Lets Talk About it with Cooper Webb, Texas Longhorns baseball pitcher signee

We sit down with Lake Travis High School ace Cooper Webb to talk about the work behind becoming an elite high school pitcher and what it really means to commit to Texas baseball. We get specific on pitch design, the MLB draft decision tree, and why the College World Series in Omaha feels bigger than people expect. 
• the long recruiting grind and what it demands year-round 
• showing up consistently as the real separator for pitchers 
• why Texas 6A baseball prepares players for college and beyond 
• building a five pitch mix and adding new fastball shapes 
• the kick change story and learning from modern pitching media 
• pitcher superstitions, routines, and staying present in big moments 
• the MLB draft explained with a simple housing market analogy 
• how NIL and the transfer portal raise the level of college baseball 
• a father-son fishing story that still makes us laugh 
• College World Series field breakdown and predictions for Omaha 
Give our guys, our friends, at Honest Plumbing and Air a call before it gets any hotter.

Transcript

Big-Time Pitcher Introduction

SPEAKER_02 0:33

What you were just watching is one of the best outgoing high school pitchers in the entire country. His name is Cooper Webb. He's tall and he delivers a lot of capital K's, and he is about to become perhaps one of the next great Texas Longhorn pitchers.

Sponsor Shoutouts And Summer AC Warning

SPEAKER_02 0:52

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SPEAKER_04 1:21

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SPEAKER_02 1:49

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Meeting Cooper And The Throwback Photo

SPEAKER_02 2:04

Cooper Webb, the ace of the Lake Travis High School Cavaliers, who led the Cavs to the state championship game in class 6A. Let's talk about it. Let's bring in Big Coop. Cooper Web, that was a big buildup for one guest. I mean, that took an hour to get to you, it felt like.

SPEAKER_05 3:00

Yeah, um, I'm blessed. Thank you so much for having me.

SPEAKER_02 3:03

Oh, you're absolutely man. This was uh this was destined in many ways. And and little did we know, I I know what picture you're thinking. We're both thinking. I gotta bring it up. Yeah, this is this is the only way to start this episode. Uh, let me set it up before we show it. Uh, so your mom and I we went to fourth or sixth grades together. That's how we that's where that connection. Then I met your dad, and y'all, you guys went to K View back in the latter part of that long time career uh that I had, and I loved it and was I'm so grateful for it. Brought you by, and we went up on the the then news desk at K View, and here it is. This is a young Cooper Webb, nine short years ago. It was probably the last time that you and I saw eye to eye, correct? Probably, probably, maybe it's a fun fact about this. I did post it uh on our social media platforms, and someone, a longhorn fan, jokingly said, Well, he he he he came around to the good side eventually because you're wearing the Texas Tech logo.

SPEAKER_05 4:17

Yeah, um, you know, just my dad played football there, and just I grew up a Red Raider, but uh not Longhorn, and I can't be more excited about it.

SPEAKER_02 4:26

Yeah, we're gonna get into that, man. And I'm really, really ecstatic for you and your family, everybody involved. Because uh, that is first off, any sport a young person is being recruited, it's stressful. And to get it over with because for baseball players, I mean, it is a year-round job, and you're going to perfect game, you're going around the country, tremendous amount of work. You've got uh nowadays, thank god there are good, knowledgeable trainers. But think I want to pull up one picture, and uh just you and your family, and I I have to show this because they've been there your entire

The Work Behind The Commitment

SPEAKER_02 5:10

journey. When you look at all that and and and a dream come true for you, but to reaching that point, when did it all start when you realize this is uh not just a part-time job, it's definitely not your identity, but for you to reach that point where those pictures were taken, how do you sum up this whole journey reaching that point?

SPEAKER_05 5:35

Yeah, um a lot of work, and uh I remember when I was uh younger, like 12, 13, uh, I had been told like you're gonna have a chance to play college baseball, but uh not to the amount of going to play in the SEC, going to play for Texas, going to play for the best team in the country right now. Um I had no clue that I was I was gonna be able to do this. And uh it took a lot of hard work. Um a lot of sometimes my dad was on uh dad got on me a little bit. Um, you know, just him being a dad, him one of the best for me. But uh I mean it was it all worked out great. Um it's it's all still working out with uh more of a career just further down the road. And I'm just I'm just so happy and just excited for the next chapter as well.

