THRALL — The Thrall Tigers varsity baseball team had 10 players named to the District 19-3A all-district team following a historic season that saw the program reach the state finals for the first time in 27 years.
Seniors Hayden Heselmeyer and Maverick McAllister headlined the list of honorees, with Heselmeyer earning Co-Defensive Most Valuable Player and McAllister receiving Pitcher of the Year honors.
Heselmeyer played a vital role throughout the Tigers’ postseason run, batting just under .500 in the playoffs and providing steady defense at 1st base. McAllister anchored Thrall’s pitching staff, finishing as one of the district's top arms in both earned run average and strikeouts.
Thrall landed six players on the all-district first team, led by sophomores Weston Smiley, Gus Navejas and Jack Gustafson. The trio were key contributors at the plate, with Navejas leading the team in home runs and Smiley and Gustafson consistently producing in the heart of the order.
The first-team selections were rounded out by seniors Nick Treuter and Ethan Boecker, along with junior Bryce Brinkmeyer. Brinkmeyer was a two-way threat for the Tigers, offering clutch hits at the plate while also serving as the team’s No. 2 pitcher behind McAllister.
Senior Ty Matthews and sophomore Ty Bradford were named to the second team, capping off a strong group of upperclassmen who helped power the Tigers through a memorable season.
Thrall finished the year with an overall record of 32-8-1 and went 10-2 in the postseason. The Tigers' playoff journey included multiple close victories and culminated in an appearance at the UIL Class 3A Division II state championship, where they fell to Wall High School, 14-2.
Despite the loss, the 2024 campaign will be remembered as one of the most successful in program history, with a strong returning core setting the stage for continued success in the years to come.
Above: Thrall Tigers senior Hayden Heselmeyer was named Co-Defensive Most Valuable Player on the all-district team. Left: Thrall Tigers sophomore Weston Smiley received firstteam honors on the all-district team. Photos by Steve Doak
