HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

It isn’t uncommon for athletes to grow up on the same field together all the way to the high school stage. After all, schools and districts are zoned for a reason.

The John Cooper School has recently made an expert-hire, bringing in former MLB minor-leaguer Domonique Lewis to run the Dragon baseball program.

The UIL Baseball Playoffs are finally here. After an exciting regular season, featuring a multitude of ball clubs defying expectations, the road to the State Championship begins now. Region III is absolutely loaded, as Friendswood looks to run it back for a State Title, with other 5A contenders–Barbers Hill, Magnolia West and Crosby–right on their heels for a chance to win it all.

VYPE caught up with Memorial Baseball player and Vanderbilt Signee Jakob Schulz at the VYPE Spring Branch ISD Spring Media Day about the season and more!

Postseason Baseball has finally arrived.As the regular season progressed, several of the usual suspects–Cy Woods, Pearland, The Woodlands, and Ridge Point–flexed on the competition, with a few surprise teams rising the ranks to make it to the playoffs.

Following their recent sweep against St. Pius X, the Concordia Lutheran Crusaders have become the undisputed TAPPS District (4-Division I) Champions, as the playoffs rapidly approach. This doesn’t come as a major surprise, considering the dominance ‘Sader Nation has showcased all year, but capping off the regular season with an astounding 31-2 record (11-1 district) is a fitting way to enter the postseason.

DAVIS BASEBALL IS HOME TO A TOP-SHELF ATHLETE IN SENIOR JULIAN SCOTT. As they returned to the diamond this Spring, the Falcons knew they could lean on their ace, who was coming off a stellar 2022 season that saw him walk away with the 2022 District MVP.

JACOB MACIAS IS A BASEBALL SAVANT. The MacArthur junior two-way player was introduced to the game by his dad at an early age. Like, three-years-old early.

Following a 2022 season that saw Terry finish in the No. 6 spot in their tough district, the Rangers look to flip the script. Sophomore shortstop Andrew Hernandez will play a significant role in the turnaround as he anchors the infield and sets the table in the batting lineup.

THERE IS A NEW SHERIFF INTOWN FOR WILLIS BASEBALL. After playing high school ball at Montgomery High School and serving as an assistant coach at College Park for six years, Brett Washburn was ready to run his own program.

ALDINE HIGH BASEBALL HAS BECOME A FIERCE COMPETITOR IN THE HOUSTON AREA DURING HEAD COACH JOHNNY TOUPS’ SEVEN-YEAR TENURE.

When not on the field, he stays in the weight room. “Just being committed to fitness has been a big part of my success,” the Sterling senior said. “If I’m not on the diamond, I’m in the gym. ”If he’s not in either of those places, you can find Mixon in a meeting leading his peers as the Student Body President at Sterling High School.

BASEBALL HAS BEEN IN THE CARDS FOR GOOSE CREEK MEMORIAL’S STAR SENIOR PITCHER SAMMY IBARRA JR. CONSIDERING HE WAS BORN INTO THE CULTURE, HE WOULDN’T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY.

In the past 10 years dating back to 2012 (there was no State baseball in 2019), the Greater Houston-area has produced six of the 20 possible State Titles to include Class 6A and Class 5A. Not bad. Barbers Hill (2021, Class 5A), Deer Park (2017, Class 6A), Cypress Ranch (2015, 2012, Class 6A), Tomball (2013, Class 5A) and The Woodlands (2013, Class 6A) all won State Titles. So, who is next?

LEE HIGH BASEBALL RETURNED TO THE DIAMOND THIS SPRING WITH THE EXPECTATION OF EARNING THE RESPECT AS A DISTRICT 17-5A CONTENDER. Their switch-hitting Division I shortstop Zach White will see to it.

March 28, watch the Woodlands play Grand Oaks starting at 6:50 p.m. on the KPRC 2+ app.

The Concordia Lutheran Crusaders are all that everyone is talking about in Houston private school baseball. The 'Saders are loaded up and down the lineup and are currently undefeated. But, it's time for district play.

We are already halfway through the UIL Spring season. Time sure does fly. Cy Woods has had a tremendous tournament season and a quick start in district play. The Wildcats have a strong pitching staff and a balanced batting lineup. Class 6A Region III will be a battle between the likes of Pearland, Ridge Point, Tompkins, and a surprising Cinco Ranch as it stands now. Class 6A Region II is loaded with Cy Woods, Grand Oak, and The Woodlands, among others.

VYPE caught up with Ernest Gonzales Head Coach of MacArthur Baseball at the VYPE Aldine ISD Spring Media Day about the new season and more!

It would appear that LSA Baseball is delivering on its promise to “get back on top” in the race for TAPPS supremacy on the diamond. The Pioneers have started off the Spring season like they were shot out of a cannon, winning nine out of their first ten games, which included an especially sweet series sweep over heated rival, Second Baptist, to begin district play.

