Fort Worth-area baseball notebook: See where teams stand ahead of postseason
The final week of the UIL Texas high school baseball regular season is here.
See where Fort Worth-area teams stand ahead of the bi-district round.
Southlake Carroll leads the way in Class 6A, more
Southlake Carroll (24-6-1), ranked No. 4 in Class 6A by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association, is the 6A school to beat in the Fort Worth-area. The Dragons are the only Fort Worth-area squad to be ranked by the THSBCA.
They have a strong 11-2 district record, and have already clinched the District 4-6A championship. Southlake Carroll holds a Perfect Game No. 9 national ranking, and is also ranked by PG as the No. 1 team in Texas.
With its district games over with, Southlake Carroll scheduled two blockbuster matchups against some of the best talent nationwide.
The first matchup on Friday, April 18, was against Harvard Westlake, a California powerhouse that finished as the CIF-Southern Section Division I runner-up. The Dragons lost 7-5, gaining valuable experience against a top team.
Carroll’s final regular season game will come against Argyle Liberty Christian (29-5), the No. 1 ranked TAPPS school. Both Carroll and Liberty Christian are five time state champions. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, at Rider Field in Frisco.
With its enrollment being smaller than other top District 4-6A finishers, the Dragons will head to the Class 6A Division II bracket.
In District 8-6A, Arlington (15-11, 10-2) leads the way. The Colts will take the district’s top spot in the Class 6A Division I bracket.
Another 8-6A team to watch is Arlington Bowie, a squad that will be making its first playoff appearance since the 2013 season. The Volunteers, with a smaller enrollment that Arlington and South Grand Prairie, will head to the Class 6A Division II bracket.
In District 3-6A, two teams to keep an eye on are Boswell (25-3, 9-1) and Mansfield Legacy (18-8, 10-2). Although unranked, these teams have proven themselves in District 3-6A play.
Aledo, Grapevine lead the way in Class 5A
Grapevine recently secured its third consecutive district championship and is the top Class 5A team in the Fort Worth-area with a No. 1 THSBCA ranking.
The Mustangs (23-2, 11-1), the 2024 5A state champions, will take the district’s top spot into the Class 5A Division II bracket. To prepare for the playoffs, Grapevine scheduled a two-game series against another top Fort Worth-area team, Arlington Heights.
The Yellow Jackets are the District 7-5A champions and will take the group’s top spot into the Class 5A Division I bracket. Paschal, the second place finisher in District 7-5A that moved down to 5A in the 2024 UIL realignment, will also enter the large school bracket.
Aledo, ranked No. 6 by the THSBCA, is also a team to watch. The Bearcats (19-6, 8-0) will finish their district play against Azle this week.
Aledo is looking to build on a strong 2024 season that saw the Bearcats make it to the regional quarterfinals and fall to Argyle, an eventual regional finalist.
Brock, Fort Worth Benbrook thrive in Class 4A
Brock (22-1, 5-1), a 2024 state finalist, is thriving in its first season in Class 4A. The Eagles boast a No. 9 THSBCA ranking and, as things stand, will head to the Class 4A Division II bracket.
Brock has two special players in junior Arizona State Evan O’Connor and senior Texas Tech commit Jesse Rusinek. Both players have a fastball that reaches 92 mph.
Right below the Eagles in the THSBCA rankings is No. 10 Fort Worth Benbrook (20-5, 10-0), a team with lots of potential. The Bobcats also command a No. 6 ranking by Texas High School Baseball.
In 2024, Benbrook seized the attention of the Texas baseball community with three consecutive no-hitters in the postseason. Now, the Bobcats are once again in a position to make some noise; Benbrook will take the district’s top spot into the CLass 4A Division II bracket.
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