In this episode of East Texas Sports Now, we catch up with Sam Flores, former Lufkin Panther and current Purdue Boilermakers baseball standout, to talk about his huge first season in the Big Ten. Flores breaks down his breakout year at Purdue, the transfer journey from Kansas State, and how his time at McLennan Community College helped shape him into the player he is today.

Sam also reflects on the challenges of limited playing time, staying grounded in his faith, and the pride he feels representing Lufkin, Texas at the Division 1 level. He shares memories from Lufkin baseball, the impact of the city’s Little League culture, and why community support from back home still means so much.

The episode also includes discussion on Ace Reese’s MLB Draft stock and a breakdown of the Texas Rangers’ new City Connect uniforms.

In this episode of East Texas Sports Now, we sit down with former Como-Pickton standout and current Northwestern State Lady Demon Madison Buster as she reflects on one of the best stretches of her softball career. Buster talks about earning Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week honors, throwing complete games and shutouts, and helping lead Northwestern State during a big late-season run.

She also opens up about what it meant to defeat her former team, Louisiana Tech, competing against fellow East Texas pitchers from SFA, and how transferring to Northwestern State helped her rediscover her confidence, happiness, and love for the game. From her high school mindset to her college breakout, this conversation covers the journey behind one of the region’s top softball stories.

Plus, the episode wraps with a discussion on MLB’s new Automatic Ball-Strike System (ABS) and what “Robo Umps” could mean for the future of baseball.

Kylie Neel catches up with Van native Holden Myers to talk about his latest run at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, one of the biggest stages in the sport. In this episode of East Texas Sports Now, Holden shares what it’s like competing at RodeoHouston, from the massive crowd and electric atmosphere to the pressure that comes with performing in the same venue where the Houston Texans play.

Holden reflects on why Houston has quickly become one of his favorite rodeos, especially after strong performances there over the last two years. He talks about the size of the event, the excitement of competing in front of so many fans, and the financial stakes that make it one of the biggest opportunities of the year for rodeo athletes.

The conversation also dives into steer wrestling, the challenge of staying sharp on a stage that big, and how a strong Houston showing can build momentum for the rest of the season. If you follow East Texas rodeo, love RodeoHouston, or want insight from a local athlete competing on a major stage, this episode is worth the listen.