Cypress Ranch: No. 3 in 2014 Xcellent 25 Preseason National Baseball Rankings

If there's one thing about the Cypress Ranch Mustangs, they don't mess around. Established in 2008, Cypress Ranch captured its first Texas Class 5A state baseball championship in just its third varsity season in 2012.

After a 31-6 finish and a loss in the Region III final in 2013, Cypress Ranch opens the 2014 season with a wealth of returning talent and a No. 3 ranking in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Preseason National Baseball Rankings.

MaxPreps will conclude its countdown of the top baseball teams in the nation on Feb. 21 when it announces the preseason Top 100. See the Top 10 teams landing page here

The Mustangs won District 17-5A with a 16-1 record and return seven players who earned some type of all-district honor, including three all-state players. Despite the wealth of returning talent, John Pope, the only head coach the Mustangs have ever had, understates his team's prospects for the season.



"We should be competitive if we can stay healthy," he said.

Leading the way is Corbin Martin, the District MVP who posted an 11-1 record with 96 strikeouts. The Texas A&M commit was a third team all-state pitcher last season and he also batted .321 with four home runs last year. He plays in center field when he is not on the mound.

Martin had three fellow teammates on the all-district first team, including Derek Dickerson, Bryce Johnson and Chase Spears. Dickerson, a second team all-state pick at catcher, was a heavy hitter for the Mustangs last year with nine home runs and a .407 average. He has committed to play at Houston.

Meanwhile Johnson, a second team all-state outfielder, batted .434 with eight doubles while Spears batted .289 with 10 doubles and two home runs as the team's designated hitter.

Cypress Ranch also has Dalton Stark returning in the outfield with Johnson. Stark, who will play at Texas Tech next year, joins Dickerson as one of the team's top power hitters with seven home runs and a .351 average.

The infield appears solid with Sam Houston State commit Ryan Leftwich returning at shortstop, Tyler DeLeon at third base and Carey Jones at first base. Leftwich and DeLeon each earned all-district honorable mention honors.



Riley Gossett, who was 3-0 without allowing an earned run as a sophomore, joins Martin in the starting rotation. Newcomer Sean Hudson, a junior, will also join the staff.

View a gallery of the Cypress Ranch preseason photo shoot
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School size: Texas Class 5A


Enrollment: 2,292


2013 finish: 31-6, regional semifinalist


Head coach: John Pope


Career record: 92-36-1




Years at school: 5


MLB drafted players:

Leon Byrd, 2012 in 25th round by New York Mets

Jarvis Flowers, 2012 in 36th round by Cincinnati Reds


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No. of starters returning: 8

Top losses:



Zach Brosch, P/1B, .381

Ryan Allbright, P/OF, .279

Spencer Sloane, P, 5-2 record


Key returners:

Corbin Martin, P/OF, Senior, MVP of District 17-5A, 11-1 record, 0.97 ERA, 96 K

Derek Dickerson, C, Senior, .407, 42 RBIs, 10 doubles, 9 HRs



Bryce Johnson, OF, Senior, .434, 29 RBIs, 8 doubles

Chase Spears, DH, Senior, .289, 10 doubles, 2 HRs

Dalton Stark, OF, Senior, .351, 26 RBIs, 7 doubles, 8 HRs

Ryan Leftwich, SS, Junior, .189, 2 HRs

Tyler Deleon, 3B, Senior, .455

Riley Gossett, P, Junior, 3-0 record, 0.00 ERA



Carey Jones, 1B, Senior, .275, 2 HRs


Key newcomers:

David Magallan, DH/1B

Sean Hudson, P


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Toughest game: There are few easy games when you play in District 17-5A, however Jersey Village proved to be the upstart last year with a 14-3 district finish and its best finish in school history. Cypress Ranch will face the Falcons twice in district play.

Local outlook: The Woodlands was the top team in the state last year and thus the top team in the Houston area. Cypress Ranch could take that title this year, but could get a challenge from the likes of Pearland, Klein Collins and Brazoswood.



Overall outlook: The Mustangs will have a tough time finishing the season undefeated, simply due to the competitive balance and amount of talent in the Houston area. The Texas Class 5A state tournament also ranks as arguably the toughest baseball playoff tournament in the nation. However, winning a second state title in three years could put Cypress Ranch at the top of the national rankings.

Coach quote: "We should be competitive if we can stay healthy."
- John Pope