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Rockwall-Heath baseball players celebrate after a run crosses the plate in the 2021 UIL Class 6A State Title game against Keller (2021).
STATE SEMIFINALS PREVIEW: Defending State Champs, Rockwall-Heath, is back in the state tournament
It's one thing to be a great baseball team- it's another to make multiple state appearances. Last season, Rockwall-Heath made great strides against Keller in order to become the UIL Class 6A State Champion team. This season, the Hawks have put in the work to make their return to the biggest stage in Texas High School baseball. VYPE DFW takes a look at the team's season and lays out just what fans can expect in the UIL Class 6A State Semifinals.
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A Look Back
This season the Hawks posted an incredible 12-0 undefeated district record (32-6 overall). The team has played strong and kept their same level of strength from last season- channeling bigger moments for the team. So far in playoffs, Rockwall-Heath has battled against Garland, Mansfield Lake Ridge, Naaman Forest, Oak Ridge, and most recently- cross-town rival Rockwall. En route to the state tournament, the Hawks have outscored their opponents by a combined 196 runs.
Who To Watch
The defense has continued to be incredible behind pitchers Baylor Baumann and Johnny Lowe. Baumann has a 9-1 record on the mound this season with a 1.60 ERA while Lowe has an 11-1 record on the mound this season with a 1.24 ERA. In over 153 innings, Baumann and Lowe have combined for 181 strikeouts. Jett Williams, projected first-round draft pick and Mississippi State signee, leads the Hawks at the plate with 13 home runs this season and a .404 average. Williams has scored 53 runs this season. Brady Ladusau (.328), Alex Stowers (.323), and Caleb Hoover (.308) all lead the lineup with powerful hitting.
What To Expect
Rockwall-Heath is on the hunt for their third state title- second in a row. The team has gone 4-0 in their state tournament appearances and will likely not end such a great streak. However, the Hawks are going to face off against an intelligent San Antonio Reagan (32-6-2) sqaud who is known for keeping up with the best of the best. Fans can expect decisive fielding from both teams, but with the power at the plate for the Hawks, it's not likely that we will see Rockwall-Heath bow out of the tournament in the semifinals.
The game is expected to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 10 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.
Rockwall-Heath star, Josh Hoover, commits to Indiana football
Rockwall-Heath three star quarterback, Josh Hoover, took to Twitter on Wednesday to announce his commitment to a college football program:
Committed!! pic.twitter.com/ETbRJWHrDL
— Josh Hoover (@JoshJHoover) June 22, 2021
Hoover, a 6-1 quarterback, helped lead the Hawks to a 11-3 overall record last season while posting over 3,500 passing yards and 36 touchdowns with only 12 interceptions. Quick on his feet, Hoover also accounted for four rushing touchdowns. After football season, Hoover was a key role in Rockwall-Heath baseball's championship season as the Hawks defeated Keller for the Class 6A state title.
As one of the highest-rated recruits in the Dallas area, Hoover has been highly sought aftermath more than a dozen offers from the likes of Arkansas, Houston, New Mexico, North Texas, SMU, Tulane, Utah State, Illinois State, and more.
With a culture that fits what he's looking for in a college program, the Hoosiers stood out the most to Hoover. "I think what they do offensively fits me as a player. They have a lot of great players and a lot of great coaches— it seems like a great atmosphere," said Hoover in an interview reported by 247 Sports.
Hoover is ranked as the 36th best quarterback in the nation and the number 74 player in the state of Texas for the 2022 recruiting class according to a 247Sports Composite.