With a new season on the diamond upon the community of fans touting orange and black, the Aledo Bearcats baseball team is eager to build off the successful campaign they had in 2024. Last season, the Bearcats (25-14-1, 10-2) earned a first-place finish in the district and advanced three rounds through the postseason bracket, where they bowed out to Argyle.
“Last year's team overachieved. They had great leadership from the seniors and a great work ethic,” Bearcats’ head coach Chad Barry said. “They grew tremendously throughout the year. They won a lot of close games last season, and I think those games that a lot of these seniors played in has helped mature their approach on the field. We definitely have more veterans going into this season.”
Experience on the roster was a key component of Aledo’s success last year as it will be this season. Barry’s Bearcats will feature more than 10 upperclassmen on the squad, and the long-time Aledo coach expects them to fulfill big roles for the 2025 squad.
“Key players will start with the returning starters, Brooks Burdine, Blake Burdine, Devin Miller, Brennon Evans, and Luke Trager,” Barry said. “Several other seniors who saw significant playing time last season like Noah Graham, Luke Sandefur and Rhett Spiers will be big for us as well. We also have quite a few new faces to the varsity and our program that look to make an impact: Dylan Duran, Luke Gladchuk, Grayson McKelvey, Nick Foster and Landon Barnes.”
The masterful blend of youth, experience, athleticism, and poise equated to a 25-win season for a squad Barry called “overachievers.” This year’s Bearcats team should boast a strong pitching staff with a bevy of quality arms, according to Barry. And, with that, the expectations will remain high in Aledo.
“The standard does not change year to year,” Barry said. “The goal every season is to get to the state tournament. This group seems to be taking that goal and running with it.”
With big aspirations in the crosshairs, Aledo will aim to either replicate or surpass its success in the district slate as well. The Bearcats will vie for the District 5-5A Division I title against the likes of Azle, Brewer, Granbury, Rider, and Saginaw after edging Rider for the league title last year.
“All the district games are key,” Barry said. “Last season every district game was highly competitive, and if you didn't go out and play well, you lost. I think it will be much the same this season as well, so those 12 games are huge for us.”
The Bearcats’ season will begin at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Trinity.
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