Dallas Hillcrest had its way with District 13-5A on the baseball diamond in 2026.
Not only did the Panthers post a perfect 12-0 mark in district competition, but Hillcrest also had an average margin of victory of 6.3 runs per game and won every game except for one by three runs or more.
So it was a bit surprising to see Hillcrest’s representation, or lack thereof, on the all-district team and superlative awards.
Leading the way for the squad with the lone superlative honor was sophomore Ian Martinez, who was named the district’s Newcomer of the Year.
Hillcrest’s leadoff hitter due to his ability to put the ball in play, Martinez steadily progressed throughout the season, finishing with a .304 average while scoring 26 runs.
“He caught our attention early on and earned that spot as our leadoff hitter,” said Ashley Moore, Hillcrest head coach. “And by the end of the season, he was playing some great ball. We are 100 percent expecting even bigger things from him next season. Not only hitting in the top three in our order, but as a leader for us as a junior.”
First-team selections for Hillcrest included the dynamic pitching duo of junior Jayden Pescador and sophomore Diego Wong.
For the year, Pescador posted an 8-0 record with a 0.96 ERA, while Wong went 7-0 with a 0.83 ERA.
“They were the two best pitchers in the district in my opinion, and could have been MVP and Pitcher of the Year,” Moore said. “They were both undefeated with microscopic ERAs, and we’re very fortunate to have both of them coming back next year.”
Moore noted that, in addition to their individual excellence, the pair’s strengths combined to make a tough 1-2 combination for opponents.
“One is a right and one is lefty, so that always makes it a little tougher,” he said. “And they pitch very differently, too. Diego pounds the zone and threw 75 percent of his pitches for strikes. And he was up around 80 percent on first pitches. And Jayden just has everything moving. You don’t know if it’s going to break left or right, or up and down. But they’re always in and around the zone, and that makes him tough.”
Also making his way to the first team as designated hitter was Elias Garcia, who hit .400 with 16 RBIs in just 16 games.
“He started on junior varsity and was just wearing opposing pitchers out,” Moore said. “He’s a monster out there and has so much power, and he is a player that still has a ton of room to grow. We’re really excited to see what he has in store for us next year.”
Carlos Salazar, meanwhile, made his way to the first team as a utility player following a strong season as Hillcrest’s backstop.
Moore said that Salazar began the year playing multiple positions before ascending to Hillcrest’s No. 1 catcher position for the homestretch and postseason.
For the year, Salazar — another player slated to return in 2027 — hit .434 while supplying stellar defense behind the plate.
Earning first-team nods for the second consecutive season in the outfield were seniors Lincoln Hunter and Julio Longa.
Hunter, who manned center field, hit .283 with 18 runs and 12 RBIs, while Longa (right field) posted a .418 average with 23 runs and 14 RBIs.
Moore praised both Hunter and Longa not only for their offensive talents, but for their throwing abilities from the outfield.
Moore also made note of the superb season shortstop J.P. Paternina put together.
A senior, Paternina hit .354 and was first on the squad in RBIs (22) and second in runs (25).
“He’s a kid I’ve known for a long time and I’m proud of his development,” Moore said. “He had some peaks and valleys and when it was all said and done, he turned into one of our most consistent players.”
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