MaxPreps 2016 preseason high school baseball Early Contenders: No. 3 Coppell

Video: Coppell (TX) Baseball - Preseason Rankings


Head coach: Kendall Clark (294 career wins)

2015 record: 25-6, reached Regional quarterfinals

State association: Texas Class 6A

Enrollment: 2,879


Players to Watch

Charles King, senior, RHP, 6-0 pitching record, 1.09 ERA, 47 strikeouts, 38.1 innings pitched, 95 mph fastball, signed with TCU

Ray Gaither, senior, RHP, 1-1 pitching record, 7 saves, 0.41 ERA, 21 strikeouts, 17 innings pitched, 96 mph fastball, signed with Dallas Baptist

Hayden Kettler, senior, OF/RHP, 3-1 pitching record, 1.07 ERA, 21 strikeouts, 20 innings pitched, 92 mph fastball, .281, 8 doubles, 3 triples, 3 home runs, 20 RBIs, signed with Baylor

Chris Burdine, senior, RHP, 1-1 pitching record, 3 saves, 1.94 ERA, 22 strikeouts, 18 innings pitched, 89 mph fastball, signed with Oklahoma State

John Kodros, junior, LHP, 1-0 pitching record, 24 strikeouts, 14.1 innings pitched, 93 mph fastball, verbal to LSU

Jacob Nesbit, junior, SS, .354, 7 doubles, 3 triples, 14 RBIs, 26 stolen bases, verbal to Arkansas

Marco Navarro, senior, 1B, .300, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 14 RBIs

Trey Becerra, senior, DH/1B/C, .324, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 9 RBIs

Austin Gross, junior, 3B, .304, 3 doubles, 10 RBIs

Myles Paschall, senior, OF, .279, 1 double, 1 triple, 1 home run, 9 RBIs, committed to Abilene Christian

Ben Kelly, senior, OF, .333

Cole Solomon, senior, C, .212, signed with Abilene Christian

Ty Manning, senior, 2B, .233, committed to Abilene Christian

Shane Steiger, senior, OF, .229

Chas Pedersen, senior, IF, signed with Abilene Christian

Campbell Schultz, junior, 1B, .429

Cody Masters, junior, OF, verbal to Texas


Key Dates

Feb. 22 - at Dallas Jesuit

Feb. 26 - vs. Prosper

March 5 - at Brenham

March 10 - vs. Dallas Jesuit

March 12 - vs. The Woodlands

March 22/25 - vs. Carroll (Southlake)


Cowboys Storylines

* Coppell features one of the deepest, hardest-throwing pitching staffs in the country. That will be key once Coppell reaches the postseason. Charles King could be a first-round draft pick before the season ends, as the MLB Draft is set for the same weekend as the Texas state tournament. King is one of four Coppell pitchers who hits over 90 mph with his fastball.

* Coppell will get a good test during the regular season, as it plays 2015 Final Four participant Dallas Jesuit twice and faces Carroll (Southlake), which knocked Coppell out of the state playoffs last year, twice in district play.

* Coppell was not much of a power-hitting team in 2015, belting only six home runs during the season. That could change in 2016, as all four players who hit home runs last year return, led by Hayden Kettler who hit three round-trippers and is considered by coach Kendall Clark as a clutch hitter.

View entire gallery from the preseason photo shoot with No. 3 Coppell