2011 A-J All-City Baseball Team

Player of the Year
Brayden Blackwell
2B, Sr., Coronado

Blackwell was a leader by example for state runner-up Coronado. He was 13 for 17 in the team’s final four games, including two elimination games against Hurst L.D. Bell and the state semifinal against Corpus Christi Carroll. Blackwell batted .446 with a .529 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot, scoring 68 times and driving in 47 more.

Pitcher of the Year
Kody Robinson
Sr., New Deal

Robinson got it done on the mound and at the plate for the Lions, whose playoff run extended all the way to the regional semifinals. The senior hurler was 11-1 with a 1.16 ERA and struck out 75 batters against just two walks. He also hit .500 with team-highs in doubles (12) and RBIs (55).

Coach of the Year
Gary Hix
Coronado

The first-year Coronado coach didn’t waste any time getting the Mustangs to buy into his philosophy. Coronado finished in second place in District 2-5A and then mashed its way into the state championship game. The state tournament appearance was the program’s first since 1995.

FIRST TEAM

PITCHER
Tyler Wiedenfeld
Sr., Monterey

Wiedenfeld was the ace of Monterey’s staff and a key factor in the Plainsmen’s postseason appearance. He went 8-4 with a 3.04 ERA in 711/3 innings. The senior struck out 77 batters and walked 18.

PITCHER
Taylor Bridges,
Soph., Coronado

Bridges wasn’t even named to the all-district team after Coronado’s second-place finish in District 2-5A. But five of Bridges’ team-high eight wins came during the playoffs, and the Mustangs went 6-0 in the postseason games he started, including a one-hit shutout in the state semifinals.

PITCHER
Xavier Vasquez
Sr., Frenship

The senior put in 73 innings of work for the Tigers this season, striking out 91 batters and surrendering just 23 walks. He went 9-2 with a 3.36 ERA, helping lead Frenship to the regional quarterfinals.

CATCHER
Bryndan Arredondo
Soph., Frenship

The young catcher swung a big stick for the Tigers. He blasted 62 hits, including 22 for extra bases, and knocked in 46 runs. Arredondo hit .456 and reached base at a .528 clip. He struck out only nine times in 160 plate appearances.

FIRST BASEMAN
Blake Bass
Sr., Coronado

The Texas Tech signee provided a good chunk of the power that fueled Coronado’s run to the state championship game. Bass hit .390 with a .675 slugging average. He cranked 22 doubles, two triples and six home runs to help accrue his team-high 67 RBIs.

SECOND BASEMAN
Justin Jones
Sr., Shallowater

The senior led district-champion Shallowater in nearly every major offensive category. Jones batted .559 with a .605 on-base percentage and 1.108 slugging average. He swatted 15 home runs and had nearly 40 more total bases than anyone else on the team.

THIRD BASEMAN
Abraham Valdez
Sr., New Deal

The fleet-footed senior was successful in nearly 90 percent of his stolen-base attempts this season. He swiped 24 bases to go along with his .474 average and .570 on-base percentage. Valdez scored 47 times and knocked in 41 more runs.

SHORTSTOP
Paxton De La Garza
Jr., Coronado

De La Garza’s ability to find gaps and hit home runs was a critical factor in powering Coronado through the playoffs. Overall he slugged .796 with 18 doubles, four triples and 12 home runs. During the playoffs De La Garza slugged .914 with six doubles and six more homers.

OUTFIELDER
Ethan Kohnle
Sr., Cooper

Kohnle, a Midland College signee, batted .482 with 22 extra-base hits, including 10 home runs. He had five RBIs in the postseason and scored eight runs for Cooper, which advanced to the regional semifinals.

OUTFIELDER
Stephen Smith
Soph., Frenship

The sophomore excelled at getting himself on base, collecting team-highs in hits (63), walks (24) and hits by pitch (8) for a .586 on-base percentage. Smith scored 50 times, drove in 46 more and committed only three errors in the outfield.

OUTFIELDER
Brennan Johnson
Sr., Coronado

Johnson was a consistent threat in the middle of the Coronado lineup, batting .378 with a .667 slugging average. He blasted 10 doubles, 11 home runs and tallied 53 RBIs.

UTILITY
Casey Berryman
Sr., Shallowater

Berryman, a pitcher and first baseman, was named the District 2-3A MVP because of how well he did everything, including hitting. The senior was 12-2 on the mound with a 1.42 ERA and 85 strikeouts. At the plate he hit .413 with six home runs, 41 RBIs and a .516 on-base percentage.

UTILITY
Caden Whitley
Sr., Roosevelt

Whitley pitched and played the outfield for the co-district champion Eagles. Whitley batted .475 with a .563 on-base percentage and .775 slugging average. The senior was also named the District 3-2A pitcher of the year.

SECOND TEAM

Pitchers: Chris Pacheco, Sr., Lubbock Christian High; Keanu Ramos, Sr., Estacado; Isaac Chavez-Ward, Sr. New Deal

Catcher: Josh Powe, Sr., Lubbock High

First baseman: Ryan Hixson, Sr., Cooper

Second baseman: Josh Vasquez, Sr., Frenship

Third baseman: Zach Ancell, Sr., Coronado

Shortstop: Quentin Johnson. So., Estacado; Adam Taylor, Jr., Cooper

Outfielders: Cade Davis, So., Frenship; Christian Simmons, Sr., Coronado; Tyler Pridmore, Sr., Monterey

Utility players: Jaron Robertson, Sr., Shallowater; Sam Hunker, Sr., Trinity Christian