Texas JUCO Week 7 Preview
March 7, 2019
Conference play is starting up across the state. Both Region 14 and Region 5 (DAC) are heading into their second or third week of conference play depending on the school. In Region 14-East Bossier Parish (LA), Panola, and Navarro are leading the way in the east all at 3-0 in conference play. While in Region 14-South Galveston is out in front 5-1 with San Jac just behind them at 4-2. At the Division 3 level, North Lake leads the way with a 6-0 record while Cedar Valley is in second with a 4-2 record. Out in Region 5, both the WCJAC and NTJCAC are starting off their conference play.
#2 McLennan vs #3 Weatherford
This early season matchup is going to have a major effect on how the NTJCAC will shape up and will most likely decide who will get the #1 and #2 seed heading into the regional in mid-May.
McLennan comes into this series after a tough week but is looking to bounce back. Leading their offense this season is FR SS Jalen Battles, SO OF Brooks Embry (uncommitted), and FR C/OF Cole Moore. Battles is hitting .324 with a team-leading 10 doubles, 1 triple and 14 runs batted in. Embry is hitting just above his teammate Battles with a .341 average with 7 doubles, 13 runs batted in. Moore is only hitting .250 on the season but leads the team in runs batted in with 19, along with 4 doubles, and 2 home runs.
Weatherford is one of the hottest teams in the state right now and they come into this series with a chip on their shoulder. Leading the way for this season is Week 6 Hitter of the Week SO INF Hunter Gieser (uncommitted), Week 2 Hitter of the Week SO INF J.T. Thompson (Texas State), and FR INF Cole Johnson. Gieser has been a force to reckon with this season leading the team with a .444 average, 4 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, and 15 runs batted in. Thompson is hitting .415 with 4 doubles, 2 home runs, and 11 runs batted in. Johnson is hitting .345 with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 15 runs batted in and currently sits at 5th in the country with 18 stolen bases.
They Split the first two games of the series Wednesday. Weatherford won the first game 3-1 thanks to an outstanding pitching performance by Carlos Tavera who threw a complete game striking out 10 on just 3 walks with no earned runs. McLennan won game 2 14-0 thanks to the big day at the plate by Brett Squires who was 3-3 with a double, a home run, and 4 runs batted in.
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#2 McLennan |
#3 Weatherford |
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Game 1 |
SO RHP Alex Deleon (uncommitted)(3-1,2.39 ERA) |
SO RHP Carlos Tavera (uncommitted) |
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Game 2 |
SO RHP Jase Embry (uncommitted)(2-0, 1.50 ERA, 1 No Hitter) |
FR RHP Bryson Hudgens (1-3,4.64 ERA) |
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Game 3 |
FR RHP Mason Hilton (2-1,3.26 ERA)* |
SO RHP Trevis Sundgren (Texas State)(4-1, 3.33 ERA)* |
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Game 4 |
SO LHP Grant Miller (TCU)(1-0,3.24 ERA)* |
FR RHP Bryce Hacket (2-0, 1.75 ERA)* |
*Projected Starters
Cedar Valley vs North Lake
Do not let the records of these teams fool you. Both teams are on top of the DAC Standing. Cedar Vallin is in first with a 6-0 conference record and North Lake is just behind them with 4-2. Both teams have two of the top offense at the Division 3 level in the country. Cedar Valley is top 10 in Runs (5th), Hits (5th), Doubles (3rd), Triples (4th), Home Runs (3rd), Runs Batted In (4th) Extra Base Hits (2nd) and Sac Flies (1st). North Lake, believe it or not, is even better than that and is top 10 in Runs (3rd), Hits (2nd), Doubles (4th), Triples (2nd), Home Runs (7th), Runs Batted in (5th), Extra Base Hits (5th).
Leading the way for Cedar Valley this season is SO UTIL Billy Rogers (uncommitted), FR INF/OF Jose Castillo, and SO INF/RHP Ryan Ratliff(uncommitted). Rogers is one of the top hitters so far this season at the Division 3 level. He currently is hitting .477 with 7 doubles(3rd in the country), 1 triple, 3 home runs (2nd in the country), and 21 runs batted in (2nd in the country). Castillo is hitting .418 with 5 doubles, 3 home runs (2nd in the country), and 25 runs batted in (leads the country). Ratliff, when he is not pitching, is one of the top hitters in the lineup. He is hitting .455 with 3 doubles, a triple, a home run, and 11 runs batted in.
For North Lake, the guys leading their offense are FR OF Andrew Gorham, SO INF Kade Phillips (uncommitted), and FR INF Walker Paz. Gorham is hitting .317 with 7 doubles (3rd in the country), a triple and 15 runs batted in. Phillips comes in with a .351 avg with 2 doubles, a triple, a home run, and 21 runs batted in (2nd in the country). Paz is hitting .290 with 3 doubles, a triple, 2 home runs, and 17 runs batted in.
North Lake took game 1 Wednesday 6-2.
