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Pump Jacks Tap Panola Pipeline for Two Top Hurlers

March 31, 2014 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


Summer collegiate teams recruit from coast to coast in hopes of signing top pitchers, scouring for gems like a starter with an ERA below 1.00 or a highly-scouted reliever.

The East Texas Pump Jacks were successful in both quests, and they didn't have to go far to find them. On Monday, the Pump Jacks and head coach John Foster signed Panola College starting pitcher Marshall Kasowski and reliever Robbie Petty.

Kasowski is Panola's top starter, while Petty is the leading reliever coming out of the bullpen for Panola head coach Todd Shelton.

The pair continue a long and prosperous relationship between Panola and the Pump Jacks. Seven players have made the 40-or-so-mile trip from Carthage to Kilgore, including draft picks Matt Juengel and Scott Copeland. Juengel, who is now playing in the Miami Marlins system, was named TCL Freshman of the Year in 2009, the first of five-straight years the Jacks have won the honor.

Just nine starts in to his collegiate career, Kasowski is already making a name for himself. He is 4-2 with a 0.97 ERA on the season. In 46.1 innings pitched, the freshman hurler has a whopping 53 strikeouts against just 28 hits.

Two weeks ago, Kasowski tossed a shutout in the front end of a doubleheader, allowing one hit in seven innings while striking out a season-high 12. This past weekend, the right-hander struck out nine batters in 6.1 innings, allowing four hits and just one run "" and his ERA actually increased from 0.90 to 0.97.

Kasowski leads the Ponies in ERA, strikeouts, and innings pitched. He ranks among the Region XIV leaders in ERA and strikeouts as well.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Kasowski is a native of Conroe, where he was an all-district performer at Oak Ridge High School in 2013.

While Kasowski is Panola's ace starter, Petty is described as Coach Shelton's first option out of the bullpen. He is tied for the team lead in both appearances (11) and saves (two), posting a 1-2 record and 3.97 ERA. He has allowed 18 hits in 22.2 innings pitched, with nine walks and 11 strikeouts.

As a freshman in 2013, Petty was named second-team all-conference and ranked among the Region XIV leaders with five saves. He appeared in a team-leading 24 games, going 3-3 with a 4.01 ERA. In 51.2 innings, he allowed 63 hits, walked 18 and struck out 33. Following his freshman performance, he was selected to participate in the Texas-New Mexico Juco All-Star Game.

Petty starred at Wylie High School, where he was named an all-district performer as a senior. Petty went 3-3 with a 2.48 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 62 innings in his final prep season.

Kasowski and Petty join Stephen F. Austin's Matthew Dickey on the Pump Jacks 2014 roster. Dickey stole a TCL-record 40 bases last summer on his way to being named co-TCL Freshman of the Year and an all-TCL outfielder. The Kilgore native has continued to blossom this spring, leading the Lumberjacks with a .337 average and eight stolen bases.

Kasowski, Petty, and Dickey will kick off the 2014 Pump Jacks season on Thursday, May 29, when they travel to Dallas to take on the Texas Marshals. The Jacks will return to East Texas for their home opener at Historic Driller Park on Tuesday, June 3, when they battle the Woodlands Strykers. Click here for the complete 2014 Pump