2015 DRC All-Area Baseball/Softball Team

Denton Record-Chronicle

All-Area Baseball Team 2015 First team

Most Valuable player

Tyler Duck

Rixey Boyd

Liberty Christian, P, Sr.

Argyle, P, Senior

As a lefty, the Texas Tech signee Duck was unblemished on the season with a perfect 8-0 record in 48 innings pitched. His 1.31 ERA was tops on the team and it showed as he intimidated opponents from the mound.

He managed 59 strikeouts to just 20 walks on the season.

Argyle’s run to the Class 4A state title came as a bit of a shock to Rixey Boyd, who admitted he wasn’t sure how the year would turn out. The Eagles graduated two Division I pitchers from a team that lost in the Class 3A state final a year earlier — and were now asking Boyd to help shoulder the load in 2015.

The former catcher, who had just one pitching lesson under his belt, was a natural. He not only helped Argyle get back to the state tournament, but this time the Eagles won it all. The Paris Junior College signee racked up a 13-1 record on the hill as the ace finished with a 1.00 earned run average with 70 strikeouts and 18 walks in 84 innings.

In the state semifinal win, Boyd notched a complete-game victory.

Grant Landry Lake Dallas, P, Jr.

The junior right-hander was the ace of the Falcons’ staff, carrying a miniscule 0.68 ERA over his 41 1/3 innings of work. Along the way, Landry compiled a 6-2 record with 48 strikeouts and just 14 walks. He’ll return in 2015 as the unquestioned leader of the team’s pitching staff.

Mason Lucas Krum, P, Sr.

Lucas was tabbed as the District 9-4A Pitcher of the Year, which was quite the honor given the talent that existed in that district with Argyle, Sanger and Celina.

Lucas finished with a 7-2 record and a 2.00 earned run average. In the process, he racked up 50 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings.

Pitcher of the year Connor Mushinski Argyle, Sophomore

Malik Minter

Argyle’s pitching staff in 2015 would not have been as dominant without Mushinski. That was proven in the Class 4A state title game when the sophomore left-hander pitched the Eagles to a 7-3 win over West Orange-Stark to claim the program’s first state crown.

Mushinski allowed just three runs on six hits on Texas’ grandest stage and was named the state title game MVP. He finished the year with a 1.56 ERA, 67 strikeouts and was a steady complement to ace Rixey Boyd. Both were in their first season as the team’s top two arms and formed a lethal 1-2 punch.

Denton, P, Jr.

Anchoring the Broncos as their top pitching threat, Minter’s play in the second half of District 5-5A play helped Denton make the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

Also a shortstop and outfielder, Minter had a 2.04 ERA and 5-1 record in 55 innings pitched. He struck out 36 with just 17 walks on the season.

Ryley Balch Argyle, C, Sr.

Balch led Argyle with a .386 batting average and was a steady influence behind the plate for the Eagles’ pitching rotation. Balch was red hot in the playoffs and finished the year with 39 hits, including seven doubles, three triples and two home runs in 101 at-bats. He drove in 24 runs.

Co-offensive player of the year Hunter Markwardt Argyle, Senior

Markwardt was best known for his speed, and that was on display all too often in the Eagles’ run to their first Class 4A state title. The Abilene Christian signee bagged a team-leading 30 stolen bases in 2015. He capped a stellar senior season where he batted .361 as the team’s leadoff hitter while driving in 18 RBIs. Markwardt had seven extra-base hits, and his only home run of the year was an inside-the-park scamper in Game 1 of a best-of-three Class 4A regional final series against Texarkana Pleasant Grove. He only struck out 15 times and led the team with 34 runs scored. Markwardt was extremely versatile. He was 3-2 as a pitcher behind Rixey Boyd and Connor Mushinski, and racked up 31 strikeouts in just more than 25 innings of work.

Christian Boulware Lake Dallas, C, Jr.

Boulware continued to show why he’s one of the top catchers in the area. The junior backstop, in his third season as the team’s starter behind the plate, hit .449 with a .536 on-base percentage and a 1.203 OPS to go with his eight doubles, three triples, a home run and 18 RBIs.

