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A year ago, five UIL and four TAPPS baseball teams celebrated state championship seasons.
Heading into the final weeks of the 2017 regular season, a few of the nine title-holders are gathering momentum for another post-season run while others are just trying to gain a playoff foothold.
Repeating is not easy. That makes it more impressive that three of last year's champions – West and Flatonia in the UIL and Lubbock Christian (Lubbock) in TAPPS – are attempting to win a third consecutive state title.
Here's a rundown of how each champion is doing so far this season:
UIL
Class 6A
Dallas Jesuit started the season with a pair of losses and followed the same script when district play began. But the Rangers (14-10) have reeled off four straight wins to move into fourth place in 9-6A. In winning the state title last year, Jesuit went 36-8. Among the returners is pitcher
Jacob Palisch, a Stanford signee who carved out an 11-1 record.
Jacob Palisch, Dallas Jesuit
File photo by Maria Lysaker
Grapevine went 35-6 last season on the way to its first state title. The Mustangs struggled a bit early this spring, but are now 6-0 in District 8-5A and 15-7 overall. Back are 12 seniors and one junior from last year's state tournament roster including
Connor Neuman and
Boone Montgomery, who combined for a 12-1 mound record last season.
Class 4A
Wylie (Abilene) is picking up where it left off in last season's state championship run with an 18-1 record. The Bulldogs, shooting for a third consecutive trip to the state final four, went 32-3-1 last year including 10-0 in the post-season. Key returnees include pitcher
Conner Carlton (11-1 last year) and batting standout
Bryce Gist.
Class 3A
West won its second consecutive state crown last June and graduated only five off a 33-5 team. Unfortunately, the small number of graduates represented most of a pitching staff that was credited for all but one of the wins. So far, West is 9-6 overall and 3-0 in District 19-3A. Infielders
Dalton Kolar, a junior, and
Tyler Kaluza, a sophomore, were named to all-tournament at state last year.
Class 2A
Flatonia won its second consecutive state crown last year and has made the state final four the last three seasons, but graduated half of the roster that went 29-5. The Bulldogs split their first 10 games this spring. Returning senior
Easton Migl, a pitcher/first baseman, was selected as the classification's MVP at the state tournament.
TAPPS
Class 5A
Prestonwood Christian (Plano) began District 1 with an 0-4 record, but has since moved up to sixth place with a 2-4 mark, 10-8-1 overall. Last season, the Lions prevailed in the largest TAPPS division by beating
Kelly Catholic (Beaumont) 7-1 in the title game to finish with a 34-1 record.
Class 4A
Coach Lance Berkman, a former major league all-star, has
Second Baptist (Houston) pointed in the direction of another state title in his second season in charge. Coming off a 32-8 campaign a year ago, Second Baptist is 18-8 this spring and 3-0 in District 7.
Class 3A
Lubbock Christian (Lubbock) run-ruled
Bay Area Christian (League City) in last year's title game to finish a 27-9 season and a second consecutive state crown. The success is carrying over for the Eagles, 18-5-1 so far under first-year head coach Jeremy Mayo.
Class 2A
Rosehill Christian (Tomball), a winner over
Covenant Christian (Conroe) in last year's final, is 1-0 in league play after a slow start to the season.
