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A DIFFERENT PATH TO THE DUGOUT: Tubbs Ushering In a Brand New Vision for Elsik Baseball
THERE’S A NEWFOUND BUZZ AROUND ELSIK BASEBALL, AND IT STARTS WITH FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH VERNON TUBBS.
Tubbs and his staff are breathing life into a program that, frankly, wasn’t even on the radar — sometimes even inside its own school.
“I had teachers in the hall who didn’t even know we had a baseball team,” Tubbs said.
A three-year starter at Prairie View A&M, Tubbs has taken on the role of promoter, builder, and culture-setter all at once.
“I’ve been a ringmaster of sorts, just promoting the program within the walls of Elsik High School,” he said. “My staff is made up of college baseball guys, and we have a plan. We don’t just want to win a few district games and sneak into the playoffs. We want to beat the best teams in this district — Foster, Fulshear, Strake Jesuit — and become a power. I can see it.”
The team’s new rally cry?
“Every time we break out as a team, it’s: 1, 2, 3 — Playoffs.”
Those are lofty goals for a program that has gone 14–68 over the last three seasons — a team without a true locker room, an equipment closet, or a clear identity. Tubbs isn’t shying away from that reality.
“We stripped it all down,” he said. “The first thing was preaching that we can compete with anyone we play. Our staff believes in these guys. We’ve seen tremendous growth during the fall and offseason. We hit the weight room and broke fundamentals down by position. Our pitchers are stronger. Our defense has vastly improved. We’re on our way.”
Tubbs’ baseball journey includes an unexpected chapter. After college, he earned several Major League tryouts, chasing the dream every ballplayer knows.
“I’ll never forget being cut at a Florida Marlins camp,” he said. “I wanted to get to the league That was my dream. I failed — and it hurt.”
Tubbs returned home to Houston and had to start over.
“That’s baseball,” he said. “You’re going to fail, and you have to be resilient.”
He coached briefly at his alma mater and with Perfect Game programs, but for nearly a decade, baseball wasn’t his profession. Instead, Tubbs became a therapist for the Mental Health & Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County.
“I worked with the homeless, juvenile offenders, and people with severe mental illnesses,” he said. “It was extremely tough work.”
That experience now defines his coaching philosophy.
“I learned to compartmentalize,” Tubbs said. “I couldn’t bring the work home. I left it at work, woke up the next day, and tried to do better than the day before.”
It’s a lesson he passes directly to his players.
FIELD GENERAL: Senior Fields Tasked with Rallying Alief Taylor to Distinction
SOFTBALL HAS A WAY OF REVEALING ITS LEADERS IN THE SILENT MOMENTS — BETWEEN PITCHES, DURING MOUND VISITS, AND IN THE SPACES WHERE MOMENTUM CAN SLIP. WITHIN THE ALIEF TAYLOR PROGRAM, THAT RESPONSIBILITY OFTEN SETTLES BEHIND THE PLATE, WHERE MCKENZIE FIELDS SERVES AS BOTH ANCHOR AND VOICE.
The senior catcher enters her final spring as a cornerstone and collegiate signee, bringing a presence sculpted by accountability and years of experience. Recently signed to Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, she embodies the type of leadership the Lions will lean on as they navigate a challenging district slate under new head coach Chris Maple.
Growing up as the youngest of four sisters, the path in the sport almost felt predetermined for Fields.
“Watching my older sisters play definitely had an influence on me,” Fields said. “It felt natural to follow in their footsteps — even being a catcher, just like they were. From there, I’ve just picked up a drive to play collegiately, which has pushed me to this point.”
That drive now carries added weight for a Taylor roster still searching for consistency within a demanding district. The Lions finished fifth in the standings last spring, but the arrival of Maple has injected optimism into the offseason — and Fields is positioned at the center of that transition.
Nowhere is her impact felt more than at home base, a role she embraces with both authority and accountability.
“You really have to own the field when you’re in that spot,” Fields said. “That’s your plate. That’s your defense. That’s your responsibility. Sometimes, there will just be bad games. But the loudest voice on the field still needs to come from the catcher, and that energy has to be kept up so the team doesn’t stay down.”
That mindset — vocal, resilient, and team-first — mirrors what initially drew Fields to Oakwood. When the opportunity presented itself, the decision came easily.
“I’ve always been drawn to a future in Alabama for some reason,” she said. “So once they reached out to me, I didn’t hesitate. The softball team is very close-knit and resembles a family, which is something I’m most passionate about and really look forward to.”
As her high school career approaches its final chapter, Fields’ focus remains rooted in the present. Experience has taught her that nothing is guaranteed, but belief can still move a program forward.
“The goal is to go out with a bang,” Fields said. “There’s usually plenty to strive for early on in the season, so I intend to make it count. Ideally, the team collectively finds a way to make it work and, hopefully, reach the playoffs.”
For Taylor, that pursuit begins with a catcher who understands the weight of every pitch — and the power of her voice behind it.