High School Baseball: Another Titanic matchup, plus players will make an impact this week
One week after a titanic local matchup in the playoffs, there are multiple local matchups taking place in the UIL high school baseball postseason in Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend.
Highlighting this week's slate is District 31-4A rivals Bishop and Tuloso-Midway facing off in a three-game Class 4A regional quarterfinal series that will travel from Cabaniss to Calallen and possibly back to Cabaniss again. It's a matchup between a fourth-place team and a district champion, which provides plenty of intrigue.
Let's take a look at some storylines and players that will make an impact this weekend.
UIL Baseball Playoffs: Regional quarterfinal impact players
Max Lara, Tuloso-Midway
Lara has been a key two-way player for the Warriors all season, leading the team with a .439 average to go with a 0.731 earned-run average as a pitcher. He also leads the team with 25 RBIs and has eight doubles.
JT Benitez, Bishop
Benitez threw a two-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory against Pleasanton in Game 2 of that area-round series, and he did that with 82 pitches and added six strikeouts. He also was 2 for 3 in the second-game victory and threw an inning in Game 3.
Drayton Mitchell and Coll Carroll, Calallen
The sophomore lefties allowed a combined five runs to Sinton in two starts in last week's area round matchup. This week will be another test, but Calallen pitching coach Jose Luis Lopez and veteran coach Steve Chapman have confidence in the duo to do the job.
RJ Olivares, London
It was Olivares who helped the Pirates keep their season alive on the way to a state championship two years ago and has continued to be a clutch performer on a team filled with big bats. Olivares is hitting .527 this season with 37 RBIs, 38 runs and has five strikeouts in 91 at-bats.
Nathaniel Jaramillo, Falfurrias
Jaramillo has thrown 61 2/3 innings this season for the Jerseys, compiling an 8-3 record with a 1.589 ERA along with 80 strikeouts to 37 walks.
Adam Hinojosa, Santa Gertrudis Academy
Hinojosa hit .414 during the District 30-3A season and also was 2-1 as a pitcher.
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Granted, a Tuloso-Midway against Bishop series does not have the same name recognition as a Calallen or Sinton battle, but this is the regional quarterfinals and continues to show the strength of District 31-4A and should be just as dramatic.
Bishop has knocked off a district champion (Hidalgo) and a district runner-up (Pleasanton) the past two weeks to reach this round. This is the deepest the Badgers have been in the playoffs since 2022, when they lost to London in the regional finals in Class 3A.
The Warriors, meanwhile, are playing in a third regional quarterfinal in four years and continues to be considered among the favorites to win Region IV.
Tuloso-Midway won both matchups this season 2-0 on April 2 and 4-2 on April 19.
Can Calallen keep the momentum going?
The Wildcats have slayed the Sinton dragon, but can they keep the momentum rolling? It was something veteran coach Steve Chapman mentioned after last week's Game 2 win against the Pirates.
The Wildcats, though, have a handful of players that were part of the regional final runs in 2021 and 2022, and that experience could come into play. Also, Calallen's young arms are making life tough for opponents on the mound and will need to continue to do that this weekend.
Floresville, the champ of the rugged District 29-3A, has knocked off Port Lavaca Calhoun and Alice. The winner also will face off against the victor between district champs Needville and Sweeny in the regional semifinals.
No matter who wins, the rounds will continue to get tougher.
Can District 30-3A teams keep going?
Three of the four teams in District 30-3A are still alive this week with two playing each other. And, after the last few years, it's not been a surprise.
Since London made its first state tournament trip in 2021, it has defeated Bishop (twice) and Santa Gertrudis Academy in the regional finals. It is on pace to possibly happen again as Falfurrias and the Lions will face off against each other — with London taking on Rio Grande Valley school Lyford.
The district has proven over the last few years to be one of the toughest in the state, and that is continuing again this season. It is also the first playoff appearance for Falfurrias since 2019, when the Jerseys lost in the bi-district round.
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Tuloso-Midway vs Bishop highlights UIL baseball playoffs this week
