After months of competitive regular-season play and six weeks of high-stakes playoff action, the dust has finally settled on another exciting season of Texas high school baseball.
The Abilene Reporter-News is seeking to recognize the best fielders, pitchers and hitters across the Big Country and Abilene area during the 2025 Texas high school baseball season.
That poses the burning question: Who was the Big Country’s best high school softball player in 2025?
Fifteen candidates have been selected as finalists for the ARN’s 2025 Readers’ Choice All-Big Country Baseball Player of the Year, and we want to hear from you!
Readers are encouraged to vote for their pick for the Readers’ Choice All-Big Country Baseball Player of the Year below.
Voting will be open for two weeks with the poll closing at Noon on Wednesday, July 16, with a winner set to be announced shortly afterward.
Finalists were selected based upon individual statistics, team success, end-of-season accolades and coach recommendations.
Here’s a closer look at each candidate up for the Readers’ Choice All-Big Country Baseball Player of the Year award. Check out what the Big Country’s best players accomplished during the 2025 Texas high school baseball season and cast your vote:
Players listed below in alphabetical order. Poll positioned below player descriptions.
P/INF Keagan Ables, Hawley, Sr.
Ables was a major force for the Bearcats both on the mound and at the plate, where he wrapped up his senior year with a 1.26 ERA, 28 strikeouts and 13 hits allowed through 30 ⅓ innings pitched. He also earned the District 8-2A Co-Offensive Player of the Year award for hitting .403 with 17 RBIs, four doubles, two triples and a .518 OBP.
1B Jantz Botos, Hamlin, Sr.
Botos powered the Pied Pipers’ run to the Class 1A UIL state semifinals with a .422 batting average, 44 RBIs, 18 extra-base hits and a .531 OBP to cement himself as the District 8-1A MVP.
OF/1B/P Tye Briscoe, Abilene Wylie, Sr.
Briscoe locked up the District 4-5A MVP award by amassing a .432 batting average with 25 RBIs, 24 runs scored, 18 extra-base hits, a 1.401 OPS, four triples and three home runs. The Arkansas Razorbacks signee also shined on the mound with a 3.15 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched.
P Chip Chambers, Albany, Sr.
Chambers, who pitched a one-hit shutout against Gruver in the regional semifinals, helped fuel Albany’s deep postseason run by going 6-0 on the mound with 86 strikeouts and a 1.85 ERA through 53 innings pitched. He also finished the season with a .339 batting average, 23 runs scored, 14 RBIs, three triples and two doubles.
SS Colby Clinkscales, Tuscola Jim Ned, Sr.
Clinkscales, a first team all-district selection, racked up a .460 batting average, 27 RBIs, 12 doubles, a triple and a .529 OBP for Jim Ned.
P/UTL George Ferguson, Abilene High, So.
Ferguson established himself as one of the Big Country’s most elite pitchers in 2025, tallying a 6-1 record and a 0.60 ERA with 88 strikeouts, 11 walks and 21 hits allowed in 46 ⅔ innings pitched for Abilene High. The Eagles’ sophomore also notched a .375 batting average at the plate with 21 RBIs, 11 doubles, three triples and a .544 OBP.
C Ethan Guzman, Clyde, Sr.
Guzman ended his senior season hitting .571 with 40 RBIs, 30 walks, 21 extra-base hits and seven home runs to earn the District 6-3A co-MVP award.
P Brady Henderson, Abilene Cooper, Sr.
Henderson earned first team all-district honors after earning six games on the mound with 59 strikeouts, a 1.29 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 59 ⅔ innings pitched.
P/UTL Alek Hernandez, Stamford, Jr.
Hernandez helped the Bulldogs reach the 2A DII state semifinals by going 7-0 on the mound with 43 strikeouts, 13 walks, 39 hits allowed and a 1.03 ERA through 54 innings pitched. He also tallied a .386 batting average, 35 RBIs, 22 walks and 12 doubles.
UTL Nieko Martinez, Breckenridge, Sr.
Martinez took home the District 8-3A MVP award after he logged a .468 batting average with 20 RBIs, seven doubles, five triples and a .526 OBP for the Buckaroos.
INF/P Easton Meador, Coleman, So.
Meador received District 7-2A’s Co-Defensive MVP honors at shortstop after hitting .396 with 33 runs scored, 24 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, seven doubles, one triple and a .500 OBP. He also left a major impact on the mound with a 2.52 ERA through 25 innings pitched.
P/SS/C Jeren Pena, Ira, Sr.
Pena, a two-way star for Ira, finished the year with a 9-0 record, 104 strikeouts, 16 walks, 16 hits allowed and a 0.00 ERA in 48 innings pitched. He also ended the year with a .447 batting average, 30 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and 13 extra-base hits.
UTL/P Stryker Reed, Gordon, Jr.
Reed helped guide Gordon to the Class 1A UIL State Championship game and saw major playing time at third base, center fielder and pitcher in the process. The Longhorns’ junior utility player ended the year with a .485 batting average, 34 RBIs, 27 stolen bases, 25 runs scored, four extra-base hits and a .581 OBP.
SS Mason Weyers, Stephenville, Sr.
Weyers was a major reason for the Yellow Jackets success in 2025, ending the year with a .430 batting average, 28 runs scored, 25 stolen bases, 15 extra-base hits, a .532 OBP, five triples and two home runs.
1B Austin Wright, Brownwood, Sr.
Wright was a major force in the middle of the Lions’ lineup with a .472 batting average and a 1.061 OPS, but he also made significant contributions on the mound with a 4-4 record and 51 strikeouts en route to earning first team all-district honors.
VOTE HERE
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Who should be the 2025 ARN Readers’ Choice All-Big Country Baseball Player of the Year?
Reporting by Andrew McCulloch, Abilene Reporter-News / Abilene Reporter-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