Colten Graham Krum, C, Jr.

Graham was solid at the plate all season for the Bobcats, batting .383 with four doubles, a triple, two home runs and 12 RBIs. Graham, who was just as effective behind the plate, had a .471 on-base percentage and an OPS of 1.055 while helping Krum once again reach the postseason.

Jacob David

Pilot Point, IF, Sr. The senior first baseman/pitcher was the team’s top hitter, sporting a .489 batting average and a .547 onbase percentage to go with four doubles and 13 RBIs in his team’s 14 games. On the mound, David was also a force. He worked 23 innings with a 2-0 record while compiling a 1.83 ERA.

James Farris Guyer, IF, Sr.

The Wildcats’ power-hitting first baseman capped his high school career with another productive season. The Grayson County signee hit .354 with a .447 on-base percentage and a 1.109 OPS. He notched five doubles, three triples and three home runs to go with his teamhigh 20 RBIs to earn second-team District 5-6A honors.

Danny-David Linahan Argyle, IF, Sr.

Argyle’s senior third basemen played a huge role offensively and in the field, helping the Eagles make it back to the state tournament for a second straight year, and this time winning the championship. Linahan batted .322 with 18 RBIs and 27 runs scored. He added six doubles and a triple in his 87 at-bats.

Ben McConnell Lake Dallas, IF, Jr.

The junior second baseman was the definition of a spark plug for the Falcons. Hitting atop the order, McConnell hit .487 with a .612 on-base percentage and a 1.124 OPS. He had seven doubles, a triple and 18 RBIs. He scored 34 runs and often helped his own cause with 28 stolen bases on 30 attempts.

Brandon Cross Guyer, OF, Sr.

Cross transferred to Guyer from perennial power Flower Mound Marcus and immediately made his presence felt by leading the Wildcats in hitting with a .373 batting average. He also posted a .422 on-base percentage and a .955 OPS with 10 doubles, a triple and 15 RBIs. He was a second-team 5-6A selection as an outfielder.

Jordan Parker

Liberty Christian, OF, Sr. Second on the team with a .385 batting average, the senior outfielder also sported a .468 on-base percentage and had a .975 OPS. Parker’s RBI total of 21 was tied for second on the team. The senior also scored 21 runs with a home run and five doubles. Parker is one of several key seniors the Warriors will look to replace.

co-offensive player of the year Co-Utility player of the year Connor Herriage Guyer, Sophomore

A year after earning top newcomer status on the DRC All-Area team in 2014, Herriage picked up where he left off for the Wildcats in 2015 as the team made a jump up to the state’s largest classification. Herriage did much of his damage at the plate and as a shutdown defender in center field, but he also pitched down the stretch and shut down state powerhouse Flower Mound Marcus to take a game from the Marauders in the opener of a best-of-three bi-district playoff series. Herriage finished the year with a 4-1 record and a 1.19 ERA in 29 1/3 innings of work and earned first-team all-District 5-6A honors. At the plate, Herriage hit .368 with a .500 on-base percentage, four doubles and a triple. He drove in eight runs while batting atop Guyer’s lineup.

Wilding Smith Sanger, Senior

Before once again meeting their match against Argyle, who went on to win the Class 4A state championship, the Indians made a run to the regional quarterfinal round of the postseason, and a big part of their success was the bat of their senior third baseman. Smith only played in 16 games, due to wet fields, and eight of those games came against Argyle (four times) as well as Krum ace Mason Lucas and Celina’s top pitcher two times apiece. Despite that, Smith hit .477 with a .528 on-base percentage and a 1.119 OPS. He had two doubles and a home run while driving in 15 runs. Despite the Indians losing several key players from the 2014 team to graduation, Smith was a big reason the Indians were able to return to the third round of the postseason.

co-utility player of the year Tristan Tom

Lake Dallas, Senior The senior right-hander was a big-time contributor to the Falcons’ success in 2015 — both at the plate and on the mound as part of a formidable 1-2 pitching punch with Tom and junior Grant Landry. Tom tossed 40 1/3 innings on the season, compiling a 4-2 record with a 2.25 ERA. Along the way, he struck out 38 batters and walked just 13. At the plate, Tom was a run-producing piece of the Falcons’ lineup and one of their top hitters on the season.

