With No. 1 ranking and high expectations, Grapevine baseball aims to defend state title
Members of the Grapevine baseball program doesn’t address its high expectations often.
But the Mustangs know they set an extremely high standard after a Class 5A state championship win in 2024, and there is pressure to live up it. With a strong reputation and a terrific 23-2 record, the Mustangs are the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association’s No. 1-ranked Class 5A team.
The Mustangs’ reputation proceeds them, but they know reputations don’t win championships. It’s all about winning a playoff series in May, and putting yourself in the best position to compete.
Grapevine head coach Jimmy Webster credited his team for handling the pressure. He said that after the 2024 title, the veterans understand what it takes to reach excellence. For the Mustangs, it’s all about staying bought into the process of maintaining a championship system.
“We’re tying to continue on with some bigger goals,” Webster said. “Later than what we’re doing in mid April.”
On Thursday, April 18, Grapevine won the District 6-5A championship with a 17-1 victory over Richland. It was the program’s third consecutive district title.
After the game, Webster told the players to appreciate the moment but to stay hungry and competitive.
“It can be over just like that,” Webster said. “If you assume we’re going to come out and win. And if you just roll through practice — that would be a shame. We’re tying to not take winning for granted.”
One of Grapevine’s goals is to continuously apply increasing pressure on the opposition, which involves having competitive spirit and a drive to improve every opportunity you take the field.
“We want to keep playing the game the right way,” Webster said. “Keep playing it hard. Eventually, we hope that dam is going to break. If we do things right long enough, we feel like the odds of that happening are in our favor.”
It’s been a hectic, successful year for Grapevine, even after the loss of some of the area’s top talent, including Dasan Hill, the 2024 Star-Telegram Player of the Year and a member of the Twins organization. The Mustangs entered the new season with a completely different pitching staff.
Several new faces have stepped up, including two brothers: Luke and Lale Esquivel.
Lale Esquivel, an experienced junior who earned All-District honors in 2024, made massive strides in his offensive game and has taken on pitching duties.
With the added responsibility, he has thrived.
“We’ve just got to keep doing our thing and put in the work,” Lale Esquivel said. “And the rest comes easy. The game should be the fun part.”
His brother, Luke Esquivel, Perfect Game’s No. 1 ranked class of 2028 player in Texas and an LSU commit, may not have varsity experience, but he has made a huge impact as a starting pitcher and a top hitter. He throws four pitches for strikes, and Webster calls him a true “baseball guy.”
“He understands the game,” Webster said. “You can talk to him at a high level. And he knows what you’re saying, so you’re not dealing with elementary things with him. He has a high, high level of understanding of what he can do and how he can play the game.”
Luke Esquivel said he didn’t know what to expect in his debut season but that his teammates have put him in a position to succeed.
“These guys are just so great,” Luke Esquivel said. “I can’t ask for a better group of guys. ... And I love the pressure. It honestly makes me a better player.”
Grapevine has a flurry of talent including junior catcher Gianni Corral, an uncommitted recruit who was previously committed to Texas A&M. Outfielder Zachary Goldstein, also a junior, is a scrappy speedster with a knack for getting on base.
Another key player is first baseman Jarrett Boswell, who delivered the 2024 state title to Grapevine with a walkoff.
The talent doesn’t stop there — but the Mustangs know that talent doesn’t win championships. In Texas high school baseball, many 5A district champs have top talent.
It’s all about execution, and Grapevine has done just that with an 11-1 district record. Since an extra innings loss to district rival Colleyville Heritage on March 14, the Mustangs have outscored opponents 102 to 12.
“(The loss) was a disappointment,” Webster said. “It was a slap in the face. And it was one of the few times we’ve kind of tasted our own blood. And they didn’t like it. We don’t want to get back to that spot again.”
As things stand in District 6-5A, the Mustangs would take the top spot into the Class 5A Division II bracket with a smaller enrollment than Colleyville Heritage and Birdville.
“I don’t know what to expect,” Webster said. “We’re all going to experience it together.”
As long as they stay humble and hungry, Grapevine knows that come playoff time, they’ll be a tough task for any program in Texas, according to Corral.
“We’re no stranger to pressure,” Corral said. “We all know about the chip on our shoulder. And we embrace it.”
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