Opening day has arrived for high school baseball teams across Texas, and five Rio Grande Valley teams are beginning the 2023 season ranked among the top squads in the state, according to Diamond Pro/Texas High School Baseball’s Preseason Top 20 rankings.
Weslaco East opens the year as the No. 11-ranked team in Class 5A after putting together one of the best seasons in program history in 2022. East brought home the District 32-5A championship and went 25-6 on the season. The Wildcats also have seven returners back to lead this year’s team.
All-State honorees Alexander Solis and Antonio Balboa give Weslaco East two workhorses on the mound and lethal batters at the plate to lead the way.
Sharyland Pioneer is coming off its second regional final appearance in three seasons and starts its 2023 campaign as the No. 14-ranked team in Class 5A.
The Diamondbacks return six starters and will rely upon a young pitching staff that received plenty of experience last season with Josh Cuellar, Isaac Lopez, Ruben Lopez and Rene Vela back. Catcher David Benitez, infielder Andy Chapa and first baseman Santiago Ortiz will lead the Diamondbacks’ offense. Former McAllen Rowe head coach Adrian Leal is now the head coach at Pioneer and will look to build off last year’s 33-win team.
In Class 5A’s Next 10 category, in alphabetical order, are Brownsville Veterans and Sharyland High.
The Chargers went 27-6 overall last season and defeated Sharyland High in bi-district action to advance to the area round. Juan Garcia, Carlos Garza and Jason Villarreal will be key to Brownsville Veterans’ success in 2023.
The Rattlers bring back six starters led by Texas at San Antonio signee and 31-5A’s reigning offensive player of the year Diego Diaz. Sharyland High finished 23-8-2 last season.
At the Class 6A level, PSJA High falls in the Next 10 category as the Bears return seven starters from last year’s District 31-6A championship team that finished with a 28-5-1 record overall with an appearance in the area round. The Bears will be led by starting pitchers Vinny Cano and Austin Flores, who will be backed by a deep and dangerous lineup at the plate with Diego Gomez and Julius Ramirez leading the charge.
Note: RGV baseball schedule and scores can be found at RGVSports.com.
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