SportsHigh School Sports

Actions

Young Moody baseball team could be surprise challenger in stacked District 30-5A race

Posted at 2:14 PM, Feb 06, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-06 15:21:25-05

The Moody Trojans start the high school season Feb. 18 when they meet district rival Ray at Whataburger Field.

The Trojans will be looking to return to the playoffs following a one-year absence in 2018.

And they will be young. On any given night, Coach Joe Curiel could start six sophomores.

So every moment will be a learning opportunity for a team playing in one of the toughest districts in the state.

District 30-5A includes No. 4 Veterans Memorial and No. 7 King.

But don’t count out the Trojans. While they are picked to finish fifth in the district, they are always a serious threat to make it to state.

“We have speed and we are very smart,” Moody infielder James Perales said. “We have a high baseball IQ and we like the big moments. We like to shine during those moments and we want the ball to hit to us all the time.”

Moody infielder Joseph Escobedo says the team’s spirit will help them, even with the young supporting cast.

“We bring a lot of energy, we are always bringing each other up,” Escobedo said. “Someone gets down, we got them, we got their back.

Despite the youth, Curiel likes what he’s seen so far.

“At last night’s scrimmage, our pitching staff threw strikes, that’s the main important thing,” Curiel said. “Especially with our younger pitchers, the veterans came in there and started the scrimmage really well, I think pitching-wise, I think our hitting will follow after that.”