District 31-4A flexing and what we learned after first round of high school baseball playoffs

District 31-4A has been touted as being one of the most competitive baseball districts in not only South Texas, but also the state.

After the first round of the playoffs, that reputation was backed up.

All four playoff teams in the district won their first-round games, which is not surprising. But what might have been surprising was how the squads did it.

All three series ended in sweeps, and of the eight games played — five ended in shutouts. Tuloso-Midway, the district champ, and Bishop, the league’s fourth place squad, won both their games in shutouts.

Calallen , meanwhile, allowed one run in two games. Alice, meanwhile, need a late inning miracle to win the second game of its series against Zapata in extra innings.

The District 31-4A schedule is a grind, but this shows that the grind is paying off for the four playoff squads.

“The district, it’s tough,” Tuloso-Midway coach JK Moody said prior to the Warriors series against La Grulla last week. “It’s exciting, every day is a tough game and you never know who is going to win. Playing in this district it does prepare you for the playoffs.”

High School Baseball 2024 Corpus Christi, Coastal Bend high school baseball playoff scores, schedule

High School Baseball UIL Baseball Playoffs: Top performers and a recap of bi-district round for Corpus Christi

High School Baseball How good is London? The Pirates start playoffs in dominating fashion and want to continue it

Bouncing back

It’s known that Sinton would face some challenges this season it hasn’t faced in a few years, and the first round showed that. The Pirates lost their playoff opener to Uvalde 3-2 on Thursday, but came back and won the next two games 25-3 to win the series.

It was a nice bounce back for a team that has plenty of playoff experience, but also had some key positions to fill.

Speaking of Sinton … Pirates throwing it back

Sinton players wore throwback uniforms Saturday in the the finale of a three-game Class 4A bi-district series against Uvalde. The uniforms were a tribute to the Plymouth Oilers, a semi-pro team that was based in Sinton in the 1940s and 1950s and gained a reputation as one of the country’s best teams of that era.

The uniforms had Sinton’s colors, but also had Plymouth across the front with patches on the side.

Where are all the 5A teams?

After the first round of the playoffs, Veterans Memorial is the lone Class 5A team standing in the playoffs from the Coastal Bend.

Ray was swept out of the playoffs by Rio Grande City, while Carroll and King, two squads who made the District 29-5A zone playoffs did not make it out this season.

In fact, after this week’s first round only Veterans Memorial and Victoria East are left from District 29-5A.

Three teams to watch in the area round

Here’s a look at some teams to watch in the area round.

Falfurrias — The Jerseys are rounding into shape and could be on a collision course with district rival London at some point in the postseason.

Freer — The Buckaroos swept Three Rivers in the playoffs, and have one of the area’s top pitchers in Peyton Borden.

Bishop — Mike Medina’s crew is quietly putting together a solid season but face a monumental task in Pleasanton this week.

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: District 31-4A flexing and what we learned after first round of high school baseball playoffs