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Tuesday, June 17
San Jac signs a pair
San Jacinto College-North has announced the signing of Memorial’s Dylan Adamek and Jacob Johnson.
Adamek and Johnson become the fourth and fifth Maverick players signed by schools that compete in the Region 14 Conference South Zone.
With San Jac losing three of their top hurlers to graduation, a group that helped the Gators lead the South Zone in lowest ERA at 3.48; the program has likely been scouring the Houston area for potentially sturdy arms.
Adamek, a righthander, certainly could fill that bill with the way he pitched in the regular season as well as the postseason.
A unanimous First Team All-District choice by the 22-5A coaches this spring, Adamek was 6-2 overall on the mound and 5-1 in district, his only blemish being a loss in a relief assignment. Then in the postseason, he went 2-0 with a save, having a factor in all three Memorial victories against either Kingwood or Brazoswood. With Memorial facing elimination against Brazoswood, it was Adamek to the rescue. He weaved a complete game six-hitter in a 6-4 Game 2 win.
Adamek’s district ERA was a crisp 0.42, co-leading 22-5A in strikeouts, while allowing just two earned runs in 33 innings. Overall, his ERA was every bit as crisp at 1.30 in 48 innings of work. He surrendered nine earned runs, struck out 66 and gave up just 25 hits in that span.
While scouts talked most about his pitching, if they were on hand for the Brazoswood Area championship series, he made the scouts change the topic to hitting.
After making outs his first two plate appearances, Adamek finished his high school career in sizzling fashion, reaching base six of his final eight plate appearances. Over four at-bats during Games 1 and 2, Adamek doubled, doubled and tripled, driving in runs with all three extra-base hits. He somehow topped that by driving in three RBIs in Game 3 with a walk, single and a sacrifice fly. With him and his teammates trailing 5-0 in a do-or-die Game 3, Adamek single-handedly accounted for three come-from-behind runs as Memorial rallied to tie the contest at 5-5 in an eventual 6-5 loss.
Although Johnson was a First Team All-District selection in the outfield this past season, Memorial was hoping he would be one of the stoppers on the mound until an injury during the first week of workouts, torpedoed those hopes. But by April, Johnson had made tremendous strides, collecting two of Memorial’s five second-round victories en route to the district crown.
No doubt the Gators like the idea of a lefthander who has the potential to throw in the low 90s.
But Johnson proved to be a big lift offensively for the Mavs, hitting .378 for the 14-game district slate with 17 hits in 45 at-bats.
Overall, Memorial’s three-hole hitter was 19-of-50 for a .388 batting average.It won’t be unusual for ex-Mavericks to be on the Gators roster. This past season, 2006 Memorial graduates Chris Dickerson and Colin Lippert played for San Jac.
Tuesday, May 27
Former Gator Jared Wells makes his MLB debut with the Padres
Former San Jacinto Gator pitcher Jared Wells made his Major League Baseball debut on Saturday with the San Diego Padres. After compiling nine saves this year at AAA Portland, Wells received the summons Thursday, May 22 to join the Padres staff.
Although the Cincinnati Reds defeated Wells' Padres 7-2 in front of 27,499 screaming fans at Petco Park in San Diego, he was able to prevent the Reds from crossing home plate. He started his 21-pitch debut as a Padre by retiring the first two batters he faced. He went on to walk Bronson Arroyo and give up a single to left to Ryan Freel; however, he recovered to retire the fifth and final Red he faced to close out the inning.
Much like his MLB debut, Wells knows how to turn an ugly situation into something very positive and rewarding. It started with his college career. Wells was the starting quarterback for the 2000 East Texas Baptist University football team. Wells' football career was abruptly halted when he suffered a devastating knee injury, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament as well as other ligaments in his right knee, in the fifth game of the 2000 season.
After surgery and rehabilitation, Wells landed on his feet, literally, transferring to Tyler Junior College and earning a spot on the Apache baseball team. Wells had modest numbers at Tyler. He was 2-4 with an ERA of 5.22 in 11 appearances, eight of those were starts. After Tyler decided to downsize their program to non-scholarship status, Wells decided to transfer to San Jacinto.
Once he arrived at San Jac, Wells flourished. He helped lead the Gators to the NJCAA Division I World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., and he started the championship game which San Jac lost. Earning a 13-2 record with an earned run average of 2.75 at San Jacinto, Wells, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, was signed by the Padres organization.
Laboring through the Padres' minor league system for 642 innings over the past six years took Wells to places such as Eugene, Ore., Ft. Wayne, Ind., and Lake Elsinore, Calif., where he was named the California League Pitcher of the Year in 2005. Wells' career began to take off and show its potential in June 2007 when he was converted from a starting pitcher to a reliever for the Padres' top minor league affiliate, the Portland (Ore.) Beavers, of the Pacific Coast League (AAA).
He turned in a 2-1 record with an earned run average of 2.93 in 37 appearances out of the Beaver bullpen in 2007.
The former Gator is expected to settle into his role as a middle inning relief pitcher for the Padres and will be evaluated as a possible replacement for closer Trevor Hoffman.
Thursday, May 15
Gators season ends in conference tournament
The San Jacinto College Gators quest for yet another national title came to a stop last week as San Jac dropped two of their last four ballgames at the Region XIV Tournament in Mt. Pleasant. That paved the way for conference foe Alvin to try for a shot at national junior college baseball supremacy.
San Jac took the field against Panola College in their first game of the tourney and ousted the Ponies 11-4 heading into the second day of play. On Sunday, San Jac cruised to their second consecutive tournament victory against Angelina College 7-2 which put them into a favorable position going into their highly touted match up against Alvin Junior College Monday.
In the contest against the Dolphins, extra innings were needed to decide the game, but Alvin came out on top 7-6 after a poor defensive showing from the Gators ball club. With six errors coming from the defense of the Gators, Alvin seemed to capitalize on every blunder leaving San Jac pitching vulnerable to a highly talented Dolphins offense.
“They won the game to their credit,” said Assistant Baseball Coach DJ Wilson of the San Jacinto College Gators. “We didn’t play well defensively in the tournament at all and we didn’t do the things we needed to do to earn a right to go to the junior college World Series.”
Tyler Dyer took the ball in the game against Alvin as he allowed only one run on five hits as the other four runs were forced onto the scoreboard via the error. The offense for the Gators also stranded nine base runners in the extra innings loss to the Dolphins.
In the decisive game four against Wharton, San Jac dropped the contest losing 5-4 which would have sent them into a one-game playoff against Alvin for the bid to play in Grand Junction at the JUCO World Series. Wharton came out and put a 3-spot on the scoreboard in the top of the first frame and let their pitching do the rest as their starter Trey Ross went seven and two-thirds innings giving up one run on four hits and striking out four. The offense for the Gators in the ballgame crossed one runner over the dish in the first, second, fifth and, eighth innings of the game, but never found their groove as they did before in almost every game of the regular season.
“We did fall short of our ultimate goal,” said Wilson. “We did obtain one of our three goals and that was a conference championship and we are proud of our kids for that. We had 40-plus wins and that’s hard to do. We are proud of what they did with their effort on the field and in the classroom and they represented San Jacinto College well.”
Rounding out the season, left fielder Kris Miller lead the way on offense as his .412 batting average was tops on the squad with Miller also taking the award on the team for most runs batted in with 92.
From the mound, Chris Corrigan lead the squad in wins with nine with Kevin Angelle, Tyler Dyer, and Jaime Bagley all tied for second on the club with seven wins a piece.
With multiple players moving on to other programs as their two years are up with San Jac, the torch will be passed to some of the freshman on the team as the road to a national championship starts in February of 2009.
Tuesday, May 13
San Jac falls in extra innings in third round of Region XIV Tournament
The San Jacinto College Gators went into Tuesday with a 2-1 record at the Region 14 Junior College Baseball Tournament with impressive wins over Panola College and Angelina Junior College. Their only loss came at the hands of the Alvin College Dolphins, as San Jac dropped the Monday night matchup 7-6 in 10 innings of play.
“Alvin is a very good team,” said Gators Assistant Coach DJ Wilson. “We just played a bad defensive game in that one (against Alvin).”
In the Gators first game of the tournament, Tom Arrington’s squad scored 11 runs on 10 hits with left fielder Kris Miller, right fielder Jeremy Barfield, and second baseman Devin Shines all contributing to the double digit scoring affair as each blasted home runs against the Panola Ponies. Pitcher Jaime Bagley went seven innings in the contest and surrendered one earned run in the tourney opener.
In the 7-2 victory over the Angelina Roadrunners Sunday, ace Chris Corrigan went 8 2/3 innings and recorded the second win of the tournament for his squad giving up only two runs on five hits while striking out five. Rick
McGraw and Devin Shines both notched doubles with Quentin Luquette recording the only three- bagger of the game. Catcher Greg Alcazar also contributed from the dish as he went 1-3 from the plate with a pair of runs batted in.
San Jac defeats Angelina, advances to third round undefeated
San Jacinto's Chris Corrigan thoroughly overwhelmed a hard-hitting AC lineup, giving up just six singles over 8 2/3 innings to help the Gators knock off the Roadrunners 7-2 Sunday in Mount Pleasant.
Corrigan pitched shutout ball until the ninth, never allowing the 'Runners to string together consecutive hits the entire game. The San Jac right-hander struck out four and walked three while keeping AC hitters off the base paths for much of the game's duration: The Roadrunners didn't get a man to third base until the final at-bat.
Jason Gurka started on the mound for AC and pitched well enough to win against any other team. Gurka left in the seventh having struck out nine Gators in the first five innings – but he and his teammates trailed 6-0 at that point, with only four of those San Jac runs considered earned. The Gators took advantage of three AC errors, including one in the first inning that led to two runs when Gurka should have been able to get out of the inning unscathed.
San Jacinto's Kris Miller singled between a pair of Gurka strikeouts, but a dropped fly ball extended the inning and led to a 2-0 Gator lead after a Quentin Luquette triple. Luquette would score three more times for San Jac; teammate Rick McGraw finished 3-for-5, and Gregg Alcazar drove in a pair of runs with a sac fly and a single.
AC's only runs came in the ninth following a Matt Thielepape walk and a Keith Prestridge single. Jake Rowell drove in Thielepape with an RBI groundout, and Mark Serna plated Prestridge with a single to chase Corrigan. But San Jac closer Michael Johnson struck out Joey Latulippe to end the game and send AC into the loser's bracket.
Monday, May 5
San Jacinto baseball preps for postseason
The San Jacinto College baseball team, the Region XIV South champions, is the top seed from the South at the Region XIV tournament that will be held in Mount Pleasant, Texas, on May 10-14.
Ranked seventh in the nation by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), and fifth by Perfect Game USA, San Jac (42-12) will battle Panola at 5 pm on Saturday, May 10. Panola is the No. 4 seed out of the East.
"Finishing first in the Region XIV South zone was a great accomplishment for the team," said seventh-year head coach Tom Arrington. "Being mentally prepared for the tournament is key. We are good physically, but potentially playing four to six games in four days at the tournament can be demanding."
San Jac is led offensively by sophomore outfielder Kris Miller, who is hitting .415. Miller's 18 home runs lead the team, and are eighth best in the nation. He is also the national leader in RBIs with 87.
Sophomore Jeremy Barfield, a Klein High School product and a Ringor NJCAA player of the week selection this season, is third on the team in hitting, averaging .379 with 13 home runs. Barfield is ranked 22nd in the nation in RBIs with 60.
As a team, San Jac is hitting .348, which ranks 23rd in the nation.
On the mound, San Jac has relied on veteran pitchers Kevin Angelle and former Humble High standout Chris Corrigan. The duo has combined for a 15-2 record and recorded 135 strikeouts. Angelle owns an ERA of 3.06, while Corrigan owns a mark of 4.66.
San Jac is 8-2 in its last 10 games, including seven straight wins to end the regular season. SJC will be vying for its sixth trip in seven years to the NJCAA World Series, May 24-31, 2008, in Grand Junction, Colo.
For a complete Region XIV tournament bracket, and to listen to all San Jac tournament games, visit the Texas Sports Radio Network (TSRN) Web site at www.tsrnsports.com.
For more information on the San Jacinto College baseball program, visit www.sanjac.edu/athletics, or call 281-459-7613.
Tuesday, April 29
Gators sweep Wharton, win Region XIV South Conference Championship
With the three game sweep of Wharton County, the fifth-ranked San Jac Gators clinched the 2008 Region XIV South Conference Championship. The sweep extended San Jac's current winning streak to sven games.
The Gators next game will be in the NJCAA Region XIV/South District Tournament. The tournament is played from May 10 – May 14 in Mount Pleasant at Northeast Texas Community College. The winner advances to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, CO.
Wednesday, April 2
Albers impresses in Orioles debut
Matt Albers may not be starting, but he pitched well in his Orioles debut Monday. The right-hander is expected to serve as a swingman this season, and he got eight outs in relief of Jeremy Guthrie on Opening Day. Albers didn't allow any hits and didn't walk anyone, stabilizing the game and getting Baltimore through the late innings.
