Lutheran South Academy is loaded again
1. Lutheran South Academy Pioneers
2. Second Baptist Eagles
3. Concordia Lutheran Crusaders
4. St. Pius X Panthers
5. Episcopal Knights
...
Others to Watch:
(Alphabetical Order)
Bay Area Christian Broncos, Houston Christian Mustangs, St. John’s School Mavericks, St. Thomas Eagles, The Kinkaid School Falcons, The Woodlands Christian Academy Warriors
PURCHASE THE 2026 BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PREVIEW
1. Lutheran South Academy Pioneers (TAPPS DII)
Lutheran South completed the climb to the top of the mountain in 2025. The Pioneers finished as the TAPPS Division II State Champions after going 34-3-1 overall. Five starters return for 14th-year coach Aaron Schneider, who has 313 career wins at the helm of this program. University of Houston-commit Jaylen Walker (.349, 4 HR, 26 RBIs) returns to the mix along with Coastal Carolina-commit Marcus Cantu (.366, 3 HR, 12 2B, 23 RBIs, 58 R) and McClenan Community College-commit Wyatt Powell (11-1, 1.18 ERA, 83 Ks). Last season, Powell earned first-team, all-state honors and Cantu was second-team, all-state. Other key returners include Brycen Gilbert (Paris JC-commit; .270, 22 RBIs, 2 HR), Rich Scarborough (Angelina JC-commit), Tony Gonzalez (29 RBI, 5 2B, 2 HR), Will Simmons (1-1, 1.48 ERA, 19 Ks), David Corona and Landon Victorian. Keys to success in 2026 include being consistent on the mound, have productive at-bats and minimizing mistakes, according to Schneider.
2. Second Baptist Eagles (TAPPS DII)
Second Baptist School is always a program that needs to be factored as a favorite to make a run in the TAPPS Division II Playoffs. Last year, the Eagles reached the State Semifinals and finished 26-4 overall and 8-2 in district play. Rayner Noble is back in the dugout to lead the Eagles and has amassed 665 career coaching victories. First-team, all-district pick 1B/P Christian McCleary and second-team, all-district selections 3B/P Ford Allen, IF/P Will Newhouse and OF/P Sam Arrendell are all slated to return to the Eagles’ dugout in 2026. Also watch for OF Aiden Nick, who was an honorable mention, all-district pick a year ago.
3. Concordia Lutheran Crusaders (TAPPS DI)
Concordia Lutheran reached the Regional Round of the TAPPS Division I Playoffs in 2025 and finished with a 21-12-1 overall mark. Royce Kennedy enters his 12th year of leading the program (123-48-2) and returns four starters in 2026. Second-team, all-state selection Ethan RIvers will lead the pack. Rivers is verbally committed to RIce University. Other key returners include first-team, all-district pick Luke Douglas (Concordia Austin-commit), second-team, all-district picks Ronin McCraw (McLennan-commit) and Landon Martinez and Hugh Wilhelm. Also watch for Gio Cosma (Eastern University-commit), Nick Romano (Southwestern-commit) and Joseph Banasik (Oklahoma CIty University-commit). The key to success for Kennedy’s group in 2026 will be the ability to produce runs as they play with a “We are greater than me” mindset.
4. St. Pius X Panthers (TAPPS DI)
St. Pius X pieced together an impressive season in 2025 as the Panthers reached the TAPPS Division I State Semifinals. Mike Evans has amassed 340 career coaching victories. Honorable mention, all-stater Sean Marquez returns to the lineup for the Panthers. Other key returners include Jaiden Lee (P/IF), Carsan Evans (1B), Adrian Magallanes (P/3B/1B), Carson Smith (P/OF), Andrew Kirklin (OF) and Tristan Smaistrla (P). Watch for the Panthers as they try to make it to the final game of 2026.
5. Episcopal Knights (SPC 4A)
Episcopal once again was in the conversation of the best baseball teams in SPC 4A last season. The Knights finished 18-12 overall and as the SPC 4A Runner-Up. In the past 10 seasons, Episcopal has won four SPC Championships, the last coming in 2023. Matt Fox enters his 17th season leading the program and sits just 11 wins away from career coaching victory No. 500. Nine starters return, including All-SPC selection and reigning Team MVP Tommy Hetherington. University of New Orleans-commit and All-SPC selection Will Bozeman will anchor the mound for Episcopal as the southpaw will be called upon to produce big innings of work. Four-year starter and University of Georgia-commit Miles Young will hold down the infield at shortstop for the Knights. Other key returners include 1B/OF Bryce Bloom-Timmons (Harvard-commit), P/3B Marco Quintanilla, CF Reid Sasser (Sewanee-commit), University of New York-commit Mike Chin, P/OF Carlos Thachar, Brooks Allen and catcher Brady Jacob. After finishing as the SPC 4A Runner-Up last year, watch for the Knights to be hungry in 2026 to reclaim the top spot of the Southwest Preparatory Conference.
OTHERS TO WATCH
The Kinkaid School Falcons (SPC 4A)
Kinkaid rose to the top of the SPC last season. It was the Falcons first title since 2022 and third since 2019. Six starters return for 15th-year coach Steve Maas, including Washington and Lee-commit Carlton Walton and Sewannee-committ Jackson Setrum. Other key returners include All-SPC outfielder Thomas Smith, P Tripp Kneale, OF Matthew Guyton, P Austin Jones, 3B/C Tanner Nyveen, Catcher Jack Harper and OF/1B/P Hudson Zach. “A lot of unproven potential is coming up. We will use a very difficult tournament schedule to see where we are and the areas we need to focus to make a run in April,” Maas said.
...
St. Thomas Eagles (TAPPS DI)
St. Thomas is one of the storied private school baseball programs in the city. Last year, the Eagles went 23-14 overall and reached the Regionals Round of the TAPPS Division I playoffs. Adam Massiatte has 307 wins in his coaching career entering this season. Five starters return for Massiatte, including Sewanne-commit and first-team, all-district pick RHP Braden Comstock (6-3, 2.20 ERA, 58 IP). Comstock was also named second-team, all-state. Also returning is second-team, all-district selection RHP Patrick Daily (4-3, 2.00 ERA, 45 IP). At the plate, first-team, all-district OF Jay Marcantel (.330, 17 SB) and second-teamer OF/DH Jackson Ryals (.310, 18 RBIs) will lead the way. Also watch for Henry Beck who projects to have a strong junior year offensively and defensively for the Eagles.
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