The 2024 Texas high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Texas.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Austin at the UIL State Tournament in June, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Texas. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 30 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 30 rankings.

Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Smithson Valley Rangers
Head Coach: Chad Koehl
UIL Classification: UIL Class 5A (District 26)
Team Strengths: Returning Pitching
2023 Record (Playoff Finish): 27-9 (5A Regional Quarterfinalists)
Key Players Lost: Jackson Elizondo - Baylor, Ethan Gonzalez - Blinn, David De Hoyos - Amarillo, Cooper Burgess - Paris

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

+ OF/RHP Zach Gingrich (2024; Texas State) - First Team All-District
+ INF Jackson Harris (2024; Western Texas JC)
+ LHP Maverick Minister (2024; Cisco JC)
+ OF/INF Jackson Duffey (2024; Texas Football) - Honorable Mention All-District
+ CIF/RHP MJ Espinoza (2024; Hill JC) - First Team All-District
+ OF/UTL Bryce Wells (2025; uncommitted) - Second Team All-District
+ INF Blake Allen (2025; uncommitted) - Honorable Mention All-District

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TOP NEWCOMERS

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FRESHMEN TO FOLLOW

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Smithson Valley Rangers are back in 2024 after nearly winning 30 games last season and finishing as 5A Regional Quarterfinalists. Coach Chad Koehl and the Rangers will look to be led by their returning pitching and returning All-District talent.

Headlining the senior class for the Rangers in 2024 will be Texas State signee OF/RHP Zach Gingrich (2024). Currently ranked No. 170 in the state, Gingrich was a First Team All-District player in the outfield in 2023 and should be the catalyst for this squad in 2024. A talented two-way player as well, Gingrich has been a 6.83 runner for us in the past, as well showing a strong arm from the outfield (86 mph), to pair with a loud bat as well posting max EV’s at 97 mph. On the mound, he sits in the mid-80’s with his fastball (T87 mph), has a low-70’s breaker, and a changeup that sits in the mid-70’s as well.

A pair of seniors committed to playing at the next level are also back in 2024 in INF Jackson Harris (Western Texas JC) and LHP Maverick Minister (Cisco JC). Senior CIF/RHP MJ Espinoza (Hill JC) is returning for 2024 after earning First Team All-District a season ago. Although he is committed to playing football at Texas next fall, senior OF/INF Jackson Duffey is a key returner for the Rangers after earning Honorable Mention All-District last year.

The junior duo of OF/UTL Bryce Wells (uncommitted) and INF Blake Allen (uncommitted) both return after Wells was Second Team All-District in 2023 and Allen was Honorable Mention. Wells is also currently ranked No. 60 in the state for his class heading into the spring.

The Rangers have quality pieces coming back in all areas heading into 2024 and look to be a team to watch throughout the season. Look for Smithson Valley to be a 5A contender this season and a tough team to beat all year.

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Find more information on the 2024 Smithson Valley Rangers program below:

+ <<2024 Schedule>>
+ Follow Smithson Valley on X: @SV_Baseball
+ Prep Baseball Texas, Power 30 Homepage

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