Texas Little League World Series roster: What to know about Southwest Region’s players and coaches

08-24-2024
5 min read
Getty

It's not uncommon for a team from Texas to reach the Little League World Series. Winning the tournament, however, is rare for the Lone Star State.

Texas hasn't won a Little League World Series championship since 1966, when a team from Houston took the crown. There's a legitimate chance of that drought ending in 2024, thanks to a talented team from Boerne.

Texas rolled past Pennsylvania, Florida and Nevada to secure a spot in the championship game of the United States bracket, allowing a combined three runs across those three games. 

Just one win separates Texas from the state's first U.S. championship since 2017, and two wins are all that are needed for the state's first Little League World Series crown in 58 years.

Here's a complete look at the 12-man roster for the Texas Little League World Series team.

MORE: How Little League World Series pitch counts work

Texas Little League World Series roster 2024

Number Name Position
4 Caleb Khrist P/C/OF
5 Jett Matthews P/SS/OF
7 Doc Mogford P/C/CF
8 Gray Collins P/C/OF
9 Dylan Burke P/2B/3B/SS/OF
10 Aiden Munoz P/2B
12 Gage Steubing P/1B/OF
13 Kole Newson P/1B/3B/SS/OF
15 Julian Hurst P/C/1B
16 Ben Burkhart P/LF
17 Cooper Hastings P/1B/3B/OF
19 Caden Guffey P/C

Newson, the son of manager Justin Newson, is one of the most remarkable pieces of the team, as he underwent open-heart surgery four years ago after a routine doctor's appointment. Not only did Newson recover, but he returned to the baseball field within weeks and is now under the national spotlight in the Little League World Series.

The star of the LLWS for this Texas team, however, has undeniably been Julian Hurst. Hurst has notched 20 strikeouts in 10 innings of work, including four hitless innings against Pennsylvania and a complete game against Nevada. Oh, and he mashes, too. In a tournament that has become light on offense, Hurst managed three hits against Pennsylvania and two more in the win over Nevada. 

Scroll to Continue with Content

Texas undoubtedly appreciates the rest days before its U.S. championship game, which will allow Hurst to take the mound in some capacity and try to propel this talented group to the Little League World Series final.

MORE: Who's still standing in the Little League World Series?

Where is the Texas Little League team from?

The Texas team at the Little League World Series is Boerne Little League from Boerne, Tex. 

Boerne is a San Antonio suburb of about 19,000 people, sitting northwest of the city. The team represents the Southwest Region in the 2024 Little League World Series, marking the third consecutive year the Southwest Region was represented by a team from Texas.

Who is Texas Little League’s manager?

Texas is managed by Justin Newson, with Jonathan Collins and Bert Munoz as assistant coaches. Newson's son, Kole, is on the team's roster. 

This is not a full-time job for Newson, of course. He lists himself on LinkedIn as the vice president of pre-construction at a wholesale building materials company based in Texas. 

Newson's first job is father, however, and his second at the moment is manager. He gets to watch his son thrive under the national spotlight just years after a serious health scare, and two more wins would mean he can celebrate a world championship with his players.