The Mason High School baseball team defeated Brady 15-3 February 17 in the season opener to give head coach Jay Immel his 100th career win.
That simply solidified his feelings about this team. 'I'm super excited with the group we have,' he said. 'We have a bunch of different guys who can play a bunch of different positions. We have to get a good look at them. We have to figure out where they go.'
The team has five returners starters and 10 lettermen. They include seniors Hunter Bradley and Matthew King.
'I'm excited about the two seniors,' Immel said. 'Both played with me since they were freshmen.'
Others are Fisher Bradley, Slade Buell, Kingston Garza, Kalen Langehennig, Trevor Loeffler, Grant Nobles, Ray Row and Gustavo Valdez.
King is slated as one of the two starting pitchers. Immel is on the hunt for a second.
The team also needs a new starting catcher after Frankie Bolley graduated. Buell and Fisher Bradley are vying for the job.
'They both played a lot of catcher growing up,' Immel said. 'Last year they played other positions. Both of them have the ability to play back there and really get some games under their belts. Whoever doesn't get the job will play in another position. They're both great defensive players.'
Immel said the squad's catcher will have several important traits.
'I'm looking for somebody who can manage the game and is a wall back there,' he said. 'Obviously it's a good defensive player who controlls the game.'
When King is not pitching, he'll play in the infield along with Langehennig and Garza.
'I have three really good middle infielders,' the coach said. 'Matthew King is a good shortstop. Kalen Langehennig is a good second baseman, and Kingston can fill in when the other two are pitching.'
Hunter Bradley will anchor the outfield. 'We're solid with him at center field,' the coach said. When it comes to the District 28-2A race, most start with Johnson City and senior pitcher Johnny Slawinski, who announced on his social media that he's 'officially a (Texas A&M) Aggie' November 13 during the early signing period.
'He's one of the best players in the state who might end up getting drafted,' Immel said. 'We have to somehow try to put the ball in play. We beat them last year, so you never know.'
He noted that baseball 'is definitely Harper's sport' led by head coach Scott Lake, whose son Braden is on the team. His older son Bryson is a pitcher at Angelo State University.
'They have a bunch of players who do well,' Immel said. He also pointed out that Junction 'is very athletic this year.' 'All those guys play baseball,' Immel said. 'They have guys who can throw, catch, hit and run. There are players and there are athletes. We have both. They are athletic and they compete. They have it in their mindset.'
Goldthwaite was realigned to the district this year and Sonora was realigned out.
'It'll be fun, it'll be tough,' Immel said. The Punchers compete at the Brady Tournament Thursday-Saturday, February 20-22.