"I wasn't trying to do too much," the former San Jac starter said Monday. "[I was] just trying to throw my sinker down-and-away, and then mix in some breaking balls. That's what I was able to do -- move the fastball in and out a little bit, and that worked pretty good for me."
Albers, who was acquired from Houston as part of the five-player haul for Miguel Tejada, was in the running for a rotation slot all the way until the last week of Spring Training. Baltimore manager Dave Trembley eventually opted for Brian Burres, which turned Albers and his sinkerball into the team's best option for long-relief work.
That wasn't the scenario in his season debut, but Trembley turned to him anyway. Albers came in with two runners on base and a four-run deficit in the sixth inning, and promptly escaped on a fielder's choice and a caught stealing. He got four more groundouts over the course of the night, prompting Trembley to mention him off-the-cuff in his postgame remarks.
"You've got to like the way Albers pitched," he said. "That's what we're looking for out of him."
The Orioles also acquired Luke Scott, Dennis Sarfate, Troy Patton and Mike Costanzo in the Tejada trade, but they'll have to wait for contributions from the latter two players. Patton is on the disabled list while recovering from a season-ending shoulder operation, and Costanzo is beginning the year at Triple-A Norfolk.
Albers, who had never been part of an Opening Day before, said that he enjoyed the atmosphere. The 25-year-old also said that he expected to be nervous, but was able to control himself in front of a capacity crowd at Camden Yards.
"I know what nerves can do to me," he said shortly after Baltimore's 6-2 loss to Tampa Bay. "I wanted to come out and just try to relax as much as I can, feel as comfortable as I can on the mound and just go after guys.
"Once they called me in, I felt pretty comfortable just coming out there and throwing strikes."
Albers threw 19 of his 26 pitches for strikes and swiftly mowed down Tampa Bay's lineup. He got four straight groundouts at one point -- two in the seventh inning and two in the eighth -- from the heart of the road team's batting order, and ended his outing by striking out Eric Hinske, who had hit a solo home run off Guthrie earlier in the game.
And perhaps most importantly, Albers got his feet wet with his new team and earned some trust from his manager.
"That was probably the best I've seen Albers with his location all spring," said Trembley. "He didn't throw a ball above the thighs. Everything was down and his breaking stuff was sharp and late."
"It's always nice to get called out," added Albers. "You've got to be ready all the time, but it's definitely nice to get in there, know that I can throw strikes and do well. Hopefully, I can keep it up. It's a long season."
Spencer Fordin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Friday, March 28
Gators take first game in Blinn series
San Jacinto defeated Blinn on Wednesday night 12-2. Kris Miller's grand slam helped lift the fourth-ranked Gators over the Buccaneers at at John Ray Harrison Field.
Kevin Angelle earned the win for San Jacinto (29-6, 13-3 Region XIV) after going six innings, including five scoreless frames to open the game. Spencer Cuniff went the final two innings for the save.
San Jac, ranked fourth in the latest NJCAA poll and fifth in the current Perfect Game poll, has won 13 of their last 14 games.
Monday, February 4
Click here for the 2008 San Jac Gator roster
Saturday, February 2
San Jac ranked eighth in first NJCAA poll
The San Jacinto Gators begin the season as the No. 8 team in the nation in the National Junior College Athletic Association baseball poll, which was released Friday. The poll includes all other participants from last year’s JUCO World Series.
Today, the Gators open the 2008 season against Temple. Since the 1997 season, the Gators have only missed making the JUCO World Series twice.
Wednesday, January 30
Houston Chronicle: San Jac loaded as usual
San Jacinto College begins its baseball season this weekend with games against Temple and Bossier Parish Community College.
Coach Tom Arrington's team opens the campaign as the third-ranked junior college team in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason poll, returning 18 players from a squad that finished 46-16 and made its sixth national tournament appearance in eight years in 2007.
-Houston Chronicle
Friday, January 18
Newmann makes the Baseball America "31st Team"
David Newman, a fourth-round selection of the Tampa Bay Rays, pitched San Jacinto (Texas) JC to the 2004 JUCO World Series, then missed the next two seasons. He returned to the mound last spring with Texas A&M and went 9-1, 3.32. Newmann throws four pitches, including an 88-92 mph fastball with heavy sinking action along with a four-seamer that touches 94. He also possesses an above-average curveball and a decent changeup. His command can be erratic at times and his delivery is a bit herky-jerky, though it does create deception. He's only an average athlete, but he makes up for any shortcomings with his competitiveness and solid feel for pitching. Newmann waited until the Aug. 15 signing deadline before signing for $250,000, so he has yet to make his pro debut. He'll probably break in at low Class A this year.
Wednesday, December 12
Two Former Gators Brooks Wallace Watch List Pre-Season
Sam Houston State’s Bobby Verbick and Texas A&M's David Newmann have been named to the preseason 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List, it was announced by the College Baseball Foundation.
The Wallace Award is presented to the nation’s top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual induction festivities. The 2008 award banquet will be held July 3 in the United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech University.
Verbick produced a .370 batting average, playing in all 64 games. The outfielder led the Bearkats in 2007 with 23 doubles, five triples, 14 home runs, and 81 runs batted in. The San Jac star in 2004 and 2005 was selected to the first team National College Baseball Writer's Association 2007 All-America squad.
A two-year star for San Jac in 2004 and 2005, Newmann is a senior who earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honors in 2007 after posting a 11-1 record with a 2.81 ERA. The southpaw sat out the 2006 season while recovering from an arm injury.
Last year’s Brooks Wallace award went to Vanderbilt pitcher, David Price. Price was the first overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft and is currently pitching in the Tampa Bay Rays organization.
The Wallace Award is a dedication to the memory of the former Texas Tech player and assistant coach Brooks Wallace. Wallace was a slick-fielding shortstop at Texas Tech from 1977 to 1980, who was named All-Southwest Conference and All-District his senior year. After playing two years in the Texas Rangers organization, he returned to Texas Tech and served as a graduate assistant and later as an assistant coach. In the summer of 1984, he was diagnosed with cancer and fought the disease courageously until his death on March 24, 1985, at age 27.
Thursday, July 12
Arrington serves as head coach of East Junior College All-Star squad
Forty-three of the top freshman junior college players, including two San Jac Gators, took part in the first-ever NJCAA Baseball All-Star Series June 13 through June 16, at USA Stadium in Millington, Tenn.
Players featured in the series were nominated by their coaches and then selected by the head coaches of the two All-Star teams. They were split into an East team and a West team to represent the different regions of the NJCAA.
Tom Arrington served as head coach of the East Team, while Gators pitchers Benino Pruneda and Chris Corrigan pitched for squad. The three-game series was won by the West All-Stars, who took the first two games before the finale ended in a tie.
The players, representing 27 different states, arrived in town Wednesday, June 13, and had their first practice under the lights. After a mid-morning practice on Thursday, the players prepared for Scout Night, an event designed to give the returning junior college sophomores additional exposure to four-year school coaches and professional scouts. More than 20 colleges or organizations were present at the showcase.
Thursday, July 12
Sperring selected to NJCAA Gold Glove Team
San Jacinto's Trey Sperring was selected as one of the nine two-year college baseball players of the inaugural Rawlings Gold Glove Team for NJCAA Division I Baseball.
While playing the `hot corner' in a very competitive NJCAA Region 14, Sperring separated himself from the field by posting a fielding mark of .981 playing in 54 games. He recorded 57 assists and 49 putouts this season while committing just two errors. He also had two double plays.
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award is the benchmark of excellence and performance in the field for major leaguers. However, beginning in 2007 the award will now also symbolize the best of the best at the collegiate and high school levels.
This year, college and high school players flashing serious leather have the opportunity to win the inaugural Collegiate and High School Rawlings Gold Glove Awards as Rawlings celebrates its 50th year of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
In partnership with the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), Rawlings is presenting the first-ever Rawlings Gold Glove Awards to players in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III; NAIA; NJCAA Divisions I, II, and III; and High School.
Friday, June 1
Gators fall by one, finish as NJCAA semi-finalist
The New Mexico Junior College Thunderbirds took a 10-9 victory over San Jacinto in the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series on Thursday.
San Jacinto (46-16) was eliminated.
When you lose a game by a lot you dont think about it much, but when theyre the close ones, that is when it means the most, San Jacinto catcher Kyle Henson said. We had ups and downs and New Mexico is a great team with great leaders. They capitalized, and that is what a good team does.
Lilley came through with the big hit to rally the Thunderbirds, who trailed 7-1 through five innings.
With two runners on and one out, San Jacinto brought in Hank Williamson, the Gators No. 1 starter, to face Lilley.
Williamson threw a 93 mph fastball on the first pitch and Lilley was ready for it, hitting it over the right-field fence for a game-tying home run.
It feels great to hit here, Lilley said. I had no idea what pitch Id get. Coach B (Ray Birmingham) told me, Here comes a fastball to the outside part of the plate. It was incredible.
That was difficult to muster, San Jacinto coach Tom Arrington said. They put up six and we brought in Williamson, who is our Day One starter. He was throwing 95 good, he pumped it in there and the guy hit a three-run homer.
That might have rattled him a little bit; he was a little erratic around the zone. He went out there wanting to attack and went with the fastball and the guy hit it over the fence. I have to hand it to our guys in retrospect to fight and come back and give us a chance a win.
After Lilleys home run, the T-Birds didnt let down.
Coty Wilson walked, Christian Figueroa doubled and Everett Evans reached when San Jacinto first baseman Taylor Hammack mishandled a ground ball. Cole Standridge, who was running for Wilson, scored the go-ahead run.
Adalberto Santos singled home a run and Evans scored on a wild pitch for a 10-7 lead.
San Jacinto scored twice in the bottom of the eighth on a Brandon Belt single and a Lilley error, but David Carpenter was able to get a fly out with the go-ahead run at first base to end the inning.
We did some stupid stuff tonight, Birmingham said. We were too emotional. I asked the guys, Are we that kind of team? We were pressing and needed to relax.
Matt Speake relieved Carpenter in the ninth and struck out three of four batters to end the game.
You cant imagine, Speake said. You get ready to throw and you hear 10,000 screaming fans. Youve got to step back and breathe.
San Jacinto got things started with four runs in the second inning. Jeremy Barfield reached on an error and Trey Sperring was hit by a pitch.
Henson, the Gators No. 8 hitter, delivered a two-run double.
Birmingham argued it went foul, but to no avail. Henson and Kevin Kelso scored on Brandon Belts single to right.
New Mexico scored a run in the fourth when its catcher Luis Cruz singled home Kevin Atkinson.
San Jacinto retaliated with three runs in the bottom of the fourth and it started again with Henson.
The sophomore from Conroe, Texas, tripled to right-center field and scored on a Tanner Hines groundout. Belt singled to load the bases and with two outs, Barfield singled home two runs. Belt tried to score when the throw home went to the backstop, but New Mexico pitcher Trevor Harden threw him out. San Jacinto led 7-1.
New Mexicos Brian Cavazos-Glavez hit a solo home run in the sixth.
The Thunderbirds put three consecutive hits together in the seventh, but only got one run out of it when Wilson scored on Figueroas single. Figueroa advanced to second on Barfields errant throw and scored on a fielding error.
Friday, June 1
Fry's maturity develops at San Jac
Eric Fry Jr. hasnt been having a tournament like he had last year, but hes been just as important to the San Jacinto (Texas) College-North Gators as ever.
Fry was the lone all-tournament selection for San Jac in the 2006 World Series, batting .353 and roving center field making memorable catches.
After the Gators were knocked out by eventual champion Walters (Tenn.) State Community College, Fry returned to Houston more mature and ready to lead his team back to this years World Series.
He has been the definitive leader for our team, San Jacinto right fielder Jeremy Barfield said. Hell pick you up when youre down. He will motivate you, hell get you fired up. Eric is a great teammate.
Fry has help lead young talented players like Barfield and designated hitter Brandon Belt, who entered Thursday nights game against New Mexico hitting .545.
Last year, I thought I had to do more for the team but this year weve got people like Bell and Barfield, Fry said. This year I dont have to do too much, I can be in a slump and we still do well as a team.
No matter how hot or cold Fry is on the field, his role as a vocal leader has stayed consistent throughout the season.
He struck out twice Wednesday night against Chipola, but knowing his role, Fry said a bad game couldnt let him get down on himself.
I didnt have a good game (Wednesday) but I had to stay up, Fry said. If Im down, the whole team will get down. That proves that people look up to me on the field and that is what I want them to do.
The Lake Charles, La., native originally came to San Jacinto because he was looking to play at the best junior college program, but knowing he would get homesick, he didnt want to be too far from home.
Frys parents, Eric Sr. and Zelda, have traveled to the World Series for the second year in a row.
Eric Sr., who ran track in high school, said he has seen maturity from his son.
He has made me real proud as a father, the elder Fry said. It is good to sit back and look at his maturity from the stands.
