HonestTexan

ALSO, was someone also joking when they stated that PG was a big-play team? I think it's difficult to properly label what the PG offense is... Last year someone suggested a 'Souped-up Wing-T.' They make the big pass plays, but they are brutal with ball control. Hard to be both, but they are. WHO wants to prepare their defense for a PG offense- in one week? It must truly be a nightmare. Leading up to the state semi-finals, an Iowa Park LB stated that, "They (PG) are aggressive, but they're not anything we haven't seen before. We played Brock in the second game." I was curious as to whether this guy was just messing with people as well. But I don't think he was. No, they'd never seen anything like that... RIGHT NOW, I bet they hope they never see it again. Someone in here posted: THE NIGHTMARE IS REAL. Very nice wording. Once PG pulls this off, I'd love to see in on a shirt.

Dang, Nonothing, if I'd known you were joking I'd have told the truth. Everything west of Mt Pleasant is West Texas even Sulphur Springs and Brownsville. Pshhhh...

Haven't posted in years, but I do read y'alls discussions off and on every year. I especially enjoyed the WOS discussions last year. But the West Texas argument needs to stop as you're killing me, Smalls. Eastland considers themselves the "Gateway to West Texas," as I believe I've seen a sign. I've lived in Texarkana since 1973, and before that as a little kid lived in Del Rio and was born in Coleman. I've got family all over the state. Never say 'western Texas' or 'eastern Texas' or someone will immediately know that you're not from Texas. Cuero is in South Texas. NE of them is Yoakum, which is the region's limit. The fact that Texarkana is in NE Texas does not exclude it from being 'East Texas.' A rule of thumb has always been that East Texas begins when you encounter pine trees. (excluding the Lost Pines of Bastrop, of course.) ALSO, I agree with the poster who mentions the Shreveport news inundation. A family member in Austin always tells me that East Texas might as well be part of Louisiana; funny, however I do like Louisiana because they don't whine about Texas' doings like Arkansas. Louisiana has bad roads, but plays good high school football. The 'big three' TV stations are 3, 6, and 12, KTBS, KTAL and KSLA, respectively.

Exactly, futfan... PG and Lubbock Cooper, and they are at the tail-end.

Yes, this is just a "list." But based on expectations... Do you see what is unusual, interesting and pretty cool? At least IMO TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL 3A PRESEASON TOP 20 from www.txhighschoolbaseball.com 1. Sweeny – 5 starters return from 31-3 State Semifinalist Team. Sr 1B/P Kaylor Chafin (Texas A&M/.342 AVG/12-1, 1.38, 116 Ks) Sr C Corey Simpson (Houston/.505 AVG, 9 HRs), Sr Util/P Austin Boyd (.482 AVG, 11 HRs/ 6-0, 0.62) 2. Boerne – 8 starters return from 21-10-2 Regional Semifinalist Team. Sr P/OF Will Fowler (2.93, 47 Ks), Sr C Tyler Nevill (.371 AVG, 12 2Bs, 25 RBIs), Sr SS Jorge Mendoza (.329, 19 RBIs) 3. Sinton – 5 starters return from 22-11 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Sr 2B/P Trey Gallegos (.395 AVG, 18 RBIs, 19 Runs), Jr SS/P Donivan Lopez (.417 AVG, 35 RBIs, 3-0, 0.84, 60 Ks), Sr P Heime Perez (7-1, 1.54) 4. Argyle – 5 starters return from 23-8 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Jr P/1B Drew Gooch (6-2, 2.47, 59 Ks), Sr OF/P Seth Jones (8-2, 2.69, 87 Ks/18 RBIs), Sr OF Landon Rogers (5-2, 2.83/.352 AVG, 16 RBIs) 5. Crandall – 7 starters return from 18-16-2 Regional Semifinalist Team. Sr OF/P Ryan Long (.416 AVG, 4 HRs, 30 RBIs/7-0, 1.40), Sr IF/P Brenden Gilbert (7-4, 1.97, 76 Ks), Sr C Ty Cook (.323 AVG, 13 2Bs, 29 RBIs). 6. Kennedale – 7 starters return from 20-10 Area Round Team. Sr SS Zach Michener (.533 AVG, 4 HRs, 34 RBIs), Sr P Justin Jakubisin (7-1, 2.64, 59 Ks), Sr IF/P Brett Taylor (4-3, 2.14, 38 Ks/.307 AVG). 7. Robstown – 7 starters return from 16-11-1 Area Round Team. Sr 2B/P Brandon Garza (.537 AVG), Sr OF Victor Leal (1st Team All-District OF), Jr SS Michael De los Santos (.478 AVG) 8. Cuero – 7 starters return from 19-7-3 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Sr OF Logan Goebel (.402 AVG, 3 HRs, 32 RBIs), Jr OF Clint Davis (.324 AVG, 3 HRs, 33 RBIs), Jr IF Austin Johnson (5-2/.357 AVG, 25 RBIs) 9. West – 6 starters return from 32-9 State Runner-Up Team. Jr P/3B Nick Kucera (6-4, 2.13, 41 Ks), Sr OF Dylan Janek (.339 AVG, 9 2Bs, 27 RBIs), Sr DH Holden Sykora (.312 AVG, 22 RBIs). 10. China Spring – 7 starters return from 26-11 Regional Finalist Team. Jr P/IF Tucker Johnson (.364 AVG, 37 Runs, 33 RBIs, 7-2, 1.54, 50 Ks), Sr SS Mason George (.378 AVG, 37 Runs, 22 RBIs), Sr C Jason Prevatt (.324 AVG, 41 Runs, 22 RBIs). 11. Bridge City – 5 starters return from 25-3-1 Regional Semifinalist Team. Sr P/3B Hayden Guidry (Louisiana Lafayette/8-1, 100 Ks, 0.49), Jr C Hunter Uzzle (.297 AVG, 3 HRs, 23 RBIs). 12. Paris – 7 starters return from 26-10 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Sr 3B/P Cannon Chadwick (.361, 30 RBIS/8-2, 3.04), Sr OF/P Kamron Sumrall (.341, 19 RBIs, 3 3Bs), Sr OF Jaxon Rader (.327, 37 Runs, 17 SBs). 13. Carthage – 6 starters return from 28-5 Area Round Team. Sr P JayDon Day (11-2, 2.29, 62 Ks), Sr OF Samuel Chhor (.328 AVG, 17 Runs), Sr OF/DH Brody Colle (15 RBIs, 3 HRs). 14. Needville – 7 starters return from 12-10 Regional Quarterfinalist Team. Sr P/SS Chad Ramsey (New Mexico St), Jr P/SS Bryan Byrd (2nd Team All-District P), Jr 2B/P Collin Schaaf (2nd Team All-District) 15. Lufkin Hudson – 6 starters return from 20-10-1 Area Round Team. Sr P Riley Smith (9-2, 1.38, 39 Ks) Sr IF/P Trevor Adams (.349, 16 RBIs/2.60, 30 Ks), Sr 1B Micah Ellison (.345, 28 Runs, 23 RBIs). 16. Robinson – 6 starters return from 29-3 State Semifinalist Team. Sr 3B/P Zach Sullivan (Texas St/.422, 5 HRs, 29 RBIs, 6-1, 1.76), Sr DH/1B Ben Rhodes (.395, 2 HRs), Jr OF Zac Law (.398, 4 HRs, 22 RBIs). 17. Diboll – 7 starters return from 14-12 Area Round Team. Sr P Sergio Castillo (7-2, 3.02, 65 Ks), Sr 1B/P Jay Lowe (.453, 8 2Bs 24 RBIs), Jr SS/P Eric Dejesus (.508, 12 2Bs, 24 Runs). 18. Graham – 10 starters return from 18-11 Area Round Team. Sr IF Hunter Jones (.464, 35 Runs, 2 HRs), Sr P Garrett Johnston (7-0, 1.37, 49 Ks), Sr IF/P Braden Lang (.405, 18 RBIs). 19. Lubbock Cooper – 6 starters return from 30-5 Regional Semifinalist Team. Sr C/P Ryan Moseley (Texas Tech/.457, 20 RBIs), Sr P/SS Scotland Church (.445, 5 HRs, 32 RBIs/8-1, 0.91), Sr OF Tyler Parr (.380, 2 HRs, 26 RBIs) 20. Pleasant Grove – 2 starters return from 35-5 State Champion Team. Sr 2B/P Alex Alsup (.347), Sr OF/SS Cason Cordray (.303/1-0), Sr SS/P Ty Harp (.435, 33 RBIs/2-0, 2.47 ERA) The Next 10 (Alphabetical Order) – Abilene Wylie, Andrews, Aubrey, Bridgeport, Kilgore, La Grange, Melissa, Pleasanton, Rockport-Fulton, Yoakum

