Conference 24-5A Nickname Mustangs | Location Rosenberg, TX Founded 1949 | |
University Lamar Consolidated High School Head coach Brandon Strother (1st year) Home stadium Mustang Field
(Capacity: 2000) Colors Navy, Grey, White, 004A80, 0A0A0A, FFFFFF | ||
The Lamar Consolidated Mustangs baseball team represents Lamar Consolidated High School in Texas 5A High School Baseball. In the 66 years of the schools existence, the Mustangs have brought home 9 district titles and 22 State Tournament Appearances (Including 17 in the last 25 years),1 Regional Championship in 1952, 3 Regional Finals appearances 1952, 2008, and 2012) and in 2012 a school best ranking of 6th in the state. Season statistics for 2010–2015 can be found at the Lamar Consolidated Mustangs MaxPreps.com stat page.
Contents
- Early Years 19501956 and Bill McClellan
- The Dark Years 19571984
- Jim Wynne era 19851998
- John McClure era 19992002
- Richard Thistlethwaite era 20052007
- Greg Kobza era 20082010
- Phil Schwarz era 20112012
- Lamar in the UIL Texas State Tournament
- MLB Draft Selections
- References
Along with the other Lamar Consolidated athletic teams, the baseball team currently participates in district 24-5A, the second level of Texas High School Baseball. The other Lamar Consolidated ISD teams in the district are B. F. Terry High School, Foster High School, and George Ranch High School. District 23-4A is rounded out by Angleton High School, and Port Lavaca Calhoun High School.
The Mustangs play their home games on Lamar Consolidated's campus at Mustang Field and are currently coached by Brandon Strother in his second year as the Varsity Head coach and in his 6th year at the school.
Early Years (1950–1956) and Bill McClellan
The original Lamar Mustang team was coached by Walker Bernard and the team finished 3rd in the district standings with a 10–5 overall record. Two years later under successful Lamar Basketball coach Bill McClellan the Mustangs had the highest finish in school history. McClellan's baseball coaching career only lasted 3 years (1952, 1955–56) as his passion was basketball (15 seasons at Lamar with a 154–49 record), but in 1952 he led the Mustang baseball team to win the Regional Championship in VII A Texas Baseball over Nederland 4–1 after defeating Alvin 8–1 in the Bi-District Finals to finish the season 14–2. This was the first of three Lamar Regional Finals appearances, the only Regional Championship, and the first baseball District Championship for the school.
The Dark Years 1957–1984
For almost 30 years the Lamar Mustangs only won 1 District Championship and made the playoffs only 4 times, never getting past the first round.
Jim Wynne era 1985–1998
Jim Wynne put Lamar Baseball back on the map. In his first year, 1985, he went 10–8–2, the first winning season in 5 years. The next season Wynne led the Mustangs to the playoffs after a 10-year absence and in 1989 brought the first district championship back to Lamar since 1964. Wynne coached the Mustangs for 14 seasons compiling 2 District Championships and 7 playoff appearances and is still currently the winningest coach in Mustang program history.
John McClure era 1999–2002
McClure's tenure at the helm of the program started slow but ended with two straight playoff appearances including a then school record 19 wins in 2002. The 2002 Mustangs also went on to the 2nd round of the playoffs before losing to Houston Forrest Brook in hard fought 3 game series. McClure left the program in the hands of Greg Garner in 2003 when he moved to Texas High in Texarkana, Texas to take a Tigers Assistant Coach position. In 2012 McClure was named the Texas High Tigers new head coach.
Richard Thistlethwaite era 2005–2007
Richard Thistlethwaite took over in 2005 for Greg Garner after two losing seasons. Each of his three years was an improvement from the year before as his Mustangs finished 4th, then 3rd, then in 2007 won the District Championship and made it to the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Under Thistlethwaite the Mustangs also received numerous individual awards including his own 24-4A Coach of the Year in 2007. In that 2007 District Championship season Lamar was awarded 8 first team All-District players. His teams also had two All-District players in both 2006 and 2005 including 1st Team Pitcher Keith Brunson who was also a 1st Team All-State selection.
