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| 2010 OVERVIEW: The 2010 version of
Bulldog Baseball returns with excitement, enthusiasm and wonder. The excitement
of a new season is always there. But this year, with nine returning lettermen
and six returning starters, this season has even more excitement than normal!!
The enthusiasm for 2010 is for the anticipation of the chance for another state
championship. The wonder of this team is in the pitching area. With only one
returning pitcher with any amount of innings thrown on the varsity, brings the
wonder of who will step up off the Junior Varsity and lead the way to victory.
Defense and hitting should be a strong suit. The old baseball adage of being
strong up the middle is key for us in 2010. With a returning shortstop, second
baseman, and catcher, this gives us an advantage in three of the five areas.
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| INFIELD: This is a very strong and
deep area for the Bulldogs. The infield returns All State and Newcomer of the
Year, sophomore Matt Reyes (.421, 37 run scored) at second along with Honorable
Mention All District shortstop, senior Luke Slentz (.273, 18 rbis). We will
build around them with senior Nate Vasquez and junior Michael Cristiani at
first base. Third base will a fun position to watch as two juniors are in a
dogfight for that starting position. Shane Sawyer (.293, 9 rbis), who was a
part time starter at first base last year, and Keith Frtischen. Both will play
third, as Shane also pitches for us. Senior Jack Bolger (.183, 6 doubles) could
see time at first base, too. Senior Frank Rodriguez will see time at both
shortstop and second base. Juniors Erick Callier and Blair Beck will also see
some time in the infield. |
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| OUTFIELD: This is another area where
we have several battles looming for three positions. Senior Jack Bolger is a
three-year letter winner and returns for his final season in left field. Junior
Erick Callier (.352, 8 stolen bases) , who started in all three positions in
the outfield last season will move over to center. Junior Blair Beck (.400),
who made quite a splash in his first varsity start last season by going 4 for 4
in the Bi-District playoff game, will also play left and maybe some right
field. Seniors Isaac Olivas, Cameron Howard, Clark (.333) and Cole Swanner are
all pushing for a starting position. Junior Jake Holifield and Coby Tomlin will
also battle for a starting spot. All of these guys bring something to the
position, whether it's speed, great defense, big bat or arm strength. How we
work in these young men will be the coaches' challenge to find the right line
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| CATCHERS: This is an area that is one
of the most important on the field. The catcher not only calls pitches and
location, he sets the defense, as well as calls the 1st and 3rd defense and
bunt coverages. Plus, he has to block wild pitches from the pitcher and throw
out runners attempting to steal. Sophomore Travis Sims (.255) returns to that
spot. Travis had to step in last season when the starting catcher hurt his
shoulder. Travis has a 2.1 pop time to second base which is pretty good for a
sophomore. Senior Dylan Henry will back him up and will challenge him for the
designated hitter spot. |
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| PITCHERS: As said earlier, this is
the area that we return the fewest varsity players. Senior Jack Bolger (4-3,
4.58 era) will be elder statesman for the pitchers. He returns with 47 innings
pitched in 2009. Jack is a two-year starter on the mound winning 10 games in
that time. Last season he injured his ankle and it took him two months to
completely heal from that injury. The next closest is 11 innings by Junior
Shane Sawyer (1-1, 3.18 era). Shane will pitch a lot more this season. Juniors
Michael Cristiani (0-1, 6.2 IP) and Coby Tomlin (1-0, 4.1 IP) saw limited
action in tournament play last season, but both threw extensively on the JV
team. Senior Luke Slentz will come off of shortstop to help in the rotation.
Senior Frank Rodriguez went 5-0 on the JV last season and is real a competitor
on the mound. He will be a real boon on the hill if he can duplicate that in
2010. Senior Cameron Howard will be our relief specialist. He has a way of
baffling and upsetting hitters with his off speed. Juniors Blair Beck, who
threw 28 innings on the JV and was 3-2, will also spend a lot of time on the
mound. Another junior, Jake Holifield, who has a live arm, could really make an
impact for us as well. |
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| COACHES: For the first time since
2006, we will have a change in the first base coaching box. Randon Johnson,
moves up from the JV Purple team and will handle first base, outfielders and
the pitchers. Randon has head coaching experience at Amarillo Palo Dura in
baseball, as well helping with our football team. Bobby Alvarez will move up
from JV Gold to be the new JV Purple coach. Bobby also knows the players very
well as he had many of them at San Jacinto Junior High where he had been the
Athletic Coordinator before moving up to the high school. Hilberto Ochao will
take over the JV Gold team. Hil also has had head baseball coaching experience,
as he was the head guy at Houston Stafford for three years before returning
back to Midland High. New to the staff is Jason Russell who will assist all
three teams. Its not very often that your son gets to coach with you! He will
bring added enthusiasm and will take care of the hitters. Please welcome these
young men to our staff. |
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Playoff Records:
1997 0-0 | 1998 4-2 Quarterfinalist | 1999 2-2 Area
Finalist | 2000 3-2 Quarterfinalist | 2001 10-2
State Champions | 2002 6-2 Regional
Semi-Finalist | 2003 4-3 Regional Semi-Finalist | 2004 7-3
Regional Semi-Finalist | 2005 0-2 Area Finalist | 2006 9-3 State
Semi-Finalist | 2007 3-3 Area Finalist | 2008 1-2 Bi-District
Finalist | 2009 2-2 Area Finalist
Total 51-28 65% playoff winning percentage |
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