Pre-Season High School Stars Announced
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The 2010 South Texas Pre-Season High School All-Star Team features 32 players from 19 area schools. That's because for the first time two divisions have been established - one representing large schools and one for small schools.
The student-athletes will be recognized at the Sixth Annual South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet on Thursday, February 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the Omni Bayfront Hotel in downtown Corpus Christi.
The large-school division (4A and 5A) boasts 17 players from 10 schools. Perennial powers Carroll and Calallen placed three players each on the squad. The Tiger contingent is led by senior outfielder Mark Blackmar, who becomes the first player in the six-year history of the honor squad to make the team a third time. The Tigers and Wildcats feature the only sophomores on the list in Carroll pitcher Courtney Hawkins and Calallen shortstop Wyatt Mathisen.
Flour Bluff, Gregory-Portland and Ray have two representatives each, while King, Kingsville, Moody, Rockport-Fulton and Tuloso-Midway claim one. The Trojans, who advanced to the 4A state semifinals last season, have been represented by 18 players on the pre-season team over six years, most of any team.
The small-school division (1A, 2A, 3A and private) honors 15 players from nine schools. The Robstown Cotton Pickers, who advanced to the 2009 Region IV-3A semifinals, lead the way with three selections. Hebbronville, John Paul II, Riviera-Kaufer and Sinton slotted two players each, while Bishop, Falfurrias, Ingleside and Refugio put one player onto the squad.
Three players repeat from 2009. In addition to Blackmar, Gregory-Portland catcher Joey Sanchez and Sinton shortstop Shane Segovia return.
Votes were received from 22 high school coaches throughout South Texas. That equals the previous high for ballots received, achieved during voting for the 2007 squad.
Tickets for the February 4 event are priced at $75 and are available by contacting the Hooks at 361-561-HOOK (4665). Corporate table sponsorships for the banquet and the Astros Caravan Luncheon, slated for January 28, are also available. Proceeds from both events benefit Hooks Help and, in particular, the club's Field of Dreams program.
The 2010 South Texas Pre-Season High School All-Star Team:
Large School Division
Pitchers:
Courtney Hawkins, Carroll, sophomore
Travis Jones, Flour Bluff, senior
Sean Kelly, King, senior
Clint Wallace, Tuloso-Midway, senior
Rob Zastryzny, Calallen, senior
Catcher:
Joey Sanchez, Gregory-Portland, senior
First Base:
Roland Resendez, Calallen, senior
Second Base:
Adam Hinojosa, Carroll, senior
Third Base:
Michael Franco, Moody, senior
Shortstop:
Wyatt Mathisen, Calallen, sophomore
Outfielders:
Mark Blackmar, Carroll, senior
Matt Garcia, Ray, senior
Vando Gonzalez, Kingsville, senior
Brandon Mendiola, Flour Bluff, junior
Designated Hitter:
Matt Kawczynski, Rockport-Fulton, junior
Adrian Reyes, Ray, senior
Utility:
Roman Mota, Gregory-Portland, senior
Small School Division
Pitchers:
Carl Huizar, Bishop, senior
Nathan Humpal, John Paul II, senior
Leo Rodriguez, Hebbronville, senior
Mike Velasquez, Robstown, junior
Catcher:
Robelin Cruz, Falfurrias, senior
First Base:
Carson Cave, Sinton, junior
Second Base:
Chris Garza, Ingleside, senior
J.D. Moya, Riviera-Kaufer, junior
Third Base:
Chris Salazar, Hebbronville, senior
Shortstop:
Shane Segovia, Sinton, senior
Outfielders:
Ricky Falcon, Riviera-Kaufer, senior
Alex Marroquin, Robstown, junior
Joey Perez, John Paul II, senior
Designated Hitter:
Randy Flores, Robstown, junior
Utility:
Jourdan Ortiz, Refugio, senior
A total of 106 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 2010 South Texas Pre-Season High School All Star Team in both divisions.
Honorable Mention
Pitchers:
Chance Marshall, Rockport-Fulton, junior
Joey Olvera, Bishop, senior
Ricky Segovia, Hebbronville, senior
Seth Wieland, Mathis, senior
Infielders (including catchers):
Dalton Conway, Rockport-Fulton, senior
Jonathan Cortinas, King, senior
P.J. Martinez, John Paul II, senior
Ryan Martinez, Kingsville, senior
Justin Perales, Moody, junior
Aaron Perez, Refugio, junior
Noah Perez, Ray, senior
J.R. Salazar, West Oso, sophomore
Mark Trevino, Kingsville, senior
Marcos Villanueva, Moody, junior
Outfielders:
Tyler Kroll, Flour Bluff, senior
Anthony Mendez, Tuloso-Midway, senior
A.J. Perez, Alice, sophomore
Utility:
Josh Cruz, Carroll, sophomore
A.J. Gaona, Bishop, senior
Adrian Infante, Premont, senior
C.J. Lopez, Orange Grove, junior
Others receiving votes (listed in alphabetical order):
Roy Aguilar, Orange Grove, junior
Zac Ainscough, Port Aransas, senior
Erik Alvarez, Tuloso-Midway, senior
Anthony Banda, Mathis, senior
Nick Benavidez, Port Aransas, senior
Aaron Bueno, Ben Bolt, senior
Khristian Camacho, King, junior
Tommy Cavazos, Bishop, senior
Kelton Craven, Orange Grove, senior
Ryan DeLosSantos, Bloomington, senior
Ceasar Duenez, San Diego, junior
O'Shea Dumes, Carroll, junior
Aaron Duplantis, Alice, sophomore
Brett Epperson, George West, senior
Johnny Garcia, Miller, junior
Nick Ginn, Calallen, junior
Mando Gomez, San Diego, junior
Josh Gonzales, Flour Bluff, junior
Adrian Gonzalez, Alice, senior
Ruben Gonzalez, Premont, senior
Andrew Groseclose, Port Aransas, sophomore
Ryan Guerrero, San Diego, junior
Armando Hinojosa, Tuloso-Midway, senior
Trey Leal, Robstown, junior
Michael Longoria, Falfurrias, senior
Sy Lozano, Aransas Pass, senior
Dustin Marion, Calallen, senior
Ladaniel Marshall, West Oso, sophomore
Russtin Miller, George West, senior
John Morgan, Three Rivers, senior
Chris Navarro, Moody, senior
Alex Ochoa, Refugio, senior
Jordan Pachecho, Victoria-Memorial, junior
Patrick Ramirez, Bishop, senior
Dominic Rangel, Ray, senior
Ryan Regalado, Falfurrias, senior
David Robles, Kingsville, junior
Riley Rocha, George West, senior
Augie Rodriguez, Runge, senior
Robert Saenz, San Diego, senior
Jesse Salas, Orange Grove, senior
Justin Salge, Aransas Pass, senior
Jacob Salinas, Riviera-Kaufer, senior
Matt Scott, Rockport-Fulton, junior
Kevin Sikes, Port Aransas, senior
Bryce Smith, Carroll, junior
Jared Strenadel, Refugio, senior
Shannon Taylor, George West, senior
Gavin Trevino, Falfurrias, senior
Jose Trevino, John Paul II, junior
Zachary Valenzuela, Victoria-Memorial, sophomore
Chad Vanaman, Calallen, junior
Hunter Whetsell, Calallen, senior