GAMES
RANKINGS
TRADITION NEVER GRADUATES: Tomball Has An Elite Core Of Juniors Eyeing Another Title
THE TOMBALL COUGARS WON ITS SECOND STATE TITLE A YEAR AGO, GOING UNDEFEATED IN DISTRICT PLAY AND 41-3 OVERALL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE COUGARS SAID GOODBYE TO FIVE DIVISION I SIGNEES TO GRADUATION, INCLUDING THE TEXAS GATORADE PLAYER OF THE YEAR CADE ARRAMBIDE (LSU).
Some programs would push the reset button. For the Cougars, however, they live by the motto... “Tradition Never Graduates”.
Coach Doug Rush, who is right off of Hollywood’s central casting as a Texas high school baseball coach, doesn’t hand out very many compliments. He does, however, make an exception when talking about Class of 2026 stars - CJ Sampson (Florida), Karson Reeder (Texas), Catcher Hopkins (Texas A&M) and Harper Gates (Texas A&M).
“They have been on varsity as freshmen and played a huge role in our State title run a year ago,” he said. “They are all committed to SEC programs, and we haven’t seen anything like that before. They are really special.”
Reeder, the State MVP, and Sampson (son of MLB pitcher Chris Sampson) had a combined record of 27-1 on the mound. The battery-mate is Hopkins, who calls a great game behind the plate and is a big stick in the lineup. Moving from third base to shortstop is the slick-fielding Gates.
“Having a pair of Division I No. 1 pitchers is a blessing,” Rush said. “We are going to quickly fill some holes on defense, but nearly everyone has varsity experience. I think we are going to hit the ball well, too.”
Currently on a 31-game winning streak, Rush knows that his squad has a target on its back as big as Texas.
“We know everyone is gearing up to beat us,” he said. “We are going to see everyone’s No. 1 and No. 2 pitchers during the tournament season, but honestly, that helps us in the long run. We just know we are getting everyone’s best game when we step between the lines.”
So, what makes Tomball one of the best programs in the country? It goes back to the motto.
“To build a program, there must be peer tutoring,” he said.
“We can coach as coaches, but when the older guys are teaching the younger guys... it makes a bigger impact. We believe in that, and it builds on itself.”
Iron sharpens iron at Tomball, and for now, they are wielding the deadliest weapon going into battle in 2025.
Could they go back-to-back?
PURCHASE THE MAGAZINE HERE
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM THE 2024-2025 CITY WIDE BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PHOTO SHOOT
BIG TIME BALLER: Tomball's Arrambide is legit MLB prospect
THE “EYES OF TEXAS" of HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL WILL BE ON THE STATE’S NO. 1 PROSPECT CADE ARRAMBIDE OF TOMBALL HIGH SCHOOL.
Arrambide has all the tools that Major League Baseball scouts are looking for... an incredible velocity off his bat and a 90-mph throw from behind the plate to second-base.
His abilities jump off the tape.
Both a Top 10 national recruit and high school MLB Draft prospect, the Cougar senior catcher is shockingly locked into the “now”.
“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “We have one more shot at winning the whole thing. We have a great coach in Coach (Doug) Rush, who gets us prepared for the postseason. We have a really solid team and if we just stick to what we do, we will have a special year.”
With all the accolades on the internet and on his letter jacket, Arrambide has a target on his back as big at the Lone Star State.
“I try and block out the noise,” he laughed. “But people are going to be people. When we play our rivals, there are going to be kids and fans in the stands chirping, but when it comes down to it... it’s me and the pitcher when I’m at the plate. Every pitch is going to be a battle. If I just stick to what I’ve worked on my whole life, the results will be good.”
The Tomball Cougar is also a member of LSU’s No. 1 recruiting class in the nation. The Tigers won the 2023 College World Series and had the top two picks in the MLB Draft.
“When LSU reached out and offered me two years ago, it’s one of those things where you can’t say no,” he laughed. “LSU has been one of my dream schools and I’ve had family go there. It just felt right. What Coach (Jay) Johnson has done developing hitters, is something I really look forward to.”
He will have a decision to make in June, however, to go to college or the draft. All the work has paid off for Arrambide over the past decade. The countless hours of hitting, throwing and catching. Hundreds of games and thousands of times digging in behind the plate.
“Catching has been my thing since I started playing as a kid,” he said. “Over the years I’ve gotten bigger and stronger, and really learned the position. It’s really who I am and taps into my leadership abilities. I like being the general on the field, coordinating the defense and calling a good game. It puts a lot of responsibility on my plate, but I welcome it."