
Parkston Rays begin amateur baseball title defense looking to build on 2025 breakthrough
Parkston Rays begin their title defense in 2025 amateur baseball season after last year's championship win.
Texas A&M has secured a commitment from five-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews, the No. 1 ranked player at his position. He chose the Aggies over Miami, Georgia, and LSU, adding to Texas A&M's top-ranked recruiting class for 2027.
Mentioned in this story
Five-Star Plus+ OL Mark Matthews.
Texas A&M’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class got another five-stars better with Rivals No. 1 rated offensive tackle Mark Matthews announcing his commitment to the Aggies.
The 6-foot-5, 301-pound Matthews chose to play for head coach Mike Elko and Texas A&M over his other finalists in Miami, Georgia and LSU.
Rated by the Rivals300 as the No. 3 prospect in America, and by the industry-generated Rivals Industry as the No. 6 player in the land, Matthews becomes commit No. 14 for the Aggies in the 2027 class.
“I visited and I got that feeling, Matthews said in the past. Coach (Deveonte) Mackey, Coach (Adam) Cush(ing) the whole line staff, Coach Elko, there is something about them and I like the Aggies.”
Over the course of two spring visits including a three-day trip that was capped by the Aggies spring game, Matthews affection towards Texas A&M continued to grow.
Now’s he the jewel of this terrific class.
Rivals Director of Scouting Charles Power is obviously very high on Matthews.
“High-upside offensive tackle prospect with top-notch physical and athletic tools for the position. Measured in at 6-foot-6 and around 280 pounds with plus length before his junior season. Added nearly 15 pounds to his frame early on in the offseason before his junior year. Has an ideal build for an offensive lineman with little bad weight and considerable mass in his lower body, helping to create a strong base. Tests as a strong athlete in the combine setting. New to football, first playing the sport as a freshman in high school. Took over the left tackle spot at South Florida powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas as a sophomore. A twitchy mover with outstanding movement skills. Already flashes an effortless kick slide despite playing offensive line for less than one year. Projects as a high-end pass protector. Played defensive line as a freshman before becoming an offensive lineman. Shows impressive competitiveness in the camp setting. Has a basketball background.”
Mark Matthews chose Texas A&M to play for head coach Mike Elko, favoring the Aggies over Miami, Georgia, and LSU.
Mark Matthews is rated as the No. 3 prospect in America by Rivals300 and the No. 6 player by the Rivals Industry.
With the addition of Mark Matthews, Texas A&M now has 14 commits for the 2027 recruiting class.

Parkston Rays begin their title defense in 2025 amateur baseball season after last year's championship win.

Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano successfully make weight for their highly anticipated MMA clash on Netflix!

Allison Meyerink, a freshman golfer from Dakota Wesleyan University, returns to the NAIA women's golf national championship aiming to improve on her previous 52nd place finish. The tournament will take place from May 19-22, 2026, at Eagle Crest Golf Club in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Kyle Busch claims his 69th NASCAR Truck Series victory at Dover!
Creek Wood girls flag football team clinches TSSAA Class A title in inaugural game!
Blake Snell heads back to the injured list after just one start due to elbow issues.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.