Diamond Pro/THSB Private School Preseason Polls

 admin  |    Jan 21st, 2023

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2023 Preseason Large School Top 20

1. Prestonwood Christian (TAPPS D1) – 6 starters return from 25-4 TAPPS D1 State Champion. AJ DePaolo, Jr, C (1st Team All-State/Vanderbilt); Tarris Murray, Sr, CF (2nd Team All-District/Oklahoma)

2. Second Baptist (TAPPS D2) – 4 starters return from 26-6 TAPPS D2 State Champion. Luke Pettitte, Sr, P/IF (1st Team All-State/Dallas Baptist); Ty Baker, Sr, P (2nd Team All-State/Texas A&M)

3. Concordia Lutheran (TAPPS D1) – 8 starters return from 24-6 TAPPS D1 State Semifinalist. Alex Petrovic, Sr, P/IF (1st Team All-State/Auburn); Nolan Traeger, Jr, C (1st Team All-State/TCU)

4. Plano John Paul II (TAPPS D1) – 6 starters return from 22-5-1 TAPPS D1 Area Finalist. Derrick Mitchell, Sr, OF (2nd Team All-District/LSU); Kendall McDowell, Sr, OF (1st Team All-State/Seminole State College)

5. Kinkaid (SPC 4A) – 10 starters return from 28-10-1 SPC Champion. Andy Guy, Jr, C (All SPC South Zone); Richie Klosek, Jr, 1B (All SPC South Zone)

6. Episcopal (SPC 4A) – 8 starters return from 23-9 SPC Runner-up. Adam Katz, Sr, 1B/P (All SPC/Davidson); Andrew Thornton, Sr, 3B (.340 BA, 4 HR/Washington and Lee)

7. Lutheran South (TAPPS D2) – 5 starters return from 27-10 State Semifinalist. Blaine Birkelbach, Sr, OF/LHP (1st Team All-District); Victor Coronado, So, IF/RHP (HM All-District/Texas)

8. Southwest Christian (TAPPS D2) – 3 starters return from 30-7 Regional Finalist. Will Johnson, Sr, OF/1B/LHP (2nd Team All-State/Northwestern); Jackson Burns, Jr, RHP/IF (2nd Team All-State/Texas Tech)

9. Central Catholic (TAPPS D1) – 5 starters return from 30-5 TAPPS D1 State Finalist. AJ Herrera, Sr, C (1st Team All-State/University of Houston); Michael Mayhugh, Sr, CF (1st Team All-District)

10. Liberty Christian (TAPPS D2) – 6 starters return from 14-19 Area Finalist. Brady Janusek, So, OF (1st Team All-State); Alex Caddell, Jr, RHP (2nd Team All-State)

11. St. Pius X (TAPPS D1) – 7 starters return from 16-12 Regional Finalist. Casan Evans, Jr, MIF/P (1st Team All-State); Jackson Mobley, Sr, 3B/SS/P (2nd Team All-State)

12. FW Country Day (SPC 3A) – 8 starters return from 16-9 team. Walker Anderson, Sr, SS/RHP (All SPC); Camden Abercrombie, Sr, 2B/RHP (HM All-SPC)

13. Grapevine Faith (TAPPS D2) – 5 starters return from 16-12-1 Area Finalist. Andy Neal, Sr, C/P (1st Team All-State/Army); Grayson St. Romain, Sr, P/OF (2nd Team All-State)

14. Trinity Christian Addison (TAPPS D1) – 9 starters return from 16-14 team. Steven Ramos, Jr, IF (1st Team All-State); William Lehman, Jr, IF (2nd Team All-State)

15. Trinity Valley School (SPC 3A) – 9 starters return from 20-7 team. Brooks Sartain, Jr, SS (All SPC/Dallas Baptist); Carter Lea, Jr, 3B/P (3-0, .47 ERA)

16. The Woodlands Christian (TAPPS D2) – 5 starters return from 20-8 Area Finalist. Dane LeMaster, Sr, P/OF (Wharton College); Chase Fuentes, Jr, C (2nd Team All-District)

