Monday, April 29, 2024
Gatesville baseball placed 11 players on the recently released 23-4A All-District teams, highlighted by junior pitcher Bralen Veazey being named the district’s Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Junior Lawson Mooney and senior Banner Allman were both first team selections while senior Grant Erwin, junior Justin Johnson, sophomore John Ibarra, and freshman Bradey James were named to the second team. Seniors Mason Mooney, Kason Herbelin, and Ben Mabry were honorable mention selections along with junior Clayton Gregory.
Mooney and Allman missed the entire 2022 season while Veazey were unable to pitch in 2022. Their returns, along with a strong group of underclassmen, helped propel the Hornets back to the playoffs and into the regional quarterfinals for just the third time in school history. They fell 6-3 to eventual state champion China Spring in the third round of the playoffs.
In 14 starts this season, Veazey went 8-1 and set a school-record with 125 strikeouts on the year. Opponents hit just .194 against him and his 2.069 ERA is the sixth-best single season mark in school history. Offensively, he hit .310 for the season with seven extra-base hits.
It’s the second district superlative for Veazey in the last three years. In 2021, he was named the district 6-4A Newcomer of the Year and, despite missing his sophomore pitching season, he was an honorable mention selection at designated hitter in 6-4A in 2022.
The first team selection for Mooney is the second of his career. He was a first team all-district selection in District 6-4A as a freshman in 2021.
In 2023, Mooney hit .355 during district play and .303 for the season in returning to the leadoff spot. He led the team in hits (30), doubles (7), HBP (11) and walked 14 times compared to just ten strikeouts in 126 plate appearances.
He set a program record with 27 stolen bases on the year and currently sits second in program history with 48 steals in his career. He needs five steals in 2024 to assume the top spot all-time.
Allman hit .344 in district and led the team with 13 RBI during league play. He tied with Mooney for the team lead with 11 hits in district and hit .750 in the Hornets two-game sweep of Giddings in the area playoffs. On the season, Allman lead the team with two home runs. He was a second-team selection in District 6-4A in 2021.
Mabry finished tied for the team lead in hitting with an average of .311. He hit .583 in the Hornets six playoff games. Mason Mooney scored 26 runs on the year and Herbelin reached base at a .400 clip while also driving in 16 runs. Erwin went 3-1 on the season including a complete game, series-clinching gem against Giddings in the area round of the playoffs.
The Hornets will return six all-district selections in 2024 including Veazey, Mooney, Ibarra (.412 district average), Johnson (.375 district average), Gregory (.273 district average, seven walks in 11 district at-bats), and James who led the team in hitting with a .311 average on the year. The freshman third baseman struck out only nine times in 100 plate appearances in 2023.
Salado pitcher Caden Strickland was named District MVP while China Spring shortstop Mason Kirk was named offensive MVP. Cougars’ pitcher Jayden Honey was named Pitcher of the Year and Salado’s BJ Amann was named Newcomer of the Year. China Spring’s Cory Beckham was named Coach of The Year.
All-district selections are not released to the public until all four of the league’s playoff teams have been finished their seasons and China Spring’s run to the 4A state championship delayed the announcement of the 23-4A team until June 9.
