Longtime HHS baseball head coach Brent Hall is surrounded by his team following a ceremony Tuesday at Tiger Field recognizing him for reaching the 400-win mark for his career. (Doug Davison | Houston Herald)
Thanks to good pitching and timely defense, the Houston High School baseball team topped Mansfield, 2-1, in the final regular season game of 2026 Tuesday at Tiger Field.
Longtime head coach Brent Hall and the Tigers’ two seniors – Aaden Scantlin and Elliot Barbagiovanni – were recognized in ceremonies following the contest.
Next up for Houston (13-9) is the Class 3 District 9 Tournament. The second-seeded Tigers will face No. 3 Thayer in a semifinals contest scheduled for Monday (weather permitting). The 5-team tournament will be played at Tiger Field.
HHS senior Aaden Scantlin delivers a pitch during the first inning. Scantlin worked all 7 innings of the game, allowing 6 hits and no earned runs, while striking out 3 and walking 1. Mansfield junior Brayden Stuart had a very similar outing on the mound, allowing 6 hits and no earned runs, while striking out 3 and walking none as he also went the distance. “Aaden had a strong outing in his last regular season start at home,” said HHS head coach Brent Hall. “I was very happy for him to be able to do that on his Senior Night.” Dust flies as HHS freshman shortstop Knox McCloy fields a ground ball. McCloy was involved in both of the Tigers’ double-plays in the contest – a 6U-3 version in the second inning and a 4-6-3 version in the sixth.
Houston sophomore Gage Smith prepares to catch a fly ball for an out in the third inning. Smith played right field in the game and recorded 4 putouts, including 2 in the sixth inning on back-to-back batters. “Our defense was solid for the majority of the game. Gage Smith had a great game defensively in right field,” Coach Hall said. “This is the way we will need to play to give ourselves a chance in districts.”
HHS freshman Blake Sanders swings for a base hit in the second inning. Sanders had 2 of the Tigers’ 6 hits in the game and raised his team-leading batting average to .453.The 2026 HHS baseball team’s two seniors – Aaden Scantlin, left, and Elliot Barbagiovanni – were recognized during Senior Night activities after the game. Both have been in the program for four years. “It was great to honor our two seniors,” Hall said. “Both Aaden and Elliot have meant so much to our program and will be truly missed.”Head coach Brent Hall, right, stands with family members following a ceremony honoring him for his 400 wins at the helm of HHS baseball. Now in his 29th season in the position, Hall’s record stands at 402-259 after Tuesday’s victory over Mansfield. Remarkably, he has never missed a game during his entire stint with the program. Hall also coached softball and basketball for a couple of years at HHS, so his overall total of wins as a coach at the school is even higher. Hall was presented a plaque by Houston Schools Superintendent Dr. Justin Copley, and a framed copy of a Missouri House Resolution by Rep. Bennie Cook. “I’m very grateful to have been able to stay in a place that I love for so long,” Hall said. “It was great catching up with some of my old players that were there. I would like to thank my wife and family, Dr. Copley and the school district, and Bennie Cook for making the afternoon so special.”
TO VIEW A PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME (WITH THE OPTION TO PURCHASE PHOTOS), CLICK HERE.
Doug Davison is a writer, photographer and newsroom assistant for the Houston Herald. Contact him by phone at 417-967-2000 or by email at ddavison@houstonherald.com.
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