2016 Lake Highlands Wildcat baseball co-captains (L to R): Wils Popejoy, Hunter Punjak, Collin Dishman and Michael Stein. Photo courtesy of Chris Dishman.
Lake Highlands head baseball Coach Cory Tucker has a problem. But Coach Tucker says, “it is a good problem….we have a lot of talented players this year from our seniors down to the freshmen. The biggest challenge is …only 9 can play at a time,” Tucker adds.
With 13 seniors, several underclassmen with significant varsity experience as well as promising newcomers, the Cats have high hopes for the 2016 season.
Among this year’s returning players are seniors C-IF Hunter Punjak and CF Collin Dishman, both honorable mention all-district selections in 2015, 1B Sam Haster, a second team all-district selection as a designated hitter, and sophomore P-IF Michael Stein, who was a second team all- district 10-6A selection as a freshman. Team co-captain Dishman sees this year’s Cats as “an all around solid team.” He added that this year’s goals are “playing all 7 innings to our full potential and being disciplined at the plate.”
The Wildcats will feature a deep pitching staff including Stein and senior righthanders Aaron Hassell, Wils Popejoy, Noah Boles, Will Morgan and Lupe Rojas. Freshman lefthander Tanner Cabaniss is among the underclassmen to keep an eye on.
The Wildcats will get an immediate test with tournament play February 25-27 against playoff teams Frisco Independence, Lovejoy, Frisco Heritage, McKinney Boyd, Frisco Wakeland and 2015 5A state champion Prosper. The team will also play in the South Grand Prairie tournament March 3-4. After hosting their own annual tournament March 10-12, the Wildcats will open district 10-6A play on March 15 when they will entertain Berkner at “the Cat.”
Coach Tucker enters his fifth season at the helm, assisted by Cliff Cain. Broc Boyd will coach the Wildcat junior varsity.
The complete Wildcat varsity baseball schedule and roster and junior varsity information can be found on the Lake Highlands Wildcat Club site, http://www.lhwildcatclub.org/teams/baseball/. Fans can also follow the team’s Facebook page, Lake Highlands High School Baseball, www.facebook.com/lhhsbaseball.