Johnny Baseball and more: Taunton Daily Gazette Baseball All-Scholastics

TAUNTON — Another high school baseball season has come and gone in the Greater Taunton area, and once again, the area is home to a state champion.

Taunton (21-4) took down Hockomock Kelley-Rex rival Franklin for its second straight Division I title and third in four seasons. Bridgewater-Raynham (18-5), who ended the Panthers' chance at an undefeated season, fell to Franklin in the Division 1 Elite Eight. Bristol-Plymouth (11-8) claimed a share of the Mayflower Athletic Conference Large title and qualified for the Division 3 tournament, falling to No. 28 Dover-Sherborn in the Round of 32 while Dighton-Rehoboth (9-12) started the season 1-9 before winning eight of its last 10 regular season games to qualify for the postseason, where the Falcons fell to No. 35 Greater Lowell Tech in the Division 3 preliminary round.

With the spring season now in the rearview, here's a final look back at the Greater Taunton area baseball players who stood out among the crowd to earn their spot as 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Baseball All-Scholastics. With a state champion and all four teams scoring at least postseason win, this year's All-Scholastics has been expanded to 12 players instead of 10 to better reflect the abundance of local baseball talent.

Player of the Year

Johnny Escobalez, Taunton

The sophomore pitcher had a meteoric rise this spring, going from starting the year on JV to starting for the defending Division I champions in the title game as he helped guide them to their second straight title. A southpaw with a blazing fastball and good mix of pitches, he made an immediate impact on the Tigers upon being called up to varsity, proving to be the final piece in their title defense puzzle. He finished the regular season with a 5-0 record allowing just six walks and no earned runs in 30 innings of work and went 2-0 in three playoff starts giving up 12 hits and four walks on four earned runs while striking out 15 with an ERA of 1.83. In the championship game against Franklin, he pitched all seven innings allowing an earned run on five hits while striking out four. Some of his other most notable performances this spring include an 11-strikeout no-hitter against North Attleboro in just his third varsity start, a complete game shutout giving up two hits and two walks while striking out five against eventual Division II finalists King Philip and going all six innings giving up just two hits and an unearned run while striking out 10 against Shrewsbury.

A Hockomock League All-Star, Escobalez is also a member of the Bay Sox 2025 National club baseball team and looks set to be a key figure for Taunton over the next two seasons as he continues to grow and improve as an athlete.

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First Team All-Scholastics

Dawson Bryce, Taunton

The senior designated hitter, shortstop and pitcher wrapped up a strong high school baseball career as the offensive catalyst for the Tigers, batting .345 in the regular season while leading the Hockomock in both home runs (three) and RBIs (25). Defensively, he recorded 18 putouts and took part in four double plays while he also recorded a save, giving up four hits and an earned run and striking out six in 4 ⅔ innings of work. Some of his most notable performances include going 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs off a three-run home run against Attleboro, 2-for-2 with a home run and three runs against Canton and 1-for-3 with four RBIs against Milford.

A Hockomock All-Star, Bryce's talents will be missed in Taunton next year as he continues his academic and baseball career at Merrimack College.

Dwayne Burgo, Taunton

The junior left fielder made a name for himself on the Tigers this spring, securing a starting role as he batted .380 with 19 hits, 18 runs and 22 RBIs and recorded 17 putouts without committing a single error. Some of his most notable performances include going 4-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs against Oliver Ames, 3-for-3 with three RBIs against Mansfield and 2-for-4 with a run and three RBIs against Durfee.

A Hockomock All-Star, Burgo is also a member of the golf team and the Lakeville Cardinals club baseball team. Expect him to continue to grow and improve as an athlete heading into his senior year.

Brayden Cali, Taunton

The junior second baseman established himself as one of the key offensive pieces for the Tigers, batting .435 from the leadoff spot with 37 hits, 30 runs, 16 RBIs and a team-high 22 stolen bases. Defensively, he recorded 34 putouts while taking part in nine double plays, including two in one game against Oliver Ames. Some of his most notable performances this spring include going 3-for-3 with a double, two runs and two RBIs against North Attleboro, going 4-for-5 with a double, two runs and two RBIs against Mansfield and 3-for-3 with a double and three runs against St. John's Shrewsbury.

A Hockomock All-Star, Cali was also the 2022 Taunton Daily Gazette Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, his second straight year receiving the honor, and is also a valuable member of the indoor track team. He also plays club baseball for the East Coast Eagles. Expect him to only continue to grow and improve as an athlete heading into his senior year.

Ryan MacDougall, Taunton

The senior captain and catcher moved behind the plate for his final high school baseball season after largely playing first base and pitching, ending his strong high school career batting .300 with 21 hits. He added six doubles, three home runs, six runs and 26 RBIs. Defensively, he recorded 145 putouts without an error and contributed to a double play against Foxboro. He also made three mound appearances where he gave up a hit and three walks while striking out three in five shutout innings of work. One of the most clutch players at the Tigers' disposal, he truly turned things on in the playoffs, where he hit a team-best .538 with seven hits, five walks, eight RBIs and a stolen base. Some of his most notable performances include going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs against Springfield Central, going 2-for-4 with a triple and four RBIs against St. John's Shrewsbury and 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs and an RBI against North Attleboro.

