Eagles continue flight among TAPPS elite

There was plenty of change at Second Baptist last season, but the Eagles lived up to their reputation as one of the top programs in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools.

Don Massey, who took over from Jeff Schroeder as Second Baptist’s director of athletics at mid-year, felt it was a solid year for the Eagles, who won a pair of TAPPS state titles in boys swimming and baseball.

“I thought we were highly competitive in most sports,” Massey said. “We won two state championships and had a chance at a couple more.”

Veteran coach Mark Hahn guided Second Baptist’s boys to their third state swimming title in seven years – and fourth overall – with a dominant performance at the Josh Davis Natatorium in San Antonio. Senior sprinter Corbin Schwinger led the Eagles to victories in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays and added the 50 freestyle – part of four school records at the TAPPS Division II state meet.

“Our swimming program has been one of the best in Texas for a long time,” Massey said. “Coach Hahn does a terrific job with them.”

The 2015-16 school year ended on a positive note as Second Baptist beat Midland Christian 7-2 in the TAPPS Class 4A state championship game at Baseball USA to capture its second state crown in three years and fifth in the program’s history.

Former Major League great Lance Berkman, who starred for the Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals, took over from Schroeder as head baseball coach. Berkman and an allstar coaching staff, featuring 1996 American League Cy Young runner-up Andy Pettitte, former University of Houston head coach Rayner Noble and ex-Houston Astros reliever Jeff Calhoun, grabbed headlines and victories as Second Baptist continued its winning ways on the diamond.

“Coach Berkman proved he could coach,” Massey said. “When you have a hire like him, there’s a lot of pressure, but everybody handled it well, both the coaches and players. It was a lot of fun seeing them pull together and win as a team.”