Pictured are members of the 2024 Wharton County Junior College Pioneers Baseball Team. Front row, left to right, are assistant coach Andrew Hernandez, Joshua Shimmin of Sugar Land, Aidan Lopez of Eagle Pass, Taylor Tomlin of Edmund, Okla., Cam Pruitt of Wylie, Juan Cantua-Linnear of Forney, Logan Ellefson of Woodlands, Thomas Mathay of Conroe and manager Tanner Hayes. Second row, left to right, are assistant coach John Cannon, assistant coach Michael Molina, JC Gutierrez of Mission, Jonathan Anders of Rosenberg, Cole Gerlach of Mission, Christian Melo of Albuquerque, N.M., Tyler Howard of Spring, Levi Castilleja of San Antonio, Fabian Ramirez of Houston and assistant coach Casey Sunseri. Third row, from left, are Kade Reynolds of Brazoria, Dane LeMaster of Tomball, Noah O’Farrell of Spring, Collin Coker of Sweeny, Reese Beheler of Sugar Land, Brian Panneton of Tomball, Cade Romero of Beaumont, Dawson Byars of Robstown , Aidan Goude of Cypress and Carter Heinrich of Georgetown. Back row, left to right, are head coach Trey Porras, CJ Freeland of Ada, Okla., Cole Columbus of Vancouver, B.C., Tyler Sunseri of Woodlands, Conner Doucet of Woodlands, Landon Johnson of Tomball, Preston Watkins of Deer Park, Caleb Castle of Houston, Jose Vargas of League City and Kolby Wilson of Palacios.
WHARTON, TEXAS – The Wharton County Junior College Pioneers baseball team is coming off back-to-back Regional Championship appearances, and expectations are as high as ever heading into the 2024 season. Head Coach Trey Porras is confident that he’s got a great bunch of players ready to win some games.
“This group has worked extremely hard both on and off the field,” he said. “I am excited to see their work pay off starting this weekend.”
The Pioneers open the 2024 season on Saturday, Jan. 27, against Eastern Oklahoma State College. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Corbett Park in Wharton, but has since been moved to Sweeny High School due to a wet field. The game begins at 1 p.m. The highlight of the non-conference schedule will be the Inaugural Bregman Cares Classic, an event hosted by the Sugar Land Space Cowboys at Constellation Field in Sugar Land. WCJC will participate from Feb. 9 through Feb. 11, taking on Paris College, Odessa College and Grayson College, respectively. Conference play begins on March 2 against San Jacinto College and lasts until May 4. Post-season play begins on May 9.
Porras will rely on several new players this year, including Arizona State University transfers Reese Beheler of Sugar Land and Jose Vargas of League City.
“Beheler looks to set the tone for the Pioneer offense,” Porras said.
Returning position players include Sweeny native Collin Coker and San Antonio native Levi Castilleja. WCJC sophomore Brian Panneton of Tomball, an All-Conference pitcher, will help lead the team from the mound, along with Texas A&M transfer Ty Sexton of Montgomery. Other key players include Woodlands native Conner Doucet, who has committed to play for Texas State University, and Deer Park’s Preston Watkins, who has committed to play for Texas A&M Corpus Christi after this season.
As for coaching duties, Porras will get some help from assistant coach John Cannon, as well as Michael Molina, Andrew Hernandez and Jason Columbus.
For more information on the upcoming season, see the WCJC Pioneers Spring 2024 Schedule.
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