KFDM COOP Posted June 18, 2009 Report Posted June 18, 2009 OC trio named to All-State team Gabriel Pruett The Orange Leader Two Orangefield Bobcats and one Bridge City Cardinals player were recently named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State Team. Orangefield juniors Jace Statum and Jacob Felts were both named to the 3A team while Bridge City’s Blake Hubbard was also listed. Statum was a first team selection as an outfielder while Felts was a second-team catcher and Hubbard was a third-team third baseman. Statum, the 2009 Utility Player of the Year on the All-Orange Leader Baseball Team, batted .462 on the season with 49 runs, 13 doubles, four triples and homers and 26 RBI. Statum carried a .588 on-base percentage and slugged .779. Felts, the Defensive Player of the Year on the All-Orange Leader Baseball Team, hit .471 with 37 runs, 38 RBI, six homers and 14 doubles. Felts carried a .591 on-base percentage and slugged .804. “It is an honor both those guys got on,†Orangefield coach Jeff Bennett said. “It is a tribute to how hard they worked and the extra hours they both put in. It was amazing to watch them back up all the work on the field this year. If you asked both of them individually, they would say they are more proud to win 23 games and go three rounds deep in the playoffs.†This is the first time Statum was recognized by the association and the second time Felts was on the second team. “Both of those guys are players you want around forever,†Bennett said. “Those two are going to be Jace Statum and Jacob Felts no matter what team you put them on and who they are up against. Our success this year was the supporting cast around them and Jace and Jacob will be the first to tell you that.†Hubbard, a first team selection on the All-Orange Leader Baseball Team, hit .356 on the season with 32 runs, 22 RBI, three home runs and five doubles. Hubbard carried a .542 on-base percentage and slugged .495. “Blake had a solid year,†Bridge City coach Chad Landry said. “He was tough to strike out, he put the ball in play and he did a lot of hitting to opposite field and I think that really helped him this year. Blake is not one to toot his own horn and he is a quiet guy. Making the All-Star game and the All-State team shows people noticed the great season he had. There is a big void for us to fill for next year with him gone. There is no doubt about that.†Hubbard will participate in the Coaches Association’s All-Star game this weekend in Round Rock. Bridge City did seem to have a major snub as All-Orange Leader Baseball Team MVP Matt Hicks was not selected. A total of 13 pitchers made the three teams of pitchers selected by the association. Hicks had a 1.60 ERA with a 13-3 record while striking out 136 batters and walking 19. Hicks, who also had three saves on the season, worked 87 1/3 innings. “I think Matt deserved to be on the team,†Landry said. “He did everything we ever asked him to do. This could be a little extra motivation for him to prepare for next season.†Hamshire-Fannett’s Logan Johnson was named as a third-team pitcher while teammate Jake Minaldi was a first-team outfielder. District 20-4A was a total loss for local teams as no players were named to the team. Tim Barry, the Offensive MVP of the All-Orange Leader Baseball Team, had a team-record 57 hits for a high school known for its baseball offense. Barry struck for 10 homers and 38 RBI in the leadoff spot for the Bears and hit .467 in his senior season. Barry was on base 58-percent of the time and slugged .811 on the year. Nederland’s Kirby Bellow only lost one game all season, a regional final loss to Brenham who eventually made the state tournament, and was left off the 4A list.
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