The 2025 Texas high school baseball season is quickly approaching and, as usual, excitement is abound throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Texas.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Austin at the UIL State Tournament in June, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Texas. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews, eventually releasing our Preseason Power 30 rankings that’ll carry us into the opening week of action.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our Players of the Week and updating the Power 30 rankings.

Our 2025 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Little Elm
Head Coach: Matt Harbin
UIL Classification: 5-6A
Team Strengths: Pitching and defense
2024 Record (Playoff Finish): 18-16 (Bi-District Finalists)
Key Players Lost: Kendyl Johnson (Texas Tech), Roman Robinson (Angelo State), Caden Richardson (Weatherford JC), Ben Heathcock (McCook CC), Ashton Creighton (Seward County CC)

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• OF/LHP Tristan Fielder (2025; Eastern Arizona JC) - 2024 First Team All-District
  
• RHP/OF Chris Whitaker (2025; Northeast Texas CC) - 2024 Honorable Mention All-District
• C/RHP Anthony Herrera (2025; uncommitted) - 2024 Honorable Mention All-District

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TOP NEWCOMERS

• OF Matthew Derner (2026; uncommitted)
• RHP/INF Evan King (2026; uncommitted)
• OF Mark Kruciak (2026; uncommitted)
• UTL Josh Olewe (2027)

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MORE PLAYERS TO WATCH

• OF/RHP Ben Richardson (2025; Ottawa University)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Coming off an 18-16 campaign that ended in the Bi-Districts, the Lobos aim to build on their strong foundation and potentially make a deeper run in 2025. Head Coach Matt Harbin brings back three seniors who earned All-District honors a season ago, while adding some intriguing newcomers to the mix as well.

Key returning players bring both skill and leadership to the team, highlighted by OF/LHP Tristan Fielder, a 2024 First Team All-District honoree committed to Eastern Arizona JC. The No. 194 player in the state will likely pace the offense and man centerfield for the Lobos in 2025. Joining him are Chris Whitaker, a RHP/OF headed to Northeast Texas CC, and Anthony Herrera, a C/RHP who remains uncommitted. Both were Honorable Mention All-District selections last season and are expected to elevate their game further in 2025. OF/RHP Ben Richardson, committed to Ottawa University, rounds out a solid core of senior talent that provides experience and versatility.

Complementing the returning leaders is a group of exciting underclassmen who add depth and potential to the Lobos’ roster. Sophomores Matthew Derner, Evan King, and Mark Kruciak bring fresh energy and athleticism to the team, with Derner and Kruciak expected to bolster the outfield and King contributing both on the mound and in the infield. Additionally, sophomore utility player Josh Olewe offers intriguing versatility and looks to make an immediate impact. This infusion of young talent, combined with the team’s established strengths in pitching and defense, positions Little Elm as a well-rounded squad capable of contending come postseason time this spring.

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Find more information on the 2025 Little Elm program below:

+ Follow Little Elm Baseball on X: @LEBaseball
+ Prep Baseball Texas, Power 30 Homepage

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