SPEAKER_02 6:27

For for younger players who are looking up to you, um you know the old saying, it's what you do when people aren't watching. I mean, how do you sum up to tell young people? And I'm not saying any other position on the baseball field is any easier, but it is different as a pitcher. I mean, describe that grind that it takes to to become an elite pitcher.

SPEAKER_05 6:52

Yeah, it's it's it's hard. There's definitely days where uh you don't want to show up, you don't want to work, but um really is like the main advice that I was just is stay consistent and keep showing up. Um half the battle is really just showing up to whatever you're gonna do. Because once you're there, you're gonna get it done. Um, so I just the the whole battle is just is really just getting the consistency of showing up. Um, and uh with my trainer right now, that's like his thing, just keep showing up, keep showing up. And with high school, it's like keep showing up to work, keep showing up, just be consistent. And then as you be consistent, those days will they'll stack up and you'll start to see the progression and just it all come together for sure.

SPEAKER_02 7:36

It's funny you we can apply that to life too. I mean, we all have those days where God, I don't I just don't feel like it, but you push through it. These are a couple of photos from this year. Um, I think on the left, was that that day when you received the Greater Austin Sports Foundation? Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_05 7:56

That's why I said it. It was kind of uh uh saw you that day and uh in Mr. Small uh and got that the finalist award, and so I decided to send that one over.

SPEAKER_02 8:07

No, that's a great picture, and then this right here looks like on the right, that was uh at the state championship game at Dell Diamond, right?

SPEAKER_05 8:15

Yes, sir. That was right after I uh I made that diving play on the line. Um, I was pretty I was pretty fired up.

SPEAKER_02 8:23

Man, the emotions were evident. So and and I know you guys, that's hard because Texas is

Consistency And The Pitcher’s Daily Grind

SPEAKER_02 8:30

one of those states in which baseball at 6A, 5A, I want to say all the classifications because all everyone plays year-round or select or travel ball, and you see a lot of you know players you faced on other teams. But do you think that level at the 6A it it truly preps you for big time college baseball, right?

SPEAKER_05 8:52

Oh, for sure. I mean, I don't know many other places where you can go in and you have two SEC pitchers on the mound um against each other, and then just power four guys scattered through lineups, uh guys going to the best juke codes in the nation, also scattered through lineups, and and guys who are committed, and just it's just the talent is just the guys are just so good where some of them don't see the field as much, but yeah, they're still getting uh looks to go to college and and going to to big and good juke codes and and like or even smaller D1s, and they just you don't see them play as much, and you're just like why not? It's just because the just the overall like just like the media and the average players is so good, um, especially at this level, and it definitely prepares you for the SEC uh manager's college baseball in general. I mean, you can look at the SEC and so many guys um from Texas that are starting in it and playing in it, and same with the major leagues. Like, there's so many guys from Texas, there's so many guys from like every high school, you go to every high school and you see the the wall, and they all there's eight MLB guys that have been drafted or they're in the league, and um, you just kind of like realize like like you're playing big time ball um in high school for sure.

SPEAKER_02 10:10

Now, this is just a graphic. I know this is just a snapshot of your stats from this year. Um the one part that I didn't want, I just wanted you to talk about because it goes back to the work, your dad pushing you, uh, you building that fortitude inside of you. This is all great. I mean, 127 strikeouts, your top end of velocity, 95. But what a lot of people don't realize is you have four pitches that you have mastered. There are many, even at your level, who are deemed a top prospect, and this is not a shot at anybody. But how I mean tell us about these pitches because they're not just things you throw, these are the ones that result in stats like that. 1.07. What what are these pitches and and and how much work? What was the hardest one to master?

SPEAKER_05 11:09

Yeah, so really I kind of I have five and I'm working on a sixth right now. Um, so uh this season I threw five. Uh I had the four seam fastball, which is kind of like everyone, you throw that as a kid, and and uh

