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LSA's Marcus Cantu
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Here are the UTMB Baseball Athletes of the Week, as we enter the thick of District-play this Spring.
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Garritt Romero -- Dawson Baseball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
After a relatively slow start to the season, Dawson has found its rhythm in district play, surging to a perfect 5-0 start in 22-6A. The Eagles continued their dominance on Saturday with a commanding 9-3 victory over Shadow Creek.
While Dawson’s offense has been productive—highlighted by Jack Dyment (.415 BA, 13 RBI, 1 HR), Aiden Villanueva (.273 BA, 4 RBI), and Maddox Botas (.250 BA, 4 RBI)—it’s their pitching staff that has truly set them apart.
At the forefront of that effort is ace Garritt Romero (Centenary College-commit), who has delivered in multiple ways. On the mound, he boasts a 4-0 record with a 1.93 ERA and 24 strikeouts, while also contributing at the plate with a .233 average and five RBIs.
Competing in 22-6A is no easy task, but if Dawson maintains this momentum, they could be a serious challenger to Pearland for the district title.
Nico Partida -- Pearland Baseball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
Picking up right where they left off after last season’s UIL 6A State Final appearance, Pearland has carried that momentum into the spring, posting a strong 12-5 record through the first wave of district play (4-1).
As expected, the heartbeat of this Oilers squad has been none other than Nicholas “Nico” Partida.
The Texas A&M-commit bleeds aura wherever he’s placed—whether commanding the infield from his home at shortstop, taking the mound, or stepping up to the plate and making opposing pitchers think twice before throwing him a breaking ball.
Partida leads the Oilers with an elite .512 batting average, while also tallying 15 RBIs and three home runs so far this season.
Critics may question whether Pearland can replicate last year’s success, but as long as Partida is in the mix, the Oilers remain a legitimate threat to make another deep postseason run come June.
Marcus Cantu -- Lutheran South Academy Baseball
Jamey Wright (VYPE)
Under the leadership of coach Aaron Schneider, Lutheran South Academy has stormed through the early season with an impressive 18-1-1 record, earning them the No. 2 ranking in Texas, according to MaxPreps.
LSA was already recognized as a powerhouse before the spring, boasting elite talent like LSU commit Omar Serna (Sr. C) and Texas State-bound Victor Coronado.
However, this year’s squad seems determined to avenge last season’s Regional Final loss to Kelly Catholic and take things a step further.
While the Pioneers have no shortage of star power, the most consistent offensive presence thus far has been junior Marcus Cantu. A Texas-commit himself, Cantu has been a steady force both at the plate and on defense, providing reliability in key moments.
If LSA keeps up this level of dominance, a TAPPS-5A State Title might not just be a goal—it could be an expectation.
Hunter Heath -- Clear Springs Baseball
Thanks to a strong core of returning talent, the Clear Springs Chargers have picked up right where they left off after last season’s Regional Semifinal run.
The team has surged to an 11-5-1 record this spring and opened district play in dominant fashion, sweeping Clear Brook (Game 1: 2-1, Game 2: 9-2).
While the Chargers' bullpen has been solid, their clutch hitting has been a driving force behind their early success.
Leading the charge at the plate has been senior Hunter Heath, whose standout performance against 5A powerhouse Barbers Hill (4-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI) helped propel Clear Springs to an 8-3 victory last week.
Primarily stationed at third base, Heath also provides versatility across the infield and is more than capable of stepping up on the mound when needed. Furthermore, his all-around reliability ultimately earned him a commitment to Galveston College.
With plenty of baseball left in the regular season, Clear Springs looks poised to secure another postseason berth.
Noah Nelson -- Santa Fe Baseball
Doug Brown (VYPE)
The Indians opened district play on a high note with a 3-1 victory over Angleton this past Friday, improving their record to 7-5 on the season.
While their overall record may not stand out, it doesn’t truly reflect the level of talent Santa Fe brings to the diamond.
The Indians have already faced elite competition, including defending 6A state champion Tomball, SPC-4A runner-up Episcopal, Katy Tompkins, and TAPPS-III state runner-up Bay Area Christian.
Those tough matchups should have them well-prepared to compete for the District 20-5A title.
Among the various weapons in coach Ronnie Wulf’s threatening lineup, the most consistent is Noah Nelson.
The junior OF/RHP boasts a .500 batting average, leading the team with 19 hits while also tallying 12 RBIs, nine doubles, one triple, and a home run—all in just 40 plate appearances.
