Baseball

UIL Class 5A state baseball tournament: Team previews and players to watch

Rouse looks to be the second Austin area team in three years to win a 5A state title

By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com

The 2024 UIL baseball state tournament began Wednesday and will continue through Saturday at Dell Diamond in Round Rock and Disch.-Falk Field in Austin. The championship game is slated for noon, Saturday.

Here is our preview for the Class 5A state tournament as we look at the four teams in the tournament.

The schedule

All games will be played at Dell Diamond

Semifinals

4 p.m., Thursday: Lucas Lovejoy (29-7-2) vs. Magnolia West (26-14-1)

7 p.m., Thursday: Grapevine (38-5) vs. Rouse (34-9-1)

Championship

Noon, Saturday

More state tournament coverage

The teams

Grapevine

Record: 38-6

Mascot: Mustangs

Head coach: Jimmy Webster

Road to the state tournament: defeated Mansfield Timberview (6-5, 2-1); Northwest (7-2, 3-5, 10-2); Wichita Falls Rider (3-1, 4-0); Lubbock Cooper (4-0, 5-0); Argyle (0-1, 8-2, 12-1)

State tournament appearances: 3 (2024, 2017, 2016)

State championships: 1 (2016)

Player to Watch: Dasan Hill, senior pitcher (Dallas Baptist signee) – Hill has allowed 12 runs (11 earned) in 72.1 innings pitched. The left-handed Hill has 145 strikeouts and is a perfect 10-0 on the mound.

Lucas Lovejoy

Record: 29-7-2

Mascot: Leopards

Head coach: Ryan Gros

Road to the state tournament: defeated Red Oak (10-1, 7-2); New Caney Porter (3-2, 4-1); Hallsville (2-3, 3-2, 3-0); Frisco (10-2, 7-1); Forney (8-5, 6-2)

State tournament appearances: 1 (2024)

State championships: None

Player to Watch: Kyle Branch, senior shortstop (Oklahoma signee) – Batting .358 with 25 RBIs and 34 runs scored.

Magnolia West

Record: 26-14-1

Mascot: Mustangs

Head coach: Travis Earles

Road to the state tournament: defeated Lake Belton (3-2, 5-4); Elgin (8-3, 2-0); A&M Consolidated (10-4, 1-0); Santa Fe (7-2, 9-3); Montgomery Lake Creek (8-1, 10-3).

State tournament appearances: 2 (2024, 2023)

State championships: 1 (2023)

Player to Watch: Dawson Park, senior utility (Texas State signee) – He is 9-5 on the mound and has a .386 batting average, which leads the team.

Rouse

Record: 34-9-1

Mascot: Raider

Head coach: Chad Krempin

Road to the state tournament: defeated Smithson Valley (6-2, 7-1); Alamo Heights (10-1, 3-4, 8-4); Cedar Park (3-0, 2-1); Victoria East (4-1, 7-0); McAllen Memorial (10-1, 8-0)

State tournament appearances: 2 (2024, 2021)

State championships: None

Player to Watch: Oscar Salazar, senior pitcher (Weatherford College) – Part of Rouse’s one-two punch on the mound along with fellow senior Gavin Silva. Salazar pitched a complete-game shutout in Rouse’s regional championship-clinching victory over McAllen Memorial. He struck out six and gave up just one hit. At the plate, Salazar went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.