VYPE caught up with Coach Tom Gladney of Houston Christian Baseball at the VYPE Houston Christian High School Spring Media Day about the new season and more!

Pearland enjoyed another stellar season in 2022 under District Coach of the Year winner David Rogers (4th year-92 career wins), finishing first overall in District 23-6A en route to a deep playoff run in which they reached the Regional Semifinals.

TWCA BASEBALL RETURNS TO THE DIAMOND THIS SPRING WITH AMBITIONS OF REACHING THE TAPPS POSTSEASON AND GETTING HOT AT THE RIGHT TIME.

Fort Bend Christian Academy baseball is off to a strong start this Spring with a stalwart bullpen and bats aplenty, proving that this Eagles’ squad should be considered one of the top TAPPS teams in Houston.

The Mustangs intend to ride back to the State Title game this season. Only, this time they won’t plan on leaving empty-handed. Friendswood has garnered two-consecutive district titles (would have, likely, been three if not for COVID) and it doesn’t appear that trend will stop this spring.

TOMPKINS BASEBALL IS EMBARKING ON ANOTHER SEASON OF BALL. After finishing with the top spot in their district, followed by a three-round run in the UIL 6A Postseason, the Falcons are hungry for the opportunity to build on last season's momentum.

INSIDE PITCH: VYPE Baseball Rankings, No. 13 Kingwood Mustangs

INSIDE PITCH: VYPE Baseball Rankings, No. 14 Deer Park Deer

INSIDE PITCH: VYPE Baseball Rankings, No. 15 Clear Creek Wildcats

INSIDE PITCH: VYPE Baseball Rankings, No. 16 El Campo Ricebirds

INSIDE PITCH: VYPE Baseball Rankings, No. 17 Cy Ranch Mustangs

INSIDE PITCH: VYPE Baseball Rankings, No. 19 Tomball Cougars

INSIDE PITCH: VYPE Baseball Rankings, No. 20 La Porte Bulldogs

INSIDE PITCH: VYPE Baseball Rankings, No. 22 Summer Creek Bulldogs

INSIDE PITCH: VYPE Baseball Rankings, No. 23 Magnolia West Mustangs

With the beginning of the Baseball season comes the VYPE HOU Pre-Season Baseball Player of the Year Fan Poll. VYPE HOU sorted through all of the stats from around H-town this season and has narrowed it down to some of the top athletes in the area. Be sure to vote for your favorite athlete out of the ones listed below!

INSIDE PITCH: VYPE Baseball Rankings, No. 25 Lamar Texans

VYPE caught up with Robert Cooper Head Coach of Rosehill Baseball - about the new season and more! Coach Cooper started the program 20 years ago and has built them into a constant contender and two time state champ.

AFTER AN IMPRESSIVE 18-8 REGULAR SEASON IN 2022, WHICH LED TO A PLAYOFF BERTH, THE CARDS ARE PREPPED TO RUN IT BACK THIS SPRING.

VYPE caught up with Thomas Loria - the head coach of Legacy Prep Christian Academy baseball - about the new season and more! The Lions are pretty young but should be competitive in TAPPS this season.

FRIENDSWOOD’S THIRD-BASEMAN IS RIGHT OFF OF CENTRAL CASTING – THE BIG-SWINGING, BARREL-CHESTED TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYER. SOMETHING OFF THE FAMOUS ROBERT REDFORD MOVIE, “THE NATURAL”

Greater Houston is loaded with State baseball powers. The competition is elite, and the coaching is some of the best in the country.

PLAY BALL: VYPE Preseason Top 5 Private School Baseball Teams; Others to Watch

​PLAY BALL: VYPE’s Private School Baseball Rankings No. 1 Second Baptist School Eagles

No. 5

The John Cooper School Athletic Department held a signing ceremony on Wednesday, February 1 in the Dunlap Gymnasium to recognize senior Kade Meyer who will be competing at the college level in the fall of 2023.

It shouldn’t come as a shock that a State Semifinalist like Concordia Lutheran has become so proficient at developing and showcasing young talent. The Crusaders’ bullpen is no exception, considering they played a major role in last season’s success.

VYPE caught up with Chad Landry Head Coach of Bridge City Baseball at their VYPE Spring 2023 Media day talking about last year, up coming season and more!!

To the victors, go the spoils.

To the victors, go the spoils.

Sophomore Victor Coronado and freshman Marcus Cantu will be teammates at Lutheran South Academy when the baseball season gets going in January.

Brady Dever’s first love was baseball. Growing up, he always had a glove or bat in his hand. But as a sophomore two years ago, he started to realize it was football that could take him somewhere.

HOUSTON – Ty Baker '23 had a sophomore pitching season to remember with Second Baptist School's baseball team.

