ETBU’s Kahne Nolen on JUCO Baseball, Big-Time Production, and East Texas Support

On this episode of East Texas Sports Now, ETBU Tigers catcher Kahne Nolen joins the show to talk about his standout season and the journey that brought him to Marshall. The Eustace native reflects on his huge game against Hardin-Simmons, where he posted eight RBI, drew three bases-loaded walks, and helped power ETBU in a wild offensive showdown.

Nolen shares what he learned from the demanding junior college baseball route, including stops at Tyler Junior College and Eastern Oklahoma State, and explains how that grind helped shape his mindset, work ethic, and approach at the plate. He also discusses why ETBU felt like home, how he’s developed as a hitter, and what goes into handling the physical demands of playing catcher while producing offensively.

The conversation also dives into ETBU’s strong season, the Tigers’ momentum in conference play, and what the team needs to do down the stretch to build toward the postseason. Nolen opens up about growing up in Eustace, Texas, being homeschooled, and how that structure gave him more time to dedicate to baseball and training. He also talks about what the support from his hometown means to him and highlights the mentors who have influenced his baseball career.

Also in this episode, the show discusses the U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the NFL’s television and streaming practices and highlights five East Texas assistant football coaches named to the inaugural Texas 50 list.

East Texas Sports Now, hosted by Kyle Owens, delivers fast-paced coverage of East Texas high school sports. Featuring game recaps, weekly matchups, player spotlights, and coach interviews across football, basketball, baseball, softball, and more. Stay locked in for scores, rankings, highlights, playoffs, and recruiting buzz with expert analysis and local sports talk for fans across the region.