Texas 6A Baseball As A Proving Ground

SPEAKER_05 11:25

it's um, but it took kind of time to make it into the shape that it has um to to to like the ball tracking nerds, it has uh good horizontal movement or good vertical movement, so it kind of fights gravities um pretty much. Uh then I have the curveball who I which I've I learned when I was nine. I've had the same grip when I was not since I was nine. Um the slider I learned. Uh fresh going into my freshman year of high school, um just to give kind of give me a pitch that's not as big as a mover as uh the curveball. And then I have the kick change, the changeup, um, which has no doubtly been the hardest one to learn, even though I've been throwing a changeup since I was also nine. Like it me, I'm I'm a very supinated biased pitcher. So like breaking balls, so like sliders, curveballs, they they come a little easier to me, um, just based on that. Um, just because I already started my hand like this, and this is how you throw breaking balls, and getting to the changeup and having to turn it over is uh is something that I've struggled with, just just kind of how my body moves. Um, and so one day I was scrolling on Instagram, and uh pitching ninja is like a big uh baseball YouTuber, just a lot of stuff over pitching, um, as you can see in the name, and he was interviewing uh Clay Holmes, who was throwing this new changeup that everyone had been raving about. I've seen a few things, it's called a kick change, basically. So it's a normal changeup, but you spike your middle finger, and so that helps you kind of kick the axis so you can get the side spin. And so I was like, well, we'll see if I can do it. And so I'm throwing in, I'm like, I'm seeing the move, and I'm like, okay, I'm actually throwing a change-up now, not just the bad four seed. Um, and so I'm like, okay, it's gonna be good. And then throughout the middle of this year, um, I was kind of had a little struggles against rihies, and I was missing over the heart of the plate a little bit, but I wanted to look at a different fastball shape. So I added a sinker um in the in the repertoire, um, just to kind of give me uh give me a different look for ridey, it's kind of something coming into rieties and moving away from the lefties that and it's the same, it's it's as hard as my uh my force team. It's 92, 94. Um, so learned that and the sixth one I'm working on the cutter right now. Um it's pretty nasty. I threw it today on my bullpen for the first time on uh on track man, and the metrics were good. And I've just been messing around in uh catch play and kind of just learned it myself. Um, just watched some video, looked at some cues, and so going on to six, which is uh it sounds crazy when you hear it, but um, it's over a I mean a nine-year span. Um, just and three of and the sinker and cutter are fastball variants, so it it does come pretty easy, uh, or easier, I would say.

SPEAKER_02 14:31

Yeah, that's definitely a commitment right there. Uh sinker too. That wow, I can't even imagine where your arm releases, and and you have that whip,

Building A Five Pitch Arsenal

SPEAKER_02 14:40

and it was a different release point. Now, one thing I love when I talk to pitchers or have oh, our whole life, even before when we were young, before it was got too competitive. Pitchers are the most superstitious people that I've ever met because uh where your your mindset isn't a game, because you there's only certain moments you can get emotional, you know, and show it. But does the Cooper Webb have any superstitions he would like to air out today that uh maybe reveal to the world?

SPEAKER_05 15:15

Um, I really only have one superstition, and it comes from a long time ago. And uh, I don't I don't like to wash my hats, especially in season. So uh one time I think I was 12, maybe 11. Uh, you know, like when you play, you had you get the sweat stains on your hat.

SPEAKER_03 15:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 15:33

And uh so I my mom was like, hey, you want to wash these off? And so I let her wash it off. And I had been hitting really good and pitching, I had been playing really good throughout the season. So we're about midway, and she washed the hat. And I'm so serious, but like I slumped for the rest of the year, I struggled to throw strikes. I was like, All right, mom, we're not washing another hat ever. And so that's really it. Um, superstition-wise, but uh, I I do have my uh routines before like every inning, but I want to call it superstition, it's more routine to get me present in the zone.

SPEAKER_02 16:07

I respect that, you know. You you you find one thing. I mean, I still do little things, I think we all do. If really people really analyze themselves and they were uh being honest with themselves. If if we're riding a heater, so to speak, or success, and all of a sudden it stops, we're looking at ways to how okay, let's what what can we avoid? What what can we change? But pitchers are all like that in some form or fashion.

SPEAKER_05 16:33

For for sure.

SPEAKER_02 16:34

Um do you step on the foul lines?

SPEAKER_05 16:37

No, uh I actually I make sure to do like a big jump over it so I don't and then walking off a field as soon as I about to get to the dirt, or I guess on our field, like the brown part, I look down to make sure I get over it. But I don't think that I think that's just uh uh baseball player thing. He's like you don't step on the lines, like when you're playing catch, you're in front of it or you're behind it. Um mostly in front of it. You don't see many guys who throw from behind the the line. That's kind of odd. But yeah, I'd say that's kind of just like a baseball thing, it's one of those unwritten rules because baseball has a thousand of those, and you know, you learn you learn one every day.

