When it comes to high school baseball, the Coastal Bend is home to three of the top 11 Class 5A schools in the state.
The King Mustangs are ranked seventh. Coach Gabe Perez starts his 12th season and there’s no question about it.
This team has the potential to be his best by a long shot.
The Mustangs return nearly every starter from a team that made it to the third round of the playoffs a year ago.
And they return three of the top pitchers in all of South Texas.
This ballclub is loaded with a ton of senior leadership.
Pitcher-center fielder John Barrera says he’s grateful to be a part of the Mustangs’ loaded program..
“These guys you know they have a lot of talent, a lot of good things around them and we are something special,” Barrera said. “We got a couple of commits myself and another one. These guys are really talented and that they can play the game. You know with no pressure, and have fun and be able to do it with no regret and it’s truly something I admire the most and so lucky to be a part of it.”
The Mustangs’ stacked pitching staff gives them the opportunity to attack opponents in many ways pitcher-right fielder Andre Delgadillo said.
“Pitching, our staff has a one, two three punch, goes out and competes very well,” Delgadillo said. “Our hitting, one through nine, they go out there and hit the ball and make contact with everything they’ve got. Our infielders are fantastic.”
All of this talent makes Perez expecting something special in 2019.
“We have a great run here over the last several years,” Perez said. “And we just think our seniors have really carried us. They are doing a great job and I just feel like this is going to be a special year for us.”
