Diamond Pro/THSB 4A Preseason Top 20

1. Bridge City: 5 Starters return from a team that posted the most wins in Class 4A before the shutdown – Sam Carpenter, Sr, P/IF; Slade Foreman, Sr, P/OF
2. CC Calallen: 7 Starters return from the perennial 5A powerhouse coached by Steve Chapman (1077 wins) – Justin Lamkin, Jr, P (3-0); Luke Smith, Sr, SS (.490 BA)
3. Bullard: 7 Starters return from one of the top teams from 16-4A a year ago – Hagen Smith, Sr, P/OF; Gage Wakefield, Sr, OF
4. Benbrook: 7 Starters return one of the top teams in 4A over the past few years – Devin Bennett, Sr, P/IF/C (THSCA All State 2019); Payton Poole, Sr, P/C/IF (THSCA All State 2019)
5. Argyle: 6 Starters return for the last team to hoist the 4A state championship trophy….twice – Tyler Abrego, Sr, SS; Pierce Boles, So, RHP
6. Sinton: 9 Starters return for Coach Alaniz’s Pirates as they hope to punch their ticket to Austin – Rylan Galvan, Jr, C/SS (2nd Team 2020 Rawlings Pre-Season Underclass All-American); Wyatt Wiatrek, Jr, OF/RHP (2nd Team 2020 Rawlings Pre-Season Underclass All-American)
7. Texarkana Pleasant Grove: 7 Starters return for one of east Texas’ finest – Tucker Anderson, Sr, P/1B (.351 BA, 3-0, .47 ERA); Alex Murphy, Sr, DH/IF (.310 BA, 14 RBI, 4 2B)
8. Celina: 7 Starters return for a team that is loaded with young talent – Noah Bentley, So, P/OF; Caden Mitchell, So, C; RJ Ruais, So, P/OF
9. Midlothian Heritage: 6 Starters return for the Jaguars as they move to Region 2 – Blake Wilhoite, Sr, C (.441 BA, 12 RBI, 7 SB); Andrew Graham, Jr, 3B/P (.458 BA)
10. China Spring: 10 Starters return for China Spring as they will battle Robinson for district supremacy – Trace Necessary, Jr, IF/RHP (.365 BA, 8 RBI, 2.10 ERA); Seth Jennings, Sr, RHP (2-0, 0.60 ERA, 14 K)
11. Giddings: 9 Starters return for Giddings and Coach Bloodworth – Chase Oltmann, Sr, SS/P (.472 BA, 1.223 OPS, 1-0); Blayne Fritcher, Sr, P/IF (.350 BA, 2-0, 1.40 ERA)
12. Melissa: 5 Starters return for the Cardinals after a deep post season run in 2019 – Hayden Schafer, Sr, P/1B (2-1, 2.15 ERA); Coy DeFury, Jr, 3B/P (.433 BA, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
13. Godley: 7 Starters return for Coach Lewis and the Wildcats – Braden Karnes, Sr, 3B/P (.385 BA, 1.25 ERA, 37 K); Jayden Stevens, Sr, OF (.265 BA, .394 SLG, .653 OPS)
14. Bellville: 9 Starters return for Bellville as them and El Campo will provide some regular season fireworks – Brett Heintschel, Sr, P/IF; Kyle Peschel, Sr, OF/C
15. Iowa Park: 8 Starters return for the Hawks as they will try to challenge Argyle for tops in Region 1 – Chance Helton, Sr, P/IF; Samuel McFadden, Sr, P/IF; Cirby Coheley, Sr, OF
16. Levelland: 7 Starters return for Coach Paris and the Lobos as the try to be the best of the west – RJ Ochoa, Sr, 1B (.345 BA, 2 2B, 10 RBI); Reigan Vestal, Sr, 2B (.327 BA, 16 RBI)
17. Canton: 6 Starters return for one of the best regular season teams of the past couple of years (43-3) – Nick Fenner, Sr, P/3B (.520 BA, 2-0, 0.78 ERA); Corbin Holland, Sr, IF/P (1-0, 0.56 ERA, 13 K)
18. Carthage: 5 Starters return for one of the top baseball programs in any classification – Colton Crawford, Sr, C/1B; Cale Henson, Sr, 1B
19. Rusk: 7 Starters return for the Eagles, who hope to get over the hump – Bryce Lenard, Sr, OF (.417 BA, .552 OBP, 6 SB, 1st Team All District); Landon Gates, Sr, SS/P (.303 BA, .443 OBP, 3 SB, 1st Team All District)
20. El Campo: 6 Starters return for the Ricebirds as they battle in one of the toughest districts in 4A – Kaden Alcalais, Sr, OF (.348 BA); Brock Rod, So, 1B (.390 BA)

Next 10 in Alphabetical Order: Aubrey, Burkburnett, Canyon, Lampasas, Pecos, Robinson, Robstown, Stephenville, Tuloso-Midway, and Uvalde.