From the dugout at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Travis Earles was sweating it.
And it wasn’t because what was transpiring late during the University Interscholastic League Class 5A championship game last month.
Yes, it was a hot one that Saturday afternoon. Temperatures in the mid-90s as the Magnolia West Mustangs were in quite the predicament. Clinging to a 3-2 lead and Argyle with runners in scoring position and two outs in the bottom of he seventh, Earles, the Mustangs’ first-year head coach, never had a doubt that right-hander Caylon Dygert couldn’t get the job done.
The Eagles batted a liner that faded fast toward center field. Jackson Blank made a running grab and the Mustangs were state champions.
“It went so fast that I really didn’t have time to be nervous,” Earles said earlier this month about that final inning. “What made it easier for me was I was going to ride or die with Caylon Dygert. To me, it was a no-brainer. Caylon Dygert is my freaking dude. If we are going to win or lose a state championship, that guy is going to be on the mound.”
In simple terms, Dygert helped the Mustangs win their first state title in program history. His fingerprints are all over it. As a starting pitcher and catcher when he wasn’t on the mound, Dygert became one of the best high school baseball players in Texas in 2023.
From a second-team All-District second baseman as a junior, Dygert is this year’s Montgomery County Player of the Year.
“He’s a different breed,” Earles said. “We have a bunch of good players on this team and that’s obviously why we had success. Caylon is almost at a different level, in my opinion, when it comes to competitiveness, being intense, all the attributes that you need. He was at a different level this year.”
On the mound, Dygert was 12-0 with a 0.47 ERA, 0.71 WHIP and opponents hit .154 off him. He struck out 100 in 88 2/3 innings with 16 walks. At the plate, Dygert contributed by slashing .336/.456/.425 with a .890 OPS. He drove in 20 runs, scored 17 times and dropped in 10 extra-base hits. Behind the plate, he made one error the whole season, caught nine stealing, picked off another and assisted on 21 outs.
What will live in Earles’ memory bank is a kid who simply did it all.
“Being able to catch and pitch in the same week and not complain about and almost embrace it is just something you don’t see out of high school kids,” Earles said. “You’ll see it in college now and then. You’ll see catchers come in and close. But to have a guy that catches seven innings and then throws seven innings right behind it, sometimes with just a day’s rest, not only he doesn’t complain about it, but enjoys it and wants to be that guy is something I’ve never been around.”
Neither run Argyle scored in the state title game was earned. Dygert struck out five, walked two, and allowed five hits in the complete game. Two days earlier, he picked the save in the semifinal game with a strikeout. The week before, he went eight innings to top Lake Creek in Game 2 of the Region III-5A series to extend it to Game 3.
“Last year, he played second base and pitched for them,” Earles said. “It fit better in the team scheme for him to play second. But he’s a really good infielder, too. He can play literally wherever you need him to play.”
Dygert initially committed to Wharton Junior College during his senior year but has since signed with UT-Arlington.
OFFENSIVE MVP: Brayden Sharp, Senior, The Woodlands
Brayden Sharp did a lot of everything for The Woodlands Highlanders in his four-year career.
Although his pitching and defense were on point like usual in 2023, Sharp made big strides at the plate and is being recognized this year as the Montgomery County Offensive Most Valuable Player.
“He’s had an incredible career for the Highlanders,” The Woodlands coach Ron Eastman said. “He’s represented us at a very high level. We ask our guys to represent the high school, their community, and their families – we call it ‘above the line behavior.’ He has done an exceptional job representing us, not only on the field but off the field.”
The Woodlands went 33-10-1, won the District 13-6A title and reached the Region II-6A championship before falling to Cypress Woods early last month.
Sharp slashed .338/.433/.544 with a .977 OPS in the leadoff spot. He homered three times, drove in an impressive 36 runs and had 17 extra-base hits. Once on the base paths, he scored 35 runs and stole a career-high 24 bases.
“We kind of experimented with some different lineups this year and we put him back in the leadoff spot,” Eastman said. “That’s when he kind of took off and made that run through district.”
Leadoff hitters don’t always have a lot of opportunities to drive in runs. But the bottom of the Highlanders’ order improved and Sharp made the most of those chances.
“Brayden – he’s got some juice when he hits the baseball,” Eastman said. “He’s got some pop and he does a good job with runners in scoring position. And you have to credit some of the guys in the lower half of the order were able to get on base. The last couple years, that really hasn’t been the case. This year, we were able to get some guys in the 7, 8, and 9 hole on base and give Brayden the opportunity to drive some runs in.”
No. 2 hitter Logan Ellefson stole 31 bases and the team totaled over 124 on the year.
“He’s a leader on the field for us and on the mound,” Eastman said of Sharp. “In center field, he’s a plus-defender for us in outfield. Obviously, a great bat and base runner for us.”
Sharp, a left-hander, was 7-1, had a 1.56 ERA and totaled 111 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings. In center field, Sharp had a .939 fielding percentage and he totaled six assists on the season.
