PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — The Temple Wildcat varsity baseball team officially traded their practice jerseys for the real deal on Thursday, kicking off the 2026 season at the Pflugerville ISD Tournament. It was a day of extremes for the Wildcats, who faced a tough early deficit against Dallas-based Bishop Lynch before battling to a dramatic time-limit draw against the LASA Raptors.
Game 1: Bishop Lynch 9, Temple 1
The season opener proved to be a steep climbing hill for the Wildcats. The Bishop Lynch Fryars struck early and often, capitalizing on free passes to hand Temple a 9-1 loss.
Despite the score, the Wildcats saw bright spots in the batter's box. Xavier Tools led the charge, going 2-for-3 with a stinging double. Francisco Gonzalez added to the extra-base hit tally, finishing 1-for-2 with a double of his own.
On the mound, Seth Greenwood took the loss. Greenwood fought through 4 1/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on five hits while striking out one. Xavier Rayas provided relief, pitching 1 2/3 innings and surrendering four runs on two hits in a tough debut outing.
Game 2: Temple 6, LASA Raptors 6 (Tie)
The nightcap saw the Wildcat bats wake up in a big way. Temple exploded for four runs in the opening frame to set the tone early. The rally was fueled by:
A Champ Mayo RBI groundout.
A clutch two-run single by Xavier Rayas.
An opportunistic run scored on a Raptor fielding error.
Cavalli Nealy extended the lead to 5-2 in the third with an RBI single, but the Liberal Arts & Science Academy (LASA) Raptors refused to go quietly. LASA mounted a fierce comeback in the bottom of the fourth, plating three runs to knot the game at 6-6. Due to tournament time constraints, the game was called after five innings, leaving both teams with a hard-fought draw.
Offensive Standouts:
| Player | Performance |
| :--- | :--- |
| Xavier Rayas | 1-3, 2 RBI, Run |
| Cavalli Nealy | 1-3, RBI, Run |
| Xavier Tools | 1-3, Run |
| Trey Goins | 1-2, Run |
Nealy also handled starting duties on the mound, tossing three innings and allowing only one earned run while striking out three. Da’Jerion Reese threw the final two frames, striking out two and navigating three walks to hold the tie.
Looking Ahead
The Wildcats (0-1-1) won't have much time to dwell on the opening day results. They return to Pflugerville Connally High School tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 20, for a pivotal doubleheader:
vs. Leander: 4:45 PM
vs. Pflugerville Connally: 7:00 PM