Nelson is complemented by key contributors like Ronnie Rouse (.343 BA, 13 RBI, 6 2B, 1 HR), Jackson Higgins (.342 BA, 9 RBI, 5 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR), and Jayce Richardson (.345 BA, 7 RBI, 4 2B, 2 HR), rounding out a well-balanced lineup.
Santa Fe has its sights set on surpassing last year’s run to the Regional Semifinals, but first, they’ll have to navigate a competitive district slate featuring Iowa Colony, Friendswood, and La Porte.
Friendswood's Nadi'ya Shelby
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Here are the UTMB Athletes of the Week, as the Summer season continues to unfold.
Olivia Jones -- Clear Creek Volleyball
Sr. OH Olivia Jones (No. 8) alongside fellow stars of 2024-25 Clear Creek Volleyball
Photo acquired via Twitter (@Creek_Vball)
The Wildcats are coming off another impressive outing this past Fall, in which they finished second in District 24-6A prior to reaching the Area Round of the 2023 postseason.
In terms of the talent coming back for coach Scott Simonds this upcoming campaign, no player will be more valuable to Clear Creek than that of soon-to-be senior Olivia Jones.
From the outside hitter position, Jones led the team in kills a year ago, with 563, which earned her first-team, all-district honors.
While she is currently uncommitted, that will unlikely be the case in the coming months as she looks to repeat that effort in the ensuing Fall season.
Nadi'ya Shelby -- Friendswood Volleyball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
It didn't take long for audiences to become familiar with the name Nadi'ya Shelby.
The Friendswood and Houston Skyline super-star solidified herself as a bona fide game-changer in 2023, when she guided the Mustangs to an undefeated district championship and subsequent appearance in the Regional Quarterfinals.
In doing so, Shelby was named the District 18-5A MVP and the GHVCA 5A Hitter of the Year to add onto her growing list of accolades.
Most recently, the incoming junior OH officially announced her commitment to continue her career at the University of Florida, where she'll join the, now, graduated Jaela Auguste (Grand Oaks) in 2026.
Shelby, who also competes in basketball and track, will look to lead Friendswood once again this Fall, as they aim to represent H-Town in the State Tourney come November.
Cade Adams -- Pearland Baseball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
During Pearland's 2024 campaign, which saw them reach the UIL-6A State Final for the second-straight season, one of the subtle heroes of the ball-club was none other than their catcher Cade Adams.
While most eyes were on Nico Partida, John Moya, Walker Hurst, Jake Mader-Cooper, and Jaden Barfield, among others, Adams proceeded to shine despite not being in the constant spotlight.
He contributed numerous clutch hits in the Oilers' road back to State, and finished the year with a respectable .269 batting average.
While he competes for his club team (Marucci Elite), Adams -- who will be a senior in 2025 -- is committed to play for Southern Mississippi at the conclusion of his high school career, and will be a key figure in Pearland's roster a year from now.
Kenna Sambrano -- Lutheran South Academy Volleyball
Bradley C. Collier (VYPE)
No Houston team was more dominant on the private school volleyball scene in 2023 than Lutheran South Academy.
The Pioneers concluded their campaign with a record of 41-8 and ended up as the TAPPS-5A State Runner-Up, which is a testament to the level of talent the program produces on an annual basis.
Kirra Musgrove (Texas A&M-commit) will get the majority of the praise, and rightfully so. However, volleyball is very much a team sport and the complementary performances of the team's other major players should not go unnoticed.
Speaking of which, incoming senior MB Kenna Sambrano is coming off a year in which she racked up nearly 300 kills, 56 blocks, and 42 digs to earn an all-state honorable mention.
Sambrano, along with Aniston Collins (Jr. S), Haleigh Pham (Sr. MB), and Jamie Faseler (Sr. DS) will play integral roles in LSA's run back to State in 2024.
Ryan Hernandez -- Clear Springs Baseball
The Chargers advanced all the way to the Regional Semis of the postseason this past Spring, on the heels of taking silver within District 24-6A.
Naturally, there were several post-season accolades doled out to the program's premier players -- the biggest stand-out being the, now, graduated Ryan Hernandez, who earned a unanimous first-team, all-district selection for his efforts in the outfield.
Hernandez will surely be missed, as he takes his talents to San Jacinto CC in the upcoming year. However, the standard he and his team continues to set will live long in the memory of the Clear Springs fan-base.