2023 Karbach Round Rock Classic Team Preview - Sam Houston Bearkats

By George Kopf, Matt Reynolds

Sam Houston Bearkats

2022 Record & Finish: 31-25, 21-9 (2nd in WAC); won WAC Southwest Division

Key Additions: LHP Alex Magers (from Texas A&M), RHP Chandler David (from UIW)

Previous Peak Events Appearances: 1 (2019 Frisco Classic)

Most Recent NCAA Tournament: 2017

The Bearkats came up short in the 2022 WAC Tournament and now look ahead to closing out their run in the conference before shifting gears to Conference USA play in 2024. Plenty of power bats remain on the roster from last year’s campaign, including WAC Player of the Year and consensus preseason All-American OF Carlos Contreras. Add in top-25 MLB Draft Prospect INF Clayton Chadwick and that duo may be the key to Sam Houston going on a postseason run. As for Contreras, the Karbach Round Rock Classic takes him near his hometown roots, graduating from Lake Travis High School, not far from Dell Diamond. The Bearkats will likely lean on the senior’s high-volume production at the plate to make a splash in Round Rock and reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time under Head Coach Jay Sirianni.