The Texas High School baseball season came to a close, and it was a tremendous year for the Texas Panhandle. Here’s a look at the 2025 Press Pass Sports Baseball Team. Compiled by Lee Passmore and Kale Steed.
Coach of Year
Colby Chandler, West Plains
By Lee Passmore
What happened this season for the West Plains baseball team seemed perfectly logical for anyone who had been paying attention to the program for the previous two years under coach Colby Chandler.
Sure, West Plains is a new program in only its third year of existence since the school opened in the fall of 2022. That didn’t diminish expectations one bit, though, as the Wolves made the postseason in each of their first two years at the varsity level.
The Wolves had to content with being in the shadow of their senior Canyon ISD schools Randall and West Plains on the diamond, which they were reminded of in their first two years in DIstrict 4-4A. Randall made the Class 4A state semifinals in 2023 and Canyon followed suit in 2024.
So why wouldn’t West Plains expect to do the same in 2025? The Wolves won their first district title, going 13-1 in 4-4A and made their biggest postseason splash to date, reaching the region semifinals.
“Honestly, we had visions of going even further,” said Chandler, putting aside any false modesty. “That’s every program. Our whole deal since we started this thing has been to set the standard. We’ve done a great job over the last three years of setting the standard for West Plains baseball.”
For setting that standard and leaving future West Plains teams a higher goal to attain, Chandler is the 2025 Press Pass Sports Baseball Coach of the Year.
The Wolves were 27-7-1 this season, and while they seemed like a good best to be contenders in district play, they didn’t seem like favorites. That’s because Canyon had several players returning from a state semifinal team and Randall is also a perennial contender.
Furthermore, West Plains went into the season without the services of Bryton Bertrand, a left-handed pitcher who figured to be a huge component of the staff, but was unavailable due to a back injury. That meant Chandler had to rely on senior right-hander Ethan Bentley to step up and remain the ace of the staff while junior right-hander Reid Macon emerged as the No. 2 option on the mound.
“I’m super proud of our guys and how they responded,” Chandler said. “They faced a lot of adversity as far as injuries are concerned. It was the next man up mentality.
“We had a lot of experience returning but not a lot of guys who were everyday starters. We knew we had guys who were talented and played varsity baseball the last couple of years. We just had to figure it out from there and guys did a really good job of taking their roles.”
After the losing the first game against Andrews in the bi-district round of the playoffs, the Wolves rallied to win the next two games, winning the series by giving up just one run in the final two games. In sweeping Mountain View in the area round, West Plains gave up only one run in two games.
Unfortunately, the Wolves didn’t have as much luck in the region semis, as they lost a flip with Mineral Wells and had to play a one-game playoff, losing 3-1 on a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. It was a tough ending, but only fuels the incentive for next season.
“What I was proud of was our guys responded well in a tight game,” Chandler said. “It’s one of those as a coach you’ll hold on to, but our guys are going to have a hunger. We’ve put ourselves in a great spot. We’re doing stuff in the summer and next season has already started.”
Player of the Year
Ethan Bentley, West Plains, 5-11, P-Inf., Sr.
Bentley might have been the glue which held the Wolves together for their most successful season yet, as they won their first District 4-4A championship.
After being named the district’s pitcher of the year as a junior, Bentley stepped things up even more as a senior, and was named the 4-4A MVP for being a major contributor for West Plains on the mound, at the plate and in the field. Hitting third in the lineup regardless of where he was playing, Bentley led the Wolves with a .412 batting average, hitting two home runs and driving in 26 runs while stealing 13 bases.
Bentley was just as effective on the mound when he wasn’t playing shortstop as arguably the most consistent starting pitcher on a strong staff. He posted a 3-1 record with 33 strikeouts and only nine walks in 30 1/3 innings, filling a big void on the staff after the injury of Bryton Bertrand.
“Other guys stepped up and really just took charge for us by allowing us to be good defensively with Ethan at shortstop,” West Plains coach Colby Chandler said. “That MVP quality is that he wasn’t selfish about it. He likes pitching but he knew that for us to be our best he needed to be at shortstop. He knew we had guys who could get the job done on the mound, so I was proud of Ethan for not having any selfishness and effect who he was as a player.”
Newcomer of the Year
Taegen Tate, Amarillo High, 6-2, Pitcher, Fr.
