CC Calallen takes UIL state baseball title over Pleasant Grove

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS (June 6, 2925) The Calallen Wildcats have ended a 17-year wait by winning the UIL 4A Division I State Baseball Championship. On Friday, they defeated Texarkana Pleasant Grove 5–3 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. This victory marks Calallen's fourth state title in school history.

Junior pitcher Drayton Mitchell (shown above holding plaque) played a key role, earning MVP honors. He pitched over five innings, striking out six batters and allowing only three runs. Mitchell also contributed offensively with two hits. "I couldn't have done it without my team," Mitchell said. "We worked every day, and this was our goal."

Senior Cody Andrade came in as a relief pitcher and closed the game with 1.2 innings, striking out five batters and giving up just one hit. "I felt the groove going," Andrade said. "My defense has my back like always."

The Wildcats trailed early but took the lead in the fifth inning when senior Chase Lynch hit a go-ahead RBI single. "I live for the big spots," Lynch said. "Everyone supports me to go and get the big knock.

Head coach Steve Chapman praised his team's effort, saying, "They play really hard, they're talented, and they have a never-say-die attitude."

Lake Travis forces game 3 with strong pitching against SA Johnson

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS (May 30, 2025) Lake Travis kept its season alive with a big 3-1 win over San Antonio Johnson in Game 2 of their UIL Class 6A regional quarterfinal playoff series. The win ties the best-of-three series at 1-1 and forces a Game 3 to decide who moves on.

The star of the game was Lake Travis pitcher Luke Falcon. He was nearly perfect on the mound, throwing a complete game and giving up just one run. Falcon kept the Johnson hitters off balance all night with smart pitches and great control.

Lake Travis got a strong start at the plate, scoring early runs to take the lead. Solid defense and smart base running also helped the Cavaliers stay ahead.

San Antonio Johnson had won Game 1 of the series, 6-4, and hoped to close it out in Game 2. But Lake Travis had other plans, showing toughness and focus in front of their home fans.

Game 3 will now decide which team moves on in the Texas high school baseball playoffs. Both teams have shown they can win, so the final game should be exciting.

For Lake Travis, Falcon’s performance was a key moment in their playoff run. If they bring the same energy to Game 3, they’ll have a great chance to keep their season going.

Four Houston-area teams set for UIL state baseball semifinals

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (May 28, 2025)Four Houston-area high school baseball teams are one step away from the state championship. Atascocita, Tomball, Kingwood, and are all headed to the UIL Class 6A state semifinals this week.

In Class 6A Division I, Atascocita (30-11-2) will take on Lake Travis (25-10-3) at Blue Bell Park in College Station. Game 1 is Thursday at 6 p.m., Game 2 is Friday at 6 p.m., and Game 3 (if needed) is Saturday at 6 p.m. The winner will move on to face either Prosper or Waco Midway in the state title game on Saturday, June 7, at 4 p.m. in Round Rock.

In Class 6A Division II, Tomball (32-6-1) is matched up with Flower Mound Marcus (30-11). Their series will be played at Georgetown High School, with games Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m. and a possible Game 3 on Saturday at noon.

Kingwood (36-3), one of the top teams in the state, will play Dripping Springs (28-10) in Victoria. Game 1 is Thursday at 7 p.m., Game 2 is Friday at 7 p.m., and Game 3, if needed, is Saturday at 7 p.m.

The winners of the Tomball and Kingwood series will meet in the Division II title game at noon on Saturday, June 7, in Round Rock.

Big games are ahead for these Houston squads as they chase a state title.

Colleyville Heritage downs El Paso Americas in close UIL baseball playoff game

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved

MIDLAND, TEXAS (May 17, 2025) In a hard-fought playoff game, Colleyville Heritage held off El Paso Americas High School with a 6-5 win in the UIL Class 5A Division I area round of the Texas high school baseball playoffs. 

Americas jumped out to an early 4-1 lead after the second inning. Senior catcher Daniel Quiñones helped the Trail Blazers get started with a strong hit in the first. Junior pitcher Jayden Perales also added a big hit in the second inning.

But Colleyville Heritage fought back. They scored five runs over the next four innings to take a 6-4 lead. Americas added one more run in the sixth inning to make it 6-5, but couldn’t catch up.

Even though they lost, Americas had a great season. They finished with a 30-8 record and won the District 1-6A championship. 

UIL Baseball State 6A All-Tournament Team Announced

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS (June 9, 2024) The Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association has announced the UIL Baseball State All-Tournament Team for Conference 6A. This team features the best players from the state tournament, with selections highlighting their outstanding performances.

MVP Honors: Karson Reeder, a sophomore from Tomball, was named the Most Valuable Player. His remarkable skills and performance throughout the tournament earned him this top honor.

Pitching Excellence: Nico Partida, a junior from Pearland, shone on the mound, earning him the pitcher spot on the all-tournament team. His powerful throws and consistent strikes were crucial for his team's success.

Behind the Plate: Cade Arrambide, a senior from Tomball, was selected as the catcher. His leadership and skill in managing the game from behind the plate were exceptional.

