THIS IS THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF PREVIEWS FEATURING HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAMS IN EAST TEXAS:
MARSHALL
Mascot: Mavericks
Coach: Derek Dunaway
District: 15-5A (Pine Tree, Longview, Texas High, Mount Pleasant, Sulphur Springs)
2020 record: 5-8
Top returning players: Hayden Kelehan (.389, .488 OB percentage, 9 SB; 24 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched) ... Garrett Cotten (.382, .475 OB percentage, 9 SB; 21 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched) ... Jim Weaver (.387, .486 OB percentage) ... Dante Enrriquez ... Andrew Phillips ... Dylan Thurmon ... Henry Roth ... Brayden Robbins ... Jacob Oden ... Peyton Paul
Newcomers to watch: Brent Burris ... Dallan Shaw
You can count on: “A tight knit group that genuinely cares about one another. Unselfish players that will compete for the better of the team.” — Dunaway
Needs work: “Although the roster is filled with upperclassmen, we lack some varsity experience due to missing over half the season last year. We look to gain valuable experience with a tough non-district schedule.” — Dunaway
Did you know: Dunaway has a 128-117 career coaching record, including an 87-79 record at Marshall ... Enrriquez has signed with Wiley College
LUFKIN
Mascot: Panthers
Coach: John Cobb
District: 16-5A (Nacogdoches, Whitehouse, Tyler, Jacksonville, Huntsville)
2020 record: 5-10
Top returning players: Spencer Alexander ... Reid Hensley ... Julio Flores ... Alex Luna ... Coby DeJesus ... Hunter Ditsworth ... Sam Flores
You can count on: “Our team defense should be really good. Our infield defense has a chance to be special.” — Cobb
Needs work: “Figuring out who our district arms will be. Experience in big games.” — Cobb
Did you know: Cobb has a 103-57 career coaching record ... This is the final season for Lufkin playing at Morris Frank Park. The team is scheduled to move into a new complex during the season
PLEASANT GROVE
Mascot: Hawks
Coach: Riley Fincher
District: 15-4A (Pittsburg, Gilmer, Pleasant Grove, Liberty-Eylau, Paris, North Lamar)
2020 record: 9-4
Top returning players: Tucker Anderson ... Coe Bain ... Alex Murphy ... Brock Bearden ... Josh Brown ... Alex Galvan
Newcomers to watch: J.M. Long ... Brenton Clark
Did you know: Fincher has a career coaching record of 193-56, including a 149-29 record at Pleasant Grove ... Anderson has signed with Ouachita Baptist
CARTHAGE
Mascot: Bulldogs
Coach: Jason Causey
District: 17-4A (Hudson, Jasper, Rusk, Center, Palestine)
2020 record: 10-3
Top returning players: Austin Morgan … Craig McNew … Sawyer Smith … Javarian Roquemore … Braeden Wade
Newcomers to watch: Braden Smith … Noah Paddie … Conner Cuff … Brooks Brewster
You can count on: “I like our athleticism. I think we have some depth on the mound, and I think we should be solid defensively.” – Causey
Needs work: “We need to keep working hard and come together as a group. We are still figuring each other out, but I like our group.” — Causey
Did you know: Causey led Beckville to the 2018 Class 3A state championship
RUSK
Mascot: Eagles
Coach: Ross McMurry
District: 17-4A (Carthage, Center, Jasper, Hudson, Palestine)
2020 record: 9-4
Top returning players: J.D. Thompson (.404 average) ... Mason Cirkel (0.61 ERA) ... Landon Gates (.303) ... Bryce Lenard (.440) ... Wade Williams (.303) ... Zack Blackmon (.250) ... Tarant Sunday (.301)
Newcomers to watch: Brett Rawlinson ... Will Dixon ... Carson White ... Trey Devereaux
You can count on: “Great pitching and defense.” — McMurry
Needs work: “Hitting.” — McMurry
Did you know: Thompson has 21 Division I college offers on the table
ATHENS
Mascot: Hornets
Coach: Aaron Carroll
District: 14-4A (Brownsboro, Canton, Mabank, Van, Wills Point)
2020 record: 4-11-1
Top returning players: Juan Garcia ... Trevor Deupree
You can count on: “Great team chemistry.” — Carroll
Needs work: “Experience.” — Carroll
Did you know: Carroll has a 20-22-1 record in his coaching career, all at Athens
