Addition of Calallen strengthens District 30-4A

Victoria East shortstop Jonathan Ortega knows Calallen was ranked No. 1 in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association's preseason Class 4A state poll.

Ortega is also aware the Wildcats have won 10 straight games since dropping their season opener to Sinton.

But Ortega isn't going to concede anything in the District 30-4A race.

"I say they put on their pants the same way we do," Ortega said. "We've just got to play ball."

Calallen and Tuloso-Midway replaced Floresville in the revamped district, which opens play Tuesday.

"It's somebody else we've got to compete with," said Victoria West coach Manuel Alvarado. "I don't think there's any doubt it will be a little bit harder."

East and West have experience playing Calallen.

The Wildcats eliminated the Titans in the area round of the 2011 playoffs and knocked the Warriors out in the area round last season.

"We've just got to make plays," said East coach Wes Kolle. "Good teams like the Calallens, the Moodys, the Carrolls that have won a lot of games and won state championships, they just thrive on people's mistakes. If you go out there and play baseball - outs are outs and don't give them errors and walks and free bases and stuff - then you'll be all right."

Calhoun gets first crack at Calallen in Port Lavaca.

The Sandcrabs (7-1) are coming off their first-ever win of a playoff series last year and have carried the momentum into this season.

"We've been playing OK," said Calhoun coach Santos Alvarado. "Our pitchers have been throwing well. We just need to keep improving on everything."

The Titans (4-6-1) have had an up-and-down start, but Kolle is pleased with his team's progress heading into its district opener against Tuloso-Midway at Riverside Stadium.

"We'd like to have a few more wins under our belt," he said. "Our whole purpose of this early season tournament stuff was facing good competition and just getting innings and learning each other. Our focus is playing sound, fundamental baseball, and we think we'll have a chance at the end."

West (6-4) has the first-round bye and won't open district play until next week.

The Warriors will play Flour Bluff at Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi on Tuesday.

West is the defending district champion but began the season with a completely new infield and very few experienced pitchers.

"I've been pleased with the job our pitchers have done," Alvarado said. "They've kept us in ballgames. I think, overall, we've been doing a pretty good job. We seem to have one bad inning. We just have to finish the game."

The ability to complete games is likely to determine the district's four playoff representatives.

"We're getting ready," Ortega said. "These tournaments have gotten our team chemistry better. We just need to play good, fundamental baseball and have fun."