Rio Hondo’s Caleb Laster pitched his way into the national strikeout leader race and helped the Bobcats reach the regional quarterfinal round of the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
Laster, The Brownsville Herald/Valley Morning Star’s All-Area Pitcher of the Year, finished his senior season with the most strikeouts by any pitcher in the nation with 170, according to MaxPreps.
Laster posted a 16-3 record in 19 appearances. He recorded a 1.14 ERA with 170 strikeouts to just 18 walks in 80 innings. He pitched eight complete games, eight shutouts, one no-hitter and one perfect game. Laster also had a .431 batting average with 25 hits, eight runs and 11 RBIs.
“He’s a special player. Whenever we have him on the mound, our chances of winning the ball game are pretty good,” Rio Hondo head coach Sergio Gonzalez said. “You come across those players every once in a while and we’re just blessed that we have him in Rio Hondo. The confidence level, I think the kids really play up to another level behind him when he’s on the mound, and that confidence carries over to what we have to do in ball games.”
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
JASON VILLARREAL, BROWNSVILLE VETERANS
Brownsville Veterans’ Jason Villarreal was a model of consistency for the Chargers during the 2023 campaign. He helped the Chargers finish the year 22-9 and 15-4 in district play by recording 14 multi-hit games.
Villarreal hit .430 and racked up 40 hits, 25 runs, 23 RBIs, three doubles, three triples, one home run and stole 10 bases. He was also lights out on the mound with a 1.36 ERA, striking out 63 in 46 1/3 innings. He pitched five complete games, two of which were shutouts and one a no-hitter.
Villarreal signed to play college baseball at New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, New Mexico.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
NATHAN ALVEAR, BROWNSVILLE RIVERA
The Rivera Raiders advanced to the area round of the playoffs for the first time since 2004, and middle infielder/pitcher Nathan Alvear was a big part of the reason why.
Alvear had a .961 fielding percentage, shutting down nearly everything that was hit his way. He served as Rivera’s ace throughout a 20-12 regular season and into the area round of the playoffs. He pitched 67 2/3 innings, had a 0.83 ERA and finished with 82 strikeouts, limiting opponents to a .137 batting average.
He pitched a complete game shutout during the first round of the playoffs against La Joya High to send the Raiders into the area round, surrendering just four hits and three walks in seven scoreless innings.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
GAEL SILVA, LYFORD
Lyford’s Gael Silva burst onto the RGV high school baseball scene with a sensational first year in the Bulldogs’ lineup. The freshman led Lyford with a .506 batting average, 40 hits, 33 runs, 38 RBIs and one home run. His 22 doubles ranked first in the state in Class 3A, according to Texas High School Baseball.
He helped the Bulldogs win their third-straight District 32-3A championship as Lyford finished the year unbeaten in league play at 8-0.
“He is ‘Him.’ He’s been outstanding,” Lyford head coach Jose Rocha said of the freshman Silva. “He came in after basketball was over and instantly took over a leadership role, and this team is going to be his in a few years. He’s killing it already.”
COACH OF THE YEAR
SERGIO GONZALEZ, RIO HONDO
Rio Hondo’s 28 wins during the 2023 season shattered a program record as head coach Sergio Gonzalez coached the Bobcats to a second-place finish in District 32-3A before advancing to the regional quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
The Bobcats started the year with 22 straight wins before falling to Lyford in district play.
Rio Hondo opened the postseason with a clean sweep of Donna IDEA College Prep before holding off a tough Taft team 1-0 in the area round to set up a third-round playoff game against defending state champion Corpus Christi London. Rio Hondo’s trip to the third round of the postseason was the first time the program had been there since 2007.
Brownsville Herald and Valley Morning Star All-Area
Superlative Winners
Most Valuable Player: Josh Muñoz, Los Fresnos
Offensive Player of the Year: Jason Villarreal, Brownsville Veterans
Defensive Player of the Year: Nathan Alvear, Brownsville Rivera
Pitcher of the Year: Caleb Laster, Rio Hondo
Newcomer of the Year: Gael Silva, Lyford
Coach of the Year: Sergio Gonzalez, Rio Hondo
Brownsville Herald and Valley Morning Star All-Area
First Team
C – Oscar Rodriguez, Brownsville Veterans
1B – Devin Parker, Brownsville Rivera
2B – Rowen Garcia, San Benito
SS – Armando De La Garza, Lyford
3B – Joshua Laster, Rio Hondo
IF – Josh Ruiz, Harlingen South
OF – Derek Garcia, Los Fresnos
OF – Justinray Peña, Harlingen South
OF – Roman Perez, Rio Hondo
OF – Rolando Rivera, Brownsville Rivera
P – Hector Arellano, Brownsville Lopez
P – Roel Gonzalez, Los Fresnos
Utility – Aiden Olivas Romo, Lyford
DH – Sebastian Sanchez, Los Frenos
Brownsville Herald and Valley Morning Star All-Area
Second Team
C – Nehemiah Garcia, Brownsville Lopez
1B – Daniel Lopez, Harlingen South
2B – Jacob Salas, Brownsville Veterans
SS – Carlos Garza, Brownsville Veterans
3B – Alejandro Rodriguez, Los Fresnos
IF – Christopher Galvan, Rio Hondo
IF – Jacob Reyna, Lyford
OF – Alek Guzman, Brownsville Rivera
OF – Isaias Gonzalez, Lyford
OF – Jonathan Ortega, Raymondville
OF – Sergio Zapata, Brownsville Porter
P – Aundre Guadarrama, Harlingen South
P – Mario Rodriguez, Los Fresnos