As the 2024 high school baseball season dawns it is no secret Sinton and London have been the teams to beat in Region IV in their respective classifications. In fact, the two squads will be going for an unprecedented fourth straight regional championship and trip to the state tournament.
Other than a run by Corpus Christi’s Incarnate Word Academy about 20 years ago, it has never been done by a public school in the baseball-mad area.
But while both Pirate squads are taking their shot at history, there are a bunch of teams who want to unseat them from their regional roost.
Here’s a look at some teams that could challenge the prevailing small-school powers for area supremacy plus a few other predictions for the 2024 season.
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Class 4A
Calallen
The Pirates have had to go through the Wildcats all three years to reach the state tournament, twice winning one-game regional finals and winning an area round series in 2023. A young Calallen squad from last season is now a year older, and ready to see if they can make another deep run.
Robstown
The Cotton Pickers won the 31-4A championship a year ago and return a core group of players from that squad. Surviving 31-4A play could be the preparation needed to challenge Sinton.
Tuloso-Midway
JK Moody begins his second season leading the Warriors, and with a new turf field they could be feeling confident about making a run.
Class 3A
Banquete
The Bulldogs return a bunch of players this season and could be a challenge to London for the district crown. Banquete has experience winning big games.
Falfurrias
In Gus Esquivel’s second season, the Jerseys could be primed to make a run at the Pirates in district play and in the playoffs.
Three bold predictions for the 2024 season
The 29-5A North Zone race will be decided after the regular season ends
In 2023, Ray was a clear favorite in 29-5A’s North Zone and proved it by winning the title. This season, though, could be a little different. Victoria East and Gregory-Portland could provide a challenge to the Texans and make this race tight from day one.
Calallen vs. Robstown will be a sweep
Notice there’s not a pick of who will sweep, but it will be a sweep. It’s a bold prediction but in this series anything can happen.
London wins the Class 3A state championship
The Pirates are poised to win a second title in four years, and have the returning and incoming talent to be among the area’s best squads regardless of classification.
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2024 Caller-Times Coastal Bend baseball district predictions
DISTRICT 29-5A
NORTH ZONE
What to know: Buckle up, this race could be fun and interesting. There is no clear-cut favorite and every game will be big between Gregory-Portland, Ray and Victoria East.
Caller-Times prediction: 1. Ray; 2. Victoria East; 3. Gregory-Portland; 4. Victoria West; 5. Miller
SOUTH ZONE
What to know: Veterans Memorial has arguably the top staff in the area and it might help them as they work to get their bats going as Carroll and King are hoping to unseat the Eagles.
Caller-Times prediction: 1. Veterans Memorial; 2. King; 3. Carroll; 4. Moody; 5. Flour Bluff
Caller-Times Playoff prediction: Veterans Memorial def. Ray; King def. Gregory-Portland; Victoria East def. Carroll
DISTRICT 30-4A
What to know: Sinton is still the class of this district, but a road to the district title may not be as easy as in years past as the Pirates reload in key positions. Expect Rockport-Fulton, Orange Grove, Port Lavaca Calhoun and a young Beeville squad to make things interesting.
Caller-Times prediction: 1. Sinton; 2. Rockport-Fulton; 3. Beeville; 4. Orange Grove; 5. Port Lavaca Calhoun; 6. Ingleside; 7. West Oso
DISTRICT 31-4A
What to know: The non-district schedule for these teams will be the breather before league play starts in this always competitive district. Calallen seems to be getting the early nod as district champ, but Robstown, Tuloso-Midway, Bishop and Alice will have a say.
Caller-Times prediction: 1. Calallen; 2. Robstown; 3. Tuloso-Midway; 4. Alice; 5. Bishop; 6. Kingsville
DISTRICT 29-3A
What to know: This district is as wide open as any in the area entering this season. Goliad has one of the area’s best players in Colby Rosenquest, and George West, Odem and Taft have been consistent playoff teams through the years.
Caller-Times prediction: 1. Goliad; 2. George West; 3. Odem; 4. Taft; 5. Mathis; 6. Aransas Pass
DISTRICT 30-3A
What to know: London is still the favorite, but once again this district will be competitive, and the Pirates may not get through unscathed. Falfurrias and Banquete look to be the biggest challengers, as Hebbronville, San Diego and Santa Gertrudis could fight for the fourth playoff spot.
Caller-Times prediction: 1. London; 2. Banquete; 3. Falfurrias; 4. Hebbronville; 5. Santa Gertrudis Academy; 6. San Diego
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TEAMS TO WATCH IN CLASS 2A, A AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Freer: The Buckaroos have ace pitcher Peyton Borden and could put them in the mix in an always tough Region IV race, and a favorite to win District 32-2A.
Refugio: The Bobcats have some key players returning that could give them a shot at pushing Kenedy for a District 31-2A title.
John Paul II: The Centurions have faced some tough times the last few years but have a new coach in Mark Lopez, and are looking to improve on a winless district campaign in 2023.
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