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Cedar Valley |
North Lake |
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Game 1 |
SO RHP Noah Lynch (uncommitted)(3-0, 5.32 ERA)* |
SO RHP Tyler Stacey(uncommitted)(4-0, 2.38 ERA)* |
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Game 2 |
SO RHP Ryan Ratliff(uncommitted) (1-2, 7.71 ERA)* |
SO RHP Brooks Williams (uncommitted)(2-0, 3.33 ERA)* |
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Game 3 |
SO RHP Jesus Fraga(uncommitted) (2-1, 3.38 ERA)* |
SO RHP Rhys Harris (uncommitted)(2-2, 8.38 ERA)* |
*Projected Starters
#15 Frank Phillips vs #6 Odessa
In the past, an early season series between these teams would not have been that big of a deal. This year is a bit different. With the rise of Frank Phillips and Odessa, both teams have a legitimate chance at making a run into the postseason.
Frank Phillips is one of the most weather affected teams in the state this season. Do not let the lack of games cause you to doubt their ability. All they need is a chance to play. Leading the way for them on the offense are SO UTIL Christian Mendez (uncommitted), FR INF Darren Zarrillo, and SO INF Tommy Tolve(UT-Dallas). Mendez leads the team with a .438 average, with 5 doubles, a home run, and 9 runs batted in. Zarrillo is hitting .350 with a double, triple, home run, and 9 runs batted in. Tolve is hitting .333 with 2 doubles, a home run, and a team-leading 15 runs batted in.
Odessa’s offensive attack is lead by RSSO OF Kyler Castillo (uncommitted), SO INF Harry Fullerton (New Mexico), and SO INF Mason McLenna (New Mexico). Castillo leads the team with a .379 average, with 3 doubles, 2 triples, a home run, and 12 runs batted in. Fullerton is hitting .318 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, and 14 runs batted in. McLenna is hitting .295 with a double, triple, home run, and a team-leading 14 runs batted in.
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#15 Frank Phillips |
#6 Odessa |
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Game 1 |
SO RHP Spencer Johnston(East Central)(1-0, 12.60 ERA) |
SO LHP Marc Luna (uncommitted)(3-1,4.32 ERA) |
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Game 2 |
SO RHP Tanner Bercier(Angelo State)(0-1, 7.71 ERA) |
SO RHP Noah Bartlett(uncommitted)(2-2, 4.74 ERA) |
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Game 3 |
SO RHP Bryan Marrero(Bethune-Cookmen)(2-1, 5.21 ERA) |
FR RHP Chandler Arnold (1-1, 4.61 ERA) |
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Game 4 |
FR RHP Devin Paz (0-0, 2.89 ERA) |
FR LHP Connor Carlton (0-2, 5.59 ERA) |
#18 Galveston vs #17 Wharton
Region 14-South’s top 4 spots are separated by just a few games. Galveston is out front with a 5-1 record, and due to San Jac’s postseason suspension, there is a 3-way tie for the next 3 spots. One of those teams being Wharton. Whoever comes out on top of this series will set themselves up for a comfortable rest of the season.
Galveston comes into this week following last weeks big series win over Blinn. Leading the way for them this season are SO OF Ian Matos (Alabama State), SO INF Gus Wilson (uncommitted), and SO INF Corbin Vines (Sam Houston). Matos is the offensive leader this season hitting .357 with 4 doubles, 2 triples, a team-leading 4 home runs, and 10 runs batted in. Wilson is just behind Matos hitting .349 with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 7 runs batted in and a 6 stolen bases. Vines finishs out the trio hitting .333 with a team-leading 5 doubles, a home run, and a team-leading 17 runs batted in.
Wharton is coming off of a huge week taking 2 from San Jac. Leading the way for them this season are FR MIF Alec Carr, SO OF Caleb Maly (uncommitted), and SO UTIL Josiah Ortiz (uncommitted). Carr transferred in after Christmas break from UT and has made an immediate impact for Wharton. He is hitting .320 with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs, with 20 runs batted in. Maly leads the team with a .409 average with 5 doubles, and 6 runs batted in. Ortiz has hit .338 with 2 doubles, a triple, home run, and 11 runs batted in.
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#18 Galveston |
#17 Wharton |
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Game 1 |
FR RHP Charles Peacock (1-1, 3.27 ERA, WK 6 POTW) |
SO RHP Cameron Foster(McNeese State)(4-0, 2.73 ERA) |
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Game 2 |
SO RHP Jacob Jimenez (UTSA)(1-2,5.82 ERA) |
RO RHP Ryan Jennings (LA Tech)(2-2, 2.43 ERA) |
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Game 3 |
SO RHP Jacob Potter (Southeastern Oklahoma)(2-1, 2.75 ERA) |
SO RHP Jonathan Jimenez (uncommitted)(0-3, 4.50 ERA) |
Here is a quick look at the action happening across the state this weekend: Division 1
Region 5 WCJAC #19 Clarendon vs #13 Howard El Paso vs NMJC #12 Midland vs Luna (NM) Western Texas vs New Mexico Military
NTJCAC #4 Grayson vs #24 Temple #23 Hill vs Vernon #20 North Central vs #11 Ranger #5 Cisco vs TCS Post Grad
Region 14 East #14 Angelina vs Bossier Parish #8 Navarro vs #25 Paris Northeast vs #7 Panola
South #21 Alvin vs #10 Blinn Laredo vs #1 San Jac #8 Navarro vs #25 Paris
Division 3 #9 Tyler vs Joliet #16 Coastal Bend vs South Suburban (IL)
DAC Richland vs Brookhaven #22 Eastfield vs Mountain View