Infield Stars

• First Base: CJ Sampson, a sophomore from Tomball, was a strong presence at first base, contributing significantly both offensively and defensively.
• Second Base: Blaine Lucas, a senior from Tomball, showcased his experience and talent, securing the second base position.
• Third Base: Freshman Ryan Maples from San Antonio Johnson displayed impressive talent at third base, marking him as a rising star in the sport.
• Shortstop: Adrian Rodriguez, a senior from Lewisville Flower Mound, excelled at shortstop, demonstrating his agility and precision.

Outfield Talents: The outfield positions were filled with top performers:

• John Moya, a senior from Pearland, showed exceptional skill and speed.
• Walker Hurst, a junior from Pearland, displayed excellent fielding abilities.
• Catcher Hopkins, a sophomore from Tomball, impressed with his versatility and strength.

Utility Player: Josh Olivo, a senior from Tomball, was selected as the utility player. His ability to play multiple positions effectively made him a valuable asset to his team.

These talented athletes have been recognized for their hard work and dedication, making them standouts in the 2024 UIL Baseball State Tournament for Conference 6A. 

Tomball Cougars down Pearland Oilers to win 6A state championship

By Robert H Kelly

Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved

ROUND ROCK, TEXAS (June 8, 2024) Houston area high school baseball was destined to shine this season, and the Tomball Cougars made sure they were the ones bringing home the UIL Class 6A state championship. On Saturday at Dell Diamond, the Cougars clinched their second state title in program history with a 4-1 win over Pearland.

Tomball (41-3), ranked No. 3 in the nation by MaxPreps, ended their season with an impressive 30-game winning streak. They also secured two shutout victories in the state tournament. Pearland (36-9), on the other hand, fell short of state gold for the second year in a row after losing 6-4 in the final last season.

The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning when Tomball brought 10 batters to the plate and took control. Sophomore right-hander Karson Reeder delivered a stellar performance, pitching a complete game with just three hits allowed. He struck out 14 straight batters at one point, allowing Pearland only one hit in the sixth inning.

Pearland's senior pitcher Jaden Barfield, who started in the state championship game for the second consecutive year, had a strong start with four strikeouts in the first three innings. However, things took a turn in the fourth inning. With two runners on base, Reeder hit an RBI single, followed by a two-run single by Josh Olivo, and a bases-loaded walk by C.J. Sampson, putting Tomball up 4-0.

Barfield, an Oklahoma recruit, had previously thrown three shutouts during the postseason but struggled in this game. Despite his efforts, he couldn't stop Tomball's two-out rally in the fourth inning.

Reeder, who came into the game with a 12-1 record and a 0.89 ERA, continued to dominate after allowing a leadoff single. He ended the inning with a double play and kept Pearland in check until Cade Adams hit an RBI single with two outs in the seventh inning.

Tomball's playoff run was remarkable, going undefeated with a 12-0 record and allowing only 15 runs. This win marks Houston's first 6A state title since Deer Park won in 2017 and only the third 6A state title for  the Houston area since 2014.

TexSport Publications names Texas Class A All State baseball team

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2013 TexSport Publications

DEER PARK-PASADENA, TEXAS (July 22, 2013) TexSport Publications has announced its Class A All State Baseball Team for 2013 along with the Class A Player of the Year and Coach of the Year.

The selection was made by the staff of TexSport Publications and based on athlete and team performances throughout the year.

The Player of the Year was Price Carlisle High School’s Gunner Baker.

The 6-3, 190 pound pitcher and outfielder was 14-0 with a 0.23 earned run average. He had 177 strikeouts in 88.1 innings. He pitched three no-hitters and .446 with 59 RBI.

He has signed to play college baseball for Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas.

Price Carlisle head coach Wesley Colley was named the Class A Coach of the Year.

The first team selections include:

Pitcher: Kyle Barnett-Stamford
Pitcher: Gunner Baker-Price Carlisle
Pitcher: Jacob Stroder-Frost
Catcher: Dawson Ried-Archer City
First Base: Caleb Vaught-Sundown
Second Base: Steven Crump-Harlton
Third Base: Brett Rohde-Fayetteville
Shortstop: Tanner Richey-Borden County
Outfielder: Josh Velasquez-Flatonia
Outfielder: Tyler Pate-Port Aransas
Outfielder: Steven Howard-Borden Country
Designated Hitter: Hagen Hutchinson-Stamford


The second team selections include:


Pitcher: Lane Hobbs-Thrall
Pitcher: Kellen Green-Windtrost
Pitcher: Slater Stone-Trenton
Catcher: Dylan McCarley-Trenton
First Base: Wyatt Beezley-Trenton
Second Base: Hunter Clark-Chino
Third Base: Chantz Holland-Cayuga
Shortstop: Kyle Barnett-Stamford
Outfielder: Dalton Tullos-Chino
Outfielder: Nick Maxham-Port Aransas
Outfielder: Louis Lachney-Dawson
Designated Hitter: Kellen Green-Windthorst