Meet the 2022 AGN Baseball Super Team

Hart Pisani, Amarillo Globe-News
·5 min read
Nazareth pitcher Trent Gerber eyes the Kennard batter in the Class 1A state baseball semifinals on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.
Nazareth pitcher Trent Gerber eyes the Kennard batter in the Class 1A state baseball semifinals on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

FIRST TEAM

P: Trent Gerber, Nazareth, senior

Gerber had a serious case for MVP. A .423 batting average, 1.196 OPS, and 30 RBI on offense is pretty dang good. A 12-0 record, a 150-23 strikeout-to-hit ratio and an ERA of 0.64? That's the stuff that gets you on the Super Team.

C: Scout Smith, Childress, sophomore

A slash line of .526/.614/.754 is good enough to earn you a spot any year. Add in that Smith is just a sophomore, and it's even more impressive.

Randall junior Payton Bush attempts a bunt in the Class 5A bi-district round win over Monterey at Randall High School on May 7, 2022.
Randall junior Payton Bush attempts a bunt in the Class 5A bi-district round win over Monterey at Randall High School on May 7, 2022.

INF: Payton Bush, Randall, junior

Bush put up an OPS of .953 and a batting average of .404, but it's his defense that truly stood out. A .970 FPCT and 15 double plays on the year helped earn him a District 3-5A Co-MVP award.

INF: Sam Anguiano, Pampa, senior

The District 4-4A Offensive Player of the Year batted .451 with an astonishing OPS of 1.246 on the season.

Bushland’s Josh Bass (7) celebrates a hit during an area round series baseball game against Littlefield on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas.
Bushland’s Josh Bass (7) celebrates a hit during an area round series baseball game against Littlefield on Friday, May 13, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas.

INF: Josh Bass, Bushland, junior

A batting average of .524 and OBP of.624 AVG? Outstanding. 40 runs, 57 RBI, seven homers and 28 steals? Astonishing. A .930 FPCT to go with a 10-1 pitching record and 1.39 ERA? That's just Josh Bass.

INF: Junior King, Caprock, senior

The standout finished his final prep season with a .758 slugging percentage, five home runs and 25 RBI.

OF: Raul Bustamante, Dumas, senior

In addition to batting .461 with 21 RBI, Bustamante added 65 strikeouts and a 3.56 ERA as a pitcher.

OF: Stratton Malloy, Bushland, sophomore

You could put most Bushland players on here and wouldn't hear too many complaints. All Malloy did was slash .527/663/.959 with 46 runs, 33 RBI and 28 stolen bases. Add on a fielding percentage of .950 and you got yourself a Super Team selection.

OF: Creek Churchill, Childress, senior

Zero. That's how many errors Churchill had in centerfield this past year. Add in 22 stolen bases and a slash line of .462/.588/.731 and it's not hard to figure out how he made the cut.

Canyon senior pitcher Ben Black throws a pitch during a District 4-4A game against Borger in Canyon, TX on Mar. 28, 2022.
Canyon senior pitcher Ben Black throws a pitch during a District 4-4A game against Borger in Canyon, TX on Mar. 28, 2022.

DH: Kade Gavina, Bushland, sophomore

What a surprise, another Bushland player. Slashed .576/.658/.957 with 57 runs scored, three homers, 37 RBI and 39 steals on the season.

More: First-year success lands Nazareth's Tyler Goodwin AGN Coach of the Year

SECOND TEAM

P: Duncan Bowles, Randall, junior

Bowles pitched 59 innings in 10 starts with a 5-0 record on the year. With an ERA of 1.66, 68 strikeouts and only 46 hits given up all season it's no wonder he was named District 3-5A Pitcher of the Year.

C: Harrison Howard, Clarendon, sophomore

In addition to batting .448 and handling the difficult job of working behind the plate, Howard was also an outstanding pitcher. He went 6-2 with a 3.80 ERA and 44 K’s on the season.

INF: Kole Dudding, Randall, junior

An OPS of 1.065, 4 HR, and 36 runs scored tell you that Dudding was fantastic on offense. A .936 FPCT with 10 double plays on the year tell you how he earned District 3-5A Co-MVP

INF: Connor Haelzle, Amarillo, junior

Haelzle was first team All-District and selected to Team Texas for the Junior National Classic Tournament. When you finish the season with an OBP of .532, and OPS of 1.120, and steal 14 bases, that's the kind of stuff that happens.

Pampa's Sam Anguiano fires to first during a Class 2A bi-district baseball series on Saturday at Broadway Park in Plainview.
Pampa's Sam Anguiano fires to first during a Class 2A bi-district baseball series on Saturday at Broadway Park in Plainview.

INF: Easton Frausto, Clarendon, sophomore

On top of batting .432 on the year, Frausto also finished with 30 putouts in the field.

INF: Josh Splawn, Tascosa, senior

A 3-5A first team All-District selection, Splawn hit .417 with 26 RBI and 22 runs scored on the season.

OF: Jayden Garza, Palo Duro, junior

Though his batting average may not wow you (.290), his speed (16 stolen bases) and phenomenal defense (just one error all season) certainly will.

OF: Tanner Birkenfeld, Nazareth, junior

Birkenfeld hit .321 with 28 RBI and struck out just five times all year for the 1A state runner-ups.

OF: Andrew Ramos, Randall, sophomore

Though mostly known for his pitching, Ramos was also outstanding at the plate and in the field as well.

DH: Ben Black, Canyon, junior

The District 4-4A MVP batted .365 with 25 RBI, 25 runs scored, two homers and struck out just 10 times all year. Add in a 6-3 record with a 3.27 ERA on the mound, and you've got a Super Team member.

More: Cannon Melban of Bushland named AGN Newcomer of the Year

HONORABLE MENTION

P Mason Alley, Canyon, senior

The All-District first team member went 10-0 in starts with an ERA of 1.95, 61 K's, two shutouts and three complete games in 57 1/3 IP.

C Leo Flores, Memphis, junior

Flores hit .442 with 12 RBI, 14 stolen bases and an OBP of .600 while lining up behind the plate. He wasn't too shabby on the mound, either, as he struck out 33 batters with an ERA of 2.27 on the year.

INF Dawson Jaco, Bushland, sophomore

A .405 batting average, 29 runs scored, 34 RBI and 28 stolen bases are impressive enough. Toss in a 5-1 pitching record, 2.80 ERA and 41 K’s, and you've got a heck of a season from Jaco.

INF Javen Patrick, Tascosa, senior

The District 3-5A Defensive Player of the Year also hit .322 with 16 RBI and 22 runs scored on the season.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: The Amarillo Globe-News' 2022 Baseball Super Team is here