by Randy Byers
© 2006 Houston 5A Baseball.com

The Katy Tigers and State Championships have become synonymous with Katy Football. Hold the presses folks, The Katy Tigers Baseball Team is on their way to Round Rock.

Coach Mac and the Tigers have long since been one of the most respected teams in district 19-5A and for the second time in three years, have played for the right to go to Round Rock. In 2006 the young Tigers finally broke through with a dramatic Region III Finals series win over Cypress Fairbanks.

At the beginning of the 2006 season, the Tigers were being mentioned as a possible play-off team. Nothing automatic as it seamed in years past. The Tigers roster finds them with only five seniors and a ferocious underclass of 07, 08, & 09 players. Coach Tom McPherson and staff have assembled one of their youngest teams in years and have them all playing like seasoned veterans of varsity baseball.

Pitching is still the key and the Tigers have a staff that had held their own throughout the entire play-off season. Tigers senior Will Weidig had led the way with junior Aaron Daab completing their powerful 1-2 punch. Throw in junior Carter Jurica and you have a staff that can compete with nearly anyone. But wait, there’s more. Need long relief or a high quality spot start? Then bring out freshman Keifer Nuncio. Nuncio has become one of the Tigers "go-to guys" and while only a freshman, Nuncio has pitched as if he is the ace of the staff. "He has the mental makeup and the stuff to be a great one." "He doesn’t resemble a freshman on the mound." Just two of the quotes on Nuncio after his series clinching performance in game 3 of the Tigers Region III Championship.

Couple the Tigers pitching youth with that of their freshman catcher Andrew Stumph and you might think the Tigers Coaching Staff was out to lunch. Nothing could be further from the truth. "These guys know what they’re doing, just look at the results." And that they do. The Tigers have gelled at precisely the best time and are on a roll like no other Tiger Baseball team.

Leading the charge from the plate are juniors Bret Atwood, Michael Fuda, Carter Jurica, Michael Sauceda, Nick Pepitone, & Aaron Daab, sophomore Joey Fuda, freshamn Andrew Stumph & seniors Nick Barrios and Mike Thaler.

"These guys can mash the ball with anyone." And they do just that. The Tigers have legitimate power spread throughout their lineup from the freshman to the seniors and display an unbelievable ability to do what they have to do in crucial situations to get the job done. For example, down 9-1 in game one of the Region III Championship, the Tigers came roaring back to win 11-10. Down 5-0 in game 3, the Tigers slapped the ball all over the yard and won 8-6. While not over confident, the Tigers are sure in their abilities and are not easily intimidated. While heavy respect is given to their opponents, the fear factor you would expect such a young team to have, just isn’t there.

The Tigers will face one of their toughest opponents all year in the perennial power Moody Trojans. The Trojans are not strangers to the State finals making appearances in four of the past five seasons and won it all in 2004. Katy can count on seeing dominate right-hander Danny Grande who is perhaps one of the best pitchers in all of 5A baseball. Grande, a powerful pitcher displays the whole package from the mound and will truly test the young Tigers.

While a true test it will be, the Tigers have been through the battles and have been tested over and over again throughout their Region III Championship run and could prove to be a true test for the Trojans.