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The stars of 2025-26 Atascocita Baseball
TRUE GRIT: No. 2 Atascocita primed to replicate last year's journey to Round Rock
Third-year head coach Jeremy O’Neill returns the bulk of last year’s arsenal, a roster determined to ensure AHS hits the ground running this spring. Atascocita’s star-studded lineup starts with senior left-hander Ty Higginbotham (LSU-Eunice signee), who went 11-2 with a 1.41 ERA and 81 strikeouts en route to 23-6A Co-Pitcher of the Year honors. Behind the plate, Texas State-bound senior Jaxon McNight continues to direct the defense, building on a season that produced 35 hits and 22 RBIs for first-team all-district recognition.
Matt Powell (VYPE)
Sr. RHP/UT Ty Higginbotham (LSU-Eunice)
Fellow first-team selections Cole Edwards (Sr. 2B) and Christopher “CJ” Toney (Sr. OF) strengthen an already formidable batting order. Edwards hit over .300 with 28 RBIs, while Toney, a Washington State Football signee, batted .287 with 18 RBIs and four home runs. Junior shortstop Jackson Wooten, a recent Kentucky commit and district second-teamer, led the team with 22 stolen bases and added 18 RBIs.
Armed from top to bottom, Atascocita looks poised to turn its destiny into reality in the months ahead.
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The stars of 2025-26 Memorial Mustangs Baseball
PITCH BY PITCH: Elite bullpen may propel No. 3 Memorial to new heights
Memorial finished with 29 victories before running into eventual 6A Division II state champion Kingwood in the Regional Semifinals—a familiar reminder of how narrow the margins are at this level. That experience, however, returns almost intact.
The pitching staff sets the tone, led by Texas commits Grant Sperandio and Matthew Manis. Sperandio, the District 17-6A Pitcher of the Year and a THSBCA All-State second-team selection, headlines a group that also includes Oklahoma State commit Cash Scarborough, a district second-teamer. Depth follows with junior arms Ben Fuqua and Wyatt Baskin.
Memorial senior outfielders Tanner Drda (Sam Houston State) & Jake Earnest (Air Force)Dana Strange (VYPE/Phlox Photography)
Offensively, Memorial brings a veteran look. Senior outfielders Jake Earnest (Air Force) and Tanner Drda (Sam Houston State) anchor the lineup alongside Boone McLaughlin, Ethan Baylis, and Halen Heinz. Dillon Norris and Evan Mauritzen add versatility and athleticism.
York points to bullpen strength and defensive cohesion as constants. The challenge—and opportunity—lies in converting tools into timely runs.
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