SPEAKER_02 17:17

Seems like that's what makes the game so much fun, yeah. And some of it you keep in-house for sure. Well, we mentioned you're the Texas Longhorn signee, and and I don't want to be the guy that so what are you gonna do? So that here here, I just want to set it up for everybody. Most people watching or listening probably already know this. Um, everyone wants to be drafted, but be drafted high enough and be in the slotted category that or maximize their potential. Everyone signs with any level of uh a college baseball program that I mean they're prideful, like you are signing with Texas, but it is an insurance policy, meaning you have that option, you want to go there or wherever someone signs with. But it is so confusing and complex with the MLB draft, with the slotted money. Um what describe, folks, what that's like for you because I know coming up in the amateur draft that's coming up, uh it's not about what your mindset or how you approach it, but for those who don't understand what that is, how do you describe it? Because you've been advised, you've probably been educated on it more than most.

SPEAKER_05 18:38

For sure. Um and one of the uh fall meetings I have with it this way it's kind of like you're a house. So imagine if you wanted to sell a house. Um say, like as say called the draft would be you want to sell the house on this date, and so you think the house is worth this, say however like whatever dollar amount you want, but there's work to be done, and it's the housing market really thinks it's worth this. So you can go, you can renovate it for four years, like college, and you can come out and you can be fully renovated, it can be really nice, and you could get more money, but the housing market could also crash. So it's kind of the same thing for a right-handed pitcher. Um, that being one of the more riskier uh profiles, especially out of high school, is teams could think I'm worth however much right now, but I could go to Texas, become so much better um and make more money, but I could also go out and I could be hurt or whatever, or the MLB doesn't need many more right-handed pitchers, and it's just um, so it's kind of like the housing market, is what it was putting to me.

SPEAKER_02 19:53

No, that's that's a great comparison analogy. That's the best I've had it explained. I've never thought about it that way because it's like stock value, uh supply and demand. It's a good lesson on economics. That's what it was.

SPEAKER_05 20:07

Yeah, little mini econ lesson.

SPEAKER_02 20:10

That's right. I think the college game has improved, in my opinion. Is is that more or less am I on track for thinking that?

SPEAKER_05 20:17

No, yeah. I think college baseball has just become more talented, like as it's gone on. I mean, especially with with the portal um set of guys having to sit out a year, they can come from a mid-major, they could add, they could hit 370 to mid-major. And like look at Aiden Robbins. I mean, uh came from Cedon Hall, now he's top what five and or top three in home runs in program history. He's hitting at the top of the order, he's an everyday bat, and he's really good. Um, so I think just college baseball in all has just become better. Um

Superstitions Versus Game Routines

SPEAKER_05 20:55

also possibly partly because of NIL because guys know like back in the day you might not be able to get paid, or you'd be a broke college kid, but now you can go play and you can look at Dylan Landis and he's a Nike deal, or same with Aiden Robbins, like you can go get a Nike deal in college and then go get paid in the draft. Um, so I think it's just it's all kind of come together and just made uh just the talent floor higher, um, just as an all. Like mid-majors have gotten better, yeah, power fours have gotten better. Um, so I think it's just made college baseball better.

SPEAKER_02 21:35

And we're we're gonna talk a little bit about that here shortly, um, because there were so many mid-majors who made it to the super regionals or took it to the final game in the regional round. No pressure, but is there any type of uh story involving your family, your teammates, late track? Travis, um, that is just as funny now or memorable as it was when it happened.

SPEAKER_05 22:07

For sure. Uh, there's a lot, but I remember reading in the little in the email you sent, and the one that has always come in my head when I when I'm put on the spot to tell a story is uh so me and my dad, we like to fish, we like to hunt. So we're out on the boat. Uh I was probably I don't know, I was 10 or 11, and uh, we're fishing, and I'm not catching anything. I mean, I don't know if I've just nothing. My dad and my dad sit on the front of the boat, sitting on his chair with the trolling motor, and he's just every other cast, every cast. I mean, fish.

SPEAKER_02 22:39

Come on.

SPEAKER_05 22:40

And so I'm sitting there and I'm like, I gotta figure out what he's throwing because he might not tell me. So I uh I go, hey dad, what what are you throwing up there? Can I see it? And so he pulls it out of the water and he gives he kind of swings it over. So I get it. He's throwing uh just like a jig, just like a jig. He's bobbing off the bottom around structure. And so right next to where my seat is, there's some scissors by me. So I look up at him, and he's kind of sitting there smiling because he knows like he's just caught all these fish. I haven't caught anything. I grab these scissors and I

MLB Draft Money Explained Simply

SPEAKER_05 23:15

and I cut off his lure and uh tie it on. I tie it on my rig, and uh he said there, he's like, What are you doing? And I was like, I'm trying to catch some fish, dad. And uh I still didn't catch anything, so I think he just had the secret sauce. Um but yeah, that's my that's my story.