The senior Hill College signee hit .350 to go with a .407 on-base percentage.

He hit six doubles and drove in a team-high 25 runs. Tom will be a missed commodity on head coach John Tompkins’ team next season, but the veteran coach will still have Landry fronting the rotation.

Second team P — Hunter Balderas, Pilot Point, Jr. P — Grant Gardner, Liberty Christian, Sr. P — Grant Gohlke, Ryan, Sr. P — Julien Ly, Sanger, So. C — Cade Kennedy, Ryan, Sr. IF — Tanner Boyzuick, Argyle, Jr. IF — John Collins, Denton, Sr. IF — Matt Greenwood, Pilot Point, Sr. IF — Coleman Grubbs, Ryan, Jr. IF — Colton Knierim, Krum, Jr. IF — Miller Peaden, Liberty Christian, Sr. OF — Luke Chavez, Liberty Christian, Sr. UTIL — Ryan Burks, Ryan, Sr.

coach of the year Ricky Griffin Argyle

In what was projected as a rebuilding year, Griffin pooled together one of the more gritty teams he said he’s ever coached and capped 2015 with 30 wins and a Class 4A state title. It was an emotional year for the veteran skipper, who has led the Eagles to the playoffs every year only to fall short of the ultimate prize each time. Last year, Argyle lost in extra innings to College Station in the Class 3A title game. Griffin had two experienced Division I pitchers on the mound that season, but with their graduation, was forced to start over at the most important position on the field. He put his trust in senior Rixey Boyd and sophomore Connor Mushinski, and together with an opportunistic offense and sturdy defense, finished 30-7 and went a perfect 10-0 in the postseason.

Photos by David Minton, Al Key and Kristen Watson/DRC, courtesy photos and file photos The All-Area Baseball team was selected by the Denton Record-Chronicle’s sports staff in consultation with area high school coaches.

Denton Record-Chronicle

All-Area Softball Team 2015 First team

Most Valuable player Morgan Turkoly

Shayne Starkey

In an area full of worthy MVP candidates, Turkoly stood out from the pack to earn her second straight nod on the DRC All-Area team. The Louisiana Tech signee helped Sanger to the fourth round of the playoffs as a fouryear starter for the Lady Indians. The shortstop made just two errors in 69 chances, but she really made opponents remember her for her bat. Turkoly hit an outrageous .657 with a .750 on-base percentage thanks to her 25 walks. She posted an other-worldly 2.193 OPS with 13 doubles, six triples and 10 home runs while notching 38 RBIs and scoring 42 runs. She was a virtual lock when it mattered most, hitting .810 with runners in scoring position, and she added 25 stolen bases to her resume.

The West Texas A&M signee had her best season in the circle despite facing better hitters in Class 6A on a nightly basis. She posted a 19-8 record and a 2.01 ERA with 169 strikeouts and was rock-solid in district play and the postseason. At the plate, she hit .333 with two homers and 21 RBIs.

Sanger, SS, Senior

Guyer, P, Sr.

Xena Barbour Pilot Point, C, Sr.

Second on the team with a .343 batting average, Barbour was a defensive stronghold behind the plate.

Along with her .384 on-base percentage, Barbour had some big hits in the Lady Bearcats’ playoff run, driving in 30 runs on the season while also scoring 16 with six doubles, two triples and a home run.

Macey Bauman Lake Dallas, C, Sr.

Utility Player of the year Chrisa Head

Lake Dallas, P, Senior

co-pitcher of the year Preslee Gallaway Pilot Point, Senior

Lake Dallas advanced to the area round of the postseason in 2015, and Head was a big part of that success. The four-year starter in the circle worked 72 1/3 innings for the Lady Falcons and compiled a 15-1 record with a save and a 1.45 ERA. She struck out 99 batters and walked just 24. At the plate, the Seton Hall signee was equally dangerous. She batted .571 with a .667 on-base percentage and posted a 1.752 OPS, thanks to her 17 doubles, five triples and three home runs. She led the Lady Falcons with 51 RBIs and was named the District 6-5A Pitcher of the Year.