Sharp, who could be selected in the MLB draft, signed with the University of Tennessee in February.
“I’m extremely happy for him,” Eastman said. “He has a great career ahead of him at Tennessee or the draft – whichever he chooses to embark upon. He’s had a great four years. He’s one of those guys – and we’ve had a few of them – that you really can’t replace.”
CO-PITCHER OF THE YEAR: James Ellwanger, Senior, Magnolia West
James Ellwanger was simply the man for the Mustangs in the Class 5A state semifinal game against Frisco Reedy.
In one of the most memorable pitching performances, the 6-foot-5 right-handed hurler struck out 17 in 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball on a big stage at Dell Diamond. He nearly no-hit the Lions (they singled with two outs in the seventh) before Ellwanger was lifted for Caylon Dygert due to the pitch count limit.
Ellwanger was a major factor in the Mustangs’ state title and is the Montgomery County Co-Pitcher of the Year.
“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever been around,” Magnolia West coach Travis Earles said. “It’s tough when your role on the team morphs into a pitcher for us most of the time. How does he act in the dugout when he’s not pitching? Is he a good teammate or is he a distraction? All those things. But James is awesome and does it right. The teammate that James Ellwanger is, is unbelievable.”
Ellwanger went 11-1 on the season. In 83 innings, he totaled 141 strikeouts and walked 32. His ERA stood at 0.93 with a WHIP of 0.81 when all was said and done.
After a tough outing in Game 1 of the Region III-5A championship series in which he went just 1 2/3 innings with six runs allowed (just one earned on the only homer Magnolia West allowed all season) on 39 pitches against Lake Creek, Ellwanger ended up starting Game 3 two days later and the Mustangs won 6-2 over the Lions. Four days after that, he started the state semifinal game.
When Earles was weighing his options for both the Game 3 start and the state semifinal, Ellwanger let it known he was ready.
“He was almost insulted that I asked him,” Earles said. “He was like ‘Coach, I’m ready to go right now.’ Same deal with the semifinal game the Thursday after that. I go, ‘James, are you ready to?’ That was a big decision for us because it’s one-and-done. Caylon was ready to go, and if you’re not ready to go, an extra two days rest will help. He goes, ‘Coach, I’m ready to go now. I’m always ready.’”
Ellwanger, also a prospect for the upcoming MLB draft, is signed with Dallas Baptist University.
CO-PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Zane Adams, Senior, Porter
In a comeback season, Zane Adams had a heckuva senior year for the Porter Spartans.
Adams, who missed the remainder of his junior year with an ankle injury after sliding into third base in March, bounced back to help the Spartans write a new chapter in their baseball history.
Adams is the Co-Pitcher of the Year as Porter won its first-ever district title this past April.
“Coming back from his injury that happened last year, he just works really hard and is a humble kid,” Porter coach Wayne Ralph said. “His work ethic and being a good teammate – with all this going on around him right now and during the season and those massive amounts of people watching him and stuff – to him, it was all about his teammates, producing, and winning the games.”
In 64.1 innings, Adams was unbeaten with a 9-0 record. He had a 0.65 ERA and struck out 142 while walking just 19.
“His ability to get kids out,” Ralph said of what will stick out to him most about Adams. “He has multiple pitches, and his breaking ball is probably one of the best in the state, the scouts say. He’s throwing in the 90s with a fastball that moves. He’s a pitcher that concentrates on his game. When we send him out there, we’re very confident that we have a chance to win this game.”
Adams batted .365, had 15 RBIs, six extra-base hits and scored 20 runs as the Spartans went 22-11-1 and won the District 16-5A title. Porter was eliminated in the bi-district round.
Adams is waiting to hear his named called at the upcoming MLB draft and is signed with Alabama, his dream school.
“He’s a very intelligent kid,” Ralph said. “He graduated near the top of his class. He was like No. 10 out of 500-and-some. It wasn’t just on the baseball field. It was how he presented himself in the building. He was a great example for the younger players coming up. Very proud of him.”
DEFENSIVE MVP: Conner Bennett, Senior, Oak Ridge
Conner Bennett had a lot on his dish during his senior year.
Already established as an elite defender behind the plate, Bennett stepped up for his team this spring by becoming the No. 1 pitcher on the War Eagles’ staff, cutting into his time at catcher.
Bennett, a University of Houston signee, was alternating between catcher and pitcher all season and remained one of the best defensive catchers around. For the second straight year, he is the Montgomery County Defensive MVP.
“He’s special back there, no doubt,” Oak Ridge coach JJ Peirce said. “But I think what makes Conner is his baseball IQ. It’s like he knows when to do things and when not to do things. He knows when to pick and when to back pick. Even really fast guys … it’s like he knows what pitches they’re going to be running. It’s unbelievable.”
