VYPE's 2013 Baseball Preview -- The Privates

Click to view image

THE PRIVATES

Top 5 Teams

1. St. Pius

2. St. Thomas

3. Episcopal

4. St. John's School

5. Concordia Lutheran

Others to Watch:  Houston Christian, Lutheran South, The Woodlands Christian Academy

TO SEE A GALLERY OF PRIVATES, HIT THE IMAGE

THE GAMERS

Cavan Biggio, St. Thomas, OF

The bloodlines run deep for Cavan Biggio. His dad will be a Hall of Famer and he already has a brother playing at Notre Dame. While he was committed to Virginia for a while, Biggio will be headed to Notre Dame in the fall. He would be a high draft pick as Houston's No. 3 overall prospect, but it is likely that he will go the collegiate route before heading to the MLB draft. Super talent.

Chris Farish, St. John's School, P

Still filling out his 6-foot-3 frame, Chris Farish is the total package. His academics are off the charts, and the velocity on his pitches is increasing. He will continue to improve with his breaking ball and could soon be unhittable when he hits Wake Forest. For now, he is the ace of the SPC.

Kohl Stewart, St. Pius, P

Kohl Stewart is the top prospect in the city of Houston. The ball completely explodes out of his hand and he will never play a minute of college football or baseball. He will likely take the money and run as he will be a top-flight pick in the MLB draft this June. He's legit and has the swag of a top-of-the-rotation pitcher.

John Henry Styles, Episcopal, P

Just a junior, the 5-foot-11 John Henry Styles is one of the top young talents in Houston and the state of Texas. He has good velocity and a bevy of pitches. The best part is that he is a lefty. Just for grins, Styles is an athletic outfielder and can handle the bad. With his academics in order as well, he will be a Stanford Cardinal in two years.

COMPETITIVE AT THE TOP

The St. Pius Panthers had a memorable season a year ago, winning a TAPPS state championship. The main cog of their team is back in pitcher Kohl Stewart.

"Last year’s state championship means everything to our program," coach Adam Massiatte said. "We go through the highs and lows of a season and in the grind of all that baseball talk, we want to get our student athletes to recognize that the 'Real Games' are not baseball, but life’s personal and professional challenges. Winning state only validates that hard work, preparation, dedication, self-discipline and focus put you in an opportunity to win."

The Panthers' No. 2 arm Aaron Ford has transferred, but the cupboard is not bare for the St. Pius program. Jerry Murillo and Joe Gerringer will compliment Stewart on the mound, while Brian Newman is a tremendous utility player with great athleticism.

Transfer Marcus Mora is a great addition and will get back into full swing by mid-season after rehabbing from surgery. Look for Luis Sanchez and Ben Little to provide senior leadership and Chase Fontana and Jeremy Jones to add pop in the lineup.

St. Thomas is ready to pounce on any misstep by St. Pius as coach Craig Biggio's squad is also loaded. Led by Cavan Biggio, St. Thomas has a bona fide go-to guy at the plate and in the field. On the mound, the torch is being passed to the likes of Michael Rodgers, Dusty Dworak and Justin Sebo. Sebo will be headed to Virginia Tech in the fall. Hunter Pallasch will give protection to Biggio and Sebo at the plate as well.

"We should be really good this season," Biggio said. "We are really balanced and will lean on our seniors to lead us."

With a pair of talented pitchers in their lineup, the Episcopal Knights will be in every game. With their eyes set on an SPC Championship, the Knights are led by lefties Braxton Wilks and John Henry Styles. Wilks is headed to Kansas State next season, while Styles will be one of the state's top prospects in 2014. He will go to Stanford.

Also competing for an SPC Championship will be St. John's School, which is led by pitcher Chris Farish, who is headed to Wake Forest. They will need others to step up to challenge Episcopal. Lutheran South has a puncher's chance every night with Collin Fries (Arizona) toeing the rubber, while Concordia Lutheran is in good hands with coach Rick Lynch.