Baseball Notebook: Canton’s Reed Vannorsdel, Henderson’s Macen Jones take weekly honors

Published 4:15 pm Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Henderson's Macen Jones. (Contributed)

Canton’s Reed Vannorsdel and Henderson’s Macen Jones have earned Tyler Morning Telegraph Baseball Player of the Week honors for games played March 24-29.

Vannorsdel was chosen as the Pitcher of the Week, and Jones was selected as the Hitter of the Week.


Vannorsdel threw a no-hitter in a 10-0 win over Kemp. He had 11 strikeouts and one walk in six innings.

Jones, a junior shortstop, went 7-for-8 with two doubles, seven RBIs and two runs scored in wins over Chapel Hill (11-1 and 13-3).

In other outstanding performances in the area last week (nominated by coaches):

PITCHING

Tyler Legacy’s Calvin Rippy pitched 4.2 innings, allowing three unearned runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts and six walks against Royse City.

Van senior Grady Baetz threw a one-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and one walks in five innings.

Canton’s Nathan Parker pitched four innings, allowing one infield single and striking out nine batters in his 12 outs in his comeback from Tommy John surgery.

Henderson senior left-handed pitcher Brian Briggs allowed one hit in five innings with 10 strikeouts and four walks.

Arp’s Caden Cliborn allowed two unearned runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks in 5.1 innings.

Harmony’s Ollie Trimble threw a complete game, allowing no runs on two hits with four strikeouts on 77 pitches in seven innings against Daingerfield.

Hawkins’ Eli Smith picked up a win and posted a 2.80 ERA with 12 strikeouts. Riggin Smith picked up a win and posted a 0.00 ERA with four strikeouts, winning the game in 30 pitches.

HITTING

Tyler Legacy’s Payne Hotman was 4-for-8 (.500) with two double, an RBI and a stolen base.

Arp’s Will Sanford went 2-for-7 (.286) with a home run, a walk, five RBIs, two runs and a hit by pitch.

Hawkins’ Eli Smith hit .714 with a single, three doubles, a triple, five RBIs and four runs. Riggin Smith hit .667 with three singles, a double, four RBIs and five runs.

Cayuga senior Colt Mullican went 6-for-9 (.667) with three doubles, two RBIs and two runs.

East Texas teams ranked in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings are Whitehouse No. 5; Hallsville No. 10 in 5A; Pleasant Grove No. 2 and Spring Hill No. 4 in 4A; Liberty-Eylau No. 1, Central Heights No. 9 and Huntington No. 10 in 3A; and Kerens No. 7 and Garrison No. 9 in 2A. Also receiving votes are Whitehouse in 5A; Bullard and Lindale in 4A; Diboll in 3A; and Beckville, Frankston and Harleton in 2A.

East Texas teams ranked in the txhighschoolbaseball.com rankings are Whitehouse No. 19 and Hallsville No. 23 in 5A; Pleasant Grove No. 2, Spring Hill No. 5, Lindale No. 14, Van No. 18 and Bullard No. 24 in 4A; Liberty-Eylau No. 1, Central Heights No. 9, Huntington No. 11, Tatum No. 15, Diboll No. 16 and Edgewood No. 20 in 3A; Harleton No. 2, Garrison No. 5, Kerens No. 11, Beckville No. 13, Frankston No. 16, Honey Grove No. 22 and Groveton No. 24 in 2A; Brookeland No. 7 and Union Hill No. 9 in 1A; and Brook Hill No. 8 in Large Private Schools.

Coaches are asked to send in their nominations to brandon.ogden@tylerpaper.com or sports@tylerpaper.com by 11 a.m. each Tuesday.