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PLAY BALL: Houston Loaded with Private School Contenders

Matt Malatesta
Feb 25, 2020

Two of our five contenders brought home gold last season in Lutheran South and Northland Christian.

Concordia Lutheran is a traditional power and will have to hold off St. Thomas in the big TAPPS race, while Episcopal should be the favorites in the Southwest Prep Conference.

Here are the Private School Contenders


Concordia Lutheran Crusaders

Concordia Lutheran's Jarrett Young, Sean Fitzpatrick, Cash McNicholas and James Hitt

Rick Lynch is a coaching legend at Concordia Lutheran up in Tomball, reaching the TAPPS DI state tournament six years in a row. The 'Saders won it all in 2015 with some uber-talent. So, who returns in 2020 to lead the Crusaders back to state? It all starts with first-team, all-state selections Cash McNicholas and James Hitt who are pitcher/outfielders. Hitt has signed with Texas Tech, while McNicholas will head to McLennan CC next year. Crafty, lefty Sean Fitzpatrick can be unhittable at times, while Jarrett Young holds down the infield at shortstop. Concordia Lutheran won district a year ago but fell in the state semis to districtmate St. Thomas in a 1-0 heartbreaker. They will be back with a vengeance and a one-track mind in 2020 – championship of bust.

Lutheran South Pioneers

Lutheran South's Luke Harrison, Deaundre Jones and Henry Hill

Can Lutheran South complete the three-peat? The Pioneers have built a power baseball program under the direction of coach Aaron Schneider, winning back-to-back titles in TAPPS DII. They've actually made it three titles in five years. LSA is loaded again in 2020 as the Pioneers return junior lefty Luke Harrison to lead the pitching staff. The second-team, all-state selection has the stuff to have already committed to the University of Texas. Need a lethal bat? First-team, all-district selection Deaundre Jones has one of the best bats in the state. He's committed to the University of Houston. Henry Hill plays the hot corner and will provide senior leadership along with Kaleb Hicks. Second Baptist and Cypress Christian will challenge in district play, but the Pioneers are the team to beat.

Episcopal Knights

Episcopal's Bennett Hanks, Tanner Witt and Raffi Gross

The Episcopal Knights were knocked off by Kinkaid in the Southwest Preparatory Conference finals in 2019 and return a dugout full of stars still seeing red. The Knights have nine SPC titles in the trophy case. Six of the nine were won with the leadership of coach Matt Fox, who enters year 10 at the helm. Fox welcomes one of the top aces in the country – Tanner Witt, a 6-foot-4 senior who has signed with the University of Texas. Will he or won't he go pro is the real question? Also helping on the mound is Bennett Hanks, who also doubles as a first-baseman and can hit for power. Roaming the outfield is junior Raffi Gross, who has committed to the University of Houston. Max Madison will manage the pitchers behind the plate. Fox and crew would love nothing more than to bring back their 10th SPC title back to downtown.

St. Thomas Eagles

It's year two of the Adam Massiatte-era at St. Thomas, which has been a success so far. Massiatte led the Eagles to the TAPPS state finals last season, before falling to Liberty Christian. The Eagles are back with another talented roster ready to challenge at the highest level of private school baseball. St. Thomas returns Texas A&M signee Will Rizzo, an all-state pitcher and corner infielder. Adam Derosches could emerge as a solid pitcher as well. Daniel Coco is a three-year starter. Concordia Lutheran will challenge for the district title, but the Eagles have bigger goals – a state title.

Northland Christian Cougars

Northland Christian's (above) Peyton Fennelly, Kristopher Maxwell (below) Marshall Ingram, Cameron Bailes and Brady Kraner

The Champs are here … The Northland Christian Cougars join Lutheran North and Kinkaid as the private schools who won state titles in 2019. Coach Rich Nixon brings back some experience who have hopes of making it back-to-back titles. It all starts up the middle for the Cougars. Marshall Ingram was the first-team, all-state catcher, who can manage the staff and hit with the best in the business. All-state shortstop Cameron Bailes handles the middle infield, while first-team, all-district selection Brody Kraner patrols the outfield. Northland is going to need some arms to emerge to be THAT team. Peyton Fennelly and Kris Maxwell could be those guys. The Woodlands Christian Academy will challenge for the district title and help get

concordia lutheran baseballlutheran south baseballepiscopal baseballnorthland christian baseballst. thomas baseballprivate school baseball

VYPE Spring Football Tour | The Willis Wildkats

VYPE
12 May, 2025

The Willis Wildkats have become a productive winning program entering year 4 under head coach Trent Miller. The Wildkats have won back-to-back District Championships while also reaching the 3rd round of the playoffs each of the past two years.