Pitching was a definite strength for Amarillo High this season, and the biggest factor in leading the Sandies to the third round of the Class 5A Division I playoffs. With some proven arms on the staff, it would appear to be tough for a newcomer, let alone a freshman, to make an impact on the mound during District 3-5A play, but Tate did exactly that in 2025.
In his first varsity season, Tate made 12 starts, posting a 7-4 record with a 1.84 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 68 1/3 innings. Tate threw a shutout in an area round playoff win over El Paso El Dorado and it was no surprise that he was named the 3-5A newcomer of the year.
THE TEAM
PITCHERS
Clayton Norrell, Amarillo High, 6-0, Sr.
While Tate made a major splash as a freshman, Norrell was the steady returning ace for the Sandies and he showed why in his final varsity season. The left-hander was 6-2 with one save and a 1.53 ERA and led Amarillo High by throwing 77 2/3 innings. Norrell was named the 3-5A pitcher of the year.
Colt Cruth, Canyon, 5-11, Sr.
Cruth was already established as a solid hitter entering the season for Canyon as an outfielder, but emerged as the pitching ace for the Eagles this year, posting a 7-1 record with a 1.88 ERA in helping lead Canyon to a 12-2 district record. He was named the 4-4A pitcher of the year.
Reid Macon, West Plains, 6-0, Jr.
Prior to this spring, Macon was best known as the three-year starter at quarterback who led the West Plains football team to the state semifinals last fall. Pressed into starting pitching duty this year, Macon showed he could fling a baseball too, going 6-1 with a 1.17 ERA as a first team 4-4A pick.
Briggs Satterfield, Gruver, 5-11, Jr.
The multi-sport talent was just as much of a quarterback on the diamond as he is the gridiron. When on the hill, Satterfield always gave Gruver a chance to win finishing the year with 48 strikeouts in 45.2 innings pitched while carrying a 1.22 ERA. Satterfield was named the District 1-2A Co-Pitcher of the Year for a Greyhound team that advanced to the regional title.
CATCHER
Kaiden Dorman, West Plains, 5-11, Sr.
Dorman showed the depth of the West Plains lineup by hitting at the lower end, producing by hitting .333 and driving in 18 runs. He recorded 23 assists behind the plate while throwing out an impressive 42.3 percent of all runners attempting to steal and was a first team 4-4A pick.
INFIELDERS
Kevin Rios, Dalhart, 6-2, Sr.
Behind a tremendous year from Rios, the Dalhart Golden Wolves were able to beat rival Bushland first the first time in school history while capturing the programs first ever district championship. Rios earned District 1-3A MVP honors hitting a stellar .443 at the plate with an on-base percentage of .524. Rios added 33 RBIs with a pair of homers and was solid defensively carrying an .877 fielding percentage.
Stephen Cowan, Gruver, 6-1, Sr.
Transferring in from Perryton, Cowan played a huge factor during Gruver’s historic run to the regional championship. The son of longtime Perryton head coach and now Gruver assistant Kelly Cowan, Stephen did his part and then some hitting .438 on the season with 33 RBIs. He was a steady second baseman and threw 35.1 innings with 33 K’s. For his tremendous season, Cowan was named District 1-2A MVP.
Carson Allen, Canyon, 5-10, Jr.
After making a splash the previous season as a sophomore, Allen proved that was no fluke and continued to cement his reputation as one of the best hitters in the area, hitting .433 and driving in 39 runs at shortstop. He had a .963 fielding percentage and was named the 4-4A Defensive MVP.
Breken Melton, Randall, 6-3, Sr.
Melton was a cornerstone for Randall at third base and delivered at the plate, batting .337 with two home runs and 21 RBIs with 10 doubles. He was a unanimous first team 4-4A selection and has signed to play football for West Texas A&M next fall.
OUTFIELDERS
Colton Reynolds, Bushland, 5-10, Sr.
Reynolds came into his own this past year helping carry the load for another very good Falcons squad. Reynolds shot grit all season hitting .431 at the plate with an on-base percentage of .585. He added six doubles, a pair of triples with 15 RBIs and was named the District 1-3A Offensive MVP.
Austin Sluder, Amarillo High, 5-11, Jr.
