Now that most area basketball teams have completed their journeys, it is time to pop open that bag of sunflower seeds and get the hot dogs ready, because baseball and softball is here, and this year, there are several serious state championship contenders in both of these sports.

Let’s start with baseball.  There are three  teams that could take home the championship in 2010.  This list is headed by the West Trojans, a Regional Quarterfinalist in 09, and it could have been a deeper run without their ace pitcher had they not run into the #18 pick in the 2009 draft, Shelby Miller, and Brownwood.  They return their top 3 pitchers in 2010.  More impressively, none of them are seniors.  Another 3A team that can win it all is the Lorena Leopards, who return 8 key players and look to build off an area round loss to Carthage. Now in 2A, the Salado Eagles could win it all.  On Monday night, they beat Lorena 11-1 in a mild surprise.  It was just a few short years ago that they were in Austin.

In softball, there are three 3A teams and two 1A teams that could make some noise.  The West Lady Trojans are 6-0 and have outscored their opponents 98-11.  They are led by pitcher Ashley Anz.  In the same district, expect big things from defending Region I champion Gatesville.  Over in 19-3A, the Groesbeck Lady Goats had a couple players not play basketball to prepare for this season, and are led by Toni Madison, who is being recruited by Division I schools Alabama and Oklahoma.  And in 1A, the Mart Lady Panthers and their rival Riesel Lady Indians could make plenty of noise.

It’s going to be a fun ride this spring, and SuperCentex.com will be all over it!