He has the look and the name, but what about the game? Omar Serna is the No. 2 ranked player in all of Texas and has signed with national power LSU.
“What I think is more important than the five tools of baseball is being a good teammate,” he said. “That is my main focus... to do anything I can to help the team, whether that is hitting a home run, hitting for average, throwing someone out our managing the pitchers and defense.”
He is most at home behind the plate.
“I love to be in control of the game,” he said. “Having an influence on every pitch and getting the defense lined up right or calling pitches keeps me engaged. When I was a kid, I never really paid attention to the catchers, I liked players like George Springer, Jose Altuve, and Carlos Correa. Now, I respect guys like Buster Posey, JT Realmuto, and Jose Trevino, and see how they go about their craft.”
His other homes away from home are the golf course and the woods.
“I love to play golf with my guys Nico Partida (Pearland), Lucas Franco (Cinco Ranch) and Mason Murphy (Ridge Point) to unwind from baseball,” he laughed. “I can carry 300-plus yards off the tee, but my wedges are pretty good too. I also love to be out in nature, either hunting or fishing in my off time.”
Starting this fall, Serna will pack his bags and head for Louisiana, monikered the Sportsman’s Paradise, for its rich hunting and fishing holes. He will wear the purple-and-gold of LSU.
“I committed there when I was a freshman,” he said. “Coach (Jay) Johnson has built them back into a national brand and I love his style. The fanbase is insane and it’s an atmosphere like no other.”
For now, Serna has hopes of winning a ring with the Pioneers of the TAPPS private school ranks.
“The goal here is always a State Championship,” he said. “With this group of guys, we have a good shot at it again. I can’t wait to get started.”
Barbers Hill back in the State Final Four
“We knew we were going to State that year,” Harris laughed. “We had one of the best players in the country in Brianna Turner (Notre Dame national champion, WNBA). We were supposed to win it.
“This year, we’ve had to battle for everything. This is a true team—one where we have to hang our hat on defense, out-scheme people, and just play hard. Getting here and possibly playing on Saturday… it’s been a special year.”
Barbers Hill (32-7) will take on Liberty Hill (35-4) in the State Semifinals on Tuesday at College Station High School at 7 PM, with a trip to the UIL State Final at the Alamodome in San Antonio on the line.
“I knew we were going to be solid, but I didn’t expect Brooklynn Roberson to have this big of a year,” Harris admitted. “Jayci Lackey and Rachel Glynn have also stepped up in key moments.
“Brooklynn is a poised and controlled point guard who can knock down big shots. Jayci has a great basketball IQ, and Rachel is just solid in the post.”
The Eagles will need to be at their best to take down Liberty Hill.
“They are so well-coached,” Harris said of the Panthers. “They’re running some two- and three-tier college-level sets. It’s going to be a low-scoring game, and we can’t afford many mistakes. We’ll need to use our length and athleticism.”
Barbers Hill’s secret weapon? It might just be Bryan Harris himself. With over 600 career wins and two state titles(one in Indiana), he’s one of the top coaches in the country.
“This would be the icing on the cake,” he said.
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