with 13 runs batted in. Diaz is hitting .336 with 5 doubles, a team-leading 4 triples, with 27 runs batted in and 20 runs scored. Gotlieb is hitting .333 with a team-leading 8 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, and 13 RBI.

Rest of the State