Frys parents have been relocated to Bayfield, Texas, because of Hurricane Rita.
My dad will always tell me this or that about my swing and my mom will come back and tell me the same thing as my dad, Fry said. Ill say, Mom, he just said that, you just got that from Dad. But I do like to see them in the stands.
Eric Sr. did not disagree.
Ive been his coach since he was about three years old so Ill still put in my two cents, Eric Sr. said. Ill holler stuff in the stands to him, but hes a real disciplined player and has grown up a lot.
Frys current coach, Tom Arrington, has seen a lot of growth in the center fielder.
Last year he was a good player but followed the sophomore players, Arrington said. This year, he stepped up his mental game.
As much as he has matured as a leader, the physical skills are still there on the field.
In the batters box, Fry didnt have a great tournament, hitting only .200 entering Thursday, but he still has been as dominant as ever in center, making eight plays in the field and having a perfect fielding percentage.
He makes the game fun out there, Barfield said. He communicates well and is sure to make the play.
Fry has made a huge impact in Grand Junction as one of only a select few who have made the World Series two years in a row.
His baseball path is far from over. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers last year as a draft-and-follow player.
Eric Sr. said the organization and the Frys are tying to work out a deal. If nothing is worked out, Oklahoma State will be the beneficiary of the talented outfielders skills.
Even with Frys bright future, his goal was short term he desperately wanted a Junior College World Series championship ring.
He came up short when the Gators fell 10-9 on Thursday to New Mexico Junior College in an elimination game.
He wants a Junior College World Series ring.
I just want to win this thing, Fry said. I dont care who gets the publicity I just want to win.
Thursday, May 31
San Jac falls to Chipola in a thriller
With the game-tying run on third base, Chipola's Drew Parker threw his 20th pitch of the game 91 mph to strike out Eric Fry Jr. and secure another victory for the Indians in the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series.
Chipola (39-17) defeated San Jacinto 7-6 on Wednesday night at Suplizio Field. The Indians are the only team remaining without a loss in the tournament and play Spartanburg (S.C.) Methodist College at 7:30 p.m. on Friday night for a spot in the national championship game Saturday afternoon.
Parker, who picked up the win in the Indians first game and a save in their second game, earned another save in the third game.
Drew throws as hard as he needs to throw then all of a sudden can pump it up to 91, Chipola coach Jeff Johnson said. I let him call the last pitch. He called a fastball inside, which I wasnt going to call.
Parker limited the Gators to one unearned run on one hit and struck out two in two innings.
He came in relief of Ryan Chaffee (7-2), who kept San Jacinto quiet for six innings.
The freshman from Niceville, Fla., got into trouble in the seventh, giving up a three-run home run to pinch-hitter Quentin Luquette and again in the eighth when he walked the bases loaded.
I had all my stuff, Chaffee said. That was the best I felt in a while. I was on a hot streak before my injury. Drew is my roommate. I trust him with anything I do.
Johnson called on Parker, who walked Jeremy Barfield, but got the next three out.
I knew they were the team to beat, Chaffee said. I tried to pitch my game. It worked for six. Drew saved my butt.
Chipola took a 1-0 lead in the third inning with back-to-back singles. Jesus Barroso singled and scored on Brandon Streets single.
Street ignited the offense again in the sixth with a leadoff triple to the right-center field gap. He scored on Tom Hatchers single to left. Hatcher scored on Einar Atencios single for a 3-0 lead before Trey Manz scored on a groundout.
San Jacinto got the three runs Chipola scored in the sixth back in the top of the seventh when Luquette rebounded from an 0-2 count to hit a towering three-run home run into the parking lot. It was his first collegiate home run.
Chipola responded in the bottom of the seventh when Daniel Renfro delivered a RBI double and scored when San Jacinto first baseman Taylor Hammack lost the handle on a ground ball to give the Indians a 6-3 lead.
San Jacinto had a chance to take the lead in the eighth, but was limited to two runs when Parker bailed Chaffee out of a bases-loaded jam.
The Indians scored a run in the bottom of the eighth on a wild pitch with San Jacinto one strike away from getting out of the inning. Chipola led 7-5 entering San Jacintos final at-bat.
Wednesday, May 30
Gators belt 12 extra-base hits in second round victory
Pick your poison against the San Jacinto (Texas) College-North baseball team theres no way to pitch around the Gators, and, at least in the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series, theres no way to pitch to them.
San Jac put on another impressive display at the plate Tuesday night, pounding out 15 hits, 12 for extra bases, to defeat Western Nevada Community College 12-5 to advance to tonights showdown of the tournaments unbeatens against Chipola (Fla.) College.
Obviously we missed some locations, but they took advantage, Western Nevada coach D.J. Whittemore said. Youve got to tip your cap to them.
One through nine (our batters) can put the ball in the gap, San Jacinto catcher Kyle Henson said.
He would know as well as anyone. He put three balls in play in the form of doubles and put another one out of play over the left-field fence.
The Gators hit eight doubles and four home runs.
Trailing 2-1, San Jac got it going in the third inning on Eric Frys two-run double down the right-field line.
One inning later, Kevin Kelso doubled home Henson, who had doubled to open the inning. Kris Miller then belted a towering home run to left to put San Jac ahead 6-3.
Jeremy Barfield doubled in the fifth and Taylor Hammond traded places with him by doubling to the right-center gap.
Weve got good power hitters, weve got good contact hitters, Henson said.
We try to create the bat path that allows us to hit to all fields, San Jac coach Tom Arrington said.
The plate wasnt the only place where the Gators shined. Starting pitcher Lucas Luetge (8-0) pitched into the ninth inning, allowing nine hits but giving up only five runs.
Once we had a big lead, they started calling more fastballs and we just tried to minimize mistakes, Luetge said. His goal at that point: Keep the ball down and throw strikes.
His stint two batters into the ninth was his longest of the season.
I was just trying to save the bullpen, he said of his 144-pitch night.
Arrington wants his pitchers to go deeper in the game during the tournament.
We want to stretch pitchers, he said. Theyll be better their next time out. Theres a tradeoff there.
The Gators began their conference season 3-6 this year.
Whittemore said his scouting reports indicated San Jac finished fifth in its Region XIV South Conference batting statistics.
If these guys finished fifth in their conference, I dont know what conference theyre in the AL East? Whittemore said.
We knew we had the players, Henson said. (It was) just finding a way to mesh together.
Theyre meshing well right now.
They just want to swing it and win ballgames, Arrington said.
Monday, May 28
San Jac tops Cowley County 11-3 to open JUCO World Series
The new-look San Jacinto (Texas) College-North baseball team still plays like the five guys on the JUCO Golden Anniversary team did in their day.
Dressed in their home whites, wearing white shoes and gasp! white caps, the Gators slugged past Cowley County (Kan.) Community College 11-3 on Sunday night in the final first-round game of the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series.
They talked me into them, but I think it was a mutual thing, San Jacinto coach Tom Arrington said of the white caps. I was looking for some change. I dont think the old coaches and players like it too much. We gave (the Golden Anniversary Gators) the green hats, but were sticking with the white; we like that. We still have the green.
No matter what uniform they chose, the Gators put on a show Sunday.
Theyre mashing right now, said the recipient of all those runs, San Jacinto starter Hank Williamson. Weve scored 10 or more runs our last nine games. Theres no way we can lose if we keep hitting that way.
Cowley County, which entered the tournament with a reputation for hitting the ball all over the park, couldnt solve Williams split-fingered fastball.
Our guys didnt quit, that never entered our mind, Cowley County coach Dave Burroughs said. We couldnt get a ball in the gap. Sometimes you have to give that guy on the mound a little credit.
With Williamson mixing his fastball with some good off-speed pitches to keep the Tigers guessing, the San Jac hitters teed off against Lance Hoge.
Three first-inning doubles banged off the wall as the Tigers gave chase, and San Jac had a 5-0 lead after sending 10 men to the plate.
Kris Miller doubled to lead off the second and trotted home on a jaw-dropping home run to right by Jeremy Barfield, the son of Jesse Barfield, who played for Toronto and the New York Yankees during his 13-year major league career.
My dad flew in today, said Jeremy Barfield, a 6-5 freshman right fielder who got a big hug from his dad after the game. I think he made it for my home run. His flight came in at 7:40, so I saved the home run for when he got here.
Eric Fry added a solo home run in the fourth to push the lead to 10-2.
With the biggest crowd of the tournament so far (10,328) entertaining itself by trying to sustain the wave throughout Suplizio Field, the Gators were more than happy to run around the bases.
I wanted to score five in each inning and that didnt work out, San Jacinto coach Tom Arrington said. The defense was good, no errors
Theyre a pretty good swinging team; I think theyre better than what they showed tonight, but I think our guy (Williamson), you have to give him a lot of credit.
Some solid defense helped. With the bases loaded in the sixth inning, Tyler Fleming hit a shot down the third-base line. Trey Sperring fielded it behind the bag, righted himself and threw a laser across the diamond for the third out.
That was a great defensive play by Sperring on the ball at third to be able to throw 92 (feet) across the diamond and get one of their fastest runners, Arrington said.
The first inning did in the Tigers.
Tanner Hines, a slender but speedy leadoff man, singled. Miller laced a double off the wall in right-center, scoring Hines. A single to right by Brandon Belt scored another run, and with one out, Barfield swung from the heels, driving a shot to the left-center field wall.
Another wallbanger by Taylor Hammack put Barfield at third and he scored on Sperrings sacrifice fly. An infield single by Kyle Henson got the fifth run home and Williamson was set.
He allowed three runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, struck out nine and walked four.
San Jacinto finished with 15 hits, seven of them doubles and two more home runs.
Our coaches tell us its a zero-zero ballgame, we have to put runs on the board, Barfield said. Our lineup is relentless.
Barfield gets plenty of advice from his dad and his brother, Cleveland second baseman Josh Barfield.
He tells me a lot and so does my brother, Jeremy said. I get it from both directions and it really helps me with my approach to the game.
Its not too much coaching, though.
You know what, when I have a lot in my head, I take stuff and put it together. It doesnt hurt; the more people, the better, he said.
The Gators are intent on winning their first championship since 1990, white caps and all.
Theyre pretty locked in, Arrington said. They have a lot of energy, moreso than any team Ive had. They have a lot of intensity and a lot of drive.
Monday, May 28
Graham selected as manager of the JUCO Golden Anniversary team
When you win more national championships than any other coach, one memory might blur into another.
Not so for Wayne Graham, who vividly remembers each and every Junior College World Series championship game like it was yesterday.
And he remembers the ones that got away, especially the first one.
The first one, you see, is what makes the five titles he won at San Jacinto (Texas) College-North oh, so special.
One person asked me after we had won three (in a row), at the (coaches) convention, Doesnt the ball ever bounce bad for you? I told him, not lately.
The funny thing they dont realize is that first year, in 84 when we lost to Southern Idaho, the ball did bounce bad. We had some incredibly bad breaks in the championship game, but after that, the ball didnt bounce bad.
The ball is still bouncing good for Graham, now the coach at Rice University in Houston, where he took a struggling program and has built a national power, winning the universitys first national championship in 2003.
Because of his success in the JUCO World Series, winning a record three consecutive and five overall championships, Graham was selected as the manager of the JUCO Golden Anniversary team.
The Conference USA tournament will prevent Graham from being part of the festivities, but he video-taped a message that will be played at the banquet.
Wed have to lose the first two days in that tournament for me to make it, Graham said. We could probably think about that, but that would hurt our (regional seed).
Id love to come to that, itll be a great event. Id like to be there for old times. If I ever retire, Ill be there.
Thoughts of retirement rarely creep into Grahams mind, even though hes 71. He still loves coaching, loves to see players develop through his demanding program.
He laughs at the demanding coach label that has followed him through junior college and now to Division I baseball.
The pop psychology the last 20 years, you never give a negative, you never holler. Look at who the successful coaches are the yellers, he said. I shouldnt say the yellers, the ones who are not afraid to demand. You have to demand. I laugh when people say, Weve heard youre a demanding coach. I tell them, Thats redundant. To coach, you have to demand.
He demanded the Gators be focused and well-drilled, and they responded all the way to the national championship in 1985.
I could go down the line. Eighty-four was a big disappointment, but we learned from it, he said. Everything is about getting over the hump. Winning that first one was the largest leap of all. Once youve done it, you know you can do it again.
That (1985) was a great, great tournament. We won the final game 6-5 and (Pima, Ariz.) had the winning run at the plate in the last inning. They had a pinch-hitter who had hit over .400 for the year, I think. (Steve) Carmada struck him out on a pitch in the dirt.
I remember these things. Our catcher went down and blocked the ball and threw it to first. He was praying it was a good throw and our first baseman, (Paul) Dishman was praying, Dont let it be a tough catch.
He calls the 1985 team the breakthrough team, as was the 1987 team, because thats the team that did what no one thought could be done, winning the third consecutive national championship.
