The time is now for area baseball

[KFDM COOP]

The time is now for area baseball

Gabriel Pruett

The Orange Leader

The sound of the ball hitting the bat, the chants coming from the dugouts and the pounds of sunflower seeds chewed up in a matter of months all start up today.

Yes it is baseball season again around Southeast Texas and boy could this sports writer not be any happier.

Call me crazy and a few people around will but there is nothing better than sitting at a baseball field for a few hours and watching the game unfold.

The strategy of the sport and the skill it takes for each player to perform is unlike any other sport in my eyes.

No matter what baseball will always be America’s Favorite Pastime.

Last season was a great season around the area.

Bridge City reached yet another regional final before falling to Jasper who eventually went on to win the state title in grand fashion.

The Bulldogs first defeated Abiliene Wylie 11-3 in the semifinals before downing Liberty Eylau 14-4 to capture the championship and finish 33-7.

Last year was the first time since Bridge City dropped down to 3A the Cardinals did not win the district championship. They had a 11-3 district record a year ago.

The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears won yet another District 22-4A championship with a 12-2 mark and with a very young team before falling out of the playoffs early.

LC-M finished the season 26-7 after losing to Bay City in the area round.

The Bears have won at least 24 games in each of the past five seasons with 2004 LC-M finishing with a 34-7 mark and a trip to the Region III finals where they lost to PN-G.

Then there was Vidor making the playoffs for the first time in many years by beating Nederland in a one-game playoff. Both teams finished the district season with matching 9-5 records.

The year 2007 saw a number of stars move on like LC-M’s Jake Rowell, Bridge City’s Johnny Dishon and West Orange-Stark’s Earl Thomas.

Remember when Rowell went through just about the entire district schedule without striking out a single time? How about watching one of Dishon’s long, towering home-runs? Even with a losing record, it was great to watch Thomas do a little bit of everything for the Mustangs.

There is a new crop just waiting to bloom now in 2008.

The Bears have a number of players like Jon Gunn, Chad Richard, Matt Johnson and Stefan Cloeren just to name a few.

Bridge City is rebuilt again already with Jason Clark, Matt HIcks, Joe Robertson and Casey Jackson.

Then there is Orangefield sitting with sophomores Jacob Felts and Jace Statum along with Possum LaFleur.

Vidor could once again reach the playoffs with guys like VJ Bunner, Will Fontnow, Trae Hester and Taylor Robichau.

The Mustangs return Chase Adams, Taylor Bonnin and Seth Thomas to a team wanting to make some noise in District 21-3A.

The Deweyville Pirates have a new coach in Darin Fletcher and return guys like Matt Manning, Seth Williams and Keeton Addison.

All the names and talent in our neck of the woods does not mean the sledding will be easy in the three districts.

In District 22-4A, the Port Neches-Groves Indians have a pitcher with a familiar last name with Eric Harrington on the bump and Jon Carnahan behind the plate.

Nederland was young last season and return pitcher Ryan Sampere and Aaron McFarland in the infield.

Beaumont Ozen will also be a tough out with a deep pitching staff.

The Jasper Bulldogs return Taylor Hart, Malcomb Bronson and Justin Parsons from a state championship team.

Then both Bridge City and Orangefield in 21-3A will also have to deal with Hamshire-Fannett and Silsbee. Ouch.

It is baseball season folks and I for one could not be any more happy.

[Guest Orangeboy]

Right on Gabe! ;D

[EAGLE07]

Batter up!  ;D ;D