For all that the Odessa High baseball team achieved in 2018, it’s time to start all over in a new season.

The Bronchos went 27-12 last season, finishing in a three-way tie for second place in District 2-6A. Even though Odessa High entered the playoffs as a No. 4 seed on a tiebreaker, the Bronchos made the district’s deepest run, falling to Keller Timber Creek in three games in the regional quarterfinals.

The 2019 team, however, will have to earn its own accolades, Bronchos coach Joshua Hulin said.

“I feel like last year to this year, there’s no momentum gained,” said Hulin, who enters his sixth season as head coach. “There’s been however many months since last season. This season’s a new season. This team is a brand new team. We have to develop team chemistry and we have to keep getting better every day.

“There’s no carryover from last season. That’s something I always teach my guys. Last year does not dictate this year. If you had a good year last year, it doesn’t mean you’ll be good this year. If you had a bad year last year, it doesn’t mean you’ll be bad this year.”

Odessa High opens its season Thursday at the Shallowater Railyard Classic. The Bronchos will play all their games in the tournament at Seminole.

Odessa High’s original season opener against Denver City, scheduled for Tuesday at Pressly Field, has been canceled.

The Bronchos suffered significant graduation losses, but return a key piece in pitcher Cristian Baeza, who earned all-state honors after going 11-1 with a 1.48 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 77.1 innings.

“We have to stay focused on the season and stay focused on the little things and develop a better team bond,” said Baeza, who also saw time at second base and batted .280 with 10 RBIs. “We have to come out and show up.”

Other returning players include shortstop Gibrian Pena (.360, 24 RBIs), outfielder Hervey Nieto (351, 28 RBIs), pitcher-catcher Bobby Salinas (.292, 21 RBIs; 2-4, 5.66 ERA) and outfielder Charles McClure (.206, 7 RBIs).

“We’re looking to look good this season,” Pena said. “A lot of these guys are scrappy ballplayers. We all work hard and we’re looking forward to having a good season.

“It’s just a matter of experience. A lot of these guys are older. We have more experience. We look at the game a lot easier than some of these young guys. We need to help them coach them up.”

Also back are infielder-pitcher Jordan Munoz (.224, 9 RBIs; 2-0. 2.39 ERA) and outfielder-pitcher Michael Gonzalez (.286, 1 RBI; 0-0, 6.00 ERA), while Zach Attaway, Alex Cadena and Angel Rios saw limited varsity action last year.

“We have a good group back, but we also lost six senior starters,” Hulin said. “I would say they were kind of the heart and soul of that season. When you lose guys like Andres Martinez, a three-year letterman, Jacob Munoz, a four-year letterman, Damien Aspeitia, a three-year letterman, Tony Carrasco, a three-year letterman — guys that played a lot of baseball for us — this is really a brand new team. That’s kind of the way we’re approaching it.

“We haven’t earned anything. We’re definitely not the district favorite.”

Baeza said the Bronchos have the potential to make another run, it’s just a matter going out and doing it.

“(Last year’s success) builds confidence in the team and the team has confidence in you,” he said. “It’s pretty good.”

The Bronchos open District 2-6A play against Permian on March 1 at Midland’s Security Bank Ballpark as part of the Tournament of Champions. District play begins in earnest on March 14 at home against defending 2-6A champion Wolfforth Frenship.

“You look the district and Permian’s the most talented I’ve ever seen them, probably the most talented team I’ve ever seen,” Hulin said. “Frenship’s got a ton of kids back and they won district. Midland High has almost everybody back. Midland Lee is good every year, a traditional power. Amarillo Tascoa returns 10 or 11 guys that played all the time.

“I would say that we’re kind of up against it. We’ve got a lot of work to do to be competitive. We expect this year to be a battle every time we play a district ballgame. We know that, as far as talent, we’re probably the least-talented team. We’ve got the least amount of depth. It’s something we’ve always had and we kind of look
