LAREDO JOHNSON WOLVES BASEBALL
The Laredo Johnson Wolves baseball team is "HOWLING" as the 2026 high school baseball season has started. By Sal Nuno Sciaraffa C/S Lrd of Texas Media / Laredo Sports Wire News Magazine / Southwest Sports Wire News Network.
The Laredo Johnson Wolves played their high school baseball second game in Laredo, Texas, on Monday night at the "Cross Winds SAC Baseball Stadium."
My take on the game watching shortstop Enrique Loyola, who is widely recognized as one of the best hitters in the history of the LBJ Wolves baseball program. Position: Shortstop. Role: Leadoff hitter. In his 2025 Season Performance: His Batting Average was: .456 (the highest recorded average in LBJ HIGH SCHOOL program history). Loyola had 36 hits (a single-season LBJ program record). He recorded at least one hit in 21 games, including 12 multi-hit performances during the 2025 spring season.
As of early February 2026, Loyola remains a key contributor for the Wolves, who recently opened their 2026 season with a dominant 21-1 victory over Crystal City and a tough 3-2 win over the Zapata Hawks on Monday night.
Loyola had several key plays at shortstop, several times reaching deep into the hole and throwing runners out at first base.
My Sports Wire News NIKON CAMERA CAUGHT my eye on Mark Flores Jersey Number: #15 had some of the toughest digs at first base on throws from the infielders to get several runners out at key moments. His defensive play on Monday Night was for the ages. THIS DUDE IS now a sophomore (Class of 2028)
My Sports Wire News NIKON Camera caught me on Jose Andres Gongora, the Wolves Catcher who is also a multi-sport student-athlete at Laredo LBJ High School, currently in his senior year (Class of 2026).
He serves as a standout catcher for the Wolves baseball team and was a tight end for the varsity football team, which made the playoffs in 2025.
Baseball stuff, Gongora is recognized as a key offensive and defensive contributor for the Laredo LBJ baseball program. Gongora played behind the plate and in front of the "BLUE" handled the pitching of the Wolves Monday with ease, and those talented hands kept the ball in play all game long for his pitchers.
The Wolves in 2026 are under head coach Arek Zambanini. The Wolves are coming off a record-breaking 2025 campaign, where they achieved their most wins since 2013. The team is currently competing in District 30-6A.
Coach Zambanini is a former NCAA DII player for Texas A&M International and has been the head baseball coach at LBJ for the past two years.
It was just the second game for the Wolves, but the way they played and handled themselves is a testament to Coach Zambanini and his coaching staff. The Wolves were running in and out between innings, and after heading to the dugout, they struck out or were thrown out at bases.
It's how they played the little ball around the baseball diamond that was impressive. They are well coached in situational baseball, as you saw the Wolves throwing to the correct cut of the man and to the correct base on hits going to the outfield.
THE HOWLING of the LBJ WOLVES is going to be loud in 2026. Up next for the Wolves is the 2026 Border Olympics Baseball Showcase where they are to play six games.