SPEAKER_02 23:38

That's a good one. That's a good father-son one. Oh, yeah. If it means anything 70% of the time, and that's being generous, whoever's with me, they're catching more than me.

SPEAKER_05 23:52

I don't I I can't I can't relate to that one. Uh um recently I've I've kind of I've picked it back up a lot, especially in the playoffs. Uh just trying to just stay just stay active, especially with no school. Uh, me and the guys on the baseball team have gone out all the time. And uh I I've been catching some good numbers here recently.

SPEAKER_02 24:14

Can you tell us of uh where is it Lake Travis is your go-to or where do you like to go?

SPEAKER_05 24:19

Uh if I'm on the water, I'm I'm on Lake Travis, but if I'm just um pond fishing, I that's gonna have to stay a secret. Got the secret ponds, secret honey holes.

SPEAKER_02 24:30

Are you a white bass when the white bass are running in like Feb March you you get after it?

SPEAKER_05 24:36

Uh I really haven't hit the run that hard, but we went at the very start, like at the end of December. Uh they kind of start running down. And I we were just fishing for for just largemouth. And uh I I got into a school of white bass and uh and hybrids, and I probably caught like five in a row on five cats. It was it was fun. You just I was throwing I was sort of crankbait off this point, and it was just like I was getting slammed. It was fun. Um, yeah, that was a good time.

SPEAKER_02 25:05

Cooper we're gonna take a quick break and we're gonna wrap things up talking about your longhorns in that special place in uh Omaha, Nebraska. We'll talk college world series on the other side of this break.

SPEAKER_00 25:18

Here at Harker Roofing, uh, we try to think outside the box to kind of get the creative juices flowing. So I brought in my friend Stevie Lee, former defensive tackle for the Texas Longhorns. Um, he's gonna help the team strategize, really motivate them by the fire.

SPEAKER_01 25:31

This guy's gonna block down, this guy's gonna block down. You put your butt into that guard, and that way my mic linebacker gets free to do what.

SPEAKER_00 25:41

Not only are they gonna learn a thing or two, but they're gonna also leave with a great attitude and a bunch of smiles on their faces.

SPEAKER_01 25:48

I'm sorry, what does this have to do with roofing exactly? Get out right now. I said get out.

SPEAKER_00 25:59

For me, that's what it's all about. It's just having fun, making our employees have a great time. Hard growth roofing. Know who's on your roof.

SPEAKER_05 26:54

No, I've never been. Um I had the opportunity to play there last summer to play in Charles Schwab, but uh scheduled in a line. Um

Portal And NIL Changing College Baseball

SPEAKER_05 27:05

back when I was a big Red Raider fan, and me and my dad are like, if they make it, we're going. And they went to the super regionals a lot, and they never they never could get it done. Um, so I've never been to Omaha, and uh, but I've heard it's electric.

SPEAKER_02 27:22

It's I don't know how to describe it. So I went the last two years of Rosenblatt as a fan, and then when I was in Oklahoma City covering the Sooners, they went when they when it was TD Ameritrade at the news stadium, now it's a swab. But I want to tell you this, and I'm gonna go ahead and be vulnerable. I I'm not afraid to admit this as a grown man. We all grew up watching it in 09. When I went for the first time as a fan, as soon as I walked through the tunnel to our section, I stood there frozen. I I swear I thought I was gonna start crying. And all the colorful seats, the smells, that fresh cut grass. Um it was yeah, it was a moment I'll never forget. And I encourage everyone, every father, son, everybody to go up there. College World Series is really special. Um, I was gonna run a soundbite from Coach Slosh talking about Scott Wilson and and and Augie, but I think I'm gonna save that for a different episode. But I definitely want to get your take on the College World Series field. Texas had a little drought, they're back up there, first time since 2022. What's your take on this field after because you watch a lot of baseball?

