Banquete's Mijares, 4 Badgers Top Team
CORPUS CHRISTI - The very familiar names of Banquete senior third baseman Jake Mijares, Robstown senior pitcher Jesse Ray Garcia, and Sinton junior shortstop Jordan Martinez - plus four players off Bishop's 29-11-2 2015 Class 3A state finalist - headline the 2016 South Texas Pre-Season Small School All-Star Team announced Wednesday.
All 13 members will be recognized with their large school counterparts at the 12th South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet on Thursday, January 14, at the Solomon P. Ortiz Center.
The event is presented by the Corpus Christi Caller-Times and iHeartMEDIA. Tickets are on sale at the Whataburger Field Box Office. To order by phone, call (361) 561-HOOK (4665).
Mijares, a first-team All-District 31-3A choice last year, is a two-time pre-season all-star. He was third-team all-state as a sophomore by the Texas Sportswriters Association and third-team Caller-Times All-South Texas.
Garcia and Martinez were pitchers on the 2015 pre-season all-star team. Garcia became one of South Texas' most decorated players, earning Caller-Times first-team All-South Texas mention and all-state accolades from the Texas Sportswriters Association (3rd-team pitcher/honorable mention shortstop) and the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (2nd-team shortstop). Martinez, Caller-Times 2014 South Texas Newcomer of the Year as a freshman, was third-team All-South Texas and District 31-4A Sophomore of the Year.
Coach JK Moody's Badgers dominate the honor squad, led by a trio of seniors: pitcher Noe Garza, outfielder Aaron Cardona, and designated hitter Dalton Horner. Bishop also placed junior outfielder Rico Trevino on the team.
Sinton senior catcher C.J. Zepeda and Banquete senior second baseman Richard Sanchez give the Pirates and Bulldogs two representatives. Falfurrias senior first baseman Abel Guerra, Hebbronville senior outfielder Isaiah Trevino, Refugio senior pitcher Cole Van Ness, and Odem junior pitcher Michael Everett were also nominated and selected by area Class 4A, 3A, 2A, and private school coaches
2015 Honors
Aaron Cardona, Bishop, 1st-Team All-District 31-3A P; 1st-Team all-state OF by Texas Sportswriters Association; 2nd-Team all-state OF by Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association
Noe Garza, Bishop, 1st-Team All-District 31-3A P; HM all-state 2B by Texas Sportswriters Association
Dalton Horner, Bishop, District 31-3A Utility Player of the Year
Rico Trevino, Bishop, District 31-3A Defensive Player of the Year; HM all-state OF by Texas Sportswriters Association
Jake Mijares, Banquete, 1st-Team All-District 31-3A 3B
Richard Sanchez, Banquete, District 31-3A Defensive Player of the Year; HM all-state P by Texas Sportswriters Association; HM all-state 2B by Texas Sportswriters Association
Jordan Martinez, Sinton, Caller-Times 3rd-Team All-South Texas P; District 31-4A Sophomore of the Year
C.J. Zepeda, Sinton, 1st-Team All-District 31-4A C
Abel Guerra, Falfurrias, 1st-Team All-District 32-3A P
Isaiah Trevino, Hebbronville, District 30-3A Defensive Player of the Year
Michael Everett, Odem, Caller-Times 3rd-Team All-South Texas P; District 29-3A MVP; Academic All-District; HM all-state 2B by Texas Sports Writers Association
Cole Van Ness, Refugio, 1st-Team All-District 31-2A P; 1st-Team all-state P by Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association; 2nd-Team all-state P by Texas Sportswriters Association
Jesse Ray Garcia, Robstown, District 31-4A MVP; Caller-Times 1st-Team All-South Texas P; 2nd-Team all-state SS by Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association; 3rd-Team all-state P by Texas Sportswriters Association; HM all-state SS by Texas Sportswriters Association
Also receiving votes -
Agua Dulce (4): R.J. Garcia, Randal Garza, Clayton Gilbert, Bo Surber
Aransas Pass (4): Shey Cheek, Eduardo Serna, Jonathan Serna, Maverick Wagner
Banquete (2): Anthony Gomez, A.D. Pena
Benavides (4): Oscar Baez, Jeremy Garcia, Anthony Hake, Josh Perez
Falfurrias (2): Gavino Cruz, Jesse Villa
Freer (1): Librado Carrillo
Hebbronville (2): Austin Dale, Jorge Marquez
John Paul II (4): Jonathon Conde, Stephen Perales, Elijah Ramos, Chris Sanchez
Karnes City (1): Cameron Portwood
London (3): Edward Pedraza, Andrew Saenz, Jake Voss
Mathis (1): Jesus Gonzales
Odem (2): Dylan Ceballos, T.J. Vela
Port Aransas (3): Zach Brown, Chase Denton, Logan Kreutziger
Refugio (3): Jacobe Avery, D'Mond LaFond, Jaylon Mascorro
Riviera Kaufer (3): Gabe Castillo, Jaicob Flores, Gavan Lomas
Robstown (3): Eric Cedillo, Ryan Garza, Jose Molina
Rockport-Fulton (2): Trey Meismer, Austin Taylor
San Diego (2): Ryan Briones, Josh Garcia
Santa Gertrudis Academy (2): Nick Montoya, Alvaro Saenz
Sinton (1): Mason Hopkins
Three Rivers (3): Paul Almendarez, Levi Fulcher, Ryan Retzloff
West Oso (1): Eloy Garza
Woodsboro (2): Jordan Abila, Jason Spears