TL1 Round Rock Express

Express Winter Banquet this Saturday

Published on January 21, 2004 under Texas League (TL1)
Round Rock Express News Release


ROUND ROCK – Brooks Kieschnick of the Milwaukee Brewers and the Round Rock Express' Chris Burke and Chad Qualls will be among the players honored at the Express Winter Banquet, held at The Dell Diamond January 24, 2004.

The University of Texas' Dustin Majewski and Huston Street and Texas State's Tom Robbins will be recognized as the area's collegiate players of the year.

The Pre-Season All-Cen Tex high school team will also be recognized.

The fourth annual event will again benefit Round Rock Sertoma, a charity designed to assist hearing impaired children to afford medical attention and equipment.

Kieschnick, the Banquet's Keynote Speaker, made national headlines when he made the Brewer's roster as a pitcher – and a hitter. After struggling as a hitter early in his career, Kieschnick made a successful transition to the mound and became the first true two-way player since Willie Smith of the California Angels in 1964.

He worked his way into Milwaukee's bullpen, going 1-1 with a 5.26 ERA in 42 games. Kieschnick also solidified his roll at the plate by hitting .300 with seven home runs as a pinch hitter and interleague designated hitter.

Burke led the Express with a .301 average to go along with 34 stolen bases to become the Express' Player of the Year. He was named to the Texas League's mid and post-season All-Star teams and played in the Futures Game. He led the team in five offensive categories and established the former first round pick as a major prospect for the Houston Astros.

Qualls turned in a dominant second half to earn the Express' Pitcher of the Year award. After a slow start, Qualls went 5-3 with a 1.94 ERA over his last 11 starts. During the stretch, he threw a pair of shutouts, struck out ten or more batters three times and never allowed more than four runs.

Majewski is Central Texas' Collegiate Player of the Year after being named a first team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writer's Association, Collegiate Baseball and USA Today. He led the Longhorns in nine offensive categories and led the Big 12 in RBIs (82) and was third in batting average (.389). He was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the Big 12 Tournament and Austin NCAA Regional before being selected in the third round of June's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Oakland Athletics.

College baseball fans around the nation are undoubtedly familiar with Street, the Central Texas Collegiate Pitcher of the Year. After bursting onto the scene in 2002 when he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series, the Austin native turned in an equally dominant 2003. He went 8-1 with 15 saves and a 1.33 ERA, striking out 69 in 74 innings. USA Baseball also recently named him the 2003 Athlete of the Year after playing with the National Team over the summer.

Georgetown native Robbins is the Collegiate Newcomer of the Year after a solid first year with the Bobcats. After transferring from Tyler Junior College, Robbins went 7-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 20 games, including nine starts. He also averaged a strikeout an inning while walking only 15 in 73.1 innings.

SCHEDULE 6 p.m. – Social Hour and Silent Auction

7 p.m. – Invocation

7:05 p.m. – Dinner starts

7:50 p.m. – Welcome by Rufus Honeycutt, Round Rock Sertoma

7:55 p.m. – Introduction of Brooks Kieschnick by Kirk Dressendorfer and Keynote Address

8:10 p.m. – Introduction of high school team and college award winners by Kirk Dressendorfer

8:30 p.m. – Presentation to professional award winners by Mike Capps and Kirk Dressendorfer

9 p.m. – End of banquet

2004 Pre-Season All-Cen Tex Team The Pre-Season All-Cen Tex Team as selected by area coaches:

Brad Bevil, Pitcher, New Braunfels

Cory Thell, Pitcher, Leander

Matt Aubry, Pitcher, Round Rock Westwood

Noah Gibson, Catcher, Leander

Chad Thielepape, First Base, Round Rock Westwood

Taylor Rust, Second Base, Cedar Park

Stephen Derrick, Third Base, Cedar Park

Brian Taylor, Shortstop, Round Rock Westwood

Greg Golson, Outfield, Pflugerville Connally

Jordan Danks, Outfield, Round Rock

Jordan Street, Outfield/Pitcher, Austin Westlake

Kevin Kelso, Infield, Pflugerville

The event is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m., with a silent auction to follow. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. and the award ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased by contacting Rufus Honeycutt at (512) 255-0007.

Check out the Round Rock Express Statistics

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Texas League Stories from January 21, 2004


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