<\/p>\n
Tomball High School baseball player C.J. Sampson, the Houston Chronicle’s Boys Athlete of the Year, poses for a portrait at the school\u2019s weight room in Tomball, Monday, June 15, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Tomball High School baseball player C.J. Sampson, the Houston Chronicle’s Boys Athlete of the Year, poses for a portrait at the school\u2019s weight room in Tomball, Monday, June 15, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Tomball High School baseball player C.J. Sampson, the Houston Chronicle’s Boys Athlete of the Year, poses for a portrait at the school\u2019s weight room in Tomball, Monday, June 15, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Tomball High School baseball player C.J. Sampson, the Houston Chronicle’s Boys Athlete of the Year, poses for a portrait at the school\u2019s weight room in Tomball, Monday, June 15, 2026.<\/p>\n
Brett Coomer\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n
Tomball CJ Sampson (34) hits a single during the third inning of the Class 6A, Division II championship at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Saturday, June 6, 2026.<\/p>\n
Jason Fochtman\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n
Tomball starting pitcher CJ Sampson delivers during the first inning of the Class 6A, Division II championship at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Saturday, June 6, 2026.<\/p>\n
Jason Fochtman\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n
Tomball starting pitcher CJ Sampson delivers during the first inning of the Class 6A, Division II championship at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Saturday, June 6, 2026.<\/p>\n
Jason Fochtman\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n
Tomball\u2019s C.J. Sampson is seen in the dugout alongside a sign that reads \u201cRound Rock Is An Everyday Commitment\u201d during practice ahead of the team\u2019s state title game at the UIL State Baseball Championships in Round Rock, Tuesday, June 2, 2026.<\/p>\n
Jason Fochtman\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n
Tomball\u2019s C.J. Sampson is seen during practice ahead of the team\u2019s state title game at the UIL State Baseball Championships in Round Rock, Tuesday, June 2, 2026.<\/p>\n
Jason Fochtman\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n
C.J. Sampson has a picture on his camera roll that means the world to him. It\u2019s a collage of him and his father, former\u00a0Astros pitcher Chris Sampson, side by side, pitching from the mound at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. That pile of packed down dirt carries special memories for the Sampson family, and earlier this month, C.J. got a chance to experience it for perhaps one last time.<\/p>\n
Sampson delivered a standout performance in the final pitching start of his career for Tomball High School. The senior right-hander struck out eight batters without surrendering a walk or an earned run in a complete-game effort, leading the Cougars to a 9-1 victory against Memorial in the Class 6A Division II state championship. The triumph gave Tomball its second title in three years and third since 2013. The Cougars finished their campaign ranked as the No. 1 team in the country by the National High School Baseball Coaches Association and posted an impeccable 43-1-1 record.<\/p>\n
Top 100: These Houston high school athletes helped define 2025-26<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cObviously at the beginning of the season, that\u2019s one of our goals,\u201d Sampson said. \u201cWe have a sign in our dugout \u2014 \u2018Round Rock is an everyday commitment.\u2019 So we have that mindset going into the season every single year, and Coach (Doug) Rush has embedded that in our heads, too \u2014 getting back to Round Rock. But it\u2019s super special just to be able to get there, especially to win and get two gold medals around our necks. I love it for my teammates, my brothers. Super special season.\u201d<\/p>\n As Sampson fielded a grounder and tossed the ball to first base for the final out of the championship game, the celebratory dogpile commenced as his teammates jumped on his back. Once the postgame trophy presentations were complete \u2014 including his own accolade as the game\u2019s Most Valuable Player \u2014 he got a chance to embrace his father and the rest of his family on the field.<\/p>\n \u201cI love that moment with him after the game and my whole family, too,\u201d Sampson said. \u201cMy mom, my two brothers, my grandma and grandpa. Having them on the field with that moment in my last high school game and going out on top like that, it\u2019s something I\u2019ll never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n Tomball starting pitcher CJ Sampson, right, celebrates after the final out, defeating Memorial 9-1 to win the Class 6A, Division II championship at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Saturday, June 6, 2026.<\/p>\n Jason Fochtman\/Staff photographer<\/p>\n Sampson has been a four-year starter at Tomball and has grown into one of the top high school baseball players in the country. He continued to shine this year, both as the team\u2019s leadoff hitter and the ace of the pitching staff. Sampson capped his senior season with a 13-1 record on the mound. He posted a 1.00 ERA across 83 \u2153 innings and finished with 106 strikeouts and just 10 walks. Sampson was just as dangerous at the plate, batting. .488 with a .610 on-base percentage, a 1.444 OPS, 21 doubles, six home runs, 32 RBIs and 41 runs scored across 173 plate appearances.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Athlete of the Year: Barber’s Hill Pitcher wins award after throwing a perfect game to win a state title<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n