Welcome to 2009 Bi-District Champions' Westbury Rebels baseball website

All District First Team: Tyler Keever, Jeffrey Davidoff

All District Second Team: Marcus Haynes, Thurston Hillmon

All District Honorable Mention: Jake Freudenberger

District Record:  7 - 5

Bi-District Playoffs: Game 1:  May 13 - Westbury 20, Furr 4  WP-DJ Edmonds

                                  Game 2: May 15 Westbury  18, Furr 2  WP M Haynes

Area Playoffs: Lost to Texas City.

Homeruns on the season: S Whitfield (2);  M Haynes;  J. Freudenberger (2); T Hillmon (2); R. Wilson; J. Davidoff

2009 WESTBURY ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT AWARDS (announced May 6, 2009):

Pitcher of the Year:   Tyler Keever

Hitter of the Year:     Thurston Hillmon

Kennedy Taylor All-Around Scholar Athlete:   Jeffrey Davidoff

Graduating Seniors:  Juan Cerda, Jeffrey Davidoff (UT Austin), Marcus Haynes, Thurston Hillmon (Texas A&M Corpus Christi), Tyler Keever (Hendrix College, Conway AR), Blake O'Connor

Westbury baseball in playoff mix

The Westbury baseball team will play a rare triple-header on Saturday.

The Rebels will face Davis at 1 p.m. in a key District 21-4A match-up at Delmar Field. Westbury then has a twinbill at Knoblauch Field against Bellaire at 4 and 6 p.m. in a pair of non-league games.

Westbury head coach Derrick Taylor, a former player and coach at Bellaire, wanted a shot at the Cardinals, even if it doesn’t count in the District 21-4A standings.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to play a team that’s nationally ranked,” Taylor said. “This will help us prepare for the playoffs, if we’re fortunate enough to get there.”

Westbury (5-9, 5-3) took a step closer to the Class 4A playoffs with last week’s 7-2 victory over Reagan. Tyler Keever threw five solid innings, while D.J. Edmonds provided solid relief. Jake Freudenberger went 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Thurston Hillman, Blake Markin and Steph Whitfield had multi-hit games.

Taylor said this is the most important stretch for Westbury, which entered the week in third place in District 21-4A. The Rebels, who met league leader Waltrip earlier this week, have games remaining against second-place Davis and Austin, currently in fourth place.

Westbury emerges as 21-4A contender

 The Westbury baseball team dropped its first District 21-4A game last week, a 5-3 setback to Waltrip.

But the Rebels, who are loaded with talent, still rank as the league team no one wants to play.

“I really love this group,” said Westbury head coach Derrick Taylor. “We have great team unity, and these kids play with a real sense of pride. I expect big things from them.”

Westbury got off to a slow start, dropping all four games in the Houston Christian Baseball Classic. But the Rebels were unstoppable in their first two District 21-4A games, crushing Yates 17-0 and Reagan 8-3 prior to the Waltrip loss.

The Rebels, who missed the playoffs a year ago in District 20-5A, have gotten help from the unlikeliest sources.

Senior Jeffrey Davidoff, a transfer from Lamar, has emerged as one of Westbury’s star players. Davidoff is the starting shortstop and has evolved into the Rebels’ closer. He’s hitting .389 and leads the team with 17 stolen bases.

“Jeffrey is a five-tool player,” Taylor said. “He didn’t play much at Lamar, but he’s such a good athlete. All he needed was an opportunity to show everyone what he can do.”

Senior left-hander Tyler Keever has become Westbury’s ace. Keever, another former Lamar player, fanned 15 batters against Reagan and is averaging 11 strikeouts per start. Keever, who also plays first base, already has signed with Hendrix College in Conway, Ark.

“Tyler transferred in last year and didn’t get to play, but he’s been on fire so far,” Taylor said. “He’s definitely made up for lost time.”

Davidoff and Keever are just two reasons why Westbury is considered a legitimate title contender.

Senior Marcus Haynes joins Keever in the starting rotation. Haynes is one of Westbury’s most versatile players. In addition to pitching, he starts in right field and has played some third base.

Taylor said the 6-foot-1, 230-pounder, a starting offensive lineman for Westbury’s district champion football team, is enjoying a breakout season.

“Marcus is a big, strong kid,” Taylor said. “He’s a good football player, but he has a bright future in baseball.”

Junior Jake Freudenberg, who previously played at Bellaire, has stepped up at second base after struggling for a month with an ankle injury.

“Jake was supposed to be our starting catcher before the injury,” Taylor said. “But he’s done a great job at second base. It’s worked out well for everyone.”

But the biggest surprise has been a pair of freshmen, Matthew Harding and D.J. Edmonds. In addition to pitching, Harding and Edmonds have played third base and in the outfield, respectively.

“Matthew hasn’t performed like a ninth-grader, that’s for sure,” Taylor said. “D.J. started off in football, but he has so much God-given ability in baseball. Even though his throwing motion is unorthodox, he knows how to get outs.”

Also starting for Westbury are three sophomores — Derrick Wilson at catcher, Stepheleon Whitfield in left field and Blake Martin in center field. Senior Thurston Hillman, who Taylor considers “a sleeper,” also has played some center field, in addition to logging a few innings on the mound.

“In my three years at Westbury, Thurston is probably the best pure hitter I’ve seen,” Taylor said. “He’s a hitting machine.”

Taylor believes the Rebels, who met Davis last week, have an excellent shot at the Class 4A playoffs. However, Westbury will need to knock off Waltrip and Davis to claim the District 21-4A crown.

“If these guys continue to give 100 percent, there’s no limit to what they can accomplish,” Taylor said. “I’m proud of them.”

Tuesday 3-31-2008

District 21-4A
Austin 6 Westbury 5 HR-WHS-Marcus Haynes

Friday 3-27-2008

 District 21-4A
Davis 9 Westbury 3 WP-Cortez, LP-Keever. HR-WHS-Whitfield.