Tough call. T-High beat what was regarded as the best team in the country for the state title. But if the Carthage team really was like the D'field football team of 83... I won't argue lol

Yes

For what it's worth, here's my Two Cents <s'posd to be a funny. When you say "current top programs," I believe this as meaning a program has enjoyed a lot of recent success at a high level, and also shows strong indications of continuing with similar success for a number of years. With that being said, I don't see how Texarkana Pleasant Grove is not tops on the list. Here's why: Past Five Years = Two State Championships and One State Runner-up. Five consecutive Regional Championships (ties a UIL record). Regional Playoff Record during six-year run including current year: 44-3 < THAT right there is phenomenal and most indicative. This is the record vs other Region teams at a HIGH LEVEL, and when it counts most. This is undeniable. Also, their state tourney record is 5-3 over last five years. Pretty danged hard to find any school in the STATE who has even played EIGHT state tourney games over the past five years. I know Carthage, Central Heights and Hughes Springs are very strong. Carthage specifically has been strong for many years, so the long-haul category goes to the Bulldogs.

I agree, However... Let's not forget those great Texas High football teams that MORE than benefited from move-ins (transfers actually from Pleasant Grove :-) the starting QB, Fullback and a top linebacker to name a few. How about LE in football, baseball AND softball with the Middlebrooks pair move-in/transfer. And let's face it... Ryan Mallett sorta/kinda lived in Ark. Sorta... When you have a great thing going, that's where people wanna be. Don't think for a second it doesn't happen in other great programs.

I've been to a lot of stadiums... PG's new stadium is the best I've seen in terms of layout. Can't speak for overall atmosphere, but this thing is made to watch some football.

I'd still like to see the State Tourney games. Any ideas where to find either?

RE: "...Track? Weren't there like 10 guys on the track team?" LOL I seriously cracked up because I get the gist of where he was coming from... It stated: BASEBALL. GOLF and TRACK. There are track "teams" locally that win team titles, including this year, so it's easily misunderstood. The Gazette even noted, "...and a bronze medalist in Track and Field."

Is there a video up anywhere of the Championship game? T-High had one up last year synced with the radio broadcast.

I thought it was well-covered. There were color pictures done by their best photographer IMO. Story on front page and a headline and picture on sport page that couldn't be missed. I almost thought they went overboard.. I didn't see the article the way a few of you did. I simply read it as a tribute to the great baseball that has developed in Texarkana.