Several local HS grads take part in TCU-New Mexico battle

Texas Christian University defeated New Mexico, 12-8, in college baseball on Saturday, and several local high school graduates took part in the action.

Westside High School graduate Cory Maltz, struck out four batters and gave up two earned runs in 3.1 innings pitched for New Mexico.

Maltz is a 2008 graduate of Westside High School where he letter in baseball for coach Emrick Jagneaux. As a senior, 2007-2008, he helped the team advance to the regional finals and was selected second-team all-district at catcher. Westside made it to the regional semifinals during Maltz's junior, 2006-2007, sophomore, 2005-2006, and freshman, 2004-2005, seasons. A business major at New Mexico, he is the son of Jim and Donna Maltz.

Kempner High School graduate Kyle Von Tungeln went 1-for-5, with three runs scored in the victory for TCU.

Ranked by Baseball America as the 77th best prospect in Texas coming out of high school, Von Tungeln is a 2009 graduate of Kempner High School, where he was a four-time letter winner on the baseball team. He batted over .400 each season at Kempner and finished his career with 19 home runs and 34 stolen bases. As a senior, 2008-2009, Von Tungeln batted .537 to earn first-team all-state, all-Houston and all-district honors while also being recognized as a second-team All-American selection. He also earned first-team all-district honors as a sophomore, 2006-2007, and was named a second-team all-district performer as a freshman, 2005-2006, and junior, 2007-2008. Von Tungeln played in the North vs. South Houston and state all-star games as a junior and senior. He also participated in the Under Armour and Area Code tryouts in addition to playing on the Yankees scout team in the World Wood Bat Championships. Von Tungeln played on a championship team at the Palomino World Series and CABA World Series, where he was named MVP after hitting seven homers in 11 games. Von Tungeln was a three-time member of the Sunbelt Classic Texas Team and a member of the Kyle Champman baseball club. He is the son of Rob and Mary Von Tungeln and a pre-major at TCU.

Taylor High School graduate Taylor Featherston went 3-for-5 with a run scored for TCU.

Featherston is a 2008 graduate of Taylor High School, where he earned three varsity letters playing baseball for coach Melvin Cerny. He was ranked as the 28th top prospect in Texas and the 96th nationally by Baseball America following his junior season, 2006-2007. As a senior, 2007-2008, Featherston earned first-team all-district recognition and district MVP honors. As a junior, he hit .474 with five home runs and 11 doubles to earn all-district first-team status and second-team all-greater Houston. He was picked to play in the 2007 Houston Area Baseball Coaches Association junior all-star game and the Texas scouts Invitational. The son of Gary and Penny Featherston.

See Cory Maltz's Athlete Tracker page