Pre-Season High School Stars Announced
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - A total of 35 players from 18 area schools comprise this year's South Texas Pre-Season High School All-Star Team. The student-athletes will be recognized at the Seventh Annual South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet on Thursday, February 3, at the Omni Bayfront Hotel in downtown Corpus Christi.
The large-school division (Classes 4A and 5A) boasts 18 players from seven schools. Perennial powers Calallen, Carroll and Moody placed four players each on the squad. The Tigers are defending state 5A champions and led by junior pitcher Courtney Hawkins, one of three players to repeat from last year's large-school division. Also back are Calallen junior hurler Wyatt Mathisen and Flour Bluff senior outfielder Brandon Mendiola. Mathisen made the 2010 team as a sophomore shortstop.
In addition to Mendiola, Flour Bluff put two others on the squad. Alice, King and Ray had one player each. The Trojans, 4A regional semifinalists last season, have been represented by 22 players on the pre-season team over seven years, most of any program.
The small-school division (1A/2A/3A/private) honors 17 players from 11 schools. The Sinton Pirates lead the way with four selections, including senior first baseman Carson Cave, one of five returnees from the small-school division. Three of the other four who return are Robstown Cotton Pickers: senior pitchers Randy Flores and Mike Velasquez and senior outfielder Alex Marroquin. Riviera-Kaufer senior hurler J.D. Moya rounds out the returning honorees. Flores qualified last year as the designated hitter, while Moya slotted at second base.
The only other school with more than one representative is John Paul II, defending TAPPS 4A state champion (two players). Bishop, Ingleside, Mathis, Odem, Orange Grove, Refugio, Riviera-Kaufer and Rockport-Fulton put one player on the squad.
Votes were received from 25 high school coaches and selected media throughout South Texas. The coaches' participation is the highest in the seven-year history of the honor squad.
Tickets for the February 3 event are priced at $50 and are available by contacting the Hooks at 361-561-HOOK. Corporate table sponsorships for the banquet and the Astros Caravan Luncheon, slated for this Friday, January 21, are also available. Proceeds from both events benefit Hooks Help and, in particular, the club's Field of Dreams program.
The 2011 South Texas Pre-Season High School All-Star Team:
Large School Division
Pitchers:
Ross Carter, Flour Bluff, junior
Reed Clemons, Ray, senior
Courtney Hawkins, Carroll, junior
Wyatt Mathisen, Calallen, junior
Catcher:
Chad Vanaman, Calallen, senior
First Base:
Justin Perales, Moody, senior
Second Base:
Brett Bell, Calallen, senior
Smiley Zapata, Moody, senior
Third Base:
Josh Cruz, Carroll, senior
Shortstop:
Alex Legamaro, Flour Bluff, senior
Marcus Villanueva, Moody, senior
Outfielders:
Khristian Camacho, King, senior
Jason Franco, Carroll, junior
Brandon Mendiola, Flour Bluff, senior
Jeremy Olivo, Moody, senior
A.J. Perez, Alice, junior
Designated Hitter:
Tanner Vandevere, Calallen, senior
Utility:
O'shea Dumes, Carroll, junior
Small School Division
Pitchers:
Randy Flores, Robstown, senior
Chance Marshall, Rockport-Fulton, senior
J.D. Moya, Riviera-Kaufer, senior
Mike Velasquez, Robstown, senior
Catcher:
Derick Dominguez, Mathis, senior
First Base:
Carson Cave, Sinton, senior
Second Base:
Ramsey Rivera, Sinton, senior
Third Base:
Justin Chavira, Odem, senior
Shortstop:
Matt McHugh, Ingleside, junior
Aaron Perez, Refugio, senior
Outfielders:
Anthony Banda, Sinton, senior
Robert Gaona, Bishop, senior
Alex Marroquin, Robstown, senior
Designated Hitter:
Ramiro Espinoza, Sinton, senior
Utility:
Kyle Munguia, John Paul II, senior
Chris Solano, Orange Grove, sophomore
Jose Trevino, John Paul II, senior
A total of 94 area high school players received votes in this year's balloting. The following is a complete list of all the other players who received votes for the 2011 South Texas Pre-Season High School All Star Team in both divisions.
Honorable Mention
Pitchers:
John Acosta, Taft, sophomore
Trey Gallegos, Sinton, sophomore
Nick Ginn, Calallen, senior
Jordan Pacheco, Victoria West, senior
Ervin Polasek, Gregory-Portland, senior
Infielders (including catchers):
Austin Barajas, Ingleside, junior
Austin Gibson, Rockport-Fulton, senior
Josh Gonzales, Flour Bluff, senior
Manuel Leal, Robstown, senior
John Paul Rodriguez, Robstown, senior
Trey Rodriguez, Carroll, junior
Jakob Silva, John Paul II, junior
Zachary Valenzuela, Victoria West, junior
Aaron Watts, Ray, junior
Outfielders:
Jacob Beltran, Bishop, junior
Chris Cano, Carroll, junior
Jake Davenport, Sinton, junior
Travis Geiser, Gregory-Portland, sophomore
Julian Godoy, John Paul II, senior
Utility:
Rudy Valent, Tuloso-Midway, senior
Others receiving votes (listed in alphabetical order):
Mario Barrera, Ingleside, senior
Rhett Bell, Kenedy, senior
Marquis Brown, Refugio, senior
Aaron Bueno, Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco, senior
A.J. Cantu, Hebbronville, senior
Adrian Casas, San Diego, junior
Joe David Cisneros, Falfurrias, junior
Joel Cortez, Kingsville, sophomore
Adriel Elizondo, San Diego, junior
John Garcia, Port Lavaca-Calhoun, junior
Justin Garcia, Ingleside, senior
Dave Gonzalez, Bishop, senior
Joseph Gonzalez, Carroll, senior
Andrew Groseclose, Port Aransas, junior
Ryan Guerrero, San Diego, senior
D.J. Harris, Banquete, junior
Jake Havron, Kenedy, senior
Gus Hinojosa, Kingsville, senior
Kenny Klinglesmith, Ray, senior
Matt Longoria, Victoria East, senior
Andrew Lopez, West Oso, senior
Dimitri Lugo, Ray, junior
Mario Madrigal, San Diego, senior
Javier Moncada, Freer, junior
Nathan Oliver, Alice, junior
Mac Owens, Port Aransas, senior
Tyler Pate, Port Aransas, sophomore
Ernest Perez, West Oso, junior
John Ramirez, Robstown, senior
Britt Reynolds, Riviera-Kaufer, junior
David Robles, Kingsville, senior
Randy Sanchez, Gregory-Portland, senior
Ralph Sandoval, Kingsville, senior
Matt Scott, Rockport-Fulton, senior
Ryan Stuart, Victoria East, senior
Cody Thomas, Mathis, senior
Billy Valenzuela, Miller, senior
Heston Van Fleet, Riviera-Kaufer, junior
James Boyd Vaughan, Karnes City, senior