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Katy Tigers - post game evaluation by Jason Becker
Katy
Team Evaluation
As coach Tom McPherson said after the game, the Tigers played lackadaisical baseball. They played the game well because they are a quality team full of quality ballplayers, but they didn’t play with the energy level they are capable of. A lot of that likely had to do with the opponent, which is not a slap at Jersey Village. The Falcons are simply young, not as highly-touted as some other programs in the area, and not a district rival. Katy will likely look like a considerably different club when they play Kingwood next Tuesday or rival Katy Taylor on March 16.
That said, this Katy team is every bit as good as advertised. The Tigers are solid to four pitchers on the mound, they are very strong up the middle, defensively, they are athletic with great speed, and there are some sticks in that lineup. They were my No. 1 team to start the season, and they did not show anything in this game to make me think otherwise.
Prospects
Senior lefthander Aaron Daab started the game on the mound for the Tigers, and he was crisp. Aaron will run his fastball up to 83-84 MPH when he’s really throwing well, but on this first evening of the season he was 79-80. Everything he threw had movement, he showed tremendous command, his breaking ball was good, and his changeup was sharp. He finished with five strikeouts in his two innings, allowing only a leadoff single in the top of the first. He erased that runner with a great pickoff move. Aaron has signed early with Texas A&M.
Sophomore righthander Keifer Nuncio was next, and he has a chance to be pretty special. Right now, Keifer is a long, wiry-framed athlete with a loose, quick arm and a fastball that was 84-86 MPH in this one. Coach McPherson said Keifer will pitch up around 88 MPH once the season gets going, and that’s easy to see. His fastball has good run to it as well. He also threw a good-looking power breaking ball. He had trouble locating with it at first, but he settled in during his second inning of work. He is definitely a follow for the Class of 2009.
Carter Jurica trotted out to the mound next for the Tigers, and he was effective. However, in my mind Carter is a shortstop at the next level. He will work as a more-than-adequate No. 3 in high school, and he could probably pitch at the next level with some work. But Carter is so good as a defender on the middle infield, that will likely be his ticket at Kansas State next year. He has great feet and range, he’s very smooth and quick with his actions and he has a lot of arm strength. He also handles the bat well with some good pop, and he is an above-average runner.
Senior Nick Pepitone was the last pitcher of the evening for Katy, and he is a guy with some upside on the mound. Nick is a real easy thrower. There is no effort when he throws his fastball, and he will run it up there at 83-85 MPH. His breaking ball was OK. He has signed early with Angelina College, and with some work and some innings, he could bring out a lot more of the potential he has up there on the mound. He is a big, strong kid at around 6-4, 220. He also worked very well around the bag at first, and he hit a homerun in the second inning of this one that disappeared into the night. Good power.
As impressive as those four were, senior Michael Fuda was the Tiger who really caught my eye in this game. Michael made a couple of terrific plays at second base, including a ground ball to his back hand side that was headed for centerfield before he made like Speedy Gonzalez and flew over from his position deep on the infield dirt. He snapped up the ball, turned and fired a strike to get the runner by a step. Michael also legged out a pair of infield singles, showing off his lethal speed from home to first. Both were slow rollers the third baseman charged and made a good play on, but Robert Zaragosa just didn’t have a play. Fuda was a step or two from the bag before the junior third baseman ever turned to throw.
Sophomore catcher Andrew Stumph has picked up right where he left off last year. There are times Andrew still looks like a sophomore, including a passed ball that simply popped right out of his glove and rolled back to the screen, but by and large he caught a good game and showed off that laser he has mounted on his shoulder. He also has some juice in his bat, as evidenced by his seventh-inning triple that he launched on a line over the center fielder’s head and to the wall.By Jason Becker
Jason Becker of Texas Prep Baseball offers his coverage of the Tigers
Chronicle picks Katy No. 1; Daab/M. Fuda 1st team all greater Houston; Atwood/Jurica 2nd Team
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PREVIEW
Tigers' surge to title game gives team, fans reason to forget football
KATY - There's a different feeling around Katy these days. Baseball is no longer something to occupy the spring months while fans count the days until football kicks off.
The baseball team is carrying something into this season the football team normally does — high expectations.
"It's completely different around here," senior pitcher Aaron Daabsaid. "You walk down the halls or people see you on the road with a Katy baseball sticker on your car, and the fans are asking 'When does baseball start?' and 'Are you going to state this year?' "
The season starts today; the Tigers hope the answer to the second question is "yes."
After graduating just four players from last season's 37-9 team, the Tigers, the area's preseason No. 1 team, are setting their sights on the school's first baseball state championship.
Last season they came up a game short of that goal, losing in the Class 5A state final to The Woodlands, then ranked first in the nation.
