While only being a sophomore Austin McNicholas knows he will be attending UT-Austin in the 2016-17 school year.

The pitcher and shortstop is set to play baseball for the Longhorns on a rare scholarship he obtained over last summer.

“I was surprised, but also relieved when he received the scholarship to the University of Texas,” Luke McNicholas, Austin’s father, said. It came a lot earlier than expected, but it was well deserved.
McNicholas earned the scholarship last July after garnering attention from scouts around the area. He also participated in the USA 15U National baseball team tryouts for a roster spot where the best high school athletes around the country compete among each other.

“I was really excited when I found out that I got the scholarship. Austin McNicholas said. It had been my dream to go to Texas since I was little and couldn’t believe that I got it being so young,”

Being invited to try out for the national US team helped bolster Austin’s confidence and sealed the fact that Austin is fast becoming one of the elite players in the country.

“There are not many people that get the opportunity to try out for the national US baseball team because there are only about 30 each year so I felt it was a great honor to go out there,” Austin McNicholas said
It has been a long journey for McNicholas who has been playing baseball since he was four years old. His father Luke McNicholas, an Akins security officer, has been a big part of Austin’s success. He has helped with the Akins baseball program and has trained him since he was a toddler.

“I have had Austin playing baseball since he was four years old and I have seen him grow and mature on the baseball field,” Luke McNicholas said.

Austin’s teammates and coaches have also taken notice of his key role on the team.

“Austin brings us an advantage to pitching and fielding because he can throw up to 85 miles per hour as a pitcher and he is one of the best shortstops in the country,” Akins catcher Christian Suttles said.

Austin has garnered attention and praise from the highest levels, but none more than the man that has coached him since his freshman year at Akins.

“He (Austin) has a tremendous work ethic and his expectations are extremely high and that lots of times can become contagious and we hope that the other players can see what he has accomplished and try to build themselves off of that,” Akins varsity coach Steven Velasquez said.

With the season in full swing the Eagles are looking to have a successful run.

“Its going to take a full team effort to make it a winning season and we need to be a five-tool team and be well balanced at everything including pitching and hitting,” Austin McNicholas said.