Texas JUCO Week 6 Preview

With conference play starting in Region 14 and one week left of non-conference in Region 5 things are about to start heating up all across the state. This week we dive into two series from each region as well as one Top 10 matchup.

Region 14

#9 Navarro vs #13 Angelina

This is the first conference action for both of these teams. Navarro comes in with a 7-7 record; while Angelina comes in holding an 11-5 record.

The Bulldog offense is led by the SO 1B Kyle Landers (uncommitted), FR UTIL Stacey Bailey, and FR INF Cash Rugley. Landers leads the team with a .386 avg as well as 5 doubles, 12 runs batted in and 7 stolen bases. Bailey is just behind him hitting .355 with a team-leading 6 doubles, with 9 runs batted in and 10 walks. Rugely comes in with a .342 avg, 2 doubles, 9 runs batted in, and 6 stolen bases.

The Roadrunners come into the series with a 5-game win streak. Their offense has been led by SO INF Rylan Meek (uncommitted), FR INF Trenton Brown (Oklahoma), and SO Euro Diaz (uncommitted). Meek is hitting .333 with 2 doubles, 3 runs batted in but a team-leading 17 walks. Brown is hitting .286 with 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 8 runs batted in along with 10 walks. Diaz is hitting .316 with a team-leading 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 12 runs batted in.

*Projected Starters

#6 Blinn vs #21 Galveston

This is the first conference action for both of these teams. Blinn comes in with an 8-4 record while Galveston comes in with a 5-6 record.

Blinn comes into this series after a tough mid-week doubleheader with Temple. Leading the way for them SO INF Cameron Gibbons (Texas State), FR 1B/OF Brett Minninch, and SO C/OF Alec Sanchez (New Mexico). Gibbons currently leads the way with a .417 avg, along with 4 doubles, 1 home run, with 7 runs batted in. Minninch is just behind his teammate with a .412 avg with a team-leading 5 doubles, and 6 runs batted in. Sanchez has been most of power/speed has been. He is hitting .324 with a team-leading .588 slugging %, along with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run and 11 runs batted in.

Galveston comes into the series after a huge Week 5 where they put up 30 runs in just 3-games. Their offensive attack has been lead by SO OF Ian Matos (Alabama State), SO INF Corbin Vines (Sam Houston), and SO INF Gus Wilson (uncommitted). Matos is hitting .394 with 4 doubles, a triple, a team-leading 3 home runs, 9 runs batted in, and 10 walks. Vines is hitting .353 with a team-leading 5 doubles and 14 runs batted in. Wilson is hitting .394 with 3 doubles, a team-leading 3 triples, 6 runs batted in, 9 walks and a team-leading 6 stolen bases.

Region 5

#4 Grayson vs #11 Howard

This is the last non-conference game for each of these teams. Grayson comes in with a 9-5 record; while Howard comes in with a 5-7 record.

Grayson comes into this series after a big win over Navarro on Monday 25-7. Leading the way for the Viking offense so far this season has been SO UTIL Brandon Webb (uncommitted), FR INF Blake Rambush, and SO C Cordell Dunn Jr. (uncommitted). Webb leads the team with .417 avg, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 5 home runs, and 19 runs batted in. Rambush comes in with a .326 avg with 2 doubles, 1 triple, with 10 runs batted in. Dunn has been solid behind the dish for Grayson this season. He is hitting .262 with 2 doubles, 1 home run, and 14 runs batted in.

Howard has had a tough couple of weeks battling the injury bug. Leading the Hawks offense this season has been FR INF Brandon Pimentel, FR INF Diego Ramirez, SO INF Lance Russell (uncommitted). Pimentel leads the team with a .476 avg with a double and 5 runs batted in. Ramirez is hitting .316 with a double, triple, and a team-leading 7 runs batted in. Russell is hitting .293 a double, team-leading 2 home runs, 6 runs batted in, and 3 stolen bases.

*Projected Starters

Top 10 Matchup

#3 Cisco vs #8 Odessa

This series starts Wednesday with two games.

They Split the first two games of the series Wednesday. Cisco took game 4-1. Nick Candelari went 7 innings striking 3 with only 4 hits. While Odessa took game 2 4-3. Chandler Arnold went 6 ⅔ striking out 7 with only 1 earned run.

Cisco is currently one of the top offensive teams in the country. They are top 10 in runs (141), doubles (39), home runs (18), runs batted in (127), and extra-base hits (63). Leading the way for them has been SO UTIL Christain Smith (uncommitted), SO INF Zach Sweet (Lamar), and SO UTIL Bryce Holmes (uncommitted). Smith is hitting .444 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, a team-leading 4 home runs and 18 runs batted in. Sweet is just behind him hitting .410 with 2 doubles, a home run and 16 runs batted in. Holmes is hitting .392 with a team-leading 9 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, and 19 runs batted in.

Odessa offence is led by RSSO OF Kyler Castillo (uncommitted), SO INF Harry Fullerton(New Mexico), and SO INF Mason McLenna (New Mexico). Castillo is hitting .362 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, a home run and 9 runs batted in. Fullerton is hitting .265 with 2 doubles, a triple, a home run, and 8 runs batted in. McLenna is hitting .257 with a double, triple,  home run, and 8 runs batted in.

*Projected Starters