Bennett maintained a .987 fielding percentage, caught nine runners stealing and picked off five more. Combined with his time on the mound, he had 30 assists.
“His receiving ability is fantastic,” Peirce said. “His blocking ability is good. The crazy thing is he doesn’t have the strongest arm. But he’s so quick with the ball with his release, you’re just not going to get the base.”
Without Oak Ridge’s top two projected starting pitchers, Bennett helped a staff gain experience that translated to a second-place finish in a competitive District 13-6A and a playoff appearance for the 10th straight season.
Last year, Bennett was joking around with Peirce about pitching. At the end of a long week of tournament play, he stepped on the mound and pitched against Barbers Hill, which was the defending state champion in Class 5A.
“He was just so poised that it didn’t matter the situation, it didn’t matter who was batting. His was a bulldog mentality,” Peirce said. “You’re not going to get a hit, I’m going to get you out mentality.”
The plan entering the season for Bennett was to be the No. 3 or 4 starter, or perhaps an arm in relief when big outs were needed late.
Instead, Bennett pitched 73 2/3 innings with a 7-3 record, 1.43 ERA and 61 strikeouts.
“The catching actually helped him pitch,” Peirce said. “He understood the game and the tempo. He was able to get on the mound and transfer what he does calling to pitchers and just do it.”
Bennett also slashed .321/.482/.440 with a .922 OPS. He homered once and totaled 13 RBIs in the leadoff spot.
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Caldwell McFaddin, Sophomore, Magnolia West
Caldwell McFaddin made his mark in an instant for the state champion Mustangs.
With a new coach in Travis Earles, it was a clean slate for everyone trying to crack he lineup. McFaddin proved himself with maturity beyond his years and brought a big bat.
McFaddin is the Montgomery County Newcomer of the Year.
“One of the first that popped out was Caldwell McFaddin can freaking hit,” Earles said. “It’s not just that his BP is great and he doesn’t miss barrels very often. But he has such a mature approach to the plate as a 16-year-old kid now. It’s almost like he is 19 or 20 just by the way he carries himself.”
As a sophomore, McFaddin slashed .388/.472/.560 (1.032 OPS), homered twice, batted in 38 runs and had 15 extra-base hits in his varsity debut.
Mostly playing third base, McFaddin found his spot and fit in well with a Magnolia West team that made history.
“He had always played first base his entire life and he was a very good first baseman,” Earles said. “But he has a very good arm and his feet are pretty good. We moved him to third almost immediately. Typical to other guys on this team, there was no complaining. There was no ‘that’s not my position.’ None of that.”
McFaddin had a .895 fielding percentage with 15 assists and turned two double plays.
Going forward, McFaddin will see a longer look on the mound and will most certainly draw the attention of an out to get at the plate as he’s one of a handful of returners in 2024.
“He was a huge part this year, but he’s going to have a bigger role next year,” Earles said. “He’s going to probably be penciled in as one of our starting pitchers.”
COACH OF THE YEAR: Travis Earles, Magnolia West
It’s the first weekend in July and Travis Earles was still fielding phone calls about the season and the team.
Rather it be from members of the community inviting the team here, a local politician wanting to recognize the team there or a media member asking him to reminisce more about the season, Earles has been repeating the reward of leading the ‘Dirt Boys’ to the Class 5A state title in his first season at the helm.
“It’s been a whirlwind,” Earles said. “It was almost the perfect storm. I get the job out here. I’ve been a runner-up years before. Looking back on it, I would have taken this job over any of those other jobs, hands down.”
Earles is the Montgomery County Coach of the Year after leading the Mustangs to the top.
Magnolia West went 36-5, won the District 21-5A title, lost once in the playoffs and then hung on for two wins in Round Rock for the school’s first state title in any team sport.
“To see the rewards of these things coming together my first year, it’s amazing,” Earles said. “It’s hard to explain in words what it’s meant to me, my family and my support staff around me. It’s a once-in-a- lifetime deal.”
Coming from Summer Creek where he was an assistant coach, Earles felt like he meshed just fine walking into Magnolia West a year ago.
“We get the family moved out here in the fall and it goes great,” Earles said. “It’s a great environment (head football coach/campus athletic director) Coach (Ben) McGehee and (Magnolia ISD athletic director) Coach (J.D.) Berna have over here at Mag West. For me to implement my program into that, it just matched up so well. Everything went together the way it’s supposed to.”
The Mustangs improved on a 17-12 record in 2022 and leaped past the first-round elimination of that team.
It was a day-by-day, week-by-week grind the whole season.
“For us – because our district is so good – we didn’t wrap up the district title until the last game,” Earles said. “Really, the grind has been going on 14-15 weeks. They always say, ‘enjoy it, enjoy it.’ But there’s so much work to do, you don’t have to enjoy it in the middle of it. Now that it’s (a month later), everything is starting to slow down some and I’m finally able to enjoy it and that’s an awesome part. And I’ll be able to enjoy it the rest of my life.”