Former VYPE Coverboy CJ Hinojosa homered twice as the Sugar Land Skeeters prevailed for a 9-7 extra-inning win Sunday night against the Albuquerque Isotopes.

HOUSTON - No matter the competition, be it rock-paper-scissors, lifting weights, or a cross-fit challenge-type course, which included who could flip a monster truck tire the fastest in 15 yards; Colton Cowser and Ty Madden would go at it in high school.

The baseball season is over, and the championships have been won! Now it's time for the fans to speak!

The Baseball season is over, and the championships have been won! Now it's time for the fans to speak!

The beat played on…

Earlier this spring, the Concordia Lutheran and entire baseball community gathered to honor the late Rick Lynch.

Sean Fitzpatrick had a night.

The Mustangs might be the hottest team in town! Cruising to a 19-0 start, Friendswood has really left their mark on Houston High School Baseball in 2021. Their undefeated run earns them the Team of the Week spot.

The Second Baptist School baseball team is in full flex mode, taking down The Woodlands Christian Academy 12-0 in a district game last night. Pitcher Bryce Calloway was dealing on the mound with 10 strikeouts and hit a home run, and had three doubles at the plate. The Eagles are 7-0 in district play and are on their way to a deep playoff run. Check out the photos by VYPE's Bradley Collier. CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PHOTOS

HOUSTON – Heading into the season there were more questions than answers around Kingwood Park baseball. "I think this team felt like they were better than the preseason polls or articles were saying," Kingwood Park coach Bruce Cox said. "They are for sure playing with a little chip on their shoulder and they practice that way too. Like mentioned before, King – a UTSA baseball-commit – has the hottest bat in this Panthers lineup. "He's doing what we expected of him and he's having a heck of a season," Cox said.

HOUSTON - On a gorgeous March night, people made their way to the baseball stadium behind Concordia Lutheran High School. The school, baseball program, and community also were gathered to honor the late Rick Lynch. With every player wearing a hat with 25 on the front and "Lynch" stitched in the back of the hat, Concordia Lutheran officially retired the No. 25 jersey and placed it permanently on the front side of the press box facing what will now be known as Rick Lynch Field. AdVYPE was on hand for the evening, which saw Concordia Lutheran win 2-0.

Going into his start against Dobie last weekend, MacArthur's Ryan Dollar wasn't feeling it. Let's just say Dollar can overcome adversity as the junior threw a no-hitter in a 5-1 win. "It was about the second inning when I started feeling it," he said. "Especially when the other team started talking. When not on the mound, Dollar also plays shortstop for the Generals and is one of the top sticks in the lineup.

Heading into the 2021 season, VYPE decided to rank its Top 21 prospects in both baseball and softball in the Greater Houston area. Here are the Top 21 baseball players as ranked by VYPE heading into the spring. 1 Izaac Pacheco, Friendswood (Texas A&M)2 Caedmon Parker, TWCA (TCU)3 Jakob Schulz, Memorial (Vanderbilt)4 Luke Harrison, Lutheran South (Texas)5 John Spikerman, Lake Creek (Oklahoma)6 Conner Weigman, Bridgeland (Texas A&M)7 Jace LaViolette, Tompkins (LSU)8 Will Maynard, Klein Cain (Texas A&M)9 Mason Marriott, Tomball (Baylor)10 Justin Vossos, Ridge Point (Texas A&M)11 Cameron Cauley, Barbers Hill (Texas Tech)12 Casen Nuemann, Tomball (Baylor)13 Graiden West, Tompkins (Rice)14 Dylan Kerbow, The Woodlands (Texas State)15 Keegan Lynn, Memorial (Arkansas)16 Austin Ford, Cy Woods (Arkansas)17 Murphy Brooks, Bridgeland (TCU)18 Chase Pelter, Kinkaid (TCU)19 Tab Tracy, Stratford (Houston)20 Aaron Calhoun, Clear Brook (Oklahoma)21 Ryan Williams, Bridgeland (Mississippi State)AdCLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 2021 VYPE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL MAGAZINECLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 2021 VYPE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PHOTOSCLICK HERE TO VIEW FULL DIGITAL MAGAZINE

Playing multiple sports has just been a way of life for Carson Rodgers since he remembers. At one point, Rodgers played football, basketball, and even baseball and he continued that trend at St. Pius X High School where he continued playing multiple sports. Now, the senior will get to continue that at the next level after signing with Texas Wesleyan University on Wednesday, which will give him the opportunity to play both football and baseball. AdOn the mound, Rodgers throws fastball, curveball, changeup and even a splitter once in a while and is a big Justin Verlander fan. "Definitely my parents, my mother especially because she never stopped pushing me and motivating me throughout my whole life," Rodgers said.