Topping the lineup are seven players who started for the Tigers last season, in addition to a pair of top-of-the-rotation pitchers who played crucial roles in the 2006 postseason.
Most championship teams are built on great pitching; the Tigers clawed their way to state with consistency at the plate.
Adding pop to the batting order are three college signees — infielders Michael Fuda (Rice) and Carter Jurica (Kansas State) and outfielder Bret Atwood (Texas State) — and a sophomore catcher, Andrew Stumph, whom coach Tom MacPherson called one of the Tigers' best hitters.
Potent offense
The Tigers scored six or more runs seven times in 13 games in the Region III-5A playoffs last year, and they expect the offense to be a strength again this season.
"We've got guys all up and down the lineup that can get it done," Jurica said. "Last year, if the top of the order wasn't hitting good, guys on the bottom half would pick it up and vice versa."
Katy will not lack solid pitching, though. The ace will be lefthander Aaron Daab. The 6-3, 220-pound Texas A&M signee had a 10-3 record last season but burst onto the scene in the state semifinals against Corpus Christi Moody when he tossed a three-hit shutout.
"I definitely learned a lot last season," Daab said. "That game let me know that I can do it all and go out there in big games."
Behind him will be sophomore righthander Keifer Nuncio, who was stellar out of the bullpen late in the season.
Jurica will be in the No. 3 slot after leading the team in ERA last season (0.37) in 37 innings pitched.
With the championship pieces in place, the Tigers' biggest challenge might not be on the field but in their minds.
MacPherson has been working them out feverishly in hopes they won't get complacent, given the high preseason rankings (houston5Abaseball.com also has them No. 1 in the area).
"Coach MacPherson's saying is 'Defend the ranking,' " Daab said. "We have a bull's-eye on our backs, and we have to stay focused."
Plenty of support
In the meantime, the players enjoy their newfound popularity.
The increase in community and fan support is something that has the Tigers smiling and could make for a fun ride if they return to the state tournament.
"This is one of the loosest teams I've ever had," MacPherson said. "They have fun on the field, and they're talented players.
"But I always go back to the old cliché: Anybody can beat you on any given day."
Coach McPherson wins his 500th Game as Tigers open with 6-0 win at Jersey Village
CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH MAC ON VICTORY 500!!
Aaron Daab and Michael Fuda selected as pre-season All-Americans
Daab was selected as a Second Team pitcher, while 
Fuda was named a Second Team infielder. A star-studded lineup of high school players spotlight the 2007 Louisville Slugger High School Pre-Season All-American team. For detailed information about the players chosen and to see the state-by-state list of players to watch, check out a copy of the January 26, 2007 edition of the Collegiate Baseball newspaper. Louisville Slugger is sponsoring the High School All American teams for the 11th year. The staff of Collegiate Baseball newspaper selects the teams.
2007 Louisville Slugger High School Pre-Season All-Americans
First Team
Pitchers
RHP Kyle Blair, Los GatosHS, CA
LHP Forrest Moore, Parkview Baptist HS, Baton Rouge, LA
RHP Robby Broach, Archbishop Rummel, Metairie, LA
LHP Logan Darnell, Goodpasture HS, Madison, TN
LHP Brett Oberholtzer, William Penn, New Castle, DE
RHP Nathan Kilcrease, GlenwoodSchool, Phenix City, AL
RHP Hunter Hill, PrestonwoodChristian Academy, Plano, TX
LHP Tanner Robles, Cottonwood Senior HS, Salt Lake City, UT
RHP Brandon Compton, Greenbrier HS, Evans, GA
LHP Brandon Miller,Emerald HS, Greenwood, SC
RHP Drew Storen, Brownsburg HS, IN
LHP Garrett Luippold, RenoHS, NV
LHP Jason Farley, James Madison HS, Vienna, VA
LHP Drake Briton, Tomball HS, TX
LHP Marlon Storrs, Southeastern HS, Detroit, MI
LHP David Swatscheno, Charles W. Flanagan HS, Pembroke Pines, FL
RHP Brooks Mohr, Elida HS, OH
RHP Greg Peavey, Hudson's Bay HS, Vancouver, WA
RHP Sam Runion, AC Reynolds HS, Asheville, NC
LHP Drew Pomeranz, Collierville HS, TN
RHP Blake Beavan, Irving HS, TX
LHP John Gast, LakeBrantley HS, Altamonte Springs, FL
RHP Tim Alderson, Horizon HS, Scottsdale, AZ
RHP Cole Green, Coppell HS, TX
RHP Brett Harman, WestminsterHS, MD
LHP Mark Adzick, William Penn Charter, Philadelphia, PA
RHP Brandon Hamilton, Stanhope Elmore HS, Millbrook, AL
RHP Gary Gillheeney, Bishop Hendricken HS, Warwick, RI
LHP Nathan Vineyard, Woodland HS, Cartersville, GA
LHP Josh Smoker, Calhoun HS, GA
RHP Matthew Harvey, Fitch Sr HS, Groton, CT
RHP Rick Porcello, Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, NJ
Catchers
Cody Freeman, West Lauderdale HS, Collinsville, MS
Curtis Casali, New Canann HS, CT
Yasmani Grandal, Miami Springs Sr HS, FL
Cameron Rupp, PrestonwoodChristian Academy, Plano, TX
Danny Rams, Gulliver Prep, Miami, FL
Derek Trent, Dobyns-Bennett HS, Kingsport, TN
Drew Taylor, DavenportCentral HS, IA
Jean Carlos Rodriguez, George Washington HS, New York, NY
Carmen Angelini, Barbe HS, Lake Charles, LA
Devin Mescoraco, PunxsutawneyArea HS, PA
Blake Forsythe, Christian Brothers, Memphis, TN
Derek Norris, Goddard HS, KS
Cole Leonida, Grandview HS, Aurora, CO
Infielders
3B Cody Hawn, South Doyle HS, Knoxville, TN
3B/1B Andy Wilkins, Broken ArrowHS, OK
SS/3B Michael Moustakas, Chatsworth HS, CA
SS/2B Nick Noonan, Francis Parker HS, San Diego, CA
SS Pete Kozma, Owasso HS, OK
3B/SS Matt Dominguez, Chatsworth HS, CA
3B Josh Vitters, CypressHS, CA
SS/3B DJ LeMahieu, Brother Rice HS, Bloomfield Hills, MI
SS/2B Christian Colon, Canyon HS, Anaheim, CA
SS John Tolisano, Estero HS, FL
SS Garrett Nash, JordanHS, UT
SS Justin Jackson, TC Roberson, Asheville, NC
SS Jonathan Gilmore, Iowa City HS, IA
3B Derek Dietrich, St. Igantius HS, Cleveland, OH
1B Mike Morrison, Bishop Luers HS, Fort Wayne, IN
SS Rick Hague, Klein Collins HS, Spring, TX
1B/3B Dalton "DJ" Hicks, LakeBrantley HS, Altamonte Springs, FL
1B Zac Elgie, Minot HS, ND
1B Eric Hosmer, American Hertiage HS, Plantation, FL
Outfielders
Cody Reine, WalkerHS, LA
Michael Burgess, Hillsborough HS, Tampa, FL
Ben Revere, LexingtonCatholic, Lexington, KY
LJ Hoes, St. John'sCollege HS, Washington, DC
Nick Ziegler, Canyon del Oro HS, Tucson, AZ
Kentrail Davis, Theodore HS, AL
Steven Brooks, Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, NJ
Jason Heyward, HenryCounty HS, McDonough, GA
Brett Krill, Aliso Niguel HS, Aliso Viejo, CA
Sequoyah Stonecipher, Mission Bay HS, San Diego, CA
Eric Eiland, Houston Lamar HS, Houston, TX
Multiple-Position Players
RHP/OF Paul Demny, East Bernard HS, TX
RHP/OF Erik Goeddel, Bellarmine Prep, San Jose, CA
RHP/SS Rich Witten, DanvilleHS, KY
RHP/OF Michael Main, Deland HS, FL
OF/RHP Chris Epps, Dunwoody HS, GA
LHP/DH/1B Madison Bumgarner, South Caldwell HS, Hudson, NC
SS/RHP Matt Creel, Central PrivateSchool, Baker, LA
RHP/SS Andrew Arik Sikula, Hurricane HS, WV
RHP/OF Jarrod Parker, Norwell HS, Ossian, IN
SS/P Jacob Smolinski, RockfordBoylan HS, Rockford, IL
CF/RHP Wendell Fairley, GeorgeCounty HS, Lucedale, MS
RHP/UT Patrick Arnold, Huntington HS, WV
