By Derek Shore (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
In 2023, Houston baseball put together its winningest season in recent memory. The Tigers went 20-6 and fell to eventual Class 3 state champion Licking in the district championship.
Houston graduated five starters from a year ago. The Tigers bring back four starters who look to help replicate last season’s success in 2024.
Headlining this year’s team will be senior Aiden Kelly, who was an all-state outfielder last year after hitting .408 while amassing 29 hits, 22 RBI and 22 stolen bases. He also logged a 2-0 record on the mound with a 4.54 ERA.
“Aiden is coming off a big year last year,” Houston coach Brent Hall said. “He will be catching for us this year as well as pitching and hitting in the top of our lineup.”
Seniors Wyatt Hughes (pitcher/infielder) and Stone Jackson (utility player) and junior Shaun Buck (pitcher/outfielder) round out the Tigers’ returning starters. The trio earned all-conference laurels last season.
Hughes compiled a 3-4 record with a 1.97 ERA and batted .328 with 22 hits, 20 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Jackson hit .372 with 32 hits, one home run and 20 RBI, while Buck had a 2-0 record on the mound with a 1.35 ERA and drove in 15 runs at the plate.
“Wyatt is a good all-around baseball player,” Hall said. “He will be our ace on the mound. Stone is our utility player and can play all over the field. He will be a major contributor in the middle of our lineup as well as get many more innings on the mound this year. Shaun has huge upside on the mound and will get a lot of innings for us. He will play in the outfield and get some time in the infield as well.”
Houston has five other seniors that are expected to get expanded varsity roles. That group includes Grayson Mitchell (infielder/outfielder/pitcher), Jake Allen (infielder/outfielder/pitcher), Gage Yardley (first baseman), Keaton Goetz (outfielder) and Sheldon Starr (outfielder).
“Grayson is a good baseball player that didn’t get many innings last year due to our seniors that played in front of him,” Hall said. “He would have been able to start for most teams in the area. Grayson will play infield, outfield and pitch for us this season. Jake is another kid that could have started for most teams in the area. He will also play infield, outfield and pitch some for us this year.
“Gage will play first base for us this year. He is an extremely hard worker and is sure-handed over at first. Keaton will play the outfield for us and be a big contributor. He has the potential to have a big bat, which can help us drive in runs in his part of the lineup. Sheldon will play the outfield for us. He has put in a lot of work in the offseason and has a lot of potential and can do many things for us with his athleticism.”
Top newcomers include juniors Caden Root (catcher), Logan Dixon (first baseman), Kolby Sisco (utility player) and John Jordan (third baseman/first baseman).
“This year’s team should once again have strong pitching,” Hall said. “We have eight seniors that should get to play a lot, so that usually bodes well when you can play older guys. We have as good of a core to our team as anybody, but our key will be getting the guys with the least experience in the bottom of our order to produce and play consistently. If we do that, we can have a great season.
“In our conference, there is not a day you can take off. We have a lot of parity in the conference, so you have to show up to play every day. Our district assignment has not come out yet, but due to size and proximity, Licking is usually in our district and will be the team to beat.”
Houston hosts a jamboree with Cabool and Plato on March 11. The Tigers open the season in the Liberty Wood Bat Tournament on March 15-16.