No, we are not asking if you want cheese on your No. 1 from Whataburger. Instead, saying to smile for the camera. Houston baseball stars got to experience the bright lights at the recent VYPE Houston Baseball Photoshoot presented by Whataburger. Click here to visit your local Whataburger and make sure to check out #WhataSnap.

VYPE held the 2021 Baseball & Softball Preseason Photoshoot presented by Whataburger on Monday 18, 2021. Here's a look behind the scenes of the prime event!

Earlier this week was the first of four National Signing Days. At Lutheran South Academy on Wednesday there were four athletes that put pen to paper, all from the Pioneers' baseball team. Also signing on the day was Easton Brenner to Lafayette College, Nelson Kelin to Benedictine College and Christian Melilo who signed to Southwestern University. VYPE's Susan Paling was on hand for the event. Check out some photos from the day!

HOUSTON - It was a busy day across the City of Houston. Area athletes across multiple sports signed their National Letters of Intent to seal their college choices. VYPE Houston traveled to multiple signing day events including Spring Branch ISD's Memorial and Stratford High School, St. Pius X, The Woodlands Christian Academy, Concordia Lutheran, Lutheran South and a few others. VYPE also had submission of photos from around the area. Check out some of the best images and soundbites from the day!

Senior Dylan Kerbow will be the Highlander ace in 2021 after losing his junior year to COVID cancelling the season. A good team can get ready for that." After ninth grade, it would be straight baseball. "It came down to baseball and football and I had to go straight baseball," he said. He played on a local select baseball team coming up before joining EPA and finally the Hunter Pence Academy.

Ty has always been immersed in basketball, football or baseball growing up. The 6-foot-7 dual-sport athlete recently committed to Texas A&M for baseball, but his journey has showed what he's made of when facing adversity. In third grade, all my buddies on the basketball team where basically the same kids on the football team. Basketball fell by the wayside in the eighth-grade as he began to really focus on baseball and football. "During the football season my shoulder was hurting but I just treated it and played the rest of the year," he said.

While it's tough to be elite at two different sports these days, Bridgeland's Conner Weigman is the exception. As 2019 District 14-6A Newcomer on the Year as the quarterback of the Bears, Weigman threw for over 2,500 yards and rushed for another 700 yards. On the diamond, Weigman was just named the Offensive MVP of the #PudgeWorldClassic for the Twelve Baseball showcase organization. Bridgeland made history on the football field, going 8-3, finishing second in district play and reaching the postseason. With two years of prep sports still ahead of him, Weigman is going to become a household name in Houston.

The resurgent Kempner Cougars won nine of their first 10 baseball games in 2020 before COVID-19 cut the season short. Waiting - impatiently - for a chance to get back on the mound are a remarkable number of former KHS pitchers, several of whom have kept alive the dream of someday pitching in MLB. In the continuing VYPE Summer Series presented by Xfinity, Roger Smith grills Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguer Simeon Woods-Richardson, a panel of other ex-Coogs, and the pitching "guru" who developed them at KHS, Head Coach Eric Folkerts.

The resurgent Kempner Cougars won nine of their first 10 baseball games in 2020 before COVID-19 cut the season short. Waiting - impatiently - for a chance to get back on the mound are a remarkable number of former KHS pitchers, several of whom have kept alive the dream of someday pitching in MLB. In the continuing VYPE Summer Series presented by Xfinity, Roger Smith grills Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguer Simeon Woods-Richardson, a panel of other ex-Coogs, and the pitching "guru" who developed them at KHS, Head Coach Eric Folkerts.

The resurgent Kempner Cougars won nine of their first 10 baseball games in 2020 before COVID-19 cut the season short. Waiting - impatiently - for a chance to get back on the mound are a remarkable number of former KHS pitchers, several of whom have kept alive the dream of someday pitching in MLB. In the continuing VYPE Summer Series presented by Xfinity, Roger Smith grills Toronto Blue Jays minor leaguer Simeon Woods-Richardson, a panel of other ex-Coogs, and the pitching "guru" who developed them at KHS, Head Coach Eric Folkerts.

TRANSFERRING FROM MONTGOMERY HIGH SCHOOL AFTER HIS FRESHMAN SEASON, CADEN QUECK FLOURISHED AT THE WOODLANDS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY. "It was all about opportunity," Queck said. "There was just so much opportunity to showcase what I could do here at The Woodlands Christian Academy. Queck was looking forward to playing with his younger brother Carson, but the season was cut short. "I love being outside playing basketball or on the beach.

VYPE inducted its first-ever class of Hall of Fame coaches. This Content is Sponsored by Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine! Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine is Houston's leading provider of orthopedic services, from sports medicine to joint replacement. Houston Methodist offers comprehensive diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative services with a high standard of excellence for elite athletes, active adults and student athletes. Houston Methodist serves as the official health care provider for the Houston Texans, Houston Astros, Rice Athletics, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera.