News and Announcements
2011 Baseball Tryouts and Practices
TRYOUTS will begin on Friday, January 28th at 4:30pm and continue on Saturday, January 29th, when the final cuts will be made. There will be another tryout for the basketball players when their season is over. Those trying out will need to bring your own gloves, bats, cleats and work out clothes.
After school practices will begin on Friday, January 28th. The sub-varsity players will workout during 5th period and will practice afterschool from 4:30pm-6:30pm The varsity players will start their practices during 7th period and continue on until 4:30pm. There will be workouts on Saturdays.
2011 Baseball Dates and Alignment
NCAA Clearing House
Seniors and Juniors need to register with the NCAA Clearing House. You can do so at http://www.eligibilitycenter.org/
2011 Baseball Dates
January 28 First Day of Practices
February 7 First Day of Interschool Scrimmages
February 21 First Day of Interschool Games
May 3 District Certification Deadline
May 7 Bi-District Deadline
May 14 Area Deadline
May 21 Regional Quarter-Finals Deadline
May 28 Regional Semi-Finals Deadline
June 4 Regional Playoffs
June 8-11 State Tournament
2011 Baseball Alignment - District 19-5A
Katy
Taylor
Cinco Ranch
Seven Lakes
Mayde Creek
Morton Ranch
Houston Memorial
Houston Strake Jesuit
Baseball Rules Change
One of six new rules changes by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Baseball Rules Committee forbids the use of composite bats until they can meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard. The changes, which were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors, will take effect with the 2010-11 school year.
After thorough testing by the Baseball Research Center at the University of Massachusetts–Lowell, the NFHS Baseball Rules Committee voted to outlaw composite bats until they can produce consistent results through the life of the bat, be made tamper-evident and be labeled as a composite product.
Elliot Hopkins, NFHS liaison to the Baseball Rules Committee, visited with James Sherwood, director of the Baseball Research Center, and spent several hours witnessing composite bat testing. “Rolling the bat gives it a higher performance,” Hopkins said. “It can significantly increase the performance and that’s huge in our game.”
Rolling the bat isn’t the only problem. Rolling only speeds up the performance enhancement that would occur over time after normal use. Even composite bats that were not altered will eventually see this increase in performance, and the rules committee views that as a major concern.
Rule 1-3-2 through 5 was completely rewritten with the intention of creating a rule that preserves the intent and spirit of the old rule, but is better suited to products resulting from new technology.
Under the new rule, bats with composite handles and tapers would still be legal. The stricter language applies primarily to the barrel of the bat.
“While the handles and taper are important components of the bat,” Hopkins said, “the area that we recognized as more susceptible to abuse is the barrel.”
Other rules changes this year aim at increasing convenience for coaches and umpires by simplifying the substitution policy and clarifying several rules.
Rule 1-1-2 now requires coaches to list all known substitutes on the lineup card before the umpire accepts it. Coaches will still be able to add a substitute without a penalty, but this should speed up substitutions and player changes during the game.
A change to Rule 2-16-2 was also made to clarify an existing rule and ease its application for coaches and players. The rule now reads: “A foul tip is a batted ball that goes directly to the catcher’s hands and is legally caught by the catcher. It is a strike and the ball is in play.”
Similarly, a “last-time-by” rule has been instituted. The new rule states that if a runner correctly touches a base that was missed the last time he was by the base, that last touch corrects any previous base-running infraction. This last-time-by practice is commonly accepted, but is now legally Rule 8-2-6l.
The last two rules changes were approved on recommendation from the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee. First, in a change to Rule 1-5-8, all hard and unyielding items such as braces, casts, etc., must be padded with a closed-cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less than one-half-inch thick. Knee and ankle braces that are unaltered from the manufacturer’s original design/production do not require additional padding.
Second is an update to concussion language that has been added to the rules for all high school sports. The new rule, 3-1-5, puts strict constraints on players who may have suffered a concussion. The rule states that any player who exhibits signs, symptoms or behaviors consistent with a concussion, including but not limited to loss of consciousness, headache, dizziness, confusion of balance problems, must be removed from the contest immediately and shall not return to play before being cleared by an appropriate health-care professional.
A complete listing of all rules changes approved by the committee is available on the NFHS Web site at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Athletics & Fine Arts Activities” on the home page, and select “Baseball.”
Baseball is the fourth-most popular sport for boys at the high school level, according to the 2008-09 NFHS Athletics Participation Survey, with 473,184 participants nationwide. The sport ranks third in school sponsorship with 15,699 schools sponsoring the sport
2010 Season
Katy Tigers Gold Glove Baseball Try-outs
The Katy Tigers Gold glove in-coming freshman summer leauge baseball team will be holding their try-outs on Sunday, May 16th @ 5pm at the Katy High School baseball field. You need to bring your own equipment and plan on staying for a couple of hours. There are a couple of forms that you need to fill out and turn in that day before you can try-out. You can find these forms at www.goldglovebbinc.org. We will have a notary present to notarize the forms. Your parent's will also need to bring their driver's license as proof of identification.
If you have questions concerning the baseball team, you can email the coaches at thomasfmcpherson@katyisd.org or call 281-237-1881.
Yours in Baseball,
Coach McPherson
A Personal Note To All the Seniors of 2010
By Randy Byers, Houston 5A Baseball
For some Seniors, this Friday is the saddest day of their baseball careers, for some parents, it's downright gut wrenching. For all, it is a new beginning. It's truly not the end, rather a new beginning for all of our 2010 seniors. It has been a most enjoyable experience along the way, and while today you wish you could turn back the clock; you will grow to realize that you have learned life lessons while competing in the sport you love. You are two times as likely to succeed under pressure in the real world. You have learned how to compete as a team. You have learned so much, and yet you just don't know it at this time. So for all of your who are singing your swan song tonight, cherish this moment and remember, you have been good enough to hang with your team mates for the past several years and you will be better in the future, better in life, love & happiness.
I admire each and every one of you for your accomplishments.
Thank you for all your contributions to our baseball community and I wish each and every Senior, nothing but the best in your new chapter in life!
Randy Byers
Attn: High School Seniors: It's TASO Scholarship Application Time
In 2010, the Baseball Houston Chapter of the Texas Association of Sports Officials will award 16 scholarships of $3,000 each to outstanding seniors from the Houston area. To be eligible for the scholarship, high school seniors must meet the following requirements:
* The graduating senior must be a member of a varsity baseball team or a student trainer
* The graduating senior must use the Houston Chapter for home games
* The graduating senior must enroll in a 2 or 4 year college or university for the fall sememster after graduating high school
* The graduating senior shall not receive an athletic scholarship in any sport
* The graduating senior must be willing to attend the awards presentation in June, 2010
If you are eligible for this scholarship and if you are committed to attending either a 2 or 4 year college or university, submit the application to the TASO-Baseball-Houston Chapter Scholarship Committee no later than April 29, 2010. The scholarship committee will review the application and interviews for the finalist will be scheduled the week of May 17, 2010.
To download the scholarship applications and/or for more information, visit www.houston5abaseball.com
2010 Katy Baseball Camp: Camp will be held in TWO GREAT SESSIONS: June 7th-June 10th at the Katy American Little League Complex and June 14th-June 17th at the Katy Pony Baseball Complex. For more information, click on BASEBALL CAMP.
2010 Varsity Team Captains Named: Andy Vance (Senior), Nick Holt (Senior), Christian Thrash (Senior) and Colt Atwood (Junior)
College Commitments Class of 2010
D1 Early Signing
Matt Locus, LHP, Katy, University of Texas San Antonio (UTSA) - Signed
For a complete list of college commitments visit www.houston5abaseball.com
2/3/2010
Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association 2010 Pre-Season Poll - For Immediate Release
5A:- BELLAIRE (HOUSTON)
- THE WOODLANDS
- PEARLAND
- LUFKIN
- SOUTHLAKE CARROLL
- CORPUS CHRISTI CARROLL
- MISSION SHARYLAND
- SAN ANTONIO REAGAN
- FLOWER MOUND
- KATY
- BRENHAM
- AUSTIN LAKE TRAVIS
- PFLUGERVILLE HENDRICKSON
- CORPUS CHRISTI CALALLEN
- CORPUS CHRISTI MOODY
- FORT WORTH ARLINGTON HEIGHTS
- CANYON RANDALL
- ALEDO
- ROCKWALL HEATH
- MIDLOTHIAN and SAN MARCOS- TIE
- GIDDINGS
- JASPER
- LUBBOCK ESTACADO
- ORANGEFIELD
- WEST
- PLEASANT GROVE
- BRIDGE CITY
- CELINA
- PRINCETON
- ROBSTOWN
2A:
- BISHOP
- PONDER
- WHITE OAK
- BROCK
- SHALLOWATER
- SCHLUENBERG
- GUNTER
- ROGERS
- PRESIDO
- NEW WAVERLY
- OVERTON
- MILES
- THORNDALE
- CAYUGA
- BOSQUEVILLE
- FLATONIA
- LOCKNEY
- WINDTHORST
- LOVELADY
- BLUE RIDGE and ARCHER CITY - TIE
These are the top ten (10) PRE-SEASON teams for the state of Texas as of January 29, 2010.
REX SANDERS , Executive Director THSBCA
12/30/2009
17-5A - TIGERS MUST RELOAD IN A HURRY
BY RANDY BYERS - (c) COPYRIGHT 2009 Houston5ABaseball.com
The Katy Tigers won another District Championship in 2009,,, and the beat goes on.... However, 2010 may present one of Coach McPherson and Staff's toughest tasks in quite a few years.
Katy graduated one of their most talented classes again in 2009 if that's possible given the fact that they graduated stellar classes in 2006, 2007, & 2008. But the Tigers just seem to reload every year.
One thing that is different for Katy in the upcoming season; they lack that power arm that they are so well known for in past seasons. Keifer Nuncio will be difficult enough to replace but they also lost hard throwing Tyler Herr. What they do have are a couple of very crafty, very good, pitchers in Justin Cudd and Matt Locus.
Another missing component for 2010 is the obvious power bat. Colt Atwood returns swinging at a .318 clip, and Justin Cudd did smack 5-HR in 2009, but the Tigers must find a way to replace the power of Jarred Fancher, and Andrew Stumph, A tall order indeed for Coach Mac and crew. In 2010, Katy must replace seven starters who were all very good players.
But the Katy Tigers always seem to find a way to get it done and that's why they are a perennial power in High School Baseball year in and year out. Katy has fielded one of the most successful programs of the decade winning six district championships and making one appearance in Round Rock in the 2006, 5A Title Game vs The Woodlands.
School Name & Team Mascot- Katy Tigers
District- 17-5A
Head Coach - Tom McPherson
Assistant coaches - Mike Langan, Michael Barrow, Terry Jaimes
Previous season record (overall 25-9) (district 11-4) 17-5A Champions
Previous season play-off accomplishments-
Bi-District - Defeated Spring Woods in two games;
Area - defeated Westside in one game;
Regional Quarterfinals-Defeated Atascocita in three games;
Lost to Pearland in two games in the Regional Semi-finals
Graduated starters/Key losses-
Jarred Fancher (TCU); Andrew Stumph (Texas State); Keifer Nunico (University
of Texas); Parker Ray (Texas A & M); Tyler Herr (Minnesota Twins); Kyle Guillory (San
Jac ); Cale Hanson (Yale); Randy Picard (HBU); Ben Schmitt (Texas Lutheran); Haedan Thormaehlen (Tyler
Junior College); John Reeves (Lon Morris Junior College)
Returning Lettermen ( 3) & ( 3) Starters:
* Colt Atwood - ( Jr.) 1 year letterman - Outfielder
1st Team All District Outfielder 2009 - hit .318 on the year.
* Justin Cudd - (Sr.) 2 year letterman & Starter - Pitcher/ Dh
1st Team All District 18 5A DH in 2008- Hit - .425 - with 5 hr's & 21 Rbi's
4 & 0 on the mound in 2008 with an ERA of 1.37
2 & 2 with 3 saves in 2009 with an ERA of 3.370
* Matt Locus - (Sr.) 2 year letterman - Pitcher / outfielder
2nd Team All District Pitcher 2009
6 & 0 with an ERA of 1.195
The rest of the Katy Tigers:
Seniors:
Josh Godfrey - pitcher / outfield; Daniel Gribble - 1st & DH; Nick Holt - shortstop; Travis Lewis - catcher / 1st ; Charles Ormond - pitcher; Nathan Smego - Pitcher / DH; Cody Speice - 2nd baseman; Christian Thrash - outfield; Andy Vance -1st baseman
Juniors:
Andrew Coker -DH/1st; Keegan Sanford - outfielder; Dillon Mazzoccoli - pitcher / infield; Angel Montoya -outfielder; Kyle Thompson - pitcher / infield; Trenton Tschirhart - catcher; Will Wadas - outfield / DH
Sophomores:
Bo Brown - Catcher / pitcher; Jordan Thompson - Outfielder; Dylan Gaffney - SS / 2nd / Pitcher; Cameron Friess - catcher / infield; Ryan Phillips - infield
From the dugout- "The Tigers have been working hard during the off season. We are very excited about the upcoming 2010 baseball season." - Tom McPherson
2009-2010 Baseball Dates
January 29 - First day for practice.
February 8 - First day for interschool scrimmages.
February 22 - First day for interschool games.
May 4 - District certification deadline.
2010 Tigers Varsity Roster | |||
No. | Player | Position | Yr |
1 | Thompson, Kyle | Pitcher/OF | 11 |
2 | Atwood, Quinn | Pitcher/OF | 9 |
3 | Thompson, Jordan | OF | 10 |
4 | Atwood, Colt | OF | 11 |
5 | Locus, Matt | Pitcher/OF | 12 |
6 | Thrash, Christian | OF | 12 |
7 | Speice, Cody | 2nd | 12 |
8 | Cudd, Justin | Pitcher/3rd | 12 |
9 | Ormond, Charles | Pitcher | 12 |
10 | Wadas, Will | OF | 11 |
11 | Summers, Josh | Pitcher/OF | 12 |
12 | Lewis, Travis | Catcher/1st | 12 |
13 | Smego, Nathan | Pitcher | 12 |
14 | Mazzoccoli, Dillon | IF/Pitcher | 11 |
16 | Brown, Bo | Catcher/Pitcher | 10 |
17 | Montoya, Angel | OF | 11 |
18 | Coker, Andrew | 1st | 11 |
20 | Holt, Nick | SS | 12 |
21 | Gaffney, Dylan | IF/Pitcher | 10 |
27 | Friess, Cameron | Catcher | 10 |
30 | Taylor, Nick | Pitcher/IF | 12 |