Marble Falls baseball motivated for better results

CAPTION: Sophomore John Alan Whittle’s ability to stay calm and stay in the strike zone will be a big part of the pitching staff this season. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro

The Marble Falls High School baseball team begins the 2025 season with a change in its schedule.

The Mustangs will host Stephenville in a double header that begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at Scearce Field instead of participating in the Fredericksburg tournament because of the weather.

Getting innings for this group is invaluable, head coach Tyler Porter said, because of the number of underclassmen who will be asked to play big roles this season.

The team has at least seven starters back and at least eight lettermen after losing three to graduation.

Seniors Brent Liscum and Colton Minor “are both big pieces,” Porter said, as is junior Canon Cochran and sophomore John Alan Whittle.

All four are returning lettermen, who played plenty a year ago.

“Basically we lost two starters,” the coach said. “We were playing better by the end of the year. Youth was such a big deal last year. Hopefully it was good for them. Last year I loved our kids and their efforts.”

But it wasn’t enough to repeat as district champions and advance to the playoffs.

“The kids know what we didn’t achieve,” Porter said.

Those setbacks have been in the players’ minds to drive them to work hard during offseason, he added. Porter worked with new strength and conditioning coordinator Karl “Beef” Bielfeldt to create a program that made the Mustangs stronger and faster.

Porter saw the results of that work during the fall.

“Our bats will be there,” he said. “Our top three or four guys will be there. We faced a lot of pitchers in the fall. I feel pretty good.”

Whittle will be one of the top pitchers on a staff that includes junior Atreus Machacek. Whittle doesn’t get too high or too low after every batter.

During the scrimmage against Wimberley last week, the Texans scored first but the Mustangs were an out away from not allowing a run. A ball was hit in the shallow outfield and fell, which allowed runners to score.

Otherwise, the Marble Falls pitchers looked good, Porter said, thanks to their ability to mix up pitches and keep batters guessing. He was especially pleased with Whittle’s command of his fast ball, especially when throwing it on the first pitch to get strikes and get ahead in the count.

In all, the Mustangs had 12 strikeouts and only issued 3 walks.

“Pitching was definitely a highlight,” the coach said. “He made it look easy. You definitely want to show that early on. That kind of command keeps us in games.”

The Mustangs will have a new starting catcher this year in Braxton Dicken.

Wimberley featured Rice University football signee Ty Thames, who will be a linebacker who stands 6 feet and 3 inches and weighs 204 pounds.

The Marble Falls baseball program has more than 30 players, and the coach believes at least 16 “can impact varsity down the road.”

“Our offense will be there,” Porter said. “We have four freshmen playing significant innings.”

Realignment has brought Taylor and Salado, while Lago Vista has exited. Burnet is the defending District 24-4A champion and returns a strong group of seniors who are used to winning. Georgetown Gateway, Jarrell and Lampasas round out the rest of the district.

Porter said that while he’s never watched Taylor or Salado, “they’re pretty salty.”

Still, he believes the Mustangs will continue to improve and are striving for better results.

“We’re pumped and excited,” he said.