Aledo baseball aims to reach full potential, add to Bearcats’ legacy of success
In ‘Title Town,’ Texas — a nickname given to Aledo after frequent state championship wins — success is nothing new.
Aledo athletics has a long list of championships, with football leading the way with 12 titles. Bearcat baseball, however, hasn’t made the state tournament since 2015 and has one state championship win in the 2014 season.
In 2025, the Bearcats’ ultimate goal is to add another trophy to the collection. After an undefeated District 5-5A championship, the Bearcats are a potential contender in the Class 5A Division I bracket.
Aledo (24-7), ranked No. 7 in Class 5A by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association, is a favorite to come out of region one. But even in split divisions, the road to the state championship will be quite the challenge.
Talented Fort Worth-area teams such as Arlington Heights, Colleyville Heritage and Paschal are trying to make it out of Region One. To keep his team focused, Aledo coach Chad Berry said he reminds the team that their past success is irrelevant.
“In the playoffs, it doesn’t matter who won district,” Berry said. “It doesn’t matter what the rankings are. Everybody’s zero and zero when the playoffs start. ... Playoffs are their own season, and you got to go out, and you’ve got to win.”
The Bearcats did just that on Thursday, May 8, at Aledo High School. Aledo secured a statement victory with a 12-2 game-one win over Heights that ended in five innings.
“We got the clutch hits and key hits at the right time,” Berry said. “And, you know, when you’re doing that, it kind of becomes contagious. Hitting becomes real contagious.”
The Bearcat offense was firing on all cylinders, but it was starting pitcher Grayson McKelvey who set the tone, according to Berry. McKelvey technically gave up two earned runs on a misplayed ball ruled a hit — otherwise, he was lights out.
“Grayson (McKelvey) did what Grayson normally does,” Berry said. “He comes out and throws up a bunch of zeros, keeps hitters off balance, and our offense can feed off that. They know that they don’t have to score that many, so they can relax and try to see the ball.”
McKelvey is one of three go-to pitchers in Aledo’s arsenal, alongside Devin Miller and Luke Sandefur. Berry called McKelvey a “true competitor” after his game one performance against Heights.
“(McKelvey) comes in every day. He does his work,” Berry said. “He’s always very driven. Doesn’t matter what day of the week it is. He’ll probably, after he leaves here, go to the gym and get a lift, and he’s just very disciplined in what he does. He takes his craft very seriously. And it shows with his performances.”
In a three-game series, McKelvey, Miller and Sandefur give Aledo versatility and some reliable options. Berry said the team is confident whenever that trio is on the mound. In game two on Friday, the Bearcats secured a 5-1 victory with Miller on the mound to advance to the regional semifinals.
“They’re all very different with how they pitch,” Berry said. “So, as a coach, you kind of dream of this and say, ‘wow, these are three really talented kids,’ and they give us a really good chance against whoever we play.”
Offensively, the Bearcats’ strong points are team speed and ability to pressure a defense — both of these were on display against Heights, which allowed for some infield hits.
“When defenses have to come to attack a baseball and make off-balance throws,” Berry said. “That puts pressure on them to make perfect plays. And at the same time, we’ve got some guys in the middle of our lineup that if you miss, they’re going to make you pay for it.”
One of those key players is Lucas Nawrocki, Aledo’s cleanup hitter. Nawrocki said the Bearcats are “getting hot at the right time” and mentioned what makes the team special actually has little to do with the team’s talent.
“What stands out is the energy we bring every day,” Nawrocki said. “I mean, this is just such a different team. The bonds we make outside the field — We’re always hanging out together, and it really shows with our chemistry on the field.”
Both Nawrocki and Berry agreed on one thing: At Aledo’s highest potential, they’re an incredibly tough team to beat for any squad.
Aledo wants to maintain excellence in the field, the batter’s box, and on the mound and leave no room for error. That combination could power Aledo to newfound success.
To reach their ceiling, the Bearcats need to stay focused, according to Berry.
“Hit the gas pedal immediately and keep the throttle down the whole night,” Berry said.
This story was originally published May 9, 2025 at 11:45 AM.
.jpg)