Sports / High School / Baseball

12 - 6:00am

It was a chilly day as the Red Raiders returned to the field for the second day of spring practice. The practice was split in two parts, with the first part much like Friday in that Tech concentrated on defensive drills. Then, after about a 45-minute lunch break, practice continued with a six-inning scrimmage. Here are a few highlights

08/21/11 - 6:20am

Coaches

Coaches Head coach: Danny Servance (Baylor), fifth season, 24-22 at Estacado and overall Assistant coaches: Rodney Sims, Bob Romero, Henry Perez, Dino Jones, Danny Douglas, Curtis Draper, Kirk Thurman, Jesse Galdon, Mark Llanez, Joe Clabaugh Team 2010 season, district record: 9-2, 5-0 (first place District 2-3A) District: 2-3A Basic offense: I/Spread Basic defense: 3-4

Robinson leads 2A-1A-TAPPS team 07/13/11 - 6:59am

Kody Robinson can add one more honor to the litany of them he’s earned this season. The senior New Deal standout, who already earned all-state and District 4-1A MVP honors, is the Avalanche-Journal’s 2011 Class 2A-1A-TAPPS All-South Plains Player of the Year. Robinson went 11-1 with a 1.16 ERA for the Lions, who reached the regional semifinals. Perhaps even more impressive, the senior struck out 75 batters against just two walks all season. At the plate he hit .500 with 55 RBIs.

2011 Avalanche-Journal Class 2A-1A-TAPPS All-South Plains Baseball Team 07/13/11 - 5:26am

2011 Avalanche-Journal Class 2A-1A-TAPPS All-South Plains Baseball Team PLAYER OF THE YEAR Kody Robinson, Sr., New Deal Robinson, a first-team all-state selection and the District 4-1A MVP, went 11-1 with a 1.16 ERA for the Lions. He struck out 75 batters against only two walks. The senior also led the team at the plate with a .500 batting average to go along with his 18 extra-base hits and 55 RBIs. PITCHER OF THE YEAR Josh Merrifield, Sr., Littlefield

Berryman leads Class 3A All-South Plains baseball team 07/12/11 - 5:35am

The jump from Class 2A to 3A didn’t seem to get in Shallowater’s way. The Mustangs won the District 2-3A title in their first year at the higher classification. The Mustangs’ success helped land six Shallowater seniors on the 2011 Avalanche-Journal All-South Plains team, including Player of the Year Casey Berryman. The senior led the team on the mound with 74 innings pitched and posted a 12-2 record with a 1.42 ERA and 85 strikeouts. He batted .413 with 45 runs scored, 41 RBIs and six home runs.

Rocha takes over baseball program at Trinity 07/12/11 - 5:37am

Assistant coach promoted after Travis Walden, the head coach at Trinity for three years, took an assistant coaching job at his alma mater, Monterey.

A young coach will try to turn around a young Trinity Christian baseball team next season. Devin Rocha, 26, a three-year assistant coach at Trinity, will assume the head coaching vacancy left by Travis Walden, the school announced Sunday night. “We’re going to be young, definitely,” said Rocha, whose Lions entered the 2011 season with nine freshmen and sophomores. “We’re not going to have a lot of numbers to work with but we’ll have some. It’s just a matter of taking full advantage of our offseason and getting our kids prepared.”

Blackwell heads Class 5A-4A team 07/11/11 - 5:43am

Brayden Blackwell provided the senior leadership necessary for Coronado to rally from Game 1 losses in four consecutive playoff series. The senior leadoff hitter batted a team-high .477 in the postseason, helping carry the Mustangs to the Class 5A championship game. His performance throughout the season and Coronado’s playoff run made the Lubbock Christian University signee a fitting choice for the Avalanche-Journal’s 2011 Class 5A-4A All-South Plains Player of the Year.

2011 Avalanche-Journal Class 5A-4A All-South Plains Baseball Team 07/11/11 - 5:50am

2011 Avalanche-Journal Class 5A-4A All-South Plains Baseball Team PLAYER OF THE YEAR Brayden Blackwell 2B, Sr., Coronado Blackwell was the leader Coronado needed during its run to the Class 5A state championship game. The senior leadoff hitter batted .477 with a .541 on-base percentage in 75 postseason plate appearances. On the year Blackwell belted 17 doubles, six triples, two home runs and scored 68 times. PITCHER OF THE YEAR Taylor Bridges

2011 A-J All-City Baseball Team 07/10/11 - 6:47am

Here are The Avalanche-Journal's picks for the best players:

Player of the YearBrayden Blackwell2B, Sr., Coronado Blackwell was a leader by example for state runner-up Coronado. He was 13 for 17 in the team’s final four games, including two elimination games against Hurst L.D. Bell and the state semifinal against Corpus Christi Carroll. Blackwell batted .446 with a .529 on-base percentage from the leadoff spot, scoring 68 times and driving in 47 more. Pitcher of the YearKody RobinsonSr., New Deal

Four Coronado players earn all-state honors 07/10/11 - 6:04am

Four Coronado baseball players, led by Avalanche-Journal All-City Player of the Year Brayden Blackwell, were named to the Texas Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State team on Saturday. Blackwell was named to the first-team after hitting .436 with two home runs and 42 RBIs. The Lubbock Christian University signee also had a .523 on-base and .632 slugging percentage and walked 25 times as the Mustangs leadoff hitter, guiding Coronado to the state title game.

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