Baseball

Meet the finalists for the Austin Sports Journal’s Mr. Austin Baseball award

By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com

In the coming days, the Austin Sports Journal will reveal the inaugural All-Austin Metro Baseball Team.

Like the all-metro softball team, there will be three teams selected by classification to include a Class 6A team, Class 5A team and a Class 4A-below team. Each team will consist of 11 players to include a catcher, four infielders, three outfielders, a utility player and two pitchers.

Individual awards will be given for Rising Star (top newcomer), Hitter of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Golden Glove Award (top defensive player) and coach of the year. The title “Mr. Austin Baseball” will be given to our pick for the best overall player.

Here are five candidates we considered for Mr. Austin Baseball:

Kade Davis, Cedar Park, senior P/CF

Cedar Park first baseman Kade Davis (1) runs back to the dugout after getting the final out of the inning during a District 25-5A baseball game on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at Raider Field at Rouse High School in Leander, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

The District 25-5A most valuable player helped the Timberwolves win the district championship and reach the third round of the postseason. A Temple College signee, Davis posted a 7-3 record on the mound with 77 strikeouts and had a batting average of .418 with 28 RBIs.

Gunner Ferguson, Thorndale, junior P/SS

Thorndale’s Gunner Ferguson (10) delivers a pitch during a Class 2A regional semifinal on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at the Bastrop High School baseball field in Bastrop, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

The District 27-2A most valuable player was a second-team all-state selection by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA). He posted a 12-0 record on the mound with a 0.56 earned run average and had 88 strikeouts. At the plate Ferguson had a .386 batting average with 31 RBIs and 11 hits for extra bases, helping the Bulldogs reach the regional semifinals.

Andre Wood, Vista Ridge, senior P/1B

The District 25-5A most valuable player and Naval Academy signee helped the Rangers win the district championship. Wood had a .414 batting average with 7 doubles, 3 home runs and 24 RBIS. On the Mound, he fanned 86 batters and had a 1.22 earned run average.

Oscar Salazar, Rouse, senior P/1B

Rouse pitcher Oscar Salazar (8) delivers a pitch during Game 2 of a best-of-three Class 5A-Region IV championship series on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at Jourdanton High School in Jourdanton, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

The Weatherford College signee helped Rouse reach the Class 5A baseball tournament while earning his third THSBCA all-state selection. Salazar had a batting average of .404 with 16 doubles, 4 triples and 2 home runs with 50 RBIs. He posted an 11-1 record on the mound with 106 strikeouts and a 1.192 earned run average.

Taylor Tracey, Dripping Springs, junior P/OF

Dripping Springs’ Taylor Tracey (13) gets a hit during a Class 6A area playoff with New Braunfels on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Jaguar Field at Buda Johnson HIgh School in Buda, Texas. (Michael Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

The District 26-6A most valuable player helped the Tigers reach the second round of the playoffs. The junior had a .402 batting average and a .729 slugging percentage. He had 20 hits for extra bases, including 6 home runs and 11 doubles. On the mound, Tracey struck out 43 batters in 22.1 innings pitched and had a 3-0 record and one save.