Angelo State Fall Report: Chasing Championship Standards in San Angelo

The Angelo State Rams enter the 2026 season coming off a dominant 2025 campaign where they finished with a 48-10 overall record, including a blistering 39-7 mark in the Lone Star Conference. Under the steady hand of Kevin Brooks, who enters his 22nd season with an 836-364 record and the 7th highest winning percentage among active DII coaches, the program has become a perennial powerhouse. Last season, the Rams swept both the Lone Star regular season and tournament titles before hosting both the South Central Regional and Super Regional at Foster Field, voted the best field in DII Baseball. This sustained excellence is nothing new for a team that has appeared in every Super Regional since its inception in 2019 and reached the World Series in four of the last five years, including a National Championship in 2023 and a National Runner-Up finish in 2024.

The Offense

While the Rams return only 37% of their plate appearances from a year ago, the talent that remains is undoubtedly elite. The lineup is anchored by senior second baseman Austin Beck, a mainstay who earned ABCA Second Team All-South Central Region honors last season. In 181 ABs, Beck hit .376 with 11 doubles, 6 HR, and 48 RBI while terrorizing opponents on the basepaths with 38 stolen bases—a mark that ranked 2nd in the Lone Star Conference. Joining him in the middle of the order is senior infielder Chase Pendley, an ABCA First Team All-South Central Region selection known for his energy and exceptional bat-to-ball skills. In 200 ABs, Pendley hit .390 with 13 doubles, 2 HR, and 47 RBI.

Behind the plate, Blake Wilhoite provides a veteran presence and a gold-standard glove, having won the D2 Gold Glove at catcher last season. Offensively, Wilhoite excels at situational hitting; in 145 ABs, he hit .297 with 13 doubles, 1 HR, and 32 RBI. A significant blow to the lineup came this fall when Brett Smajstrla suffered an injury and is expected to miss the entire 2026 season. Smajstrla was a massive power threat, hitting .367 with 10 HR in just 98 ABs last year, ranking 3rd in the conference in OPS (1.289 - min. 90 at-bats). Despite this loss, the remaining core provides a high-octane foundation for the Rams' attack.

The Pitching Staff

The biggest question mark for Angelo State heading into 2026 is the rotation, as the team lost approximately 90% of its innings pitched from the previous year. However, the coaching staff is optimistic about the new-look group's potential to reach the standard of a "typical Angelo State pitching staff". Nick Gray, a redshirt junior who spent last year developing his 90-93 mph fastball and a sharp breaking ball, is expected to step into a rotation role after a strong summer.

The Rams have also bolstered the staff through high-level transfers. Isaac Godard arrives from McLennan Community College, where he was ranked as high as the #2 JUCO arm in the country. Godard brings elite velocity, sitting between 90-97 mph with a plus slider. Another key addition is Garrett Bauman, a transfer from D1 Sam Houston State. Bauman is a "big-time strike thrower" who recently closed for the Mat-Su Miners during their Alaska League championship run, utilizing a refined four-pitch mix.

Key Departures

The 2026 Rams will have to replace several decorated veterans who paved the way for recent postseason runs. Outfielder Jacob Guerrero was a force, hitting .401 with 19 doubles and 20 stolen bases in 222 ABs, earning First Team All-LSC honors. Third baseman Lane Hutchinson also departs after a stellar year in which he hit .403 with 13 doubles and 77 RBI in 191 ABs. Ethan Flodstrom, another All-South Central Region selection, leaves a hole in the lineup after hitting .376 with 18 doubles and 7 HR in 178 ABs.

The mound losses are equally significant. Dax Dathe, an ABCA First Team All-South Central Region standout who went 8-1 with a 2.99 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 72.1 IP, has transferred to the defending D1 National Champion LSU. Alizaeh Gutierrez, who went 5-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 62.1 IP, moved on to D1 Texas State, while Ryan Free, after posting a 5-1 record and a 3.44 ERA in 49.2 IP, transferred to D1 Texas Tech. Other notable pitching losses include Nick Wilson (7-0, 5.45 ERA), Luke Olson (4-1, 3.69 ERA, 6 saves), and Caleb Heuertz, a 2024 All-American.

Schedule & Outlook

The Rams' road back to Cary, North Carolina, begins on January 30, 2026, with a three-game road series against UT Permian Basin, a team looking to rebound from a 20-30 season. The home opener at Foster Field is set for February 6 against UT Tyler, which will be a heavyweight clash; UT Tyler finished 2025 as South Central Regional Champions with a 49-13 record.

Other critical matchups include a home series starting March 6 against Lubbock Christian, who made a South Central Regional appearance last year, and a mid-March set against newcomers UT Dallas, who are transitioning from D3 after a 32-6 season. A potential late-season preview of the postseason occurs on April 10, when the Rams host West Texas A&M, a frequent LSC contender. If the new pitching staff can gel quickly, Kevin Brooks has the elite offensive core necessary to put Angelo State in a position to make it to Cary for the fifth time in six years.