SPEAKER_05 28:45

For sure. Um I'm seeing half of the or over half the field's SEC, um, which is uh being going to play in the conference is is is just amazing to see, knowing that everyone's good. Um but I think this is a pretty uh

Fishing Stories And Secret Honey Holes

SPEAKER_05 29:06

it's kind of different, especially with you have Troy in there. Um, you have uh West Virginia, who's been a sneaky powerhouse for the past three, four years. I mean, they've been in the top 15 since they had Weather Holt, and uh they they've just stayed good. Um they always recruit really well and use the portal good. Um I was kind of surprised to see Bama beat um who do they beat?

SPEAKER_02 29:33

It was um almost who was I almost said North Carolina, but North Carolina won their super. Um why why am I drawing? I I swear I watched every super.

SPEAKER_05 29:43

Yeah, I can't I can't put a finger on it, but I mean I think Mississippi State ran into some bad luck having to play Georgia because they're they were really good. But Georgia's on a heater, they've been on a heater for a long time. Uh, I think it's gonna be pretty good, and I think uh Texas has as good as a shot of anyone to go win it, um, especially with the pitching they have, and and the lineup's pretty dangerous this year, especially with A-rods getting hot, um, the bottom of the orders is hitting. I mean, you got 12 guys that are can can 12 to 14 guys that can play, but too bad the lineup, sadly the lineup's only nine guys.

SPEAKER_03 30:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 30:21

Um, but being able to have that bench depth is huge, especially for for matchups. Uh, like if you if they bring in a lefty, you need a righty to come in and make a big hit. I mean, you have you have guys to do that, like Monsieur, yeah, you just have guys that do that on the bench that have that have proved that they can do it.

SPEAKER_02 30:41

It's they're they're deep. 100% they are. And you know, I I'm not gonna even count out Skip Johnson's Sooners. They they got hot against Georgia Tech, Kansas, Kansas, and they just all of a sudden they look like the team at the plate as they were at the beginning of the year.

SPEAKER_05 31:01

Yeah, and they're uh they're getting their Sunday guy back with Leon. Uh Lake Travis Alum. He he had a little uh oblique strain. And uh since I'm pretty close with with Kaiser, his little brother, I'm close with Caden. Uh I have a little bit of inside scoop, but uh, I know he

Omaha And College World Series Predictions

SPEAKER_05 31:20

he was I think he was cleared last week to play, but I don't know if he pitched, but he should be pitching in the World Series, I'm pretty sure.

SPEAKER_02 31:30

It wouldn't shock me if it's Texas and OU on that side of the bracket meeting again, maybe you know, two times for the right to go to the championship series. I'm gonna take I'm gonna go ahead and put it out there. I I get it. There's a lot of people complaining about Texas having to meet Georgia. I'm I'm thinking you gotta face them at some point.

SPEAKER_05 31:51

I mean, for sure. Uh it's kind of like what um people do in their season. Like you play the best teams early. Uh you can I mean, I don't I think that Texas is has the pitching to shut down uh Georgia's lineup um for sure. I mean if you throw out Valantis out there, I mean he's gonna give you probably six shutties, seven shutties of good baseball, then you have cross lending high-lever situations, and you can close it out with Kozart. But also with that, you like you can Kozart started some games and his pitch really good, so like you have just options with with the dudes that they have for sure.

SPEAKER_02 32:33

I'm gonna go on the limb. I'm gonna take Texas to face West Virginia in the national championship series.

SPEAKER_05 32:42

Is uh UNC on the other side?

SPEAKER_02 32:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 32:46

I think I like Texas and UNC.

SPEAKER_02 32:48

Okay. Yeah. They UNC, they that's a gritty lineup. They oh yeah, uh, with pressure.

SPEAKER_05 32:55

Oh yeah, and they're all they're all pretty young. I mean, I saw an Instagram thing of like uh what percent of the roster is portal, and North Carolina is like 11% from the portal, so they're all homegrown guys, too.

SPEAKER_02 33:09

So that's impressive, actually.

SPEAKER_05 33:11

The sophomores and juniors, they've been that group's been together for two, three years, which is which is dangerous, uh for sure.

SPEAKER_02 33:19

That's mind blowing. I didn't know that about UNC. So they in spite of the era we're in, they still recruit young and bring him up, bring him in and develop.

SPEAKER_05 33:30

For sure. Yeah, it's it's cool to see. Uh I mean, and UNC is just a great program. I mean, they've been good for forever, almost pretty much.

