BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Jacksboro tops updated TRN Top 10 rankings
The TRN Top 10 is subjective and represents a team’s relevance in its district and regional playoffs. However, unlike the football version, head-to-head matchups may be weighted more since it’s not uncommon for teams in lower classifications to beat those in higher. But if a team in a higher classification doesn’t project as well in its district or region, then an opponent it may have a win against could be ranked higher. Current record and preseason ranking is in parenthesis.
BASEBALL TRN TOP 10
1. Jacksboro (14-3-1, 2) – The Tigers have impressed us the most since the start of the season. There’s a lot of depth in the lineup and the pitching staff. The most noteworthy stat is senior hurler Jackson McComis not surrendering an earned run in 39 ⅔ innings this season.
Also, coach Blake Belcher secured his 400th career victory this past Tuesday. An incredible feat for one of the area’s best baseball coaches.
More: SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: Reaves' HR gives Jacksboro new life in extra innings win vs. Henrietta
2. Holliday (10-5, 1) – It’s reasonable to say we should have kept Holliday at No. 1, considering the Eagles have played just a handful of games with their full team after a prolonged basketball season. But we’re that impressed with Jacksboro with both matchups between the two programs circled on our calendar.
Also of note, Holliday has promoted assistant Jason Kress to interim head coach, replacing Brad Blassingame who was recently named head football coach and athletic director at Petrolia.
3. Rider (12-5, 4) – This final Rider varsity baseball team feels like its best since 2017. That team had high expectations but ran into Colleyville Heritage, featuring current Kansas City Royal Bobby Witt Jr., in the second round. The Raiders can contend for a District 5-5A title, not just a playoff spot.
4. Iowa Park (8-7, 6) – Iowa Park junior Maddox Bernard completed a rare, masterful feat recently, pitching an immaculate inning in the Hawks’ District 7-3A matchup against Bowie. An immaculate inning is when a pitcher strikes out all three batters he faces in an inning with just nine pitches. Bernard did it against a team consistently among the TRN Top 10 over the past few seasons.
5. Burkburnett (9-5, 7) – It didn’t come easy, but the Bulldogs have seized early command of District 7-4A with a 10-9 victory against Sanger. Now the district moves into series play, and Old High is up first on the schedule.
6. Graham (8-8, NR) – The Steers were overlooked in our initial rankings, but the Steers have put together some solid wins. They also play in a more competitive district than most in 6-4A.
7. Bowie (10-6-2, 8) – Bowie got a much-needed District 7-3A win against Vernon on Tuesday. Now it’s the Lions, not the Rabbits, who are in a 0-3 hole to open 7-3A play.
8. Windthorst (4-11-2, 3) – The record can’t be ignored, but it’s also deceiving. Windthorst is much better than that mark, and the District 9-2A title still goes through the Trojans. Just ask Seymour after Windthorst beat the Panthers 11-0 Tuesday.
9. Henrietta (8-6, 10) – Henrietta is just the latest opponent who struggled to figure out Jacksboro’s McComis. But the Cats have an impressive freshman hurler in Pate Cody, who threw 3 ⅓ innings of no-hit ball against Jacksboro on Tuesday. He did give up an unearned run on two walks but also had five strikeouts. And this wasn’t a fluke outing for the freshman. He’s allowed just three earned runs in 21 innings this season.
10. Seymour (4-3, 9) – We’re giving the Panthers a pass and keeping them in the rankings despite Tuesday’s results because we still see this team as the biggest threat to Windthorst in 9-2A. But Friday’s rematch with the Trojans has to be much better to maintain this position.
MONDAY, MARCH 18
Electra 7, Hirschi 1
Leading hitters: (H) Jose Juarez 1x2, BB, SB; (E) J. Kirk 2x3, run, BB; Logan Davis 1x4, run, RBI.
Top pitchers: (H) Juaquin Sanchez 5.1 IP, 3 hits, BB, 3 runs, ER, 9 Ks; (E) Jeremiah Murphy 7 IP, 3 hits, 4 BB, ER, 10 Ks, W.
Westbrook 12, Munday 2 (6)
Leading hitters: (W) Keegan Gilbreath 3x3, 3 runs, RBI; (M) Ethan Flye 2x2, 2 SB; Hayden Bowman 1x3, run, RBI, SB.
TUESDAY, MARCH 19
DISTRICT 5-5A
Rider 5, Granbury 4
Leading hitters: (Ri) Tanner Poirot 1x4, run, 2 RBI, 2B, SB; Reid Berry 2x3, RBI; Alex Wilburn 2x4, RBI.
Top pitcher: (Ri) Champ Wall 5 IP, 6 hits, BB, 4 ER, K, W; Kreasen Dean 2 IP, 0 hits, BB, 0 runs, save.
Records: Rider 12-5, 2-1; Granbury 1-2 in district.
DISTRICT 6-4A
Graham 4, Mineral Wells 3
Leading hitters: (G) Tripp Mahaney 2x3, run, SB; Ryder Taylor 1x2, 3 RBI; Ty Thompson 1x2, run, RBI, 2B.
Top pitchers: (G) Taylor 5 IP, 2 hits, 5 BB, 2 ER, 6 Ks, W; Harrison Brockway 0.2 IP, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 runs, save.
Records: Graham 8-8, 2-2; Mineral Wells 1-2 in district.
DISTRICT 7-4A
Burkburnett 10, Sanger 9
Leading hitters: (B) Caden Cope 2x3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, BB, 2B, 3B; Brayden Harpole 2x3, 2 runs, BB, 2B; Cooper Riley 1x4, run, 2 RBI, 2B.
