********** Tryouts for Fall **********************************

The Texas Dukes Select Baseball Organization will run its Fall/Winter program which includes, games, showcases, and conditioning from September 1st through the end of January and still have a few spots open. Players are professionally coached and will have personal training geared towards the player who wishes to play serious baseball with a purpose of moving to his next level of play. Call 214.850.2572 or email kim.price@strasburger.com for more information.  

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Former Dukes player, Pedro Villarreal got the call up from the Bakersfield Blaze to the Double-A Carolina Mudcats (Cincinnati Reds) on May 27, 2011.  Our congratulations and best wishes are with him as his talent continues to move him up the minor league system.  We look forward to following his success, so stay tuned.

Congratulations are in order for Nick Luplow.  He received Garland High School's Gold Glove award.  Nick's baseball skills allow him to play most positions on the field and this year was no exception.  The only positions Nick did not play this year were catcher and first base, however we know if his coaches had asked him to do that - he would have.

Nick is a great utility player and we are glad he'll be playing again this summer as a Texas Duke.

The Texas Dukes wish to congratulate Kyle Callahan on his acceptance of an athletic scholarship to play baseball at Northern Oklahoma Jr. College (Enid, OK) beginning in the fall 2011.  Kyle is a senior at Sachse High School where he received the Gold Glove and Mustang awards this year. 

The Texas Dukes wish to congratulate Ray Ashford on his acceptance of an athletic scholarship to play baseball at Grayson Jr. College (Sherman, TX) and Justin Garcia on his acceptance of an athletic scholarship to play baseball at Weatherford Jr. College (Weatherford, TX) beginning in the fall 2011. 

Ashford (Catcher/Pitcher) is a senior at Sachse High School and Garcia (Pitcher/OF) is a senior at Rowlett High School.  Both boys were widely recruited after making an excellent appearance at the Area Code tryouts last summer.

UT Dallas freshman outfielder Matt Olszewski has been named the American Southwest Conference East Division Hitter of the Week, after he went 10-for-15 with a double and four RBIs. Olszewski had a hit in all four games and also scored five runs. In the 6-3 series-opening victory against Mississippi College, Olszewski went 4-for-4 with two RBIs.

The freshman currently leads the Comets with a .417 batting average.  Congratulations Matt !

2009 North Mesquite High School graduate and 5th Round Mets draft pick Damien Magnifico will be on the mound for #1 Ranked Howard College this year working to help Howard get back to the playoffs and world series in Grand Junction, CO this year.  The Dukes send their best wishes for a successful season to Damien and the Hawks.

The Texas Dukes wish to extend congratulations to Ray Ashford (Catcher/Sachse HS/2011) and Justin "Fuss" Garcia (RHP & OF/Rowlett HS/2011) for receiving invitations to the 2010 Area Code Team Tryout held at Weatherford Junior College on Monday, June 14th.  Reports from college and MLB scouts indicated that both boys did an excellent job showcasing their skills.   

Making the Area Code Baseball roster is a very difficult task.  The process begins with an invitation to a tryout and invitations are sent based upon recommendations made to those MLB scouts in charge of one of the eight teams. The process to make it on an Area Code Baseball roster is difficult, but it is a rewarding experience. There are approximately 3,000 invitations mailed out each year, and a total of approximately 200 players are selected. 

The local tryouts brought out a lot of talent for the scouts to see.  We are proud that Ashford and Garcia were able to represent themselves and the Dukes well.  Job well done boys.

Congratulations to our own Damien Magnifico on being selected in the 5th Round of the MLB Draft (164 overall) by the New York Mets.

The Texas Dukes families came together to help others for the holidays by gathering and assembling Holiday Boxes for the Homeless.  The project will benefit The Stewpot recipients in Dallas (1822 Young Street, Dallas 75201).  Volunteers were asked to wrap and assemble shoe boxes with needed personal items and small gifts.  In three hours, the group was able to assemble 30 Holiday Boxes.  Community outreach is one of the missions of the Texas Dukes as it helps create well-rounded young men. 

The Dukes also had Christmas in the Cages which was a fun time for everyone.  Pictures from the event will be posted shortly.