We did that with a young team, Graham said. The 87 team, beating Seminole (Okla.), I thought that was the best team we ever played in terms of talent, in Seminole.
Oscar (Rivas) went the route because we had nothing left, nothing left in the bullpen. I dont know how many pitches he threw, I dont want to know because Id feel shameful about it. He threw the guttiest game Ive ever seen. They had the bases loaded and we won 2-1 on (Bill) Losas home run.
Rivas and Losa are part of the Gators glory years, and are part of the Golden Anniversary team, as is 1990 MVP Randy Brown, all part of Grahams legacy. A fourth San Jac player, Nick Stavinoha, was an all-tournament catcher in 2002 and 2003 and is on the club.
The 1986 club sticks in Grahams mind because it faced future big-league pitcher Curt Schilling, who pitched for Yavapai.
I dont think he got the loss, but we beat Yavapai with Schilling, and with him, they were obviously a great team, he said. Eighty-seven, who we beat (Seminole again) and the fact that it was a record. Eighty-nine may have been our best year in some ways as a team. Not our best talent, but we had a great pitching staff and we were so dominant. We lost a game in Grand Junction, but we were still a dominant team. David Evans won 17, 18 games for us that year.
Our most unlikely year was 90. No way we win a national championship, and we did. It didnt make sense. Middle Georgia was crushing everybody. Benny Bryant won a great game, and in the final game, Robert Henkle was unbelievable.
The thing I remember about the 90 team, we go down to the last inning against Seminole once again, he said of a 9-8 elimination game victory. That was in the day that everybody accepted the idea of throwing a (batting practice) fastball on the outside corner, a medium-speed fastball to get ahead in the count.
Randy (Brown) hit one 435 feet over the left-center field fence. Thats what it was, a bp fastball and Randy was ready for it. (The pitcher) didnt get it located and he hit the ball farther than hed ever hit a ball in his life. Thats what I remember, and Henkles unbelievable performance.
Robert would believe anything I told him, and he believed I was telling him the truth, and I was. I told him, youve got a great curveball and if you dont keep it from the crotch down against Middle Georgia, and get it over, theyre gonna kill you. I think he had 12 strikeouts in eight innings against a great hitting team. I had seen them play. I told the kids, You dont get to watch them, theyll scare you.
To this day, Graham longs to return to Grand Junction.
Its a great gig, he said. The scenery is phenomenal. You cant beat it. I always went home healthier. You know whats amazing about Grand Junction? Every morning I got up before daybreak and saw the sun come up over the Bookcliffs. My dad went to every national tournament. Id see him walking and hed see me walking, watching the sun come up over the Bookcliffs.
Grahams teams were on a mission, but, he said, they had fun on the trip, making the trek to Grand Mesa to see the snow, going to the Colorado National Monument, going to team barbecues.
I always told them, You know whos going to have the most fun in Grand Junction? The team that wins. We did have fun, we took them to the mesa, the monument, we relaxed, ate well, but we told them the ones who had the most fun were the ones that won. They believed us.
I dont regret the years we went to the final game (and lost). We stayed as long as anybody. I would tell them, Lets get to the final game and let things fall where they may. We got to stay in Grand Junction more than anybody else.
Graham is quick to tell people one big reason hes coaching Division I baseball is because of those trips to the mountains, and the success of junior college baseball is because of the JUCO World Series.
Ive always known that Grand Junction was the lifeblood of juco baseball, he said. Without Grand Junction, junior college baseball as it is today wouldnt be there.
Theres a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and Grand Junction makes it all work.
Oscar Rivas named to Junior College World Series Golden Anniversary team
In 1999, Oscar Rivas gave up a career as an assistant baseball coach at Alvin College in Texas to pursue a career as a firefighter in Houston.
Rivas baseball background has given him an analogy he still uses in the emergency services.
Its the same camaraderie and bonding of personnel as baseball, Rivas said.
Rivas takes great satisfaction in his current job, the same type of satisfaction he enjoyed on the ball field.
A left-handed pitcher, he played a year at Arizona State University, the Sun Devils losing to the University of Arkansas in the NCAA Super Regionals. The Razorbacks went on to win the College World Series.
That preceded a three-year pro career in the Seattle Mariners organization, beset by an injury to his pitching arm during his second year in the minors, one from which he never quite recovered.
Some of Rivas most vivid memories in baseball, however, came during his two years at San Jacinto (Texas) College-North.
The Gators made it to the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series during both of Rivas years at San Jac, winning the national title game in 1987, his freshman season.
National championship games are a special memory for any player fortunate enough to play in one. The 1987 game has a prominent place in Rivas heart. He was called upon by then-San Jac head coach Wayne Graham to start in the title game.
Thatll probably never be forgotten, he said. That is probably one of the best games I have ever participated in my baseball career.
The Gators defeated Seminole (Okla.) Junior College 2-1.
Rivas went 2-0 during the 1987 tournament and pitched in relief in another game. He had a tournament ERA of 0.69, gave up 10 hits and only one earned run.
He realized the stakes entering that championship game.
The preparation and the anxiety before the game was phenomenal, he said. I remember just trying to stay focused, and what we did to get there.
The butterflies were definitely in the stomach.
Maybe it was the nerves, maybe it was the lack of humidity, but Rivas couldnt find the right baseball in the championship game.
I had some issues with the ball. I had several balls that didnt feel comfortable in my hand, he said.
The umpire that was calling the game behind the plate didnt care too much that I was changing the ball so often.
I remember early in the game that he emptied both his bags of balls and threw them out on the field. I was amazed that that had occurred in the final game, that he made such a fuss for me to change out the balls.
So I picked up the ball I liked and the one that was next to it, I put a foot to it and I kicked it basically back in his area.
One he found the right baseball, Rivas settled down, but the intensity of the game kept growing.
That was particularly true in the ninth inning. After getting two outs, Seminole loaded the bases against Rivas. He didnt panic, inducing a ground ball to short to end the game.
The excitement and the level of play that we had in that game was phenomenal, Rivas said. You couldnt have asked for a better group of guys playing for the national championship. We were both Alpha teams.
Seminoles pitchers threw exceptional games, too. Defensively there were so many great plays. Both teams had their highest level of play.
In 1995, Rivas became an assistant coach at Alvin.
We turned the team around, he said.
That team came up just short in its quest for a JUCO World Series berth.
It seemed that Rivas alma mater, San Jac, always stood in the Dolphins way.
Stavinoha named to Alpine Bank Junior College World Series Golden Anniversary team
Nick Stavinoha never planned on playing baseball in college and beyond.
He figured football was his ticket.
Football was my best opportunity at the time, Stavinoha said. I had a 100 percent full-ride scholarship. It gave me a lot of security financially.
Now, baseball is providing all the security Stavinoha and his wife need. The former San Jacinto (Texas) College-North catcher, who played in the 2002 and 2003 Junior College World Series, is playing for the St. Louis Cardinals Class AAA Memphis team. He is one of 23 members to be honored this year on the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series Golden Anniversary team.
Stavinoha had a football scholarship at the University of Houston but also played baseball when he could.
I redshirted in football and, in a way, was forced to take a redshirt in baseball, Stavinoha said. I was not allowed to miss a run, session or meeting for football. At the time, I could only make 25 percent of the (baseball) games
At the end of the year, I realized I was not happy playing football and decided playing baseball is what I love the most. I was kind of burned out playing football my first year in college.
Stavinoha, though, was told by the Houston baseball coach hed be better off going to a junior college for two years. He had a tryout at Panola (Texas) College, then had a tryout with San Jacinto.
Coach Tom Arrington saw enough hitting potential to offer Stavinoha a scholarship and signed him.
Rob Penders came in as the hitting coach and helped me, Stavinoha said. He put a lot of hard work in with me. I give him most of the credit of my swing becoming a more polished, power swing.
San Jac helped me out with the developmental stages of catching. They let me call my own game. I really got a kick out of working with the staff and understanding pitching.
Stavinoha had a lot of fun making the switch back to baseball and learning more about the game.
Those two years were two of the most enjoyable years of baseball in my life, he said. When I went in, the coaches stated our job was to go to Grand Junction and win the World Series. That was pretty much laid down for us Day 1. We expected to win almost every game we played in. If we were beaten, it was not taken lightly. You dont have choice to sit back, and say Hey, we lost a couple games. Thats not really allowed.
The JUCO World Series was even greater than he remembers hearing about it.
I didnt know what to expect. I saw the NCAA Division I World Series on TV. It was a nice experience. The tournament was run really well. I really enjoyed the World Series, playing there and the entire way the series was handled. It was really professional.
Stavinoha thrived in the tournament both years.
In 2002, he hit .591 with a slugging percentage of 1.318 and an on-base percentage of .655. He had 13 hits, including five home runs, and 14 RBI.
We were a very young team my first year, Stavinoha said. Almost all nine starters were freshmen, but we had a good, talented team. In the first game, we had a couple bad breaks and lost. We battled and battled and I think end up third.
The thing I learned, the better team doesnt always win. Thats the great thing about baseball. Its the better team that day. If you get hot, you can roll through series.
San Jacinto returned the next season with most of its roster intact and Stavinoha led the way with four home runs and eight RBI.
The second year, we were an even better team, he said. We had no doubt we could do it, but we couldnt pull it off in the end.
The Gators were the last team remaining without a loss, but were knocked off twice by a hot Community College of Southern Nevada team, including in the championship game.
I dont know if I have one memory, but we got into an offensive battle (in one game), Stavinoha said. It was a ridiculous football score. Its been five years now and I cant remember my at-bats from yesterday. We were down something ridiculous like eight runs, but we never gave up.
That day, our team showed a lot of character. The opposing side did as well. It was a fun game to watch and fun to play in. That wasnt even the championship game, but once youre there, all the games are championship kind of games. Thats what sticks out the most, ending up on top of that game.
Stavinoha was drafted after his freshman year at San Jacinto, but signed a letter of intent with Louisiana State University, where he earned a business management degree and became a designated hitter and outfielder.
When I went to LSU, they had a great catcher that was a better defensive catcher than I was, Stavinoha said. My whole career, whats got me to the next level has been my bat. I didnt play one defensive inning anywhere my junior year. I was DH the whole year. It was difficult to do.
I met with the head coach after the season and explained to him I need to get back on the field. Im happy to do what the team needs, but I was willing to change positions. We had two outfielders drafted, so he asked if I was interested in playing outfield. I said, Fine. Im willing to play any position.
Stavinoha and the Tigers made the NCAA World Series his junior year, but were eliminated in two games. He enjoyed Omaha, but not as much as Grand Junction.
I really enjoyed both of them obviously, but I really, really enjoyed Grand Junction, Stavinoha said. I can remember Grand Junction is a unique situation. Omaha is so big, it was like a business. It had a completely different feel.
Grand Junction is a very pure World Series. Grand Junction is about baseball, family environment and kids. It wasnt about the teams, it was about baseball. That was one thing I really loved about the JUCO World Series. Omaha, with so much going on, it was not quite about the game.
His senior year, LSU lost to eventual champion Rice, coached by former San Jacinto coach Wayne Graham.
He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals that summer and started in Class A short season.
The next spring, he started with the Cardinals AA team and continued having success.
This season, he started with the Class AAA team in Memphis.
Ive gotten here relatively fast, Stavinoha said. It does usually take several years to get where I am. I was fortunate to get the opportunities and stay healthy. I did get to spend three days with (the big club in spring training this year).
Obviously, my goal is to be in the big leagues and run from there. I would like to think I have the potential to get there. This game involves a lot of timing, breaks and a little luck.
There are guys that hang out in Triple A for years before they get their shot and Im aware of that. I dont put a time limit on what Im trying to do or achieve.
I dont expect to be in Triple A for eight years. Im married, Ive got other goals in my life. My goal is to get (to the big leagues) and secure a position.
Then again, its all gravy for Stavinoha, who once thought he had a chance for a professional career in football.
Randy Brown named to World Series Golden Anniversary team
Randy Brown was going to be a fighter pilot in the Air Force.
Then, after his senior year of high school he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox.
I was just playing because I enjoyed it, said Brown, a former shortstop who helped San Jacinto (Texas) College-North win back-to-back national titles in 1989 and 1990.
I got drafted and that kind of changed my perspective, the way I was looking at myself and my future.
Wayne Graham, the longtime coach at San Jacinto, took notice of the shortstop as well, signing Brown to play for the Gators.
I asked around and people told me, thats the premier junior college to go to, so I went, Brown said. I thought I was the man, but I was humbled quickly.
Graham had a way of doing that, Brown said.
I didnt know what to expect. I was young and dumb, but I thought I knew everything, he said. It was a real eye-opener at San Jac. I didnt understand the tradition and the history.
Hes now part of that history.
Brown won the Preston Walker Most Valuable Player award in 1990, hitting .455 with three home runs and six RBI. He stole five bases and scored 15 runs. He had 15 hits in the tournament, so when he got on base, the Gators had a good feeling they would score.
His MVP tournament included a dramatic walk-off home run against Seminole (Oka.) State to get the Gators in the championship game.
