The Monitor’s 2024 All-Area Baseball Teams and Superlatives
THE MONITOR’S ALL-AREA PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Vinny Cano, PSJA High
PSJA High’s senior left-handed pitcher and first baseman Cano produced on the mound and at the plate during his senior season to earn The Monitor’s 2024 All-Area Baseball Player of the Year honors. Cano led PSJA High to win the District 31-6A title by batting .464 with 40 hits, 25 RBI, and 12 runs, while also serving as the Bears’ ace with an 8-2 record, a 1.84 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 41.2 innings pitched for a 29-9 overall team.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR – Andy Chapa, Sharyland Pioneer and Homer Munoz, La Joya High
Sharyland Pioneer’s Chapa and La Joya’s Munoz were both problems at the plate for opposing pitchers during the 2024 season to split All-Area Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Sharyland Pioneer’s senior shortstop Chapa posted a team-high .440 batting average with 27 hits, 27 RBI, 20 runs and one home run to lead the Diamondbacks to a District 31-5A championship and area round playoff appearance.
The senior catcher Munoz, meanwhile, led La Joya offensively with a .400 batting average, 50 hits, 30 RBI, 12 runs and six home runs. He came through when the Coyotes needed him most to lead La Joya into the fourth round of the state playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Jose Rivera, McAllen Memorial
McAllen Memorial junior shortstop Jose Rivera was a model of consistency up the middle of the Mustangs defense. His play helped McAllen Memorial make program history with their first playoff win since 1997 and deepest playoff run in program history that reached the regional final round of the Class 5A playoffs. Rivera also batted .372 with 25 RBI, 24 runs and one home run.
PITCHER OF THE YEAR – Jaime Palacios, McAllen High and Mateo Garcia, La Joya Palmview
McHi’s Palacios, District 31-5A’s Pitcher of the Year, went 3-0 as a starter during the playoffs by recording Game 1 shutout victories against Harlingen South and La Joya Palmview, then limited crosstown rival McAllen Memorial to two runs in Game 1 of their third round playoff series. He was dominant all season as the Bulldog’s No. 1.
Palmview’s Garcia put together a 9-0 record as a starter to finish with a 0.67 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 62.1 innings pitched. He pitched six complete games, three of which were shutouts. Garcia also hit .358 with 27 RBI, 29 runs and two home runs to lead Palmview to the District 30-5A championship.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – John Reyna, Weslaco High
Reyna burst onto the scene with an outstanding debut season at the varsity level with the Panthers to earn All-Area Newcomer of the Year honors. The freshman posted a .386 average with 27 hits, 13 RBI, 13 runs and one home run, while also going 10-2 on the mound with a 1.25 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 61.2 innings pitched. Reyna played a key role in helping Weslaco reach the regional quarterfinal round of the state playoffs.
SUB-5A PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Ian Szczuroski, Hidalgo
Hidalgo’s Szczuroski was productive at the plate all season long to lead the Pirates to win a share of the District 32-4A championship. The junior pitcher and middle infielder was a dominant force near the top of the Pirates’ lineup and displayed power with three home runs on the year.
COACH OF THE YEAR – Roque Cortinas, McAllen Memorial
Cortinas took over head coaching duties at his alma mater in 2022 and turned the McAllen Memorial baseball program around in short order. He coached the Mustangs to reach the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons, win their first playoff series since 1997 and reach the fourth round of the playoffs for the first time in program history. The Mustangs finished as the No. 3 seed in District 31-5A, one of the toughest districts in all of Texas, and posted a 26-16 overall record with playoff series wins over Brownsville Porter, Corpus Christi Veterans, McAllen High and Kerrville Tivy.
The Monitor’s All-Area First Team
P – David An, McAllen Memorial
P – Santiago Tijerina, La Joya High
C – Jacob Delgadillo, PSJA High
1B – Ryan Everitt, Weslaco High
2B – Alec Salazar, Edcouch-Elsa
SS – Stone Gomez, Weslaco High
3B – Emilio Preza, McAllen Memorial
IF – Lucas Zambrano, La Joya High
IF – Branden Leon, McAllen Rowe
OF – Nyles Alvarez, PSJA High
OF – David Cavazos, Sharyland Pioneer
OF – Jorge Garza, La Joya Palmview
OF – Alejandro Islas, Sharyland High
DH – Josiah Gonzalez, La Joya Palmview
Util – Chris Ramos, Mission Veterans
The Monitor’s All-Area Second Team
P – Ruben Lopez, Sharyland Pioneer
P – Rene Vela, Sharyland Pioneer
C – Deandre Rodriguez, Rio Grande City
1B – Juan Castillo, Valley View
2B – Jayden Martinez, Edinburg Vela
SS – Jaime Lopez, PSJA High
3B – Tony Solis, Weslaco East
IF – Raul Prishker, Hidalgo
IF – Andy Rodriguez, Weslaco East
OF – Diego Chapa, Sharyland Pioneer
OF – Homer Garcia, Sharyland High
OF – Sean Lara, McAllen High
DH – Santiago Soto, Sharyland High
Utility – Eric Alonzo, McAllen High
