The #Astros have signed undrafted free agent Mason Lytle. The outfielder hit .366 with 22 2B, 10 HR, 68 RBI, 17 SB over 62 games for University of Texas-San Antonio.
@SanJacRaven43 Thanks for the hard truth that day, and thanks to you and the San jac staff for everything. I wouldnβt be anywhere close to where I am without yβall. #jacboys
"Lytle is another one of those All-Fitt prototype guys: an undersized grinder who turned himself into a legit star for a super regional team."
Congrats to @UTSABSB outfielder @lytle_mason on making @aaronfitt's All-Fitt Team!
Coach Hallmark isnβt replaceable. The passion he and the other coaches have for our growth as players and men is rare. If given the help and support they deserve, what we accomplished this past season will become the standard for UTSA baseball not just an anomaly.
NEW: #UTSA Head Baseball Coach Pat Hallmark tells me his contract is up. He wants to stay in San Antonio, but wants better support for the program. Extension talks are ongoing.
UTSA is fresh off a program record 47-win season & NCAA Regional Championship. https://t.co/SU5DS9P3I4
Just wanted to say this publicly regarding the baseball program at @UTSA to anyone who gives a damn. (@UTSABSB)
I went to school there from 2008-2011 before transferring to UH to finish my degree. I was there for the first football game. I was there when they won their βfirst 4β game of the basketball tournament with Devin Gibson before getting blown out by Ohio State in the 1 v 16 matchup. My brother is the all-time leader in pitching appearances there. Iβm pretty well versed regarding the history of the athletics program. I used to wait in line at Panda Express with Larry Coker on campus.
That said, what the menβs baseball team did this year is WITHOUT question the single greatest season in the history of the schoolβs athletics program in ANY sport and itβs not even remotely close. If anyone would like to refute this, Iβm open to dialogue on it.
Iβm not including track & field or cross country or w/e other sport that nobody really watches (respectfully). This was something REAL and it MATTERED. They went into the University of Texas and DOG WALKED them all 3 times they faced them this year including when it mattered most.
They were one of the final 12 teams standing in the country this year. They were UNDOUBTEDLY the best D1 menβs baseball team in the state of Texas and they proved it over and over. They gave Roadrunner fans an ACTUAL reason to flaunt their schoolβs colors on a national stage with the βbig boysβ for the first time ever.
Iβm not talking about βOh! They won the American!β or βOh! They won a Bowl game!β either. Iβm talking about this team was a LEGITIMATE National Title contender and they did it with probably a 1/50th of the resources as these other programs theyβre competing against on this stage.
With all due respect, that will never happen in football or basketball. Texas football beats the life out of UTSA football and that will never change. I get that there are business decisions behind this. I understand the school wants to drive revenue. But, the current approach is so insanely closed minded.
Pat Hallmark (@Pat_Hallmark) is the best coach that the University has ever had in any sport and heβs one of the 10-15 best menβs baseball coaches in the country. He has done more with LESS than any coach in D1 over the last 3 years and I feel like youβre just going to string him along the same way that yβall did with Jason Marshall before him @LisaUTSA.
Heβs a unicorn that fell into your lap and Wayne Graham (one of the most legendary coaches in the history of baseball) knew it too.
He will LEAVE if you donβt provide him with the tools he needs to continue to do this and he SHOULD leave if you donβt.
A decade ago, In the ultimate βpiss on my leg and tell me that itβs rainingβ move, Yβall gave them a portable trailer and called it a βlocker roomβ, then decided βoh theyβre good for the next 2 decadesβ.
Menβs baseball is the best chance the university will ever have at winning a National Title in any sport in our lifetimes. Itβs just a fact. Iβve said this for years and this season only validated that.
Pay attention to programs like Coastal Carolina and Dallas Baptistβ¦UTSA should have EXPONENTIALLY more resources than those schools to be able to equip Coach Hallmark and the baseball program with what it needs to make this a REGULAR thing. Itβs SO INCREDIBLY POSSIBLE. (More students than LSU)
But, if you donβt, he will be gone. Because, a school that wants to do it for real will take him from you. Heβs special like that.
Iβm proud of @JamesTaussig and the rest of his teammates. Yβall are dogs and legends forever for real.
I LOVE this baseball program. My late father did too. I hope all of yβall join me moving forward in pushing for BETTER than what we have right now.
Weβve EARNED it more than any of the other programs.
βIf you build it, they will come.β
#BuildTheStadium
So damn proud of yβall.
@RivalsJavi Indeed! @PresidentEighmy yβall are on the clock! Canβt host a regional because of the facilities. How can you keep a coach of this caliber? Gotta pay to play!!!! Letβs go UTSA. Find the money to continue the national profile of this program!
@runners_rising '24 Tailgate Challenge is still going strong! Head over to RRP's pinned tweet to donate to your favorite tailgate. What tailgate is going to take home the W? PS, I will be at the winning tailgate along with two other student-athletes.
Tailgate Challenge starts NOW!
Use the links in the thread below to donate! The tailgate with the most donations will have 3 @UTSAAthletics athletes at their tailgate for the first game of the season, and will be given a gift from the #RRP Board!
We are so excited to announce our 2024 Tailgate Challenge Athletes! π₯³
In 2023, we had a record breaking Tailgate Challenge where our amazing Tailgaters successfully raised $11,000! Can we beat that this year? π
#RunnersRising#CommunityDriven
π ππππΎππππ ππππππππ πππΌπππ ππ πππ πππΌπ π
Mason Lytle has been clutch for the Roadrunners this season, earning @American_Conf Newcomer Position Player of the Year! π
#BirdsUp π€ | #LetsGo210 | @lytle_mason