In her 42-game senior season, Gallaway showed why she’s a five-tool player and headed for Louisiana Tech next fall. Gallaway led her team offensively with a .492 batting average and a .595 on-base percentage while scoring 58 runs with 11 doubles and 15 triples. Often feared by the other teams into a walk, Gallaway was trouble on the base paths with 22 stolen bases.

She also showed her power with 12 home runs and 63 RBIs. After waiting in line behind pitcher Skylar Cagle at shortstop for her first two years, Gallaway blossomed as a pitcher in her final two seasons. This year in over 250 innings pitched, she sported a miniscule 1.66 ERA, striking out 325 batters to just 55 walks, often keeping hitters off balance with an arsenal of pitches.

Bauman was the District 6-5A Offensive Player of the Year. The senior finished with a batting average of .557 for Lake Dallas, which rolled to the area round of playoffs. Her stats included a .641 on-base percentage, 14 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 46 RBIs, 30 runs scored and only two strikeouts.

Morgan Sebastian Krum, C, Fr.

As a freshman, Sebastian was a key cog in the Lady Cats’ playoff journey that ended a round short of the state tournament with a berth in 4A Region II final. With a .496 on-base percentage and a .441 batting average, she showed plenty of power with nine home runs and 53 RBIs while also scoring 39 runs.

Tara Solomon Guyer, IF, Jr.

Hitting atop the Lady Wildcats’ lineup, Solomon hit .455 with a .529 on-base percentage. She had seven doubles, four triples and a homer to go with 15 RBIs. The three-year starter at Guyer also had 16 stolen bases and scored 31 runs while hitting a lofty .529 in a stout District 5-6A schedule.

Hannah Sullivan Pilot Point, IF, So.

In just her sophomore season, Sullivan was second on the team with 43 runs driven in. She got on base frequently with a .409 on-base percentage and scored 31 runs. Sullivan also was consistent in the Lady Bearcats’ playoff run and showed some power with seven doubles, two triples and a home run.

Maddie Quintanar Ryan, IF, Jr.

Though Ryan missed the postseason for a third straight year, it was hard to ignore just how much Quintanar meant to the Lady Raiders. The junior batted .464 and was a perfect 16-for-16 on stolen bases. She scored 19 runs, had 13 RBIs and posted an on-base percentage of .479.

Kaely Whatley Krum, IF, Jr.

co-pitcher of the year Kelly Mardones Sanger, Senior

Sanger had a ton of talent on its roster over the last few years, and the list of household names could go on for days. But senior pitcher Kelly Mardones was the glue that tied it all together. The Creighton-bound star was a force in everything she did while leading the Lady Indians to the Class 4A Region II semifinals in 2015. Mardones posted a 19-3 record in the circle while racking up 186 strikeouts in just more than 131 innings. Her ERA was equally as impressive at 1.22. She only walked 38 batters on the year and showed plenty of control and pace with an array of quality pitches in her arsenal. At the plate, Mardones batted .347 for Sanger with a .365 on-base percentage.

Offensive Player of the year Maddie Green Guyer, C, Junior

After spending her sophomore year on the junior varsity, Green chose to play her junior season at Guyer after transferring from Denton, where she played as a freshman. That meant Green would not be eligible to play as a senior. So she graduated early and earned a spot on the roster at defending Division II national champion West Texas A&M. Along the way, she was a driving force for Guyer’s offense batting .349 with a 1.006 OPS thanks to seven doubles, a triple and team-leading numbers in homers (four) and RBIs (31). She was named the unanimous MVP of a loaded District 5-6A and took her game to a new level in the postseason when she had three home runs, a five-RBI game and a six-RBI game.

newcomer of the year Tristan Bridges Krum, P, Freshman

Perhaps no other area athlete in 2015 deserved this accolade more than Bridges. The freshman standout didn’t bat an eye while being thrust into the spotlight with a young Krum team looking to make its mark in a district loaded with talented teams like Sanger and Celina. All Bridges did was roll up a 28-7 record while earning District 9-4A Pitcher of the Year honors. For the season, Bridges had a 1.36 ERA with 292 strikeouts. She was just as imposing at the plate as she finished with a .381 batting average. She racked up three triples, a home run and 29 RBIs. Bridges’ road — just like Krum’s — came to an abrupt halt in the Class 4A Region II final against Texarkana Pleasant Grove.