Greg Kobza era 2008–2010
Greg Kobza replaced Thistlethwait who left to be the head coach at Fort Bend Elkins. Kobza led the Mustangs to the best 3-year stretch in school history.
The 2008 squad won a still standing school record of 29 games going 29–7 and making it to the Regional Final in the state playoffs where they lost in a game 3 against Friendswood (TX). Their team was also 13–2 in district to claim the District Championship. Leading the team was four underclassmen who were also all voted All-State players, Randal Grichuk (Junior OF), Cody Robinson (Junior OF), Cody Abraham (Sophomore OF), Brady Rodgers (Junior P).
In 2009 Kobza was tasked with trying to equal the 2008 campaign. With a team full of returning All-State and All-District players the Mustangs went 23–5 with another District Championship and a run to the 3rd round of the playoffs. After beating Manvel, then Fort Bend Austin, Houston Waltrip knocked them out in game three of the Regional Quarterfinals. this year Randal Grichuk was awarded 1st Team All-State Honors and then drafted No. 24 overall in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft by the Anaheim Angels. Pitcher Brady Rodgers was also drafted late by the Milwaukee Brewers, but decided to attend Arizona State University.
In Kobza's final season 2010, the mustang won 20 games for the 3rd straight year. Knocked out in the 3rd round again, this time by Texas City, meant that Kobza had led the Mustangs to a record of 8 playoff series victories in 11 chances over the past 3 seasons. The team finished with 10 All-District selections including 6 1st-Teamers.
Phil Schwarz era 2011–2012
Phil Schwarz took over after the best 3-year stretch ever and for Coach Kobza who left to coach the new 4A Rosenberg school George Ranch High School. In his first year as a head coach at any level Schwarz went 26–8 including a school best district mark of 11–1. The next season the Mustangs continued their stellar play with a 26–11 overall record and 12–2 district record winning the District championship both seasons.
The 2011 23-4A District Champions included the Outstanding Distinct Pitcher of the Year Fernando Pena, 1st Team Catcher and Rice commit Matt Ditman, and 3 other first team selections Francisco Pena (Sophomore P), Cole Coakley (Senior SS), and Taylor Walton (Junior CF). Coach Schwarz also won his first of two District Coach of the Year Awards. The teams 2011 success ended with a loss in the 3rd round of the playoffs to Santa Fe.
In 2012 the Mustangs were picked to finish 4th in the district after losing some key pieces from the squad. The team more than surpassed those expectations by winning their 5th District Championship in the last 6 years. Another Coach of the Year Award and equaling the 2008 teams playoff run by making it back to the regional finals (5th round). After defeating in order Texas City, Houston Waltrip, Galveston Ball, and Barbers Hill the season came to an end against the Montgomery Bears. Season awards for the Mustangs included a final season ranking of No. 6 in the state, 8 All-District selection including District MVP Zac Vasek (Senior P/3B), Sophomore of the Year Scott Nohavitza (Sophomore LF), and 1st Team Pitcher Ashton Williams (Senior P/3B). Zac Vasek (Houston 4A Pitcher of the Year and Houston 4A All-Star Game Selection), Ashton Williams (2nd Team Houston 4A Pitcher), and Ryan Menefee (2nd Team Houston 4A Utility) were all further awarded as part of the Houston5A.com All-Houston 4A squad.
In his final coaching under Lamar Consolidated High School, Schwarz and his staff coached the Houston 4A South All-Stars to an 8–4 victory at Rice University over the Brenham coached North All-Stars. Zac Vasek pitched two scoreless innings while collecting 2 K's and gibing up no hits. Phil Schwarz is now the Head Coach in Cuero, Texas at Cuero High School.