Top pitcher: (B) Riley Akins 5 IP, 5 hits, 2 BB, 5 runs, 2 ER, 7 Ks, W.
Records: Burkburnett 9-5, 4-0.
WFHS 12, Gainesville 6
Leading hitters: (W) Kyler Boone 2x4, 2 runs, 4 RBI; 3B, SB; Cameron Jones 1x3, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Blake Vanderburg 1x3, 3 runs, 3 SB.
Top pitchers: (W) Brendan Dunn 6 IP, 4 hits, 2 BB, 6 runs, 2 ER, 5 Ks, W; Vanderburg IP, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 runs, K.
Records: WFHS 4-10, 1-0.
DISTRICT 7-3A
Bowie 8, Vernon 2
Leading hitters: (V) Gavin Pierce 1x3, 2 runs, BB; (B) Troy Kesey 3x4, RBI; Tucker Jones 2x5, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2 HR; Edmond DeLeon 1x3, 2 RBI, BB, 2B.
Top pitchers: (V) Pierce 3 IP, 3 hits, 2 BB, 3 runs, 0 ER, 3 Ks; (B) DeLeon 6 IP, 3 hits, 2 BB, 2 runs, ER, 11 Ks, W.
Records: Vernon 7-6-1, 0-3; Bowie 10-6-2, 1-2.
Jacksboro 7, Henrietta 1
Leading hitters: (J) Kyler Swan 2x2, run, 2 RBI, BB, 2B; Cannon Valenzuela 1x3, run, 2 RBI; Wyatt Gavit 0x2, run, RBI, BB; (H) Wyatt Mayfield 3x3, RBI, 2B.
Top pitcher: (J) Jackson McComis 7 IP, 4 hits, 2 BB, run, 0 ER, 7 Ks; (H) Pate Cody 3.1 IP, 0 hits, 2 BB, run, 0 ER, 5 Ks.
Records: Jacksboro 14-3-1, 3-0; Henrietta 8-6, 1-1.
Holliday 19, City View 1 (5)
Leading hitters: (CV) Marcus Campos 2x3; (H) Isaac Villa 3x4, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2B; Kaden Poston 3x4, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2B; Cooper Turner 3x3, 4 runs, 3 RBI, BB, 3B, HR.
Top pitcher: (H) Rylan Hutchins 5 IP, 2 hits, 2 BB, run, 0 ER, 8 Ks, W.
Records: Holliday 10-5, 2-0; City View 7-6, 0-3.
DISTRICT 9-2A
Olney 6, Petrolia 0
Leading hitters: (O) Cayson Hope 2x4, 2 runs, 2 SB; Brodie Hagle 2x3, run, 3 RBI, BB, 2 2B; Jordan Jacoba 2x4, RBI; (P) Jayden Romines 1x2, BB.
Top pitcher: (O) Jacoba 7 IP, hit, 4 BB, 0 runs, 16 Ks, W.
Records: Olney 3-8-1, 1-2; Petrolia 1-7, 0-3.
Windthorst 11, Seymour 0 (5)
Leading hitters: (S) David Charo 1x2; (W) Jaxon Stark 3x4 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2B, SB; Tanner Doyal 2x3, 2 runs, SB; Kasen Wiles 2x3, run, RBI, SB.
Top pitcher: (W) Conner Schreiber 5 IP, hit, BB, 0 runs, 9 Ks, W.
Records: Seymour 4-3, 0-1; Windthorst 4-11-2, 1-0.
Archer City 14, Quanah 4 (5)
Leading hitters: (AC) Chance Warren 3x3, 2 runs, 4 RBI, 3B; Isaac Dieguez 2x3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, SB; Brendan Mason 2x2, 2 RBI, BB, 2B, 3B, SB; (Q) Hutton O’Neal 1x2, SB.
Top pitcher: (AC) Brody Reneau 5 IP, 2 hits, 5 BB, 4 runs, 0 ER, 12 Ks, W.
Archer City 17, Quanah 7 (6)
Leading hitters: (AC) Brody Reneau 3x4, 2 runs, 4 RBI, BB, 2B; Brendan Mason 4x4, 2 runs, 3 RBI, BB, 2B, 3B; Noah Cornell 1x2, 2 runs, 2 RBI, BB, 2B, SB; (Q) Prather Parr 1x3, run, 2 RBI, 2B, SB; Hutton O’Neal 1x3, run, 2 RBI, HR.
Records: Archer City 3-6, 2-0; Quanah 1-9-1, 0-2.
Northside 8, Harrold 5
Leading hitters: (N) Brandon Curtis 3x4, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Kaden Hall 2x4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, 2B; (H) Carson Welch 2x4, run, 2B; Kasen Ramsey 1x3, 2 runs, BB, 3 SB; Jace Perez 1x3, 2 RBI, 2B.
Top pitchers: (N) Hall 3 IP, 2 hits, 2 BB, ER, 8 Ks; (H) Keylan Marks 2 IP, hit, BB, 0 runs, 5 Ks.
Records: Harrold 3-1, 0-1; Northside 5-1, 1-0.
DISTRICT 10-2
Muenster 16, Nocona 1 (5)
Leading hitter: Walker Murphey 0x0, 2 BB, run.
Records: Nocona 5-2-2, 0-1; Muenster 1-0 in district.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls area high school baseball top performers & scores