Any time you beat them was special, because they were always good, Brown said. Graham instilled it upon us to hate them. That moment ... it was such a topsy-turvy game.
We were down and then we went up and were down again. Just to hit that two-run walk-off against Chris Gies was a great moment.
I dont remember much of it, it was so surreal. Once I hit home plate it was crazy. Beating Middle Georgia twice was great. It was a neat experience.
Brown was no slouch in the middle infield, either, winning the Jay Tolman defensive player of the tournament award in 1990 to go along with the MVP.
The Gators played seven games in 1990, three against Middle Georgia and two against Seminole.
Brown signed his professional contract after the last game against Middle Georgia in 1990 and played 10 years in the Boston, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh and Seattle organizations.
He reached Class AAA with Pittsburgh in 1998 and Seattle in 1999.
A broken wrist Aug. 1, 1999, ended his season, and he wasnt re-signed. He played the next year in the Atlantic League, an independent pro league.
I probably had some of the most fun that year, Brown said. There was really no pressure, we went out and played and had a great group of guys. That made it nice, there was no pressure.
You didnt have to worry about looking over your shoulder, or if you struggled youd get released. You still had that in you mind, because they ran a professional club, but you didnt have five or six shortstops ready to come up.
At the end of that season, though, he decided he was done playing.
It got to a point that I said, You know what, if nobody calls and picks me up at the end of the year, Im gonna go on with my life and finish school, he said.
He received his associates degree in 1990 at San Jac, and in 2005, he received his bachelors degree in business at the University of Houston.
Hes a baseball instructor in Houston, coaches a team of 14-year-olds and is in business with a couple of buddies, including a teammate from the 1989 team, Dan Robinson, making an animated baseball movie.
Were working to get the movie, TV series, apparel, the whole childrens deal, Brown said.
When hes not working on the movie, hes coaching his team or teaching baseball at Baseball USA in Houston.
He spends the mornings with his 2-year-old daughter, Haley, who keeps him hopping.
Its a great age, he said. Shes stuck on Mamma now; she doesnt like Daddy. Well, she likes Daddy, but its all about Mommy right now.
Hes eager to show his wife, Kimberly, and Haley the ballpark in Grand Junction where he played so well, and take in the games from the stands.
Shoot, we played in front of about 25 people, and that was family and scouts, he said.
To go up there and the first game, youre in front of 15, 20,000 people, it was a real experience. It was an eye-opener as to what the future may have in store for some of us. It was a neat experience.
Brown, like most of the Golden Anniversary team, was stunned when he was told of his selection to the squad.
Im telling you, what an honor, he said. Its such an honor to be part of that.
Bill Losa named to World Series Golden Anniversary Team
Bill Losa put some perspective on the importance of leading San Jacinto (Texas) College-North to the Junior College World Series title in 1987.
Its right up there with my marriage, my four kids and my family. Thats a pretty proud moment, the former Gators designated hitter said.
I have four rings I got as a professional in the minors and I dont wear any of those anymore. I still wear that (JUCO) ring over any of those. I broke my (JUCO) ring twice and got that fixed right away. I have broken some of the others and they still arent fixed.
Losa admits he doesnt remember much from his playing days at the school in metro Houston, which owns a record five JUCO national titles and has produced memorable alumni such as Cy Young winner Roger Clemens and World Series champion Andy Pettitte.
Now an outside salesman for Cameron International dealing in off-shore oil rigs, Losa prefers following his 14-year-old daughter Alis exploits as a starting shortstop on her high school team over watching Major League Baseball.
I just kind of got my fill of baseball from my playing days, but I still like looking at pictures of the park, Losa said. Thats a pretty sharp-looking field.
Pitchers certainly got their fill of the slick-talking, hard-hitting Texan 20 years ago.
Losas hitting binge included 10 hits in his first 10 official at-bats on the way to tying former Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett for the highest batting average in JUCO World Series history at .688. Puckett established the mark in 1982 as a member of Triton (Ill.) College.
Bryant Beaver of Seminole (Okla.) State joined Losa and Puckett in 2004 at the .688 mark.
I thought for sure somebody would break it, Losa said. I could remember the first batting practice we had (at Grand Junction), we saw how much more the ball carried there than the soup bowl we were in at Houston. I hit one off the handle and it kept going and going past the guy shagging balls in left field.
One of the moments Losa does remember from that season involves another pitch he got hold of in the national championship game.
He unloaded a towering shot over the left-center field lights for the game-winning home run in a 2-1 victory over Seminole State.
Four of Losas 11 hits in the tournament went out of the park. He also had 13 RBI and scored nine runs.
I remember the game I hit three home runs and hitting the won that beat Seminole, he said.
We had such a tradition at San Jac. We had one of those teams you had no choice who to pitch to. I was fortunate that I came up in a lot of situations where they had to pitch to me.
Losa didnt return for his sophomore season at San Jacinto after getting drafted by the Texas Rangers.
He had stops in Butte, Mont., Florida and North Carolina in the Rangers and Cleveland Indians organizations before retiring in 1994.
It was easy to walk away from it. I put a timeline on it, Losa said. I put in seven years and it was time for other things. I blew out my knee in 1989 and I never recovered fully from that.
Losa didnt stay down long, working as a golf club pro for awhile before meeting his wife, Ruth, through a mutual friend in 1998.
Now he has his hands full with his children, Ali, 12-year-old Kara, 5-year-old Hagan and 3-year-old Riley.
Our community is a big softball community, so Ali is really doing well, starting as a freshman, Losa said. Hagans about ready to start baseball and we will have to see how he does with that.
Maybe he will learn a little when his father comes back to Grand Junction for the first time since his glory days.
Theres nothing negative to take away about that year at San Jac, Losa said. This (anniversary) has rekindled some of my friendships with guys on that team. I was just hoping we would get an anniversary ring out of this deal.
Losa will have to settle for a watch to accompany that JUCO championship ring he still wears with pride.
Tuesday, May 22
San Jac Gators to host summer baseball camp
Coaches and players from the highly-acclaimed San Jacinto College North Gators baseball team will conduct a baseball camp to help young players improve skills. The camp will take place from June 6 through June 15 at Harrison Field, located on the campus at 5800 Uvalde Road.
Hands-on instruction will be provided in hitting, fielding, throwing, pitching and position play by players and coaches of one of the most successful college athletic programs in the nation.
There will be two sessions one running from June 6-8 and one running from June 13-15. Each camp session will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 11:30 a.m. The cost is $75 per person. Campers ages 6 to 16 years old are welcome and will be assigned to specific groups. Each camper will be expected to wear proper workout attire for all sessions. All campers are also expected to bring their own gloves and bats.
Our purpose is to show young players how, why, when and where to increase their efficiency and effectiveness and to improve individual skills to make better team players, said Tom Arrington, head coach of the San Jac Gators.
Registration - click hyperlink above for form, including payment, must be completed at least one week before camp begins due to space availability. Registration may be done in person at the Athletic Office, located in room 102 on the San Jac campus inside the Nichols Gymnasium. Registration may also be sent in the mail to San Jacinto College c/o Baseball; 5800 Uvalde Road; Houston TX 77049.
For more information, contact Arrington by e-mail at tom.arrington@sjcd.edu or by phone at (281) 459-7107.
Wednesday, May 16
Champions! San Jacinto wins regional, advances to World Series
San Jacinto will make its fifth appearance in six years in the NJCAA World Series after beating Texarkana on Tuesday in the Region XIV tournament final in Brenham.
Brandon Belt earned the win and Trey Sperring hit a three-run homer as the Gators finished off a four-game sweep in which they outscored their opponents 50-14.
Tuesday, May 15
Gators reach championship game of Region XIV NJCAA tournament with another ten-run rule win
The Gators reached the championship round of the Region XIV NJCAA tournament with a 12-2, run rule-shortened win over Blinn in Brenham.
Lucas Luetge went the distance for San Jacinto and Kris Miller drove in four runs with a two-run homer and two-run double.
The Gators will play Alvin, Blinn or Texarkana today at 5 p.m. for a chance to advance to the JUCO World Series.
Monday, May 14
Gators ten-run rule another in Region XIV
Kevin Kelso hit a solo homer as the San Jacinto bats exploded in a nine-run fifth inning to earn the win by mercy rule over Angelina on Sunday at the NJCAA Region XIV Tournament at Brenham.
With a ten-run rule win over Navarro in the tournament opener on Saturday, and the ten-run rule win over Angelina in the second round, San Jac will play fellow undefeated team Blinn College today at 5 pm, with the winner advancing to the championship game round.
Friday, May 4
Gators move to 11 in both polls
The San Jacinto Gators baseball squad was ranked eleventh in the final NJCAA poll. The latest Perfect Game poll had the Gators in the same slot. San Jac finished the regular season winning the Region XIV South Conference.
Monday, April 30
San Jac shuts out Wharton to sweep series
San Jacinto wrapped up conference play this past week with a three game sweep of Wharton County Junior College, 11-0, 10-0 and 17-0.
With the sweep, the Gators (4014, 22-8) clinched a share of the Region XIV South Conference Championship and the top seed in the NJCAA Region XIV Tournament. San Jac has now won 27 of their last 29 games and is currently on a five game winning streak.
In the series finale sophomore left hander Lucas Luetge threw a no hitter for the Gators in a complete game shutout win. Trey Sperring continued his hitting streak pushing the streak to 16 games and Brandon Belt did the same upping his streak to 15 games for the Gators.
Barring any make up games, San Jac will play their next game in the NJCAA Regional Tournament in Brenham, TX. The tournament winner will secure a spot in the ten team NJCAA JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, CO for a chance to win the 2008 National Championship.
The tournament will run from Saturday, May 12 - Wednesday, May 16 at LeRoy Dryer Field on the Blinn College campus.
Wednesday, April 25
Gators move to highest regular season ranking
San Jacinto College again takes the No. 12 post in this week's NJCAA Division I Baseball Poll. The Gators are currently tied for the top spot in the Region XIV South Conference.
Week in review (4-23-07)
The San Jac Gators (3714, RXIV 198) went 4-1 during games played this past week.
The Gators swept a double-header against Richland College at John Ray Harrison Field 6-0 and 14-4. During the second game, San Jac scored 9 runs in the first inning while sending 13 hitters to the plate against the Thunder Ducks.
This weekend, the Gators then won their sixth consecutive conference series of the season beating the Laredo College Palominos two games to one in Laredo. After losing the first game 7-6 in extra innings, San Jac came back to win the remaining two games 7-4 and 11-6.
The Gators have won 24 of their last 26 games and despite the loss remain atop of the Region XIV South Conference tied with Blinn College and Alvin Community College for first place.
San Jac will play their last conference series of the year this week against Wharton County Junior College, in Wharton on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm and then a double header at John Ray Harrison Field Saturday beginning at 1:00 pm. Saturdays double header will be the Gators last home games of the season.
Albers likely to start game Friday for Astros (4-17-07)
Odds are right-hander and former Gator Matt Albers will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock in time to make the start on Friday for the Houston Astros in place of the injured starter Jason Jennings.
Albers pitched only three innings in his start on Monday, totaling 53 pitches. That's a strong signal that he could come back to pitch on three days of rest Friday in Milwaukee.
Round Rock finished a four-game series in Iowa Monday and is headed for Omaha, but Albers could fly to Houston in time to accompany the team to Cincinnati on Tuesday. At that time, Jennings will be officially placed on the disabled list.
San Jac ranked 20 in latest poll (4-17-07)
The San Jacinto College baseball teams recent successes has earned the Gators some national recognition. San Jac is ranked 20th in the latest Perfect Game Crosschecker Junior College Baseball Poll, dated April 16.
Gators stay hot, sweep Galveston (4-16-07)
The San Jacinto Gators (33-13, 17-7 RXIV) have moved into sole possession of first place in the Region XIV South Conference. The Gators went 4-0 this past week including a three game sweep on conference opponent Galveston College and a non conference win against visiting Navarro College.
During the first game of a Saturday double-header with Galveston, San Jac hit 5 homeruns, including a grand slam, during one inning.
The Gators have now won 20 of their last 21 games. During that span the Gators won 15 in a row and they are currently on a 5 game winning streak.
This week the Gators face Richland College in a non-conference DH at John Ray Harrison Field on Thursday and then travel to Laredo for a 3 game conference series beginning Saturday against Laredo Community College.
Stavinoha looks to become the next Gator in the big leagues (4-10-07)
During his days as a deep snapper for the University of Houston football team, Nick Stavinoha spent most of his time dreaming about a different sort of long ball.
The Houston native accepted a football scholarship from the hometown Cougars because he "needed the money"-- and because no Division 1 baseball programs showed much interest -- but he quickly realized he'd rather be playing baseball, whatever the cost.
So, following his freshman season at Houston, Stavinoha decided to give up his full ride in exchange for a junior-college baseball scholarship at San Jacinto College in Houston.
His family thought he was crazy.
