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VYPEcast: Budd Booth of Memorial Mustang Tennis
HOUSTON - Simply put. Budd Booth has built a dynasty at Memorial High School on the tennis hardtops.
With a victory over Fort Bend Clements last Friday, Memorial team tennis claimed its 13th-straight Regional Championship, advancing them to the 2021 UIL State Team Tennis Tournament in College Station.
The Mustangs are slated to face Lake Travis on Thursday morning (11:30 am) at Texas A&M. Memorial enters the match with a perfect 18-0 record on the season and is seeking the program's third state championship. The Mustangs won their first in 2017 and second in 2019.
VYPE caught up with Booth for an interview last week after their 10-1 victory over Fort Bend Clements.
Check out the full interview below, which was recorded on Friday (10/22) afternoon.
Cypress Ridge High School alumnus Kyle Gruller follows his pitch in a game against Cypress Creek High School. Gruller signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Astros after completing his collegiate career at Houston Baptist University and Wharton County Junior College.
Cy Ridge alum signs with Houston Astros following 2020 MLB Draft
June 24, 2020—Cypress Ridge High School alumnus Kyle Gruller signed with the Houston Astros as an undrafted free agent on June 18 following the conclusion of the 2020 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.
MLB revamped the draft due to the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the event from its typical 40 rounds to just five on June 10-11. The plan also allowed baseball teams to sign an unlimited number of undrafted players for up to $20,000 each. Gruller agreed to terms with the Astros on June 15 and signed three days later.
He's among 13 draftees and undrafted free agents signed to the Astros as of June 23.
"It's surreal and it's definitely an experience to know you're going to live your childhood dream of playing professional baseball," said Gruller, adding he received the news while eating breakfast. "The scout called me from the Astros and basically said he was going to offer me. I said 'Let's do it.' I've been a fan and it's the hometown team."
A 6-foot-3, right-handed pitcher, Gruller recently completed his collegiate career at Houston Baptist University. He posted a 2.40 ERA in two seasons and earned All-Southland Conference third team honors in 2019. Gruller played his first two seasons at Wharton County Junior College.
At Cypress Ridge, Gruller earned All-District 17-6A second team honors as a junior in 2015 and honorable mention in 2016.
"Our district has a ton of talent so I really tried to work hard and be the best," Gruller said. "I wasn't the biggest guy but I worked hard."