RHP/SS Manny Barreda, Sahuarita HS, AZ
RHP/SS Tyler Hibbs, Arundel Senior HS, Gambrills, MD
LHP/OF Michael Roth, Riverside HS, Greer, SC
OF/LHP Jaff Decker, SunriseMountain HS, Peoria, AZ
Second Team
Pitchers
LHP Aaron Daab, Katy HS, TX
RHP Evan Danieli, Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, NJ
RHP Hugh Henry, Mount VernonHS, NY
RHP Neil Ramirez, Kempsville HS, Virginia Beach, VA
LHP Chris Hernandez, Msgr. Edward Pace HS, Miami, FL
RHP RJ Preach, BrophyCollege Prep, Phoenix, AZ
LHP Michael Watt, CapistranoValley HS, Mission Viejo, CA
RHP Bryce Jenney, Northville HS, MI
RHP Matt Miller, North Florida Christian, Tallahassee, FL
RHP Justin Jenkins, Hallsville HS, TX
RHP Zach Kenyon, DavenportCentral HS, IA
RHP Michael Park, MemphisUniversity School, Memphis, TN
RHP Chasen Bradford, Silverado HS, Las Vegas, NV
P Robert Morey, Cape Henry Collegiate School, Virginia Beach, VA
RHP Kevin Jacob, Parkville HS, Baltimore, MD
P Matthew Pegler, Riverside HS, Greer, SC
RHP Jesse Carroll, Clay Chalkville HS, Pinson, AL
LHP Eric Holmes, WiltonHS, IA
P Travis Ratliff, Levittown Divsion AveHS, Levittown, NY
LHP Tyler Gordin, ShawneeHS, Springfield, OH
RHP Edward Orozco, Rubidoux HS, Riverside, CA
LHP Sean Lucas, Beacon HS, NY
LHP Josh Culler, CaravelAcademy, Bear, DE
RHP Matt Warren, Petal HS, MS
LHP Tyler Melling, Bellefontaine HS, OH
RHP Zachary Grimmett, Beggs HS, OK
LHP Phil Isaksson, Eau Claire North, WI
Catchers
Joey Terdoslavich, SarasotaHS, FL
Max Stassi, Yuba CityHS, CA
Kevin Burgi, Valley View HS, Jonesboro, AR
Bo Reeder, CookevilleHS, TN
Michael McDade, Silverado HS, Las Vegas, NV
James Rice, Science Hills HS, Johnson City, TN
Chris Amrhein, Sunnyslope HS, Phoenix, AZ
Infielders
3B Rolando Gomez, Charles W. Flanagan HS, Pembroke Pines, FL
SS Dan Johnson, Papillion-LaVista HS, Papillion, NE
SS/2B Michael Fuda, Katy HS, TX
3B Victor Sanchez, Gahr HS, CA
SS TJ Baumet, Brownsburg HS, IN
2B/SS Raymond Quinones, George Washington HS, New York, NY
SS/2B Jordan Moore, Logan HS, WV
SS Taylor Cole, Bishop Gorman HS, Las Vegas, NV
SS Elliott Armstrong, HarlanCommunity Academy, Chicago, IL
SS Andy Burns, Rocky Mountain HS, Fort Collins, CO
SS Richard Bohlken, La Cueva HS, Albuquerque, NM
SS/2B Jesse Santo, PassaicValleyRegional, Little Falls, NJ
2B Tyler Hanover, East Forsyth HS, Kernersville, NC
3B/SS Mitchell Petrak, Berean Christian HS, Walnut Creek, CA
INF Ross Wilson, HooverHS, AL
SS Garrett Stephens, Davison HS, MI
3B Delgis Soto, James Monroe Campus HS, Bronx, NY
SS/2B Shane Fry, Hallsville HS, TX
SS/2B Lance Pfannenstiel, Inman HS, KS
Outfielders
Ben Klafczynski, Highland HS, Medina, OH
Bobby Coyle, Chatsworth HS, CA
Caleb Gindl, Pace HS, FL
Kyle Konicek, GreenValley HS, Henderson, NV
Ronnie Chester, HarlanCommunity Academy, Chicago, IL
Denny Almonte, FloridaChristian, Miami, FL
Casey McMurray, LyonsTownship HS, LaGrange, IL
Anthony Doss, Northwest Rankin HS, Brandon, MS
Shaun Hoover, Millard West HS, Omaha, NE
Multi-Postion Players
SS/RHP Michael Busby, Porter's Chapel Academy, Vicksburg, MS
LHP/OF Matt Newman, BrophyCollege Prep, Phoenix, AZ
P/1B Kyle Long, St Anne's-Belfield School, Charlottesville, VA
RHP/SS Jordan Cooper, ShawneeHeights HS, Tecumseh, KS
1B/RHP Nicholas Grimmett, Beggs HS, OK
SS/RHP Mark Ginther, Jenks HS, OK
RHP/3B Kevin Rhoderick, Horizon HS, Scottsdale, AZ
SS/RHP Boomer Moulton, Start HS, Toledo, OH
RHP/CF Chris Moon, TucsonHS, AZ
1B/RHP Wes Patterson, BriarcrestChristian School, Memphis, TN
LHP/CF Casey Crosby, Kaneland HS, Maple Park, IL
C/RHP Tyler Burgoon, DefianceHS, OH
SS/RHP Jordan Jakubov, Maize HS, KS
