Denton High baseball coach Toby Rumfield can finally start to see his Broncos settling in.
“We’ve largely been a team of streaks this season,” Rumfield told Texas Scorecard of his 12-8 overall, 5-0 in 5A Region 1 District 8 team. “But as things have progressed, we’ve started to believe our defense and pitching are good enough to make this a season to remember.”
The magic was on full display during the Broncos last conference game when down by two runs in their last at-bats, Justin Rumfield, the coach’s son, connected on a three-run game-winning homer to keep the streak alive.
“Defense and pitching have been our M.O., but we’ve had timely hitting like that all season and we’re hopeful that it will keep picking up as the season plays out,” Rumfield added. “We believe we can be there at the end.”
Senior hurler Jan Cabrera, who was named district MVP last season on the strength of a 10-1 season with a 1.51 ERA, helps give Denton cause for raised optimism.
Though recently slowed after being hit by a pitch, when healthy Cabrera has been just as dominant this season, while sophomore Caden Greanead has been almost just as good as the team’s No. 2 starter.
Senior shortstop Rece Parker anchors the defense and sets the table as the lead-off hitter. In between, the versatile star serves as the team’s closer. Rumfield said what Parker doesn’t get to, senior outfielder Ty Mongo seems to track down in center.
The coach tabs senior catcher Mason Davis as the team’s unquestioned leader and junior first baseman Parker Smith as being invaluable for his all-around steadiness.
“I think when you’re dealing with high school kids having structure is half the battle,” said Rumfield, who played 14 seasons of minor league ball and later managed three minor league teams. “Every day, we’re still working on fundamentals and finding ways to get better and I think it’s starting to show a bit.”
