COOPER BASEBALL 2023 PREVIEW
Last season (overall record, district record, district finish): 11-18, 2-13 (5th in District 4-5A)
Head Coach (seasons as head coach / overall record): Brandon Stover (2nd season at Cooper, 2nd overall / 11-18 as a head coach)
Last district championship: 2010
Last playoff appearance:2019 (lost to Lubbock Coronado, 2-0, in a best-of-three Class 5A bi-district series)
Last playoff series win:2017 (def. El Paso Eastlake, 2-1, in a best-of-three Class 5A bi-district series)
Top Returners (name, classification, position):
- Brady Henderson, soph., INF/P
- Alejandro Ibarra, soph., INF/P
- Austin Cummins, soph., C
- Marion Rangel, jr., INF/P
- Cayden Garcia, jr., C/P
Top Newcomers (name, classification, position):
- Kam Gray, jr., INF/OF/P
- Jaden Smith, jr., OF/P
- Jace Crawford, soph., INF/P
- Garett Castillo, soph., INF/C
- Jaden Carrillo, fr., INF
- Christian Rico, jr., OF
Key Games on the Schedule:
• Thursday, Feb. 23 – vs. Valley View at Everman Tournament (season-opener)
- Tuesday, March 7 – at Lubbock High (District 4-5A opener)
- Thursday, March 9 – at Wylie (District 4-5A game)
- Friday, March 10 – vs. Wichita Falls High at Cougar Field (AISD Tournament)
- Saturday, March 11 – vs. Abilene High at Cougar Field (AISD Tournament)
- Tuesday, March 28 – at Abilene High (District 4-5A game)
- Friday, March 31 – vs. Wylie at Cougar Field (District 4-5A game)
- Friday, April 14 – vs. Abilene High at Cougar Field (District 4-5A game)
2023 team strengths, weaknesses, team goals:
- Strengths – Versatile, athletic group of kids that is hungry for success
- Weaknesses – Lack of depth, young and inexperienced team
- Team goals – Continue building consistency within the program and make the playoffs.
Coach Stover says:
“We have a core group of young players that got valuable experience last season. Along with the additions, we have a very young team that looks to build off last year. This group can get us back where we belong and allow us to restart the Cougar Baseball tradition. As one of the winningest programs in Texas, we want to continue to uphold the expectations of what it means to put on the Cooper baseball jersey.”
ABILENE HIGH BASEBALL 2023 PREVIEW
Last season (overall record, district record, district finish): 6-22, 2-16 (7th in District 2-6A)
Head Coach (seasons as head coach / overall record): Brad Harman (1st season at Abilene High, 19th overall / 317-167-6 as a head coach)
Last district championship:2015
Last playoff appearance:2018 (lost to Odessa High, 2-0, in best-of-three Class 6A area-round series)
Last playoff series win: 2018 (def. Arlington High, 2-1, in best-of-three Class 6A bi-district series)
Top Returners (name, classification, position):
- Brady Bennett, jr., SS/P
- Diego Flores, sr., 2B/SS
- Beckham Paul, jr., OF/P
- Zak Davila, sr., OF/P
- Trey Simpson, jr., 1B/DH
- Will Cheek, sr., OF/P
- Jake Breckenridge, sr. 3B
Top Newcomers (name, classification, position):
- Rylan Stokes, soph., C
- Jameson Castell, jr., C/3B/P
- Sergio Salas, sr., Utility / P
- Saul Vasquez, sr., Utility / P
- Michael Smalley, jr., Utility
Key Games on the Schedule:
• Thursday, Feb. 23-Saturday, Feb. 25 – at Wichita Falls Tournament (season-opener)
- Tuesday, Feb. 28 – vs. Midland Greenwood at Blackburn Field (home-opener)
- Thursday, March 9 – Saturday, March 11 – AISD Tournament
- Thursday, March 16 – at Lubbock High (District 4-5A opener)
• Friday, March 24 – at Wylie (District 4-5A game) - Tuesday, March 28 – vs. Cooper at Blackburn Field (District 4-5A game)
- Tuesday, April 11 – vs. Cooper at Blackburn Field (District 4-5A game)
- Friday, April 14 – at Cooper at Cougar Field (District 4-5A game)
2023 team strengths, weaknesses, team goals:
- Strengths – Work ethic, coachability, team speed, and competitiveness
- Weaknesses – youth, overcoming pitching injuries, and consistency
- Team goals – Get better each day, eliminate mental errors, and qualify for the state playoffs
Coach Harman says:
“The young men have worked extremely hard in the offseason, and I am excited to get the 2023 season started. We have a lot of players who are hungry for success and are ready to put Abilene High Eagle baseball back on the map. We compete in an extremely tough district and will have to fight, scratch, and claw in every one of those games. Luckily, we have a bunch of guys who compete every day, and I think that will transfer into success.”