A Hockomock Honorable Mention, MacDougall was the 2022 Taunton Daily Gazette Baseball Player of the Year and was also named a 2022 Taunton Daily Gazette Football All-Scholastic. He is also currently a member of the Brockton Rox of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. The only Taunton baseball player to be part of all three state championship teams, his leadership and abilities will surely be missed next year as he continues his academic and baseball career at the University of Dayton.

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Braden Sullivan, Taunton

The senior third baseman wrapped up a strong high school baseball career with another impressive season, batting .375 with 27 hits. His tally included five doubles, two triples, 20 runs and 12 RBIs. Defensively, he recorded 22 putouts and played a part in four double plays. Some of his most notable performances this spring include going 3-for-3 with a double, two runs and three RBIs against Durfee, going 3-for-4 with a triple and three runs against Shrewsbury and 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, a run and an RBI against Milford.

A Hockomock All-Star, Sullivan is also a member of the GBG Hawks Northeast 18U club baseball team and his talents will be missed in Taunton next year as he continues his academic and baseball career at UMass.

Jack Ritchie, Bridgewater-Raynham

The junior pitcher and shortstop came back stronger than ever from an elbow injury that cost him his sophomore season, quickly carving out his place back on the mound. Some of his most notable performances this spring include tossing a complete-game no-hitter striking out two against Dartmouth, going five shutout innings striking out six against rivals Brockton and he went five innings giving up a hit while striking out seven against Plymouth South.

A Southeast Conference All-Star, Ritchie is also a member of the GBG Hawks Northeast 17U club baseball team and should continue to grow and improve as an athlete heading into his senior year.

Evan Samsel, Bridgewater-Raynham

The senior pitcher wrapped up a solid high school baseball career with a strong spring, going 2-1 with a 0.75 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .183 batting average through 46 ⅔ innings of work. He also showed he could contribute at the plate as he recorded two hits and a pair of RBIs in a Division I Round of 32 win over Bishop Feehan. Some of his most notable performances include going six shutout innings, giving up a hit and striking out four against Durfee, striking out 10 against North Attleboro and going 3-for-3 with an RBI against Plymouth South.

An SEC All-Star and Enterprise/Patriot Ledger First Team All-Scholastic, Samsel's talents will be missed at B-R next year.

Casey Wensley, Bridgewater-Raynham

The senior third baseman finished up his high school baseball career swinging one of the hottest and most clutch bats in the Trojans' lineup. He batted .325 with a team-best three home runs and 20 RBIs, including a go-ahead three-run home run that handed eventual Division I finalist Franklin their first loss of the season. Some of his other notable performances this spring include hitting a walk-off grand slam against Lincoln-Sudbury, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs against Plymouth South and 2-for-4 with an RBI against Durfee.

An SEC All-Star and Enterprise/Patriot Ledger First Team All-Scholastic, Wensley was also a member of the golf team and his talents will certainly be missed at B-R next year.

Eduardo Correia, Bristol-Plymouth

The senior captain and catcher wrapped up a solid high school baseball career with another solid season, batting .310 with a .428 slugging percentage. Defensively, he caught every inning behind the plate for the Craftsmen and excelled with a .994 fielding percentage while tossing out 30% of all attempted base stealers. Some of his most notable performances this spring include having a pair of hits against both East Bridgewater and Tri-County.

A MAC All-Star, Correia is also an accomplished student in the classroom, being ranked the No. 9 graduate of B-P's Class of 2023, and will be missed by the Craftsmen next year as he continues his academic and baseball career at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Colin Wilbur, Bristol-Plymouth

The senior pitcher and third baseman wrapped up a solid high school career with an all-around season, going 3-0 on the mound with a save, 45 strikeouts and a 1.73 ERA while also batting .375 with a .446 slugging percentage and a team-best 17 RBIs. Some of his most notable performances this spring include tossing an eight-inning shutout surrendering just two hits while striking out 10 and recording an RBI against Southeastern, throwing eight scoreless innings giving up three hits against Blue Hills and a three-hit outing on the road against Blue Hills.

The MAC Co-Player of the Year, Wilbur was also a 2022-23 Taunton Daily Gazette Hockey All-Scholastic and his talents will surely be missed at B-P next year.

Ben Miller, Dighton-Rehoboth

The sophomore third baseman and pitcher was a leader for the Falcons at the plate, in the field and on the mound, playing a key role in his team's second half turnaround. He batted .329 with four doubles, two triples and 15 RBIs while he went 2-3 on the mound with 35 strikeouts in 31 innings of work. Some of his most notable performances this spring include tossing a complete-game shutout giving up four hits and two walks while striking out six while having a pair of hits and an RBI against Case, hitting a walk-off RBI single against Bishop Feehan and going 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs against Norton.

A South Coast Conference All-Star, Miller is also a member of the soccer team and should continue to grow and improve in both sports over the next two years at D-R.

Second Team All-Scholastics

Jack Cali, Taunton

Brady Morin, Taunton

Luke Barry, Bridgewater-Raynham

Cam Morrison, Bridgewater-Raynham

Jamarri Harris, Bristol-Plymouth

Cam Wilbur, Bristol-Plymouth

Isaac Christmas, Dighton-Rehoboth

Lucas LeTourneau, Dighton-Rehoboth

Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: The 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Baseball All-Scholastics