SPEAKER_02 33:40

It's gonna be fun, man. This is uh I can't wait. Yeah, you know, tonight's uh what uh the opening night ceremonies that we're recruiting this episode. I think so.

SPEAKER_05 33:50

Yeah, and uh Troy's not Troy's not someone at Slabshot either. Troy's good.

SPEAKER_02 33:55

You talk about blue collar, yeah. Those kids don't care.

SPEAKER_05 33:59

Uh-uh.

SPEAKER_02 33:59

They have a lot to prove for sure.

SPEAKER_05 34:02

I mean, they're they're the only mid-major in it this year. Um, they went through their their regional and they won their super regional, and they kind of just took care of Little Rock, who was also like like them, like sneaky, they were good, like just playing for something to prove. Um, so I wouldn't sleep on Troy too much. Um they've they've had a good program, especially the last three years. Like they've been preseason top 15 for two of the last three years, I'm pretty sure.

SPEAKER_02 34:30

They've they've been ranked, they've been, and they do well. They do that. Yeah, I I would challenge each of you to go. I don't know where I saw it. It may be on Instagram, maybe Twitter. Their head coach is very real, down to earth. They asked him, somebody asked him about their NIL for Detroit. He said he started laughing. He said, he started, he said, uh, here's here's ours, here's the SEC program. It's not even close. And that tells you the quality of coaching and players developing. So they're very much like an SEC type of roster. I mean, if you think about it.

SPEAKER_05 35:07

I mean, they have also on that same stat, Troy is like is totally on the opposite spectrum of UNC, where they're older, uh, they're like 70-75% from the portal. So they're all guys with with experience um in college ball. Um, so they're they're definitely an older roster for sure. Um, but I mean experience can be dangerous, especially in these in these high pressure situations.

SPEAKER_02 35:36

And that's and you're they're gonna have it in Omaha. Uh Coop's taking Texas and North Carolina to make it to the national championship series, which is best two out of three. I'm gonna take uh Texas and West Virginia, just so we'll we're documenting it so we can call each other out on to whoever is right or wrong. Well, I hope or hopefully neither one of us is wrong on the left side.

unknown 36:00

For sure.

SPEAKER_02 36:03

Hey Coop, I appreciate

Looking Back On The Playoff Run

SPEAKER_02 36:05

it. So proud of you and excited for your family. This is these are fun times for you guys, and what a good run you guys had at Lake Travis, always a good baseball program. Um, yeah, people don't realize how hard it is to win a state championship. Um, and and I and I know you I don't want you don't want me to say, hey man, that was a hell of an effort. Good job. No one wants to talk about being runner up, but man, that was a great ride for sure.

SPEAKER_05 36:35

It was it was so fun. Uh, some of the best six weeks of my life. Um just just with the guys. I mean, through those six weeks, you're kind of inseparable. I mean, we're going on the road, getting to leave school early, not too bad. Uh, going to play baseball, and like, and in some games we were like we're in just dog fights, just finding it out. And uh, I mean, it was so fun. Some of the like the most fun uh baseball, some of the best baseball. And uh, I mean, I don't know if you saw some of the videos of us celebrating after running on the field, but we were just all running, throwing water everywhere, it was so fun.

SPEAKER_02 37:14

Um, those are the memories you'll never replace.

SPEAKER_05 37:17

Yeah, I mean, everyone says it is like high school's gonna fly by, and uh it really did. Uh it felt like I was getting caught up to just sit in the dugout as a freshman uh varsity like yesterday. But now I'm in in two months I'm going off to live my own and and be a college student.

SPEAKER_02 37:40

That's reality. Reality right there. Well, if if that's what you choose to do, we're gonna we're gonna be supportive either or, but I'll be I'll be biased. I hope that uh you you get to spend the next three years uh as a longhorn so we can all see you play. And of course, we'll we'll follow you online if you decide to take the pro ride, but then you got you've got two great opportunities, and it has been fun to watch you grow since the day at Cape View behind the desk. And man, tell your tell your family great job with you, and uh, it's amazing. It's amazing to watching you grow up into what you are now, for sure.

SPEAKER_05 38:20

Thank you so much. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 38:22

Oh man, hey, it's just getting started. The fun the party never ends. As long as we're doing this, man, the party continues. Hey, whenever you get a chance to talk about college baseball, the college world series, it's never a dull moment with Cooper Webb. And when you ever have an opportunity to talk about the great moments that Cooper Webb may have in a long home uniform, man, it's always good.