Former Kearney Bearcat Cal Higgins ready to shine on the mound at Texas

Former Kearney Bearcat Cal Higgins ready to shine on the mound at Texas

>> Hook em baby. Words Nebraska fans shudder
to think of when they hear or see burnt orange. However, central Nebraska might
be rooting for one former Kearney Bearcat, who’s trading
in his red and blue as he’s committed to the Longhorns. Cal Higgins, the six
foot five lefty. I caught up with him earlier
and we talked about Kearney and pitching in the SEC. >> Longhorn nation is
hungry and it’s been over 20 years since since
the national championship. >> That’s Cal Higgins,
the former Kearney High Bearcat and now current Texas Longhorn
who’s journey hasn’t come easy. >> It’s been crazy. It all started here. So that’s what, uh. It’s been pretty cool just
coming to camps for you and K when I, when I was little
and they were in this building. So. And then play high school ball
here and um, we talked about that kind of off camera. But it was it was an interesting
career just because of Covid and that sort of stuff. So I really only had one season
of high school varsity baseball. >> That one season took Higgins
to Iowa Western in Council Bluffs, where he learned how
to pitch and become the man he is today. >> Mark Reardon was known for
just being a more difficult coach with just with like
what he expects out of you, but I felt like it made me
just a better man, and it helped me not only become
a better baseball player, but just become a better
boyfriend and now fiance. >> Higgins coaches knew
his future was rising like his fastball. >> Long look in Johnston out on
strikes three up, three down for Higgins in the eighth. >> After packing up and heading
to Western Kentucky, Higgins took his game to new heights,
rewriting the record books for the Hilltoppers, including
posting a 1.87 ERA, the 10th best in program history. >> I walked the fastest guy in
that draft that year, Enrique Bradfield, and then there was
a single down the left field line and he scored from first. So that was definitely
my welcome to the SEC. I came in with with runners
on and I had to I had to shut it down and, um, ended
up no hitting him for two and two thirds. >> So two, two
starting the ninth. Strike three called. Payoff strikes him out. >> But that bus ride home
was was definitely one of those that you’re just like. Yeah, like like like like
you said like, huh I could this feels pretty normal. Like, I think I can handle this. >> What was it about Texas that
you’re like, I want to go there. >> Should be able to say
I’m a Texas Longhorn. Is is second to none. Like, there’s in the world
of college athletics. You know, like in
football, you say you’re a Alabama Crimson Tide. Like, you know, in basketball
you say you’re a Duke Blue Devil or a Carolina Tar Heel. Like those names just
carry some weight. But also like, it wasn’t
just the name and it wasn’t just, you know, the the logo
or the sweatshirt effect. The biggest attribute is win
a national championship. >> So what would you say
to the people of Kearny? People of central Nebraska that
have supported you and are rooting for you in Texas? >> I can’t give enough
thanks, and I’m super blessed just to be able to have
the crew and the community that I have supporting me. And I know, um, that
they’ll support me through through thick and thin,
so it’s pretty awesome. >> Anything else
you want to add? >> Oh, hook em baby.

KEARNEY, Neb — Cal Higgins is a former Kearney Bearcat pitcher who’s now taking his talents to the SEC to pitch for the Texas Longhorns.

Higgins who’s pitched the past three season for Western Kentucky shined on the diamond setting records for the Hilltoppers.

The Kearney native closed out the 2025 season with a 1.87 ERA 10th best in program history.