"They said, 'What are you doing, giving up all that money for baseball?' " Stavinoha recalled. "I said, 'I'm not happy.'
"It was probably one of the best decisions I made in my career."
Now the starting right fielder for the Redbirds and one of the more upwardly mobile prospects in the St. Louis Cardinals' farm system, it would be hard to argue with that conclusion.
After spending two seasons at San Jacinto, Stavinoha transferred to LSU and transformed himself from a backup catcher and designated hitter into a power-hitting outfielder. He hit .370 with 18 homers and 65 RBI as a fifth-year senior in 2005, leading the Cardinals to select him in the seventh round of that year's draft.
Less than two years later, after terrorizing pitchers at Low Class-A Quad Cities and Double-A Springfield, Stavinoha has arrived in Memphis and announced himself with two homers in five games.
Although he went 0 for 3 with a walk in the Redbirds' 5-2 loss to New Orleans on Monday night at AutoZone Park, the 24-year-old has already made an impact in Memphis with a pair of game-winning RBI.
"Obviously I didn't know that was gonna happen, but I knew I was making the right decision because I loved baseball more than football," Stavinoha said of his rise from junior-college obscurity to Triple-A. "I always loved baseball more than I loved football."
Cardinals general manager Walt Jocketty, in town this week to watch his club's top affiliate, described Stavinoha as having been "very impressive" in the early going.
"He's been very impressive throughout his career with us," Jocketty said.
Stavinoha played in 54 games for Quad Cities following the '05 draft and hit .344 with 14 homers and 53 RBI. Even more impressively, he struck out just 25 times while drawing 23 walks in 250 at-bats.
As a result, Stavinoha bypassed High Class-A Palm Beach altogether. He spent the entire '06 season in Double-A, where he hit .297 and homered 12 times and caught then-Springfield manager Chris Maloney's eye.
"He's a good kid, a hard worker. It's his second full year of pro ball and he's in Triple-A," said Maloney, now in his first year as Redbirds manager. "That's a pretty good testament to how he's doing."
If he had stuck with football, his baseball career probably never would have happened.
Stavinoha originally signed with Houston as a linebacker, but he tried his hand as a long snapper in the hopes of winning early playing time.
"The coach said, 'Anybody who can deep snap, come over after practice.' I was like, 'That's my ticket,'" Stavinoha said. "But when I became a deep snapper, I wasn't able to go through linebacker drills. I couldn't do what I was there to do. I was like, 'I didn't know I got myself into this.'"
Stavinoha's football responsibilities also limited the time he could spend with the Houston baseball team, which he had joined as a walk-on. After learning he'd miss 70 percent of the Cougars' baseball games because of football, he decided to leave.
"I was a role player in high school. I wasn't ready to go to a major Division 1 college," he said in explaining his lack of baseball scholarship offers. "But I loved baseball and I wanted to keep it going."
After starring at San Jacinto, Stavinoha joined LSU as a catcher. But he didn't play one defensive inning for the Tigers as a junior, featuring exclusively as the designated hitter.
Stavinoha told his coaches, "I don't care what I do, but I really don't want to DH again (as a senior)."
It turned out the Tigers had a vacancy in their outfield. Stavinoha filled it. His star has been on the rise ever since.
"A lot of guys in this game, for one reason or another, they may not get the opportunities I've gotten," he said. "... I would love to be able to go through and not repeat a league. Is that realistic? I don't know, but I'm gonna find out."
San Jacs winning streak stopped (4-7-07)
San Jacs winning streak ended at 15 wins with an 8-4 loss to Alvin on Thursday, April 5. The Gators followed their first loss in almost a month with a win to take the three-game series.
San Jac has won 16 of their last 17 and moved into a tie atop Region XIV South Conference standings.
This week, the Gators play at home against Navarro on Monday, Galveston on Wednesday, and then at Galveston on Saturday.
Gators ranked in top-twenty (3-26-07)
The first NJCAA regular season Division I baseball poll of the 2007 season released last week. San Jacinto was ranked in the top twenty. The Gators currently have a ten-game winning streak.
Gators complete mercy-rule victory over Blinn (3-28-07)
The San Jacinto Gators put an emphatic end to the Blinn College baseball teams string of Wednesday night dominance with a 10-0 mercy-rule victory at Leroy Dreyer Field in Brenham on Wednesday night.
After winning their previous four Wednesday conference games by a combined score of 52-9, the tables were turned on the Buccaneers by a San Jac squad that extended its win streak to 11 games.
Bellville native Lucas Luetge struck out 10 Buccaneers and allowed just one hit in seven innings of work. He retired the final 19 batters he faced.
He located well and he threw to both sides of the plate. We had good scouting on him, wed hit him before, but he had good stuff, Blinn coach Brian Roper said.
While the Buccaneers struggled to make contact against Luetge, a Chicago White Sox draft pick in 2005 and 2006, the Gator offense piled up 19 hits on Blinns pitching staff. Zach Tritz (6-2) took the loss, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and a walk through four innings. Reliever Braxton Watson didnt fair much better, allowing four earned runs on nine hits in three innings of work.
The game was ended after the seventh inning.
Weve just been so inconsistent this year, Roper said.
Brandon Belt and Taylor Hammack each homered and drove in three runs for San Jacinto, and Kris Miller went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored.
Former San Jac star signs deal with Twins (3-1-07)
The Twins agreed to terms Tuesday with right-handed reliever Jesse Crain on a three-year deal worth $3.25 million that will keep him in Minnesota through the 2009 season.
The 25-year-old Crain, who played at San Jacinto in 2000 and 2001, went 4-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 68 appearances last season, finishing the year strong to help the Twins rally to their fourth AL Central title in five seasons.
San Jac ranked 4th in NJCAA poll (2-24-07)
San Jacinto College, last season's Region 14 champ, gets the No. 4 spot in the first NJCAA poll of the 2007 season after posting a 38-25 record in '06.
A big reason for their high ranking is the return of outfielder Eric Fry, Jr. (6-0, 195), who earned All-Conference, All-Region and All-Juco World Series honors last year. Fry, a '07 Pre-Season All-American selection, hit .342 last season with 13 homeruns, 67 RBI and 18 stolen bases in '06.
Also returning for San Jacinto are two other All-Conference performers in catcher Kyle Henson (6-0, 180) and first baseman Nic Godre (6-4, 215). The two combined for 77 RBI and 11 home runs as freshmen.
San Jac ranked 7th in latest Perfect Game poll (2-24-07)
Former Gator and Pirates closer Gonzalez traded to Braves (1-18-07)
The Atlanta Braves landed former San Jac pitching star Mike Gonzalez in a trade for power hitter Adam LaRoche on Wednesday. The former Pirate, Gonzalez confirmed the pending trade in a telephone conversation with MLB.com on Wednesday night.
"Of course I'm very pleased to be going to a great team like the Braves," Gonzalez said. "They're a powerhouse. But then again, I have my teammates in Pittsburgh that I've grown fond of. This is really the only organization I know.
"I'm happy for both sides. The Pirates are going to be a good team in the coming year. But now I'm going over there, and I'm ecstatic to get things going with the Braves."
Gonzalez, who converted each of his 24 save opportunities and posted a 2.17 ERA in 54 innings this year, fortifies a bullpen that already includes proven veteran closer Bob Wickman and Rafael Soriano, a highly regarded right-handed reliever who was acquired from the Mariners in December.
Although Gonzalez missed this past September with an ailing left elbow, all indications are that he'll be healthy. He's gotten a clean bill of health after being evaluated by doctors on two separate occasions this offseason.
"We definitely have three legitimate closers on our staff now," starter Tim Hudson said. "I don't think too many people can say that. We've got a couple of power arms in Soriano and Gonzalez, and the grizzly vet in Wickman. It's pretty exciting when you think about it."
Preseason poll released, Gators ranked third (1-4-06)
Padron signs with Rice for 2007 season (12-15-06)
Rice University head baseball coach Wayne Graham announced Friday that League City, Tex., native Juan "J.P." Padron has enrolled in school for the 2007 spring semester and will join the Owls for the upcoming season.
Padron played in the infield last season at San Jacinto College and helped lead the Gators to a third place finish at the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. He batted .303 with four home runs, 11 doubles and 20 RBI in 56 games. Padron was an 11th round major league draft pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2004 after a stellar prep career at Clear Creek High School. He played one season at LSU in 2005 before transferring to San Jacinto.
"J.P. has the right physical qualities to be an impact player," Graham said. "We hope he can realize his full potential. He's very strong and we're glad he's here."
Padron will join the team for its first practice in January of 2007. The Owls' 2007 season-opener is scheduled for Feb. 3 against Central Missouri State at home at Reckling Park. Last season the Blue & Gray compiled a 57-13 record and reached the semifinals of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
2007 schedule released (12-11-06)
Floyd picked up in Rule 5 draft by Twins (12-8-06)
Former Gator right-hander Jesse Floyd ('00, '01) was chosen by the Minnesota Twins during the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.
The Rule 5 draft has been a staple of the Winter Meetings almost from its beginning and sprung up as a method to prevent teams from stockpiling talent in their minor league systems. Players not on major league rosters would otherwise have little or no chance to find an opportunity to play elsewhere, though that restriction was further eased in the 1980s when minor leaguers got the right to become free agents after six full seasons.
In addition to the Major League segment, there are Triple-A and Double-A segments of the draft, with price tags of $12,000 and $4,000 respectively. Minor league players not protected on the reserve lists at the Double-A and Class A levels are subject to selection. Floyd was chosen in the Triple-A segment of the draft.
Nick Stavinoha wins St. Louis Cardinals Birdhouse Player of the Year award (3-7-07)
Clyde signs with Texas (12-8-06)
When his playing time at first base decreased during the second half of the 2006 baseball season, San Jacinto Junior College freshman Garrett Clyde was willing to try anything to get into the lineup. He is going to get a lot more than he bargained for.
Now focusing solely on pitching, Clyde signed a national letter of intent Nov. 15 to continue his baseball career at the University of Texas, one of the country's top baseball programs. Clyde, an Humble High graduate, will complete his sophomore year at San Jacinto in the spring and matriculate in Austin next fall. Clyde said San Jac head coach Tom Arrington suggested he try pitching at the end of the 2006 season.
"I didn't start pitching again until last summer," Clyde said. "We had a meeting ... and the coach was saying, 'We've been watching you, and you're building up a lot of arm strength doing long toss. Do you want to try pitching?' I didn't play the whole second half of the year, so I'd try anything to get back in the lineup."
Clyde worked out with his uncle, a professional pitching instructor, over the summer and added about five miles per hour to his fastball, reaching the 88-91 mph range in the fall. His performance in fall practice was so impressive that Arrington contacted college coaches to see Clyde pitch. The next thing he knew, he was touring the facilities in Austin and meeting head coach Augie Garrido.
"[UT coaches] came down and watched me throw this fall, and they called me up that night and said they were impressed with me," Clyde said. "Then they flew me over for a visit one day. I went out and met Coach Augie at breakfast, and I met with an academic counselor. We checked out the field, which is undergoing major renovations, and watched practice for a little while. ... It was awesome, and I was so tired when I got back home that night."
The whirlwind ride continued, as Clyde signed his letter of intent to play for the 2002 and 2005 national champions within a few weeks of his initial contact with the school.
"I had to have my parents sign the papers also," Clyde said. "So the coaches got the offer to me and I talked it over with my parents. Then they handed me the papers, I got home and we filled them out. It all happened pretty fast. They called me, and about two weeks later, I committed."
Clyde was a standout at Humble as a first baseman, hitting .391 with a .691 slugging percentage and eight home runs his senior season. He pitched in only three games with a 1-0 record but was named the team's MVP due to his offensive credentials. He joined Humble teammate Matt Coburn and Kingwood High School standout Ken Negron at San Jac last year, playing in one of the best junior-college baseball programs in the country.
Although Clyde's playing time at first base decreased, the Gators had a successful season and reached the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. An event with a cult following, the JUCO World Series, as it is commonly referred to, averaged more than 6,000 fans per game last year.
Clyde was particularly impressed with the 4,208 fans that saw the tournament opener between San Jac and another Texas school, Temple Junior College. San Jac finished in a tie for third in the double-elimination tournament, losing only to Walters State Community College from Oklahoma. Walters State beat San Jac 6-4 and 3-1, before crowds of 11,977 (a tournament high) and 9,959. Negron played in all four games and Coburn pitched twice in relief, finishing the tournament with a 2.45 ERA despite the high altitude and an 18-17 win in the third game of the tournament. Clyde did not play but enjoyed the experience anyway.
"The first game was a Thursday at nine in the morning, and we had a great crowd," Clyde said. "We had two teams from Texas in the first game, and there was this great crowd. It was crazy."
Clyde will likely get more experience playing in front of big crowds at UT. The Longhorns are regulars at the College World Series, which they won in 2002 and 2005, and averaged 5,425 fans per home game last season en route to the Big XII Conference championship. Before he gets to Austin, however, Clyde is confident he can help San Jac get back to Grand Junction, Colo., for another JUCO World Series appearance.
