GAMES
RANKINGS
Tomball Sr. IF/RHP CJ Sampson (Texas A&M signee)
BETWEEN THE LINES: Tomball Phenom Sampson Owns His Legacy and Acclaim
The Cougars themselves have become a force to be reckoned with. Tomball went 34-7-1 in 2025, peaking with a trip to Dell Diamond for the program’s second consecutive UIL State Final appearance. That said, the quest for successive championships ended in a narrow 5-4 loss to Kingwood—a heartbreak that only seemed to reinforce Sampson’s competitive edge.
“Obviously we didn’t achieve what we thought was the expectation – which is to win another championship,” Sampson said. “But even after losing a few guys over the offseason, this team is very junior-heavy and experienced, which gives us a lot of confidence. I’m just excited to see what they can do.”
The stars of 2025-26 Tomball BaseballBradley C. Collier (VYPE)
...
CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER THE 2026 BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PREVIEW MAGAZINE
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM THE 2026 CITYWIDE MEDIA DAY
...
Sampson’s impact extends beyond statistics. Having been coached and trained from a young age by his father, former Houston Astros pitcher Chris Sampson, he has developed a baseball IQ and poise rare for his age.
“He’s been a tremendous influence on me, both on and off the field,” Sampson said. “The most important thing has been the knowledge he’s shared—especially how to compose myself and the kind of character that works best with teammates, coaches, and scouts.”
Leadership is another hallmark of Sampson’s game. With a roster featuring a mix of juniors and underclassmen, he has fully embraced his position as a mentor.
“We were freshmen on varsity, so there’s plenty of familiarity regarding the culture here at Tomball High School. From there, it’s just about being able to step up in that leadership role for them and teach them the way. I’ve been there, done that, so it’s at this point where I can really get rolling and pass it on,” he said.
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Even with the spotlight on him as a high-profile recruit, Sampson remains grounded.
“Ever since I was young I’ve been trained to keep the outside distractions where they are and just focus between the lines,” he said. “People are going to have their opinions, so you just have to stay in your lane and within yourself. Especially with this being my senior year, doubters are going to question our ability to reach State again, and we’re going to prove them wrong.”
From Tomball to Texas A&M, and now on the cusp of another prospective run toward Round Rock, Sampson’s journey stands as a masterclass in where aptitude meets discipline.
...
CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER THE 2026 BASEBALL/SOFTBALL PREVIEW MAGAZINE
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE PHOTOS FROM THE 2026 CITYWIDE MEDIA DAY
Tomball Baseball clinches the program's first state championship since 2013
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: Tomball caps off monumental year with the UIL-6A State Title
The Cougars (40-3) had their eye on bringing the championship back to Tomball, for the first time since 2013, after advancing past SA Johnson (2-0) in the round prior.
Similarly, the Oilers (37-8-2), who made their second-straight appearance in the State Tournament (seventh overall), was on a mission to reclaim their 1980-title status, following their rematch against Flower Mound in Friday’s State Semis, in which they won 2-1.
Following a series of back-and-forth exchanges, however, it would ultimately be Tomball who took gold, with a 4-1 victory over their Houston-area counterpart.
Head Coach Doug Rush greets Pearland HC David Rogers prior to the 6A State FinalMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
“It’s all because we have an incredible mix of talent and character in this program,” said head coach Doug Rush. “The kids on this team are unbelievable people and they do the right thing, work incredibly hard, which was seen throughout the playoffs.”
“It’s a six-week grind in the postseason. I’ve had teams that don’t want to practice as hard during this time, but this year’s team was bought in. They had a goal and they achieved it.”
During the heated war of attrition, Tomball’s Karson Reeder proved to be the genuine difference-maker.
The sophomore pitcher contributed the first RBI for the Coogs in the fourth inning (in which they scored all four of their runs), while also stifling Pearland’s elite lineup throughout the whole contest (1 ER, 5 Ks), leading to him being named the UIL-6A State MVP.
Sophomore pitcher Karson Reeder accepts the UIL-6A Most Valuable Player awardMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
“I kind of just did my thing,” Reeder said. “I relaxed in the moment and didn’t overthink it, and did what I normally do. Growing in this organization has been fantastic. Our team-chemistry is phenomenal. Everyone gets along with each other, and it’s just been a blast to be on this team as we made our way to this point.”
Another one of Tomball’s leading figures is, without question, their senior catcher Cade Arrambide.
Through the four years of his exceptional high school career, the soon-to-be LSU Tiger has anchored coach Rush’s program, and he finally got to see all their efforts come to fruition Saturday night.
Matthew Ogle (VYPE)
“Going into this year, we knew that this was going to be a very special team,” said Arrambide. “We knew that we had a chance to do really big things. So, our focus throughout the season was to take everything seriously – giving our best every single day.”
“This is something that I’ve been looking forward to since my freshman year, and we’ve been talking about it for that long. To finally do it in my final season, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
The No. 1 ranked team in the state (MaxPreps) lived up to the hype, in thrilling fashion.
Now, the Tomball community can prepare for the imminent championship parade, as the Coogs carry the team’s second title back home.
