4B
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Denton Record-Chronicle
Denton Record-Chronicle
2018 All-Area Baseball Most Valuable Player
First team Chris Gurley Denton, OF, Sr.
Gurley hit in the leadoff spot but led the team in RBIs anyway, racking up 31 on the season to go alongside a .392 batting average. His ability to get on base consistently put the Broncos in good position to score early in games.
Erik Ly Sanger, OF, Jr.
Ly proved himself as one of the top center fielders in the area, which came in handy for a Sanger team that battled through an injury-plagued season to make the playoffs. He had a .379 batting average, including 17 RBIs, 26 runs scored and 13 extra-base hits.
Joe Wolf Liberty, P, Jr.
Wolf formed a solid one-two punch with Dawson Barr on the hill, helping the Warriors capture their fourth state title in the last 15 years. He was the Pitcher of the Year in TAPPS Division I District 1, posting a 0.301 ERA and an 8-1 record in 69 2/3 innings of action.
Joseph Frisby Denton, IF, Sr.
When Chris Gurley got on base as the leadoff man, Frisby often took care of the rest. Frisby, the No. 2 hitter in the lineup, was the District 5-5A Offensive Player of the Year and hit .394 with 31 RBIs, 35 runs and a 1.049 OPS.
Mason Meeks Lake Dallas, P, Sr.
Meeks, a Drury University signee, was the District 14-5A Pitcher of the Year after going 7-1 with a 0.789 ERA and 75 strikeouts in just over 50 innings of work. The senior capped off his career at the THSBCA 5A-6A All-Star game on June 16 in Round Rock.
Ryan Depperschmidt
Bryson Hudgens Argyle, P, Sr. After getting just 21 1/3 innings of work on the mound as a junior, Hudgens emerged as a steady workhorse for the Eagles this season. The Angelo State signee tossed 59 2/3 innings with a 12-0 record, 58 strikeouts, a 1.06 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP. His complete game shutout against Sweeny in the Class 4A state championship finalized Argyle’s undefeated season. When Hudgens wasn’t pitching, he filled in as the team’s designated hitter and hit .417 with 43 RBIs and a team-high four home runs. Hudgens was the only senior in the starting lineup and contributed vital leadership to the Eagles throughout the year.
Co-pitcher of the Year
Brant Bennett
Lake Dallas, OF/P, Jr.
Depperschmidt filled the No. 2 role in the rotation with a 4-2 record and a 1.92 ERA in 31 1/3 innings while also shining as a center fielder. He was the District 14-5A Offensive Player of the Year, tallying a .333 batting average with 17 RBIs and 17 extra-base hits.
Braswell, P, Sr.
Austin King Argyle, C, Jr.
While Argyle’s pitching trio of Bryson Hudgens, Sean Bolin and Chad Ricker got most of the glory, King was a key part of the equation as the catcher. He was the Defensive Player of the Year in District 9-4A and hit .369 with 29 RBIs and a .513 on-base percentage.
Brenden Dixon Argyle, IF, Jr.
Dixon was a human highlight reel at shortstop, consistently making plays that show why he committed to Texas as a freshman. He was the co-MVP of District 9-4A and hit .422 as the team’s leadoff man, posting 21 RBIs, 47 runs, and 23 extra-base hits.
Chad Ricker Argyle, 1B/P, Jr.
After playing catcher and third last year, Ricker started at first and was an effective pitcher. He was the Utility Player of the Year in District 9-4A, going 7-0 with a 0.36 ERA, 0.62 WHIP and 58 strikeouts in just 39 innings. Ricker also hit .369 with 32 RBIs and 34 runs.
Co-pitcher of the Year
Sean Bolin Argyle, P, Jr. Bolin battled pesky blisters on his fingers throughout the district season and the playoffs but still managed to dominate hitters on the mound. The Baylor commit allowed just one earned run in 24 innings of postseason action and finished 10-0 with a 0.67 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings. Bolin is now 15-1 over the last two years with the Eagles and will be the top returner on the mound for the team next year.
Braswell knew its success would come from its pitching, and Bennett was again the bell cow for the Bengals this year. The McLennan College signee led Braswell (20-13-1) the No. 2 seed out of District 5-5A, posting a 0.606 ERA with 122 strikeouts in 69 1/3 innings and a 10-2 record. He also recorded nine extra-base hits and posted a .268 average at the plate.
