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College Station-Bound: SBS junior Ty Baker commits to Aggies over summer
HOUSTON – Ty Baker '23 had a sophomore pitching season to remember with Second Baptist School's baseball team.
As one of the aces for Second Baptist School, which reached the TAPPS State Semifinals last spring, Baker posted video-game-like numbers.
In district play, he posted an ERA of 0.00. No, that's not a typo. Overall, he posted a 0.38 ERA, while going 4-0 with two saves, holding opponents to an abysmal .092 batting average and striking out 59 in 144 batters faced.
"Last year we fell short in the playoffs, which was obviously a disappointment," Baker said. "Our goals are to sweep district again and win state this year. We have a lot of great returning players that will have big impacts, and a couple of transfers that will be studs."
Second Baptist School's upcoming baseball season is sure to garner plenty of attention, especially at the collegiate level, including that of new Texas A&M head coach Jim Schlossnagle, who made the move from TCU in the offseason.
In July, Schlossnagle got another checkmark on his recruiting board in the form of Baker committing to the Aggies for 2023.
"Texas A&M has always been a top choice," Baker said. "I've always wanted to play in Texas and in the SEC, so it checks both of those boxes. The new coaching staff is awesome, and Coach Yeskie (the pitching coach) is an awesome guy and Coach Schlossnagle is a proven winner.
Baker continues, "The new staff has been great with recruiting, and I think all of us are very excited to see how we can help Texas A&M baseball win a national championship."
Baker, who enters his junior season in 2021-2022, has been working on his mechanics a lot this summer to get his three pitches – fastball, curveball and changeup – where he wants them to be.
It also helps that when he walks into a practice at Second Baptist School, his head coach Rayner Noble, is the all-time winningest baseball coach at the University of Houston and set to be inducted into their Hall of Honor this week, and his pitching coach is World Series Champion Andy Pettitte.
Not a bad combo.
"Having Coach Noble as a head coach is a great resource because of his years coaching in college. He has excellent experience and really understands the game," Baker said. "Coach Pettitte has been super influential on my pitching as well. He is awesome to have in the dugout and has really helped my mental game and holding on runners. He is a great man I want to emulate on and off the field."
But at Second Baptist School, for Baker it is more than what happens between the white lines of the baseball diamond that makes this place feel special for the future Aggie.
"I love SBS. From the classroom to athletics, you always feel like the faculty want you to succeed and are genuinely interested in you," Baker said. "Our athletic facilities and programs are top-notch."
The Ace: Texas baseball-commit Luke Harrison talks Longhorns, football, baseball
LUKE HARRISON CARRIES TWO OF THE MORE IMPORTANT ROLES ON A TEAM AROUND THE LUTHERAN SOUTH ACADEMY CAMPUS.
IN THE FALL, HE IS THE STARTING QUARTERBACK FOR THE PIONEERS' FOOTBALL TEAM AND IN THE SPRING HE'S THE ACE OF THE PITCHING STAFF. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS-COMMIT RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH VYPE FOR AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW.
VYPE: Talk about the prestige of Texas and getting to be a part of the baseball program, which has such a great tradition.
Harrison: "When talking about all-time great programs, you can't go without mentioning the Longhorns – six national championships puts them up there. Obviously, some great coaches in the past also. Coach [David] Pierce is there now, I'm excited."
VYPE: What does it mean to you to get to put Texas across your chest next year?
Harrison: "It's definitely pretty awesome. When I was in middle school going into high school, I realized I may have a future in baseball. I play for Twelve Baseball and they helped me get in front of the eyes I needed to and the 'Eyes of Texas' were on me."
VYPE: In the recruiting spectrum, what does it mean to you to have helped put more eyes on Lutheran South Academy?
Harrison: "It's cool. There's not a lot of big-time guys that come out of here, but the ones that do, I've been close with them in the past. It's been great to have everyone's support. I've been here since the first grade, so it's cool to support LSA and the community."
VYPE: Since you play football too, have you talked to Tom Herman yet about coming over there and throwing it around a bit?
Harrison: "Unfortunately no, I don't know about that one."
VYPE: What do you think the moment will be like the first time you run out of the dugout or bullpen for the Longhorns?
Harrison: "I still remember the time I took the mound in the state championship game my freshman year. So, I think about that and try to compare it, but it'll just be 100 times more."
VYPE: What do you remember about the state title game your freshman year?
Harrison: "It was nerve-racking. I don't think I ate anything that entire day. Obviously, I knew I couldn't let any of the seniors down and they supported me the whole way."
VYPE: Do you remember the final out of that game when you all won?
Harrison: "Oh yeah. Fly ball to right field to Christian Doxakis. I threw him a fastball low and away, and then I don't remember anything until like 30 minutes after that when we were getting our medals. I threw my glove pretty high. I know the pitcher who won the state championship in 2015 for us, he had his glove hangtime at three seconds and I think I got four."
VYPE: You've been a lifer here at LSA. What has this school meant to you?
Harrison: "It's been awesome for me. It's the family atmosphere that I like. My dad has been a coach here for a while. It's gifted me with the ability to play multiple sports, meet some lifelong friends and hopefully prepare me for the next level of school."
VYPE: When you leave LSA, what do you hope people remember the most about you?
Harrison: "I hope that they remember me not just as an athlete but as a leader. As a leader in the classroom, a leader on the football field and the baseball field, just helping to point people in the right direction and pushing them to do their best."