GAMES
RANKINGS
Lake Creek Lions
THE PRIDE: No. 13 Lake Creek ready to COMPETE
13. Lake Creek Lions (5A)
The Lake Creek Lions roared to the Regional Semifinals in 2025, finishing 20-14-1 overall and as District 17-5A co-Champions. Jeremy Schramm enters his seventh season of leading Lake Creek (146 career coaching wins), and returns eight starters to the dugout, including reigning District 17-5A Newcomer of the Year Kaleb Foster.
All-State pitcher Caden Whitworth (National Park College-commit), Army-commit Reed Newkirk and first-team, all-district pick Jaxon Schramm are also set to return. Other key returners include Luke Logeman (LSU Eunice-commit; honorable mention, all-district)), Peyton Trummell (LSU Eunice-commit; second-team, all-district), Gavin Nabors (Angelina College-commit), Colin Wiederhold (LeTourneau University-commit), Jackson Marshall (UNC Asheville-commit), Aiden Leitz (Ranger College-commit) and Harper Heathcock.
The key to success for Schramm’s Lions will rely on the senior leadership as this team will play by the team motto “Compete” in 2026.
Oak Ridge Baseball
RISE OF THE RIDGE: No. 18 War Eagles has solid arms, stingy defense
18. Oak Ridge War Eagles (6A)
Oak Ridge reached the Area Round of the playoffs in 2025 after going 21-11-2 overall. The War Eagles are led by JJ Pierce, who got his 200th career coaching victory last season.
Starters returning for Oak Ridge include LSU-Eunice-commit Jacob Howard. The senior ace will lead the pitching staff after going 3-3 with a 2.88 ERA and registering 30 strikeouts a year ago. District 13-6A Newcomer of the Year Jonell Rodriguez returns for his junior season and plugs in all over the field for Oak Ridge. He hit .364 last year as a sophomore.
Other key returners include McMurry-commit Carson Holamon (SS/P), who hit .344 last season and was a second-teamer, while St. Thomas-commit Dereck Hernandez (2B) is also back after hitting .272 for Oak Ridge. Other players to watch include Luis Olmeda (.302, first-team, all-district OF) and Drayton Urbay (.386, first-team, all-district OF).