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(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Bruin Wright pitching Thursday, April 17 for the Steers. Wright was one of the many seniors who graduated and will be moving to college next fall. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Harison Brockway covers second base from shortstop Thursday, April 17. Brockway won district co-defensive player of the year for his efforts at the position. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Tripp Mahaney swings at a pitch Thursday, April 17, while up at the plate. Mahaney is a rising senior to the team and will be a veteran leader next season. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Colter Johnson throwing in warmups Thursday, April 17. Johnson was also a graduating senior whose defensive capabilities consistently improved.
The awards and recognition just doesn’t stop coming in for the Graham Steers varsity baseball team. Their latest accomplishment was placing in the top 20 of the Diamond Pro Texas High School Baseball ranking.
In an announcement posted Monday, June 9, to the Graham Steers Baseball Facebook page, it was revealed that the team placed 11th in the division two standings for 4A rankings.
The THSB ranked teams based on their division one and division two standings in the 4A division as a whole.
Steers head coach Allen McGee gave a straightforward statement regarding the ranking, but one that still expressed pride in everything the team achieved last season.
“Really cool honor for the guys,” McGee said. “It’s just the hard work they put in.”
McGee in the past has gone on record to say that this team defied all expectations this season. Despite having a veteran group with most of the starters being seniors, they weren’t even expected to make the playoffs.
The Steers quieted any doubts surrounding them once things hit the diamond though.
They raced through their district schedule, earned a postseason birth, and went on an unprecedented run all the way to the regional finals.
Along the way they defeated teams like the Lubbock Cooper Liberty Patriots, the Fort Worth Castleberry Lions and the El Paso Riverside Rangers.
While their season came to an end at Tarleton University against the Brock Eagles, nobody can take away the successful run they went on.
While much of this past season’s team will be moving on to college after graduating in May, there will also be multiple starters returning all district starters Tripp Mahaney, Tanner Hurford and Mike Garcia.
McGee made note of this but also expressed confidence in some of the up and coming players on his team.
“We’re returning some starters, will have some younger guys to step up into key roles next season,” McGee said. “What I love about Graham kids is they’re going to work hard. They’re a great group of kids.”
Coach McGee is hoping to continue the standard of success that was built this season by continuing to teach consistency. However, McGee also said he will be looking for ways to elevate team culture and technique as well.