But she has three more years to perfect her craft in the circle.

coach of the year Stacey Lucas Krum

It’s hard for a coach in any sport to maintain a consistent program year after year, but Lucas has been able to do just that in Krum. A year after bowing out in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs, Lucas guided a relatively young team to the Class 4A Region II final before falling short against Texarkana Pleasant Grove. Lucas’ team had several newcomers in key positions, specifically at pitcher and catcher. But the Lady Cats rolled to a 31-7 record and were a tough out all season. Once in the playoffs, Krum twice lost Game 1 of a best-of-three series only to extend their playoff road each time with back-to-back wins. The best part for Lucas is that she will only lose three seniors heading into this offseason, which is a sign of good things to come.

Second team P — Brianna Leeds, Ryan, Fr. C — Jaycee Garza, Sanger, So. IF — Chey Althoff, Argyle, Sr. IF — Maddy Breckenridge, Lake Dallas, Fr. IF — Makenzie Chatham, Sanger, Jr. IF — Dani Leeds, Ryan, Jr. IF — Mickie McMaster, Denton, Sr. OF — Lilly Carter, Argyle, Jr. OF — Alyssa Dixon, Guyer, Jr. OF — Jordan McLaren, Denton, Sr. OF — Maygan Stogsdill, Sanger, So. UTIL — Maddy Holder, Guyer, Fr. UTIL — Natasha Kissell, Denton, Sr.

As the District 9-4A co-offensive MVP, Whatley led the team with a .452 batting average and .539 on-base percentage. She hit six of her seven home runs in the playoffs with 44 RBIs and 50 runs scored to go along with two triples to help pace Krum to a berth in the Class 4A Region II final.

Jordan Cason Sanger, OF, Jr.

With a .605 slugging percentage and 1.051 OPS, Cason was an offensive force at the plate. She was second on the team with a .395 batting average and posted a .446 on-base percentage. In 76 at-bats, Cason had 30 hits with nine doubles, two triples and one home run with 22 RBIs and 18 runs scored.

Hannah Hodapp Guyer, OF, Sr.

One of the most decorated players in Guyer history, Hodapp capped her career of close to 120 starts by posting a .444 batting average (.549 in district play) with a .500 on-base percentage. The West Texas A&M signee added six doubles, three triples and a homer to go with 29 RBIs. She scored 29 runs and stole 13 bases.

Ashley Landry Krum, OF, Jr.

As a junior center fielder, Landry was a key member of the Lady Cats’ run to the 4A Region II final. Along the way, she made the District 9-4A all-district first team, sporting a .415 batting average and .477 on-base average. Reliable in the outfield, she had a .925 fielding average while also scoring 48 runs.

Lauren Lindgren Guyer, OF, Jr.

One of several talented juniors returning for the Lady Wildcats next season, Lindgren had another solid season for Guyer. The three-year starter hit .372 with a .402 on-base percentage. She had eight doubles, a triple and was second on the team with three homers while posting 18 RBIs and scoring 23 runs.

Amadi Taylor

Lake Dallas, OF, Sr. Taylor was one of seven seniors that helped guide Lake Dallas to the postseason in 2015. Taylor finished with a .489 batting average and .635 on-base percentage with two doubles, three triples, two home runs and 14 RBIs. Taylor also scored 33 runs and boasted an OPS of 1.435.

Photos by David Minton and Al Key/DRC, courtesy photos and file photos The All-Area Baseball team was selected by the Denton Record-Chronicle’s sports staff in consultation with area high school coaches.