With a lot of turnover from last year's team look for the Wildkats to rely on highly touted four-star ATH Jermaine Bishop Jr.

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houston high school sportsjermaine bishop jrtexas high school footballtrent millertxhsfbvype houston high school sportsvype spring tourwilliswillis footballwillis high schoolwillis isdwillis isd athleticswillis wildkatswillis wildkats football

VYPE Live Lineup - Sunday 5/11/25

VYPE Live
11 May, 2025

THE FULL LINEUP IS BELOW THE AD
-SCROLL DOWN TO FIND YOUR MATCH-UP AND CLICK THE IMAGE TO WATCH YOUR GAME LIVE!

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2PM - TGHSLL D1 State Championship G3: Hockaday vs. Woodlands

VYPE Live
11 May, 2025
TRENDING
PRIME TIME: The 5 Most Intriguing Matchups in this week of UIL Baseball/Softball Playoffs

PRIME TIME: The 5 Most Intriguing Matchups in this week of UIL Baseball/Softball Playoffs

11:30AM - TGHSLL D2 State Championship G2: Highland Park vs. Lovejoy

11:30AM - TGHSLL D2 State Championship G2: Highland Park vs. Lovejoy

9AM - TGHSLL D3 State Championship G1: Cedar Park vs. Alamo Heights

4PM - Poll Majors Championship, Game 2: Dodgers vs. Bluejays

4PM - Poll Majors Championship, Game 2: Dodgers vs. Bluejays

UIL 6A Round 2 Baseball Highlights | Willis Wildkats vs Tomball Cougars

UIL 6A Round 2 Baseball Highlights | Willis Wildkats vs Tomball Cougars

GAMES

VYPE Live Lineup - Sunday 5/11/25

VYPE Live Lineup - Sunday 5/11/25

2PM - TGHSLL D1 State Championship G3: Hockaday vs. Woodlands

11:30AM - TGHSLL D2 State Championship G2: Highland Park vs. Lovejoy

11:30AM - TGHSLL D2 State Championship G2: Highland Park vs. Lovejoy

VYPE Live Lineup - Saturday 5/10/25

VYPE Live Lineup - Saturday 5/10/25

4PM - Poll Majors Championship, Game 2: Dodgers vs. Bluejays

4PM - Poll Majors Championship, Game 2: Dodgers vs. Bluejays

9AM - TGHSLL D3 State Championship G1: Cedar Park vs. Alamo Heights

6:30PM - POLL Pee Wee Championship: Irish vs. Tigers

6:30PM - POLL Pee Wee Championship: Irish vs. Tigers

VYPE Live Lineup - Thursday 5/8/25

VYPE Live Lineup - Thursday 5/8/25

VYPE Live Lineup - Friday 5/9/25

VYPE Live Lineup - Friday 5/9/25

5PM 6A D2 Region III Softball Semifinal G2: Foster vs. Clear Creek

DELAYED TO 4:45PM - TGHSLL D1 State Semifinal G2: Hockaday vs. Southlake

DELAYED TO 4:45PM - TGHSLL D1 State Semifinal G1: The Woodlands vs. Episc. School of Dallas

11:30AM - TGHSLL D2 State Semifinals G2: Lovejoy vs. Westwood

11:30AM - TGHSLL D2 State Semifinals G1: St. Agnes Academy vs. Highland Park

9AM - TGHSLL D3 State Semifinal G2: Alamo Heights vs. St. Francis

9AM - TGHSLL D3 State Semifinal G1: Cedar Park vs. Bridge

7PM | NFHS - 3A D2 Area Baseball 1-Game: Stockdale vs. Jourdanton

7PM | NFHS - 3A D2 Area Baseball 1-Game: Stockdale vs. Jourdanton

6PM | NFHS - 4A D1 Area Baseball 1-Game: Celina vs. Life Waxahachie

6PM | NFHS - 4A D1 Area Baseball 1-Game: Celina vs. Life Waxahachie

7PM | NFHS - 5A D2 Area Baseball G1: Mesquite Poteet vs. Midlothian Heritage

7PM | NFHS - 5A D2 Area Baseball G1: Mesquite Poteet vs. Midlothian Heritage

7PM | NFHS - 5A D1 Area Baseball G2: Melissa vs. Frisco Reedy

7PM | NFHS - 5A D1 Area Baseball G2: Melissa vs. Frisco Reedy

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