Defensive Player of the year Kason Howell Liberty, OF, Sr. Howell was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 20th round of the MLB draft and it’s easy to see why. He posted a .462 batting average, 39 RBIs, 53 runs, 40 stolen bases and a 1.000 fielding percentage with impressive range in the outfield. Howell will have a big decision ahead on whether or not he will play baseball in college at Auburn or join Boston’s minor league system.
Offensive Player of the year
Dillon Carter Argyle, OF, Jr.
Carter’s aggressive style of play gave Argyle an edge both in the outfield and on the bases as the TCU commit hit .375 with 24 RBIs, 46 runs, 32 walks and 14 stolen bases. He finished the season with just one error in the field.
Luke Piper Guyer, C, So.
After breaking onto the scene with a big freshman year, Piper continued his steady play behind the plate to lead Guyer through a tough District 6-6A schedule. The sophomore hit .409 with 18 RBIs and drew 15 walks, earning first team All-District honors.
Utility Player of the year Hayden Clearman Argyle, OF, Jr.
Nick Klein Guyer, OF, Sr.
Klein was the driving force of the Wildcats’ offense, hitting a team-high .418 at the plate while scoring 23 runs and tallying 10 RBIs. Klein was also a first team District 6-6A selection, combining his consistent bat with a strong arm out of the outfield.
Preston King Argyle, IF, Jr.
Clearman was as reliable as they come at the plate, especially in the postseason where he hit .560 in 10 games. The junior two-sport star finished the year with a .455 batting average, a 1.232 OPS and a team-high 44 RBIs, helping to lead the Eagles to a an unbeaten record and the Class 4A state title. Argyle coach Ricky Griffin said he expects Clearman to pick up some offers as he prepares for his senior year.
Comeback player of the Year
Preston King was the leader of a loaded Argyle lineup as he hit a team-high .462 at the plate with a 1.284 OPS. The Eagles’ second baseman, who is committed to Texas Rio Grande Valley, drove in 34 runs and scored 50 times as the No. 2 hitter in the order.
Jan Cabrera Denton, P/3B, Jr. Cabrera burst onto the scene as a transfer and immediately paid huge dividends for the Broncos, finishing 10-1 with a 1.51 ERA on the mound as Denton won the District 5-5A title and went two rounds deep in the playoffs. The junior was just as spectacular in the field and hit .356 with 24 RBIs, solidifying himself as the team’s centerpiece moving forward.
Second team Name, school Cole Canutesen, Ryan Austin Wheeler, Denton Parker Brogdon, Aubrey Jack Dow, Ponder Morgan Allen, Guyer Brooks Garrett, Krum Chase Fields, Braswell Corey McMann, Liberty Taylor Swarbrick, Aubrey Luke Pennington, Sanger Jordan Beminio, Guyer Alex Gonzales, Argyle Carson Kennedy, Ryan
Pos. P P P P IF IF IF IF IF UTIL IF OF OF/P
Yr. Notable Sr. 2.62 ERA, 87 Ks; .305 BA Jr. 2.33 ERA, 44 Ks Jr. 5-2, 2.625 ERA, 42 Ks Sr. 1.88 ERA, 79 Ks; .365 BA Sr. .395 BA, 19 RBIs, 29 runs Jr. .409 BA, .577 SLG, 20 RBIs Sr. .343 BA, 21 RBIs, 29 SB Sr. .383 BA, 48 RBIs, 4 HRs Sr. .337 BA, 18 RBIs, 30 runs Sr. .385 BA, 11 RBIs, 28 runs Jr. .364 BA, 24 RBIs, 21 runs So. .429 BA, 22 RBIs, 26 runs Sr. 3.71 ERA, 56 Ks; .276 BA
Coach of the Year Ricky Griffin Dawson Barr Liberty, P, Sr. Barr’s career couldn’t have taken a worse detour early on as he was forced to have Tommy John surgery on his pitching arm. He returned this year 100 percent healthy and bounced back in a big way, signing with TCU in November before finishing 12-1 with a 2.11 ERA and 85 strikeouts. Barr was a key part of the Warriors’ run through a gauntlet of Houston-area teams en route to their first TAPPS state title since 2013.
Argyle
There’s no question Argyle had the talent needed to win a state championship but coach Ricky Griffin was the piece of the puzzle that put the Eagles over the top. By implementing the team-first mantra “The 24”, Griffin created a fun atmosphere throughout the year for his team. His ability to shift the focus away from the undefeated record paid off and Griffin snagged his second state title in the last four years.
Feature photo of Bryson Hudgens by Jeff Woo/DRC; action photos from DRC files