The Blanco baseball team finished the season 14-13-1 overall and 7-3 in District 5-3A, in second place behind Ingram. The Panthers played the Clyde Bulldogs in the bi-district playoff May 2-3. Clyde won game one 6-4. The Panthers won game two 3-1, forcing the playoff to game three. Clyde won the final game 8-0.
Jacob Johnson, a Blanco senior, was named the offensive player of the year for District 5-3A. Johnson played second base, outfield and was the lead-off batter. In district play, Johnson hit a .520 average with a .600 onbase percentage and a .880 slugging percentage. He had seven singles, four doubles, one triple and one home run for 11 RBI and 10 runs scored. Johnson had four stolen bases. On the season, Johnson hit a .412 average with 28 hits, 17 RBI, 21 runs scored with 13 walks and eight stolen bases.
Sophomore Chris Martinez received pitcher of the year award for District 5-3A. Martinez posted a season record of 8-2 with 69 innings pitched. He gave up 61 hits, 28 runs scored, 16 earned runs and 69 strikeouts. His earned run average was 1.62.
Matthew Rodriguez, a senior first baseman, was named first team all-district. In district play, Rodriguez hit a .357 average with five singles, five doubles, 12 RBI and three runs scored. On the season, Rodriguez hit a .384 average with 28 hits, 20 RBI, 14 runs scored and 12 walks.
Senior center fielder Andrew Binz received first team all-district honors. In district games, Binz had a .241 batting average with seven singles, four RBI, six runs scored and three stolen bases. He had 10 putouts at center field with no errors. On the season, Binz hit a .235 average with 19 hits, five RBI, 17 runs scored with 12 walks and eight stolen bases. Binz was error-free with 25 outs at center field.
Colby Murphree, a senior third baseman, was named first team all-district. In district play, Murphree had a .286 batting average with five singles, one double, two RBI and five runs scored. On the season, Murphree hit a .326 average with 15 hits, three RBI and 10 runs scored. He also pitched with a 1-2 record with 17 innings pitched with 22 hits and 22 strikeouts.
Senior pitcher Isaiah Mancha received first team all-district honors. In district games, Mancha hit a .450 average with a .500 on-base percentage and .550 slugging average. Mancha had seven singles, two doubles, seven RBI and two runs scored. On the season, he had a 2-6 pitching record and faced 210 batters in 43 and one-third innings with 33 hits, 14 earned runs and 46 strikeouts. At the plate, Mancha had a .372 batting average with 16 hits, 14 RBI, one home run and five runs scored.
Henry Pfluger, freshman second baseman, was named first team all-district. In district play, Pfluger hit a .310 batting average with a .412 on base percentage with nine singles, three RBI, 11 runs scored and four walks. On the season, Pfluger hit .314 with 11 hits, 11 runs scored and five walks.
Junior outfielder and pitcher Lane Bizzell received second team all-district honors. In district games, Bizzell batted a .222 average with five singles, one double, three RBI, three walks and four runs scored. On the season, he hit a .221 average with 17 hits, 12 RBI, 14 runs scored and eight walks. Bizzell pitched a 1-2 record faced 75 batters in 17 and one-third innings for five hits, eight earned runs and 12 strikeouts.
Estevan Vargas, a senior catcher, was named second team all-district. In district play, Vargas hit a .300 average with three singles, three RBI and three walks. At catcher he had 43 putouts with only one error in 34 innings. On the season at catcher, Vargas had 87 putouts in 82 innings with one error. At the plate he hit .276 with eight hits, five RBI and six walks.
Junior outfielder Diego Soto received second team all-district honors. In district games, Soto hit a .259 average with six singles, one triple, five RBI and seven runs scored. At right field, Soto was error-free with five putouts. On the season, Soto hit .281 with 18 hits, 11 RBI, 13 runs scored and five walks.
Rex Wisdom, a sophomore catcher, was named second team all-district. In district games, Wisdom hit .333 with two singles, one double and two RBI. At catcher he had 32 put-outs in 32 innings with no errors. Overall, Wisdom hit .375 with nine hits, two RBI and one run scored. At catcher, he had 85 putouts in 83 innings with no errors.
Senior infielder Jesus Chalico, sophomore infielder Adrian Chalico and freshman Caden Spivey each received honorable mention all-district honors.
Several Panthers received academic all-state honors from the Texas High School Coaches Association. Players receiving this honor are: Andrew Binz, Colby Murphree, Estevan Vargas, Hank Jones, Jacob Johnson, Wyatt Martinez and manager Clark White.
