In recent years, Jesuit baseball has soared into the ranks of Texas high school baseball’s elite. Since the hiring of Coach Brian Jones three years ago, Jesuit baseball has seen a surge into unchartered waters. In the 2010 season, Coach Jones led Jesuit to the third round of the state playoffs, after beating traditional powerhouse Southlake Carroll in the second round and capturing the program’s first district championship. After the district realignment, Jesuit went undefeated in district play and made it to the round of 16 in the state tourney in 2011. 2012 proved to be the same chapter, different verse as Jesuit again went undefeated in district play and captured another district title. However, in the playoffs they suffered a heartbreaking loss to the eventual state-runner up A&M Consolidated. This loss left a sour taste in the mouths of those juniors and sophomores who played on that 2012 team. One of those sophomores, Max Ready ’14, remarked that “it was definitely hard to be a part of that game 3 loss, in which we could have played our game at a higher level and taken the series.”
With the memory of that tough loss fresh in their mind, Jesuit baseball has been hard at work since the beginning of the school year. Starting with the fall season in which Jesuit fielded four teams, the players got to show the coaches how they improved over the summer. As the fall season winded down, it became time for the annual tradition of Jesuit Ranger boot camp, in which the coaches used excruciating physical activity mixed with friendly competition to bring out the best in their players. Brett Lopez, a senior catcher, remarked “that boot camp really brought us together as a team, [and] as a family.”
Equipped with both the mental and physical skills needed to succeed, the team returned from Christmas break ready to surge ahead. They will need this confidence and skill set to repeat for the fourth time as district champions. The Rangers lost 6 of their 9 starters from last year, and their top two pitchers: All- Area pitcher Christian Bartholomew ’12, and District 9-5A MVP Joe Powell ’12. Showing the immense talent from that class, Jesuit sent 7 of their seniors on to play ball at colleges around the country. Even though these players will be missed, Jesuit is prepared for the task of replacing this talent, a task that the team thinks they can accomplish. They will be returning District first teamer and Johnson County College signee 2B Shea Stine ’13, Two year letterman 3B William Hairston ’13, currently in talks with Texas Tech and SFA, and two sport star CF Grant Hatzman ’13. Also returning are brothers SS Phillip Young ’13 (The RoundUp’s own) and speedy OF Preston Young ’13, along with C Dan Keenan ’13. Returning from the pitching staff are Garret Franzoi ’13, Trinity University signee, Al Higgins ’13, Nick Campagna ’13, and Johnny Morin ’13. Also returning are IF/OF Stuart Deary ’14, who tore his ACL early last season, causing a lack of playing time, and SS Max Randy Ready ’14 who came up big for the Rangers off the bench last year.
Filling in the holes left by the departing seniors, are senior varsity newcomers OF Wheeler Nakahara ’13, OF Brian Christenson ’13, P Johnny Mac Struckell ’13, C Brett Lopez ’13, and OF Smoker Deterding ’13. They are ready to hop in and pick up where the others left off, as Smoker Deterding exclaimed “I am ready to contribute on the varsity squad in any way I can.” Also hopping on board is talented junior P Chris Mueller, and Crew members IF Charlie Young ’14 and IF/P Luke Gibbons ’14. Fresh off a pitching seminar with C.J. Wilson where he gained some valuable insights over the summer, Gibbons says “[he] has dream[ed] of playing varsity baseball since he was a kid, and is ready to be a part of something special.” Also appearing on the squad will be a trio of young guys, sophomores OF Darius Hill, OF Grant Reuben and 1B Nick Ready. Even though they are young, the program believes in their ability and poise, as senior Al Higgins adds that “they have been really impressive in early scrimmages.”
However while the Ranger’s lineup features poise and talent from top to bottom, the district championship will not just be given to them. Standing in their way will be the talented Lake Highlands Wildcats, a prominent rival from the past few years. The Wildcats will be a veteran squad this year, returning 8 out of 9 starters from last year’s 2nd place squad. Leading this team, will be Dartmouth signee 3B Michael Ketchmark, SS Beau Barnes, and 2B Chris Dyer. Another roadblock will be the always gritty W.T. White Longhorns, coached by the eternal Coach Shepherd who has been coaching for over 48 years in Dallas. Led by a trio of junior district first teamer’s C Jake Mackenzie, 3B Juan Rivera and P Gustavo Ramos the Longhorns will throw everything they’ve got at the Rangers. Luke Gibbons and the rest of the team know that “we have a target on our back and we’re going to be getting everyone’s best shot, but as long as we play our game we can take care of business.”
The season opens up this Thursday, February 21, as the Rangers will be traveling down to Austin, Texas to take part in the Austin ISD tournament which showcases some of the best high school teams in the state. After this, they return home for the annual Jesuit Baseball Classic, hosted on the campus, which runs from February 28 to March 2.
Some other games to note throughout the season will be March 30 against Byron Nelson which will be played at Quick Trip Park in Grand Prairie, home to the Grand Prairie Air Hogs, a minor league team, and also March 22 against Lake Highlands at Jesuit. So mark your calendars, grab your sunflower seeds and get ready for another exciting season of Jesuit baseball. Go Rangers!