17. Cornerstone Christian (Independent) – 3 starters return from 36-2-1 TCAF Division 1 State Champion. Jordan Fernandez, Sr, CF (1st Team All-State TCAF); Gehryt Kaarlsen, Sr, 1B (2nd Team All-State TCAF)

18. Bishop Lynch (TAPPS D1) – 7 starters return from 18-16 TAPPS D1 Regional Finalist. Brandon Bertsch, Sr, P (D1 Pitcher of the Year); Ben McLean, Jr, C (1st Team All-State)

19. Houston Christian (SPC 4A) – 7 Starters return from 17-11 team. Jack Henning, Jr, 3B/RHP (All SPC); Matt Zapotek, Sr, 1B/RHP (All SPC)

20. Fort Bend Christian (TAPPS D2) – 5 starters return from 19-15 Area Finalist. Benji Elizondo, Sr, MIF/RHP (1st Team All-District); Clayton Krisch, Sr, OF/LHP (2nd Team All-District)

Next five (alphabetical order): Antonian (TAPPS D1), Bishop Lynch (TAPPS D1), Regents School (TAPPS D2), San Antonio Christian (TAPPS D2), St. Michael’s Academy (TAPPS D2), St. Thomas (TAPPS D1)

2023 Preseason Small School Top 10

1. Bay Area Christian (TAPPS D3)– 3 starters return from 28-12 D3 State Champion. Reese Brewer, Jr, OF/P (1st Team All-State); Colton Chavis, Sr, IF/P (HM All-State)

2. Lake Country Christian (TAPPS D3)– 7 starters return from 17-15-1 D3 State Finalist. Landon Fuller, Sr, P/3B (1st Team All-State); Adam Lindsey, Sr, C (2nd Team All-State)

3. Brook Hill (TAPPS D3)– 4 starters return from 28-4 D2 State Finalist. Cade Chesley, Sr, P/OF (1st Team All-State); Jabin Moore, Jr, SS (1st Team All-District)

4. Lubbock Trinity Christian (TAPPS D3)– 9 starters return from 26-15 D3 State Semifinalist. Riley Pipes, Sr, C (1st Team All-State); Hunter Molinar, So, 3B (HM All-State)

5. Temple Christian (TAPPS D4)– 8 starters return from 25-7 D4 State Semifinalist. Tanner Wiggins, Sr, P/IF/OF (1st Team All-State/Weatherford College); Bear Herak, Jr, IF/P (1st Team All-State)

6. Northland Christian (TAPPS D4)– 7 starters return from 13-12 D3 State Semifinalist. Brennan Kettle, Sr, P/UTIL (2nd Team All-State/Hawai’i Pacific); Stone Walker, Sr, IF/P (1st Team All-District)

7. Covenant Christian (TAPPS D3)– 8 starters return from 14-10 Regional Finalist. Matthew Boughton, So, SS (1st Team All-District); Jaxen Derry, Sr, C (1st Team All-District)

8. Geneva School (TAPPS D3)– 6 starters return from 15-14-1 D2 Area Finalist. Guy George, Sr, OF/P (1st Team All-District); Shawn George, Jr, P/1B (HM All-State)

9. Cypress Christian (TAPPS D3)– 4 starters return from 22-10 Regional Finalist. Zach Thibodeaux, Sr, SS (2nd Team All-State); Drew Mestayer, Jr, CF (HM All-State)

10. Ovilla Christian (TAPPS D5)– 9 starters return from 18-15-1 Regional Finalist. Lucas Seymore, Sr, P/3B (1st Team All-State); Caleb Bjerke, Sr, IF/P (2nd Team All-State)

Next five (alphabetical order): Bracken Christian (TAPPS D5), Brazos Christian (TAPPS D4), Dallas Christian (TAPPS D3), Legacy Prep-Woodlands (TAPPS D3), Weatherford Christian (TAPPS D4)