Sluder was at the heart of Amarillo High’s lineup and delivered all season, batting .414 with 23 RBIs as the No. 3 hitter for most of the season, along with stealing 18 bases. He was named 3-5A’s Offensive MVP in helping the Sandies to a second-place district finish.
Max Neff, Pampa, 5-8, Jr.
Neff did it all for Pampa this season, as he hit .383 with two homers and 18 RBIs for the Harvesters in leading them to the playoffs, playing the outfield as well as catching. Such versatility earned him a spot as a utility player on the 4-4A first team.
DESIGNATED HITTER
Breck Proctor, Nazareth, 5-11, Jr.
Proctor kept up the tradition of outstanding play for the Swifts. In fact, Prock seems to be just getting started as the District MVP finished an incredible year hitting .478 with an on-base percentage of .640. Proctor totaled 34 RBIs, scored 38 runs with 11 doubles for a Nazareth team that advanced to the regional championship.
UTILITY PLAYERS
Tell Bryant, Hereford, 6-3, Sr.
Bryant was Hereford’s Swiss Army Knife, playing the corner infield positions and pitching, while also occasionally catching. He led the Herd with 36 hits, batting .383 with 10 homers and 47 RBIs, numbers which earned him 4-4A’s Offensive MVP.
Charlie McKinney, Tascosa, 6-0, Sr.
McKinney played shortstop and was Tascosa’s most reliable starting pitcher, batting .388 with three homers and 30 RBIs and on the mound posted 67 strikeouts in only 45 2/3 innings and was a first-team 3-5A selection at pitcher.
Luke Grajeda, Sunray, 6-2, Sr.
Grajeda proved his dependability each and every game for a solid Sunray team that advanced into the second round of the playoffs. The senior and District 1-2A Offensive MVP could swing the bat hitting .537 with 30 RBIs. He was also a sure-handed shortstop making only three errors all season.
BEST OF THE REST
Sam Adams, Tascosa, 5-10, infielder, Jr.
Braxton Akin, Dalhart, 5-8, catcher, Sr.
Isaiah Anguiano, Pampa, 5-10, pitcher/ second baseman, Sr.
Caden Bird, Dalhart, 6-0, pitcher, Soph.
Tate Blackwell, Amarillo High, 5-10, pitcher/ second baseman, Jr.
Brock Butler, Gruver, 5-11, utility, Jr.
Reese Cabe, Tascosa, 6-0, outfielder, Jr.
Alakai Carrillo, West Plains, 6-2, first baseman, Jr.
Jayden Cedillo, Amarillo High, 5-11, pitcher/ first baseman, Jr.
Jude Cunningham, Tascosa, 5-6, pitcher/ catcher, Jr.
Ivan De La Rosa, Sunray, 5-11, catcher, Sr.
Cash Fulton, West Texas High, 6-2, shortstop/ pitcher, Jr.
Cash Hightower, Childress, 5-9, pitcher, Sr.
Kaden Hooker, West Plains, 6-0, outfielder, Jr.
Parker Johnson, Sunray, 5-9, pitcher, Jr.
Lincoln Krause, Bushland, 6-1, infielder/ pitcher, Fr.
Boston Ladd, West Plains, 5-11, infielder, Jr.
Chase Nelson, Booker, 6-3, pitcher, Sr.
Alex Orozco, Wellington, 5-8, pitcher, Fr.
Gabriel Ortiz, Amarillo High, 5-9, third baseman, Sr.
Jett Pittman, Gruver, 5-10, catcher, Fr.
Cameron Pohlmeier, Nazareth, 5-9- outfielder/ pitcher, Soph.
Lincoln Pohlmeier, Nazareth, 5-10, catcher/ pitcher, Soph.
Drake Rabe, Childress, 6-0, pitcher, Sr.
Sam Ramirez, Tascosa, 5-11, designated hitter, Jr.
Max Rodriguez, Bushland, 5-10, outfielder, Sr.
TJ Salinas, Wellington, 5-7, pitcher, Sr.
Mason Sims, Clarendon, 6-3, pitcher, Sr.
Brae Silva, Randall, 5-7, pitcher/infielder, Sr.
Hunter Trusler, Dalhart, pitcher, Jr.
Zabien Urteaga, Canyon, 5-8, pitcher/infielder, Sr.
Noah Zamora, Hereford, 5-7, shortstop, Sr.