LC-M grad Rowell excited about All-Star Game

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LC-M grad Rowell excited about All-Star Game

Van Wade

The Orange Leader

LITTLE CYPRESS — He may have received his diploma already, but Little Cypress-Mauriceville catcher Jake Rowell will get one last chance to represent the Bears and long-time head coach Steve Griffith one more time.

Rowell, the District 22-4A Most Valuable Player on the Coaches All-District Team, was selected to play for the South squad in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A-5A All-Star Game June 16 at Dell Diamond in Round Rock.

“It’s such a huge honor,†said Rowell, who signed to play college baseball for McNeese State University. “I was real fortunate to have a good year. Everything really came together well for me.â€

That would be an understatement for a young man that helped guide a young Bear unit to a surprising 26-7 record and a second straight District 22-4A championship.

Rowell was a tremendous defensive catcher in his four-year run a Bear. It’s his bat that really got hot as a senior. After hovering around a solid .300 at the plate as a junior, Rowell made the baseball look like a grapefruit as a senior.

He batted a whopping .535 for the season. Even more impressive was his average in 22-4A play, where he batted an amazing .640. He racked up 11 home runs and drove in almost 50.

“I knew I could hit better as a senior but I didn’t realize I was going to have a ‘light it up’ type of season,†Rowell said. “Coach Griff (Griffith) gave me the green light and was fortunate enough to have a lot of great teammates get on base.â€

Rowell will become the sixth Bear to participate in the annual All-Star encounter. The other five Bears include Mike Perkins (1982), Charlie Nichols (1996), Beau Hale (1997), Knox McCorquodale (2003) and Adam Jaynes (2005).

“It’s an awesome feeling to be along the side of those guys,†Rowell said. “It’s been great to be a part of a program that has such a rich tradition. I don’t think I’ll be the last one to play in it. There was so much young talent on our team this year and any of those guys coming back can do the same. Plus, there are some even younger guys coming up that are excellent players.â€

Rowell will be the only Southeast Texas player playing in the 4A-5A All-Star Game.

However, three local players will participate in the Class A-3A All-Star tilt at Dell Diamond.

Bridge City senior outfielder Johnny Dishon, who signed to play college baseball at Louisiana State University, along with Silsbee outfielder Rocky Calhoun and Woodville shortstop Braden Riley will compete in the elite game.

Dishon and Riley are still in the playoffs, trying to help their squads punch a State Tournament ticket.

Dishon and the Cardinals will take on fellow District 21-3A rival and district champion Jasper in a best-of-three Class 3A Region III Finals series at Lamar University’s Vincent-Beck Stadium. Game One is Thursday at 7 p.m. Game Two is Friday at 7 p.m. Game Three, if necessary, is at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Riley and Woodville will face Hooks, which ousted District 24-2A champion Buna in two games in the regional semifinals, in a best-of-three series in the Class 2A Region III Finals. All three games will be played at the University of Texas at Tyler. Game One is Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Game Two is Saturday at 3 p.m. with Game Three, if necessary, will follow 30 minutes after Game Two.

In Class 4A action, former long-time Bridge City head baseball coach Chuck Young has his Texas City Stingarees in the Region III Finals against a powerful Montgomery unit in a best-of-three series. Game One will be Thursday at 7 p.m. in Texas City. Game Two will be Friday at 7 p.m. in Montgomery. Game Three, if necessary, will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the University of Houston.

The Stingarees, District 23-4A champions, have defeated Huffman (4-0), New Caney (4-1) and McCallum (4-1, 6-4) in the playoffs thus far.