Meet the best baseball players in the Austin area this season
By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com
Here are the Austin Sports Journal’s 2024 All-Austin Metro baseball teams for Class 6A, 5A and 4A-others. You can find the individual award winners here.
Class 6A team
Gavyn Schlotterback, Lake Travis, senior catcher: The District 26-6A defensive player of the year helped Lake Travis win the district title and reach the postseason. He had an on-base percentage of .344 and had 18 RBIs.
Theo Gillen, Westlake, senior infielder: A Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) all-star selection and the 26-6A offensive player of the year. A likely draft pick in July’s Major League Baseball draft, he hit .415 and had 7 home runs and 30 runs batted in, while stealing 29 bases.
Kutter Gage Webb, San Marcos, senior infielder: The Texas State signee and THSBCA all-star pick helped the Rattlers reach the playoffs. He had a .384 batting average with 30 runs scored, 10 doubles and 7 triples. He was also selected to the THSBCA Elite 6A all-state team.
Ridge Morgan, Westwood, senior infielder: Helped the Warriors reach the third round of the playoffs on his way to being a third team all-state selection. He had 34 RBIs at the plate, but also served as Westwood’s ace pitcher with an 8-3 record and 2.40 ERA.
Carson Reeves, Cedar Ridge, senior infielder: A first team All-District 26-6A selection, Reeves helped the Raiders finish third in the district and was one of the more prolific defensive players in the Austin area with a .966 fielding percentage and responsible for 12 double plays.
Ed Small, Anderson, junior outfielder: The TCU football commit had a stellar year in his final high school baseball season. He had a .432 batting average with 36 stolen bases and 39 runs scored.
Jackson Gula, Westwood, senior outfielder: A big part of Westwood’s late season push, Gula had a .426 batting average with 43 runs scored and 17 RBIs. He was near automatic to reach base with a .601 on-base percentage.
Luke Rieder, Lake Travis, senior outfielder: Went all season without committing an error and was a first team all-district selection. Rieder finished with a .312 batting average with 18 runs scored, six doubles and 16 RBIs. He also had 11 stolen bases.
Andre Wood, Vista Ridge, senior utility: Headed to the Naval Academy to play baseball, Wood helped the Rangers win the district championship en route to several postseason accolades, including the 25-6A most valuable player award, a THSBCA Elite 6A all-state team nod and playing in the THSBCA and Austin Area Baseball Coaches Association (AABCA) all-star games. He had 86 strikeouts on the mound and a .414 batting average at the plate, with 3 home runs, 24 RBIs and 8 extra base hits.
Cole Miller, Bowie senior pitcher: The Abilene Christian signee was one of three pitchers tabbed for the 26-6A pitcher of the year honor. Miller rarely allowed a run and had a 0.20 ERA with 114 strikeouts, helping the Bulldogs reach the second round of the playoffs.
Cooper Rummel, Dripping Springs, junior pitcher: One of the three pitchers tabbed the 26-6A pitcher of the year, Rummel helped the Tigers reach the second round of the playoffs. He had a 9-1 record on the mound with a 0.87 ERA with 88 strikeouts.
Kayden Leon, Lake Travis, senior pitcher: Will play for McLennan College next spring after helping the Cavaliers win the 26-6A championship. He was a THSBCA all-star selection and an AABCA all-star pick. He had a 7-2 record on the mound with 80 strikeouts and a 1.28 ERA and was the tri-pitcher of the year for 26-6A.
Honorable mentions: Hudson Ellis, Round Rock; Reagan Chormel, San Marcos; Cooper Webb, Lake Travis; Gavin McCullough, Lake Travis; Justice Moore, Westwood; Owen Norell, Westwood; Jack Brady, Westlake; Chase Covert, Westlake; Sage Sanders, Westlake; Nick Bonacci, Cedar Ridge; Hudson Hartgrove, Cedar Ridge; Peyton Dulin, Cedar Ridge; Jake Shoemaker, Cedar Ridge; Ethan Sander, Vista Ridge; Grant Anderson, Vista Ridge; Randy Cardenas, Hutto
Class 5A team
Xander Forsell, Rouse, senior catcher: A key component to the Raiders’ run to the Class 5A state tournament. Forsell stopped 21 base runners from stealing bases. He was also dangerous at the plate with 31 RBIs. 11 doubles, 3 triples and a home run. He finished with a .337 batting average.
Cooper Jen, Hays, senior infielder: In arguably the toughest Class 5A baseball district in the state, Jen helped the Hawks reach the postseason with an astonishing .448 batting average to go with 27 RBIs, 13 doubles and 29 runs scored.
Rayner Heinrich, Rouse, senior infielder: A THSBCA all-state selection, Heinrich helped the Raiders reach the state tournament with a .385 batting average, 52 runs scored and 26 RBIs.
Ryley Leininger, Georgetown, senior infielder: The THSBCA all-star selection will play baseball at the University of Oklahoma next spring. In his final high school season, he helped the Eagles reach the district championship with 25 RBIs and a 7-2 record on the mound. He was the District 23-5A most valuable player.