"I haven't actually thrown in a conference game yet, but I don't expect it to be much different from what I've done in the fall, and I did well in the fall," Clyde said. "It'll be tougher in the spring, but I'm glad to be where I am now."
Henson signs with Ole Miss (12-5-06)
University of Mississippi Rebels closed out the 2006-07 early signing period with the addition of San Jac's Kyle Henson Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco announced on Tuesday.
Kyle Henson signed with the Rebels from San Jacinto after helping his team to a 36-22 record. Henson hit .396 for the season with 33 RBI to go along with 10 doubles, two triples and two home runs.
Henson was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 17th round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Draft.
Kyle is a very strong armed, defensive catcher who is an advanced catch and throw type player, Bianco said. On the offensive side of the ball, he is a very solid hitter with some power. He is a versatile athlete who can do a lot of things on the field on offense and defense.
The catcher will be eligible to play during the 2008 season for the Southeastern Conference program.
Jared Wells eyes shot in the show (11-30-06)
After a steady climb, San Jacintos Jared Wells is just a step away from becoming the next Gator to make it to the Major Leagues.
A right-handed pitcher, Wells was selected by the San Diego Padres with the 925th selection of the 31st round in 2002. After a stellar 2006 campaign at Triple-A Portland and Peoria, the 6-foot-4, 200-pounder will be back on the 40-man roster for the second season in a row in 2007.
I had a chance to go to training camp this year, Wells said. Growing up and getting to see some of these guys, and now I was throwing and catching with them. Guys like Mike Piazza, Trevor Hoffman and Hoffman was the nicest. He was telling me it is not what you say, it is what you do. I was pretty nervous anyway, so I just watched and learned.
Though he didnt stick with the big league Padres, Wells was told he is close.
"They told me I wasnt in their plans this year, but I was for the near future," Wells said.
Born in Freeport, Wells entered the 2006 season ranked as the No. 7 prospect by Baseball America.
After graduating from Columbia in 2000, Wells took a football scholarship and headed to East Texas Baptist University. In the fifth game of the season, his world came tumbling down as he tore four ligaments on his knee.
"Our team doctor told me I wasnt going to play anything anymore because of my knee," Wells said. "I didnt agree with his negative attitude, because sports have played a big part of my life. So I headed to Louisiana and had another surgeon take care of my knee."
Wells wanted to continue playing sports, so he went for a tryout with the Tyler Roughnecks baseball team, a member of an independent league.
I still wasnt released by my doctor, but I knew I had a good arm and after throwing two pitches they wanted to sign me as their closer, Wells said.
Instead he headed to Tyler Junior College for a year and entered the baseball draft in 2001. After getting drafted by San Diego, Wells said he had second thoughts because of a pending baseball strike.
Wells headed to San Jacinto Junior College and helped the Gators to the national championship game with a 13-2 mark and 2.75 ERA. San Jacinto didnt win the championship, but Wells was drafted again by the Padres.
In 2004, Wells spent his time between Class A Fort Wayne and Lake Elsinore, where he compiled an 8-12 record. He finished the season with a 4.29 ERA and recorded 36 strikeouts in the month of May in just six appearances.
The following season he split his duties between Lake Elsinore, Calif., and Double-A Mobile, Ala. Wells wrapped the year 13-8 with a 3.68 ERA between the teams. He captured the California League ERA title with a 3.44.
Wells represented the United States in the 2005 World Cup in the Netherlands and helped defeat Spain 11-1. In six innings of work, he recorded nine strikeouts.
At the Padres postseason awards dinner that year, Wells was named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year.
Never in my life did I think Id be sitting in this position right now, Wells said. If I do my part and get out there and pitch, they have to put me up there. If not with them, then somebody else. Id say by the middle of next season I should be in the bigs.
Just home from the Arizona Fall League, Wells will spend a couple of months in Brazoria and is looking to stay busy.
Im going to give pitching lessons and do have a couple of students already, Wells said. Id like to stay in San Diego, but to me it doesnt matter. I just want to get on the mound.
To sign up for pitching lessons, call Wells at (979) 798-1887.
Joel Luna is a sports writer for The Facts. He can be reached at (979) 237-0161 or at www.joel.luna(at)thefacts.com.
Williamson signs with Lamar (11-16-06)
Lamar head baseball coach Jim Gilligan announced that his program has signed ten student-athletes to national letters-of-intent. Among those signing for 2007-08 season was San Jacinto 6-6, 205-pound right-handed pitcher Hank Williamson.
Williamson is playing his sophomore season at San Jacinto after starting his college career at St. Edward's as a freshman in 2005. He posted a 6-2 record with 2.52 ERA, which led the Heartland Conference, and six complete-games with 54 strikeouts in 64 1/3 IP. In 2006, he spent the season with the Rice Owls. He prepped at St. Thomas HS in Houston, where he earned first-team all-district and all-state honors in 2003 and 2004.
"Every time I asked another player at San Jacinto about Hank's pitching I got the same answer - nasty," said Gilligan of Williamson's pitching ability. "He has really good stuff. With just a little bit of tweaking, I think he could be a great prospect."
Gators named to 50th anniversary Junior College World Series team (11-13-06)
Kirby Puckett. Wayne Graham. Adam LaRoche. Kal Daniels. Bill Losa. Randy Brown. Donnie Moore. Frank Rodriguez.
If it reads like a whos who of Junior College World Series baseball, it is.
Theyre just a few of the men selected to the Golden Anniversary Team, part of the celebration planned this summer for the 50th anniversary of the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series. In addition to all-time coach in Wayne Graham, the Gators placed four players on the 21-player team - the most players selected from any one school.
Graham, the successful skipper of five-time national champion San Jacinto (Texas) College-North, figures he could win more than a few games with the roster assembled.
There are so many great stars and so many MVPs of the tournament that cant make it because you dont have that many spots, Graham said. There have been some great players and great performances up there.
Graham, now the head coach at Rice University, was the overwhelming favorite to be the manager of the team, which has been invited to the opening weekend festivities in May.
The Golden Anniversary Team came out of a meeting two years ago between JUCO Chairman Jamie Hamilton and Bruce Hill, the tournament director of operations. Hill reminded Hamilton that the 50th anniversary was coming up and they started discussing ideas to make the year special.
They had the NBA All-Century Team and the baseball all-century team and I said, You know what, it would be cool to have an anniversary team, Hamilton said.
From there, it became a matter of taking a list of approximately 1,000 all-tournament players from the first 49 years and selecting the best of the best.
Three stages of voting over the past 18 months by longtime JUCO Committee and media members produced a roster of 21 players, 16 of whom went home with the Preston Walker Most Valuable Player award. Their names are all over the tournament record book.
The pitchers: Craig McMurtry, San Jac's Oscar Rivas, Frank Rodriguez, Donnie Moore, Jim Otten, Joe Arnold, Mack Gendreau.
The infielders: Adam LaRoche, Neil Fiala, Steve Viefhaus, Shell Scott, San Jac's Randy Brown.
The outfielders: Kirby Puckett, Kal Daniels, Roberto Vaz, Tommy Dunbar.
The catchers: San Jac's Nick Stavinoha, Curtis Morgan, Bob Engle.
The designated hitter: San Jac's Bill Losa.
The utility player: Chris Hanks.
We wanted to be consistent with how the all-tournament teams are, Hamilton said. It would have been nice to have 50 (players) for 50 years, but we dont have the money for that. We dropped it to an all-tournament team based on positions, and they all have great stories.
Some of those stories were shared as the selection committee contacted the players the past few months.
Brown, a shortstop for San Jacinto in 1990, vividly remembers playing in the JUCO World Series.
The people. The atmosphere, he said. Even though we had a lot of the Gator Haters, it was just a lot of fun playing in front of a lot of people. To have 17, 18,000 people, the fans cheering for us and yelling against us.
The people were exceptionally nice and welcomed us. The city was great, the whole atmosphere was just awesome.
OK, so the crowds grow as the years pass, but Brown echoed the sentiment of the players when they were told of their selection, and so far, the majority are planning to attend.
Honored, Brown said. Absolutely honored to be on that team. Im sure there are great players and Im honored to be on it.
Stavinoha is in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He played Class AA ball last season and expects to be at spring training this year with a shot to make the big club of the World Series champions.
Easton Sporting Goods and Wilson Sporting Goods have signed on as sponsors, and Hamilton has received donations from some businesses in Grand Junction to help host the team.
In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the tournament, a new logo will be unveiled tonight at the JUCO Committees winter meeting. In May, fans will meet the newest member of the committee: JUCO, a mascot. Its species is under lock and key until the tournament.
Hamilton knows people will look at the Golden Anniversary Team and wonder why their favorite player wasnt included, but he also hopes it will spark memories in fans the way it has with him.
Im looking forward to the debate, he said. When someone calls and says what about so-and-so? Ill say, youre right, he was a great player and had a great week.
Graham will make every effort to be in Grand Junction on May 25.
Its something Id really like to attend, Graham said. Id attend the JUCO World Series every year if we werent in (in a regional). Its a great honor, obviously. Without Grand Junction, I wouldnt be here.
Luetge signs with Rice (11-11-06)
The Rice baseball program signed San Jacinto left-handed pitcher Lucas Luetge earlier this week. He plans to officially enroll at Rice in the fall of 2007; his first baseball season with the Owls would be in the spring of 2008. Luetage, a 6-foot-3 southpaw originally from Industry, Tex., went 3-3 with a 3.71 ERA and averaged 8.1 strikeouts per 9.0 innings for the Gators last year.
Rogers signs with Rice (11-11-06)
The Rice baseball program signed San Jacinto right-handed pitcher Jordan Rogers earlier this week. He plans to officially enroll at Rice in the fall of 2007; his first baseball season with the Owls would be in the spring of 2008. Rogers, 6-foot-3, from Dayton, Tex., went 6-4 on the mound and was among the Gator leaders in innings pitched (82.2).
Coburn signs with TCU (11-10-06)
TCU head baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle announced their signing of the fall class of 2007. Among those signing a national letter of intent was San Jac right-hander Matt Coburn.
The Gators' baseball program has earned a reputation for developing successful pitchers and has had six Cy Young winners come from San Jacinto. Some of their esteemed former pitchers include Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte and Coburn hopes to be another successful product.
The coaches at TCU noticed him during his high school career and the Horned Frogs have been known for their solid pitching staff over recent years. With the addition of right-handers like Coburn, coach Schlossnagle is hopeful that success on the mound continues next fall.
The Humble, Texas native is expected to do great things in 2007 for the San Jac Gators after a solid 2006 season. He was a 47th-round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers this past summer and was selected to play in the Texas JUCO All-Star game this fall.
"Matt is a strong power right-hander from San Jacinto College, which is one of the premier junior college programs in the nation," TCU Coach Todd Whitting said. "Matt is a player that we have been tracking since he was at Humble High School and we are very excited about what he will bring to our pitching staff next year."
Fall 2006 Update
The Gators finished their 06 fall campaign with mixed results after experiencing some growing pains due to high turnover. The gist of it is that this youthful squad has an abundance of talent, and like all Gator baseball teams, should be in the mix when the Junior College World Series rolls around in late May.
On an annual basis the San Jac Gator squad reloads because of annual raids from the professional and four-year college ranks. Rice University signed three San Jac pitchers from last years team that finished third at The Alpine Bank JUCO World Series. The trio of Jared Gayhart (06), Chris Kelley (05-06) and Jonathan Runnels (05-06) were recently featured in an article titled, San Jac Transfers Bolster Pitching in the November issue of Total Texas Baseball (www.TotalTexasBaseball.com).
While Rice reloaded with Gator arms, the Texas A&M Aggies were happy to welcome a former Gator bat in shortstop Brandon Hicks (05-06). The standout hit two homeruns in the three-game fall World Series for the Aggies. Senior Josh Stinson (05) is expected to compete for a starting role as catcher and/or designated hitter. Also expected to contribute to the Aggies success this season is left-hander David Newman (04-05); the hurler will likely start the season as a weekend starter.
Also of note:
-Outfielder Nick Stavinoha (01-02) is playing in the Arizona Fall League
-Former Gator Roger Clemens (81) has not announced whether or not he will come back for the 2007 season
-San Jac ex hurler Andy Pettitte (91) has not announced his intentions for 2007. He is considering retirement
-In 2006, former Gator Assistant Coach Mike Garner (95-96) had his first player sign professionally during his head coach tenure at Concordia University
Final 2006 Gator Minor League Statistics (11-8-06)
Dyer signs with Tulane (9-1-06)
The Tulane University baseball team added a San Jac Gator to its 2007 roster when catcher Jared Dyer signed a National Letter of Intent during the offseason, Green Wave head coach Rick Jones announced Friday.
Dyer comes to Tulane from one of the most successful junior college programs in the country. As a redshirt-freshman in 2006, he hit .316 with six home runs and 35 RBI while helping San Jac win the Region 14 championship and post a third-place showing in the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series. In the NJCAA World Series, Dyer hit .307 (4-for-13) with three bombs and six RBI while scoring six runs.
