Buckaroos baseball earns district, academic accolades

Buckaroos baseball earns district, academic accolades News Staff Tue, 06/25/2024 - 4:56 pm Alexis Franco beats a tag at home plate to score a run during the third inning of the Bucks’ 5-1 district win Friday, March 22 at home over Early. File photo By Mike Williams news@breckenridgeamerican.com Buckaroos baseball have announced its all-district honorees. Ten Buckaroos represent the team in the District 8-3A All-District Honors with four Bucks earned Academic All-State recognition. Aaron Moore was honored as the district’s Utility Player of the Year. Moore played all over the field defensively for the Buckaroos in the 2024 season. In addition to playing positions in both infield and outfield, Moore threw eight innings in relief during the district schedule.  Catcher Neiko Martinez was honored as the district’s Defensive Player of the Year. During the district schedule, Martinez recorded 102 putouts and five assists on 108 chances for a fielding percentage of 99.1%. He only allowed four passed balls during the district schedule and eight during the entire season, including the playoffs. Academic All-StateAlexis Franco, Camden Escalon, Karter Smalley and Moore each earned honorable mentions by the Texas High School Coaches Association on the Academic All-State list. These all-state teams recognize high school senior athletes, trainers and managers who excel in GPA, class rank and ACT/SAT scores.  To be nominated for academic all-state, a student must be an athlete, student trainer or manager in good standing with the team, of good moral character, a senior and have an overall grade point average of 92 or above. First Team All-DistrictPitchers Escalon and Smalley were both named First Team All-District for their work on the pitcher’s mound. Joining the pitching duo were infielders Ashton Reyes, Christian Arellano and outfielder Caiden Marin. Escalon pitched 37 2/3 district innings while giving up 22 hits and 13 earned runs. He threw 53 strikeouts during the district schedule and 63 total strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings during the entire season, including the playoffs. Smalley threw 38 innings during the district schedule while giving up 26 hits,five runs and struck out 18 batters. Reyes provided both a defensive presence at second base and a bat that could provide an offensive spark. On 36 defensive chances, Reyes recorded 15 putouts and 20 assists. Offensively, Reyes drove in nine runs on 15 hits, including six hits for extra bases. Arellano earned 13 hits and drove in 10 runs. He also scored 13 runs. Defensively, Arellano had 34 opportunities and earned 14 putouts and 15 assists. Marin, another power bat for the Buckaroos, earned first team recognition for his play in the outfield. He had 15 hits, including five doubles and one home run while recording nine RBIs and scoring 18 runs. He had 36 defensive chances in the outfield and recorded 15 putouts and 20 assists. Second Team All-DistrictInfielder Bryson Herring and outfielders Junior Duran and Franco each represent the Buckaroos on the second team. Herring earned nine hits for the Bucks, including two doubles and drove in six runs. Defensively, Herring had 50 opportunities and recorded 45 putouts and four assists. Duran had eight hits and scored seven runs while driving in two runs for the Buckaroos. Defensively, Duran had 24 putouts on 25 defensive opportunities. Franco had one hit for the Bucks during the district schedule and recorded two putouts on three opportunities. He was hit by a pitch seven times and scored nine runs. Sports