CBB Column: Top Prep Players in the State of Texas

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Here is a small sampling of the best prep school players in the state of Texas. These prep players are in the middle of making a tough decision on where to play baseball for the next 3-4 seasons. The early signing period officially begins on November 11 and ends eight days later on November 19th. Once they have made their commitment to a school then comes along the June draft where the players could sign a professional contract skipping out on playing college baseball. The players are put in alphabetical order to keep it simple as we will continue this series over the next five days until we preview all 70 kids on our list.

#1 Cody Abraham OF 5-11 165 L L Lamar Consolidated Sugar Land TX- 1st Team All-District 23-4A, Member of the Columbia Angles Summer Select Team, Committed to Mississippi State University

#2 Jacoby Almaraz OF RHP 6-2 165 L R Reagan San Antonio TX- Was named to the All-Area San Antonio/Austin by ESPN/Rise, Named 1st Team All-District 26-5A, Selected to the 2009 Washington Nationals Area Code Rosters. Member of the 2009 Washington Nationals Area Code Team.

#3 Landon Appling, C R/R 5-10 180 El Campo High School El Campo, Texas- Also a two sport star has he is his high school team starting running back, at the plate with a .532 batting average with a team high 7 home runs, 1st Team 2009 All-Wharton County Baseball team, 1st Team All-District 23-4A, Player of the Year on the Victoria Advocate’s 2009 All-Area Baseball Team, 1st Team All-State Catcher on the Texas Sports Writers Association’s All-State Baseball Teams

#4 Tyler Arndt CF/P 6-4 205 R/R Cuero High School, Cuero, Texas-Two Sport star as Tyler is also the starting quarterback, Earned 1st Team All State as an OF on the TWSA 2009, 2008 THSBCA 2nd Team All-State OF; 2008 TSWA 3rd Team All-State OF, Selected 1st Team OF on the 2009 Victoria Advocate All-Area Baseball Team.

#5 Kyle Bacak C P/SS 5-9 150 R R Seven Lakes High School Katy Tx- 1st Team District 17-5A as a catcher, Member of the Houston Heat Select Baseball Team.

#6 Blake Bagley RHP 1B 6-4 235 R R San Marcos Martindale TX 1st Team All District 17-4A, The junior right-handed pitcher finished the season 8-3 with a 2.95 earned-run average, batting .370, slugging six home runs and driving in 42 runs, HONORABLE MENTION TSWA All-State Baseball Team. Also a Two Way sport Star starting on the Football team, TE/LB. Signs with Texas State

#7 Clay Balch Lewisville High School Lewisville, Texas- 1st Team All District 6-5A-in 74 AB had 24 hits for a .324 avg,

#8 Matt Bass Wylie High School Wylie, Texas-1st Team All District 8-5A Had 73 ABs with 5 HRs for a .411 avg.

#9 Andrew Benefield C P/3B 6-0 215 R R Rockwall Heath High School, Heath, TX- 1st Team All-Distrcit 10-4A, Earned 1st Team All-District 10-4A as a Sophomore(’08), Member of the 2009 DBAT Mustang Summer Select Team.

#10 Colton Bickerstaff RHP C/SS 6-0 190 L R Mineola High School Mineola TX- Was selected to the 2009 Louisville Slugger High School All-American team-was named Offensive MVP of District 14-3A baseball, was chosen second-team outfielder on Texas Sports Writers Association All-State Baseball Team, Was Selected to the Texas Scout’s Association All Star Showcase and Game.

#11 Andrew Blum 2010 2 way 6-3 190 Plano West High School Plano, TX- Selected to the 1st team for District 8-5A, Earned Honorable Mention on the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State Baseball Team. Member of the DBAT Mustangs Guthrie the summer of ’09- Committed to Richmond University

#12 Brode Boyd OF 5-11 FM Marcus High School, Flower Mound, Texas- In 90 ABs had 27 hits, 24 stolen bases with a .300 batting avg. Was a 1st team All-District 6-5A as a sophomore.

#13 Evan Brummett, 1B 5-11 180 Jr., Stony Point High School Round Rock, Texas, Help lead his team to a 2nd place finish in District 16-5A and to the 2nd round of the playoffs. Batted .379 on 33 hits while earning Honorable Mention in 16-5A, Earned Honorable Mention on the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State Baseball Team.

#14 Justin Byrd IF OF 5-10 145 L/R First Baptist Academy Garland TX-Plays on the Dallas Panthers Select Summer Team, Earned offensive player of the year for TAPPs 2-4A-In 70 ABs he had 46 hits with 34 RBIs, 34 stolen bases with a .657 batting avg.