Sam Stevens, McCallum, senior infielder: Helped the Knights win their second straight district title and was named the district’s MVP. He had a .369 batting average with 39 extra base hits and 23 RBIs. He also commanded the mound with a 1.01 ERA with 92 strikeouts.
Jordan Andrews, Liberty Hill, sophomore outfielder: The District 25-5A newcomer of the year helped the Panthers win a share of the district championship. He finished with a .333 batting average, 11 doubles and 22 RBIs. Like many of his teammates on the all-metro team, he also dominated the mound with a 5-1 record, 3 saves and 35 strikeouts.
Devin Peterson, Georgetown, senior outfielder: Helped Georgetown win the district championship and reach the second round of the playoffs. He finished with a .330 batting average with 14 extra base hits and 222 RBIs to go with 22 stolen bases.
Landon Miller, Rouse, sophomore outfielder: The sophomore delivered several clutch hits in the Raiders run to the state tournament. He had a .299 batting average with 13 doubles, 3 triples and 4 home runs while driving in 41 runs. He also stole 16 bases.
Kade Davis, Cedar Park, senior utility: The District 25-5A most valuable player helped the Timberwolves win a share of district championship and reach the third round of the postseason. A Temple College signee and THSBCA all-star selection, Davis posted a 7-3 record on the mound with 77 strikeouts and had a batting average of .418 with 28 RBIs.
Gavin Silva, Rouse, senior pitcher: The THSBCA first team all-state selection helped the Raiders reach the state semifinals with a dominate performance on the mound. Silva posted a 13-2 record with a 0.97 ERA and 12 strikeouts. He was a perfect 5-0 throughout the playoffs.
Blaze Milam, Liberty Hill, senior pitcher: The two-time District 25-5A pitcher of the year helped the Panthers win a share of the district championship on his way to earning THBCA second team all-state honors. He had a 9-2 record with a 1.20 ERA and 68 strikeouts.
Honorable mention: Brady Richardson, Cedar Park; Cole Taylor, Pflugerville; Talan Ball, Georgetown; Hayden Grooms, Georgetown; David Dluitt, Georgetown; Brady Richardson, Cedar Park; James Lee, Hendrickson; Kevin Haslam, Hendrickson; Camden Malott, Hendrickson; Holdon Catron, Hays; Andres Uzcategui, East View; Patrick Reyes, East View; Jack Grames, Elgin; Jalen Owens, Elgin.
Class 4A-below team
Austin Pestow, Gateway, senior catcher: The first team all-district selection helped the Gators finish second in District 24-4A. He had a .257 batting average with 17 RBIs and 10 extra base hits.
Brandon Burgdorf, Giddings, sophomore infielder: Helped the Buffaloes reach the second round of the playoffs with a .375 batting average, 17 RBIs and seven hits for extra bases. He was also a prolific defensive player with just 2 total errors and a .987 fielding percentage.
Kaden Kovar, Thorndale, senior infielder: The multi-sport standout helped the Bulldogs reach the regional semifinals on his way to being named the District 27-2A co-defensive player of the year. He had a .440 batting average with 30 RBIs, 2 doubles, 2 triples and 34 runs scored. Kovar was a THSBCA and AABCA all-star and Elite 2A all-state selection.
Maverick McCallister, Thrall, junior infielder: The co-defensive player of the year for 27-2A helped the Tigers reach the second round of the playoffs and a second-place finish in the district.
Cole Smith, Blanco, junior infielder: A THSBCA first team selection, Smith helped the Panthers win the District 5-3A championship and reach the second round of the playoffs.
Trey Morrow, Burnet, senior outfielder: The District 24-4A offensive player of the year helped the Bulldogs win the district title and reach the third round of the playoffs.
Chris Perez, Taylor, senior outfielder: A THSBCA all-star selection and the 22-5A most valuable player, Taylor helped the Ducks to a second-place finish in district. He had a .464 batting average with 16 RBIs and was also exceptional on the mound, posting a 7-0 record with 104 strikeouts.
Bryson Young, Wimberley, senior outfielder: Helped the Texans reach the playoffs while batting .378. Young had 5 doubles, 27 runs scored and 7 RBIs.
Bennett Barbner, La Grange, senior utility: A THSBCA first team all-state selection and a first team All-District 22-4A pick. Barbner helped the Leopards reach the postseason with a .446 batting average, 28 RBIs, 11 doubles, a triple and 20 stolen bases. He will play at Panola College in the fall.
Jaxson Eschberger, Thorndale, freshman pitcher: In his first varsity season, Eschberger was named the District 27-2A co-defensive player of the year and was a THSBCA third team all-state selection. He posted an 11-2 record on the mound with 138 strikeouts and a 0.58 ERA.
Dash Denton, Burnet, senior pitcher: Helped Burnet win the District 24-4A championship and reach the regional quarterfinals on his way to being named the district’s pitcher of the year.
Honorable mention: Gunnar Fromme, Giddings; Weston Smiley, Thrall; Anthony Sandoval, Thrall; Will Johnson, Burnet; Christian Larson, Taylor