52
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ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL
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HOUSTON, TX
INSIDE EAGLE ATHLETICS
Eagle Baseball Pays Tribute and
Reaches Out To Redden Family
Head baseball coach Ryan
Lousteau’s pre-season challenge
for his Class of 2015 had little
to do with defending the TAPPS
5A state championship or adding
to the proud pedigree of the St.
Thomas program.
Every year Lousteau emphasizes
a community service project for
his seniors. And this year’s group
quickly identified where their
collective efforts would perhaps
make the most significant impact
... a game day tribute to raise
dollars and salute the family
of former teammate Tucker
Redden, whose father, Tim Sr.,
passed in February 2015 after a
courageous year-long battle with
kidney cancer.
“We just wanted to help in any
way we can,” Jared Hoesel ‘15
said.
The assist came in the form
of a varsity / junior varsity
doubleheader with The Kinkaid
School at Fr. Wilson Field,
which generated $10,000 from
gate and concession proceeds,
plus monies collected from a
day-long silent auction and raffle,
all generously accepted with
heartfelt gratitude by Tucker,
Tim Jr and their mother, Tammy.
“One of the main reasons we
wanted to send the boys to St.
Thomas was because I witnessed
and saw what this community
is all about,” Tammy said.
“What we have experienced
and endured over the past year
wouldn’t have been possible
without the added strength and
support from those who reached
out to us, especially from this St.
Thomas community.”
Tucker’s older brother, Tim
Jr. ‘09, was a TAPPS all-state
infielder who helped lead STH to
district and state championships
in 2008.
Tucker was following those same
cleat marks when his father’s
health condition forced the
family to relocate to Rockport
mid-way through the 2013-14
academic year, missing out on
the dramatic STH playoff run
which resulted in the program’s
23rd state title.
“We all heard about the Eagle
brotherhood when we came in as
freshmen. I left here as a junior,
am back for just a weekend as
a senior, and it’s as if I never
left. For the rest of my life
I’ll remember my times at St.
Thomas,” Tucker said.
The Reddens returned to the
field where they wore the Eagle
red and white
with distinction
and joined their
mother at the
pitcher’s mound
for a pre-game
ceremonial first
pitch alongside
Hoesel, Wendell
Champion
‘15 and Max
Machiorlette
‘15.
“Any time you
get rocked the
way our family
has the last
few months,
really the last
year since Dad
was diagnosed,
there’s such
comfort when
people reach out
and help you.
It makes you
realize the world
would be such
a better place if
there were more
good people
willing to make
those efforts,”
Tim Jr. said.
Lousteau took considerable pride
that his players “understood
there’s more to life than just their
own pursuits. The seniors saw a
good friend and a family in need.