A native of Houston, Texas and a 2004 graduate of Deer Park High, Dyer originally signed with the University of Houston, but redshirted the 2005 season before transferring to San Jacinto. At Deer Park, Dyer was a two-time first-team all-district honoree where he hit .420 with five homers as a junior before batting .350 with two round-trippers in an injury shortened senior season.
"Jared will bring good stability to our catching position," associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Mark Kingston said. "He started for one of the best JUCO programs in the country, helping them make the Junior College World Series in 2006. That type of winning experience is very important to us."
Belt to attend San Jac (8-23-06)
High School All American Brandon Belt has made a decision.
The left-hander from Hudson High School (Lufkin) has turned down offers from the Boston Red Sox organization and will also not attend the University of Texas. On Monday, Belt decided he would attend San Jacinto College instead. He plans on playing for San Jac one season and hoping to raise his stock and enter the draft again next summer.
The Red Sox own the rights to Belt until one week prior to next June's amateur draft.
Belt will room with Tanner Hines at San Jac. Hines, a former Hudson infielder, originally signed with Hill J.C.
Back in June, Belt was selected in the 11th round of Major League Baseball's amateur draft. He and his family were unhappy because Belt was projected to be selected earlier.
The former Hudson Hornet pitcher signed a letter of intent to play college baseball for the Texas Longhorns in November 2005. Before his senior season he was ranked by the Texas Baseball News as the third best prospect in the state. He was also ranked as one of the top ten players at the 2005 Area Code Games in Long Beach, Ca.
Gayhart signs with Rice (8-7-06)
Jared Gayhart signed with Rice University after a season at San Jacinto Junior College. He will be eligible for the Owls during the 2006-2007 season.
The 2005 19-5A MVP, Gayhart joins a Rice Owl squad which went 57-13, was ranked No. 1 for a time this year and made the semifinals of the College World Series.
This past spring, he helped the San Jacinto Gators to the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Col. Despite only finishing fifth in their own conference (32-23), San Jacinto caught fire in the post-season.
San Jacinto went undefeated in four games to win the Region XIV Tournament to qualify for the World Series. In those four games, Gayhart hit a team-best .625.
The Gators eventually lost in the semifinals to Walters State, which went on to win the national title.
Gayhart contributed immediately for the Gators, finishing 11th in the conference with 22 stolen bases on the year.
He won the 19-5A MVP crown in 2005 after leading the Tigers to the playoffs on the strength of both his bat and his pitching arm.
In one of the finest all-around seasons ever put forth by a KISD athlete, Gayhart hit .388 with a district-leading nine home runs and 42 runs batted in.
In addition, he went 8-3 on the mound with a 1.93 earned-run average and 76 strikeouts in 53-2/3 innings pitched.
Former Gator starting pitchers face each other in MLB contest (8-3-06)
Two former San Jac hurlers, Clay Hensley and Matt Albers, will face each other on Thursday afternoon when the Astros and Padres square off. The game will be broadcasted locally by Fox Sports.
Padres starter Hensley spent the 1999 season with San Jac as a red-shirt. Astros starter Albers, who played for San Jac in 2002, will make his starting debut today hometown Houston Astros.
Last week on Tuesday former San Jac star made his major league debut at Minute Maid Park. Albers, 23, recorded an out during a rundown in his July 25 two-batter shutout debut against the Reds, and two nights later went five scoreless innings with four strikeouts and three walks, also against Cincinnati. In 5 1/3 innings, he allowed three hits.
"I started throwing a two-seam fastball this year (2006), a sinker pretty much, and it's helped me in keeping it down and getting ground balls," Albers said. "I've also worked on a curveball and slider, and I threw a few more sliders (against the Reds) and those felt good, too. In high school and college, I was trying to throw fastballs by everybody, but now, you can't throw it down the middle and get it by everybody, so I've just been learning how to pitch."
The Astros drafted Albers out of Clements High School in 2001, but he decided not to go pro at that point and played at San Jacinto College for one season. After a draft-and follow year, in which he posted a 12-2 record for the Gators on the way to being selected to the NJCAA Region XIV team, Albers signed with Houston after the 2002 season with San Jac.
His first professional stop was in Troy, N.Y. with the Class A Tri-City Valley Cats of the NY-Penn League, where he ranked first in strikeouts (94) and second in innings pitched (86.1).
In 2004, Albers went 8-3 with a 3.31 ERA (140 strikeouts and 57 walks in 112 innings) for the Class A Legends in Lexington, Ky., and last season was 8-12 with a 4.66 ERA (146 strikeouts and 62 walks in 148.2 innings) as an Avalanche in Salem, Va.
Before being called up last month, Albers was an ace at Class AA Corpus Christi going 10-2 with a 2.48 ERA (95 strikeouts and 47 walks in 116 innings) for the Hooks.
"It's pretty exciting, obviously. Pitching for your hometown team in the big leagues can't be bad, and I had a nice outing, so it's pretty cool," he said. "It's amazing. They give me the ball and have confidence in me to try to get people out so that's what I'm going to try to do.
"I'm more of a day-to-day kind of guy. I was a little surprised that I got called up from Double A, but they obviously had confidence in me, thinking I could get people out. I'm not up here just for fun; they want me to pitch well, and that's what I'm going to try to do. I take it day by day, just see what happens. When they call my name I just try to get people out. It's the big leagues, and I was a big Astros fan growing up, so I'm enjoying every second of it."
Former Gator Albers recalled to bolster Astros bullpen (7-21-06)
Former San Jacinto Gator pitcher Matt Albers will come up from Class AA Corpus Christi to take a spot in the Astros bullpen.
The Astros are high on Albers, a hard-throwing righthander who was 10-2 with a 2.17 ERA at Corpus Christi while leading the Texas League in victories.
"The thought process on Albers is (that) as I talked to our scouts and our development people the last couple of weeks, he's the one name that kept coming up as a guy who could come in and go in our bullpen," Astros General Manager Tim Purpura said. "He's a high-velocity guy. He's got two good breaking balls, and he can go work out of the pen.
"I think his pitching makeup will allow him to go into the bullpen and help us out. His arm bounces back really, really good. He can go 110 pitches and feel hardly anything the next day. You look at those type of things."
Other San Jac alumni who have seen MLB action this season include pitchers Roger Clemens (Houston Astros), Andy Pettitte (Houston Astros), Mike Gonzalez (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Jesse Crain (Minnesota Twins). The Florida Marlins Ryan Jorgensen made his debut last year.
Former Gator Mikulik makes national news
Former Gator Daniel Cox sees potential in TCL (6-25-06)
Beck's turn pro (6-16-06)
Gators selected on second day of MLB draft (6-8-06)
San Jacinto had four players drafted on Wednesday, the second day of the Major League Baseball draft. Also selected were two alumni and one signee.
Pitcher David McClain was taken in the 31st round by the Mariners, pitcher Jordan Rogers was picked in the 32nd round by the Padres, outfielder Eric Fry Jr. was selected in the 33rd round by the Rangers and pitcher Matthew Coburn was taken in the 47th round by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Also selected were two alumni. Kevin Russo, who played for San Jacinto in the 2004 World Series, was drafted in the 20th round by the New York Yankees. He is a second baseman for Baylor. Texas A&M junior David Newmann, who was injured last season, was selected in the 29th round (872nd pick) by the Milwaukee Brewers. Newmann helped San Jacinto to a second-place finish in the JUCO World Series in 2004. He was drafted that year in the 24th round by Cleveland.
One San Jac signee was selected on Wednesday. Outfielder Lance West was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 42nd round (1258th overall). A year ago, his brother and San Jac signee Sean was selected by the Florida Marlins with the 44th overall pick. With that recent experience in the family, he has his plans mapped out.
I was expecting to be drafted around this time. Im going to go to San Jac for a year, West said. (The Rangers) own me until next years draft. If I have a good year, they have to offer me before the (2007) draft.
Marek named minor league all-star (6-7-06)
San Jacinto Gators see much activity in MLB draft (6-7-06)
The first day of the Major League Baseball draft saw eighteen rounds of the 50-round draft come and go. San Jac had two current players, two former players and three key recruits drafted. The second and final day of the draft will take place today.
San Jacinto right-handed Casey Beck, the MVP for Woodvilles state champions in 2005, was an eighth-round pick (250th overall) by the Atlanta Braves after one season as the closer for San Jacs team that finished third in the recent JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado. He displayed a 97 mph fastball at San Jac and was thought to be the best reliever at the junior-college level.
Its a relief, Casey Beck said Tuesday afternoon in the suite at the Holiday Inn in Port Arthur where he was part of a group that gathered to follow the draft.
I sat around here a while, biting my nails, and finally heard my named called. Getting selected by the Braves is great. They know how to bring up pitchers. Its a real joy to be a part of their organization.
Beck will likely accept the Braves offer and forego the remainder of his college career to play in their organization.
Also selected was San Jacinto freshman left-hander Lucas Luetge. He was selected by the world champion Chicago White Sox in the eighteenth round (555 overall selection). Luetge significantly contributed to San Jacs 2006 run the JUCO World Series.
Sophomore shortstop Brandon Hicks, a Texas A&M Aggie signee, was expected to be drafted on the first day; however, he was overlooked. Hicks will likely end up in College Station next season.
As expected, San Jac recruit and Bridge City High pitcher Kevin Angelle was drafted, but signability issues left him available until the Texas Rangers picked the lefty in the 13th round.
According to his family, Angelle wasnt drafted in the first four or five rounds, as many expected, because he notified scouts that he wanted a bigger signing bonus than their bosses were willing to pay.
The Rangers see Angelle as a draft and follow pick, meaning theyll watch his progress next spring at San Jacinto College and decide whether or not to up their offer before having to relinquish his draft rights next June.
Gator signee Kyle Drabek, of The Woodlands, a pitcher who is the son of former Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek, was drafted in the first round (18th overall selection) by the Philadelphia Phillies.
College is a possibility, but I know [Kyle] wants to get going [with the Phillies], Doug Drabek said.
Klein High outfielder and San Jac signee Jeremy Barfield was drafted in the ninth round by the New York Mets (274th selection overall). He is built more like his father Jesse, the former Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees outfielder, than his brother Josh, the San Diego Padres second baseman. At 17, he is 6-foot-5, 240 pounds. He has an odd combination -- bats right, throws left like Rickey Henderson.
Ole Miss left-handed pitcher Garrett White was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 6th round (173rd overall selection). White started with the University of Texas out of high school. After red-shirting there he transferred to San Jacinto, where he played two seasons with the Gators. At Ole Miss he served as the closer. Through the NCAA regional in Oxford, MS, he was 3-0 with a 2.68 and 10 saves. The Dodgers organization believes he could reach the Major Leagues quickly.
TCU senior right-handed pitcher Shawn Ferguson was taken in the 9th round by the Milwaukee Brewers (272nd player taken overall). Ferguson transferred to TCU in the fall of 2004 after spending the previous season at San Jacinto. At San Jac he was named to the 2004 NJCAA Division I Baseball Championship All-Tournament team as an outfielder.
He has played many roles in his two seasons at TCU, spending last season in the bullpen as a closer and making the transition to part-time starter in 2006. He made 44 appearances in his two seasons and four starts. He finished with a record of 5-5 to go along with four saves. In 70.2 career innings pitched, Ferguson racked up 90 strikeouts. As a junior, Ferguson was selected in the 36th round of the 2005 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, but elected to come back to school.
San Jac signee Drabek taken in first round (6-6-06)
San Jac falls in close one, finishes 3rd at JUCO World Series (6-1-06)
Gators see MLB alumni during JUCO meal (6-1-06)
San Jac tops Broward with last inning comeback (5-30-06)
Yankees of JUCO fall (5-30-06)
Gators win marathon game over Temple to open JUCO World Series (5-28-06)
Gators relish Challenger experience (5-25-06)
San Jac wins Region XIV tournament and eyes sixth national title (5-20-06)
 | |  | | JUCO World Series: Sam Suplizio Field |
San Jacinto (36-23) defeated Texarkana, No. 9 Navarro and Alvin (twice) in sweeping through the NJCAA Region XIV tournament last week.
Rice coach Wayne Graham still calls Tom Arrington, imploring him to add a sixth junior college national title to the five Graham won during his 11 seasons at San Jacinto.
Next week, Arrington will lead the Gators to the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colo., seeking to do that.
"Almost every year I talk to coach Graham and he says to me, 'Tom, you've got to bring it home. We need that sixth one,' " Arrington said. "I think we don't want anybody trying to catch up to us.
"He's been such a proponent for our program even though he's been at Rice for a while now (15 seasons). He still comments to us that we've got to keep it going. I take that as good advice."
San Jacinto opens its 18th JUCO World Series appearance against Temple on May 27. The Gators have advanced to Grand Junction eight times in the past 10 seasons, but are seeking their first title since 1990.
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