MERIDIAN’S DIAMOND GEMS

After historic baseball postseason run, Yellowjacket senior Wehmeyer named Defensive Player of the Year, Jones draws Pitcher of the Year in All-District 14-1A honors

Despite running into a rough patch during District 14-1A competition, the Meridian Yellowjackets shook off a three-game losing streak to wrap up the 2024 Texas high school baseball season with a wild finish, winning three straight to earn back-to-back trips to the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

But the Jackets were far from finished. Hoping to advance to the Class 1A Region 2 Finals for the first time in school history, Meridian came up short against one of the best teams the state has to offer.

As a result, the Jackets were fittingly honored when All-District 14-1A honors were announced last week, led by two superlative award winners – senior Brayden Wehmeyer named the district’s Defensive Player of the Year and junior Matty Jones earning Pitcher of the Year.

Additionally, junior pitcher Ian Gomez and junior infielder Ben Beaudin were named to the all-district first-team, junior infielder Jesus Martinez and senior Austin Pogue were selected to the all-district second-team, while junior infielder Bradley Kihnel drew honorable mention recognition.

“I’m just really proud of these young men and their willingness to keep believing,” Meridian baseball head coach Roy Mozley said. “I think we’re all just feeling really blessed right now.”

Advancing to the Region Semifinals for only the second time in school history, the Jackets (14-10) were eliminated by the defending state champion Abbott Panthers, 7-0, May 25 at the Cleburne Sports as Abbott’s Conner Sullins and Riley Sustala combined on the mound for a two-hit shutout.

Seeking its second straight state title, Abbott (16-9-1) will face Fayetteville (17-4) in the Class 1A State Semifinals at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

After Abbott jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, Jacket starting pitcher Brayden Wehmeyer tossed a scoreless inning to give Meridian an opportunity to get back in the game. But the Panthers relentlessly tacked on single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings before seemingly putting the game away with a pair of runs in the sixth while scattering 14 hits across seven innings.

As they repeatedly did during the season and the playoffs, the Jackets (14-10) mounted a rally in the bottom of the seventh by loading the bases with only one out as Gomez and Martinez collected Meridian’s only hits of the game. But Sustala came on in relief to seal Abbott’s victory as he combined with Sullins to strike out 11 Jackets.

As the Defensive Player of the Year playing catcher and pitcher, Wehmeyer led the Jackets with 31 hits, six doubles, and six triples while batting .443, knocking in 20 runs, scoring 20 more and stealing a team-high 20 bases. On the mound, Wehmeyer tossed 28.1 innings while striking out 27 to post a 3-2 win-loss record.

Jones posted a 4-3 win-loss record on the mound with a 3.48 earned run average while tossing a team-high 48.1 innings and striking out 72. At the plate, Jones scored a team-high 23 runs and knocking in 17 more while batting .329 with 25 hits.

As a first-team, all-district selection, Gomez tossed 45.2 innings on the mound, posting a 5-3 record with a 2.52 ERA while striking out 89. At the plate, Gomez batted .458 with 27 hits, including six doubles, three triples and a homer while scoring 21 runs and knocking in 16 more.

Beaudin led the Jackets with a .455 batting average with team-highs in doubles (8) and RBIs (21) while collecting 30 hits and scoring 16 times.

Earning second-team honors, Martinez proved to be a clutch hitter in district and the playoffs by driving in 14 runs, while Pogue posted a .338 batting average with 23 hits.

“In regards to the season overall, I’m very proud of these young men,” Mozley said. “Their willingness to compete, to persevere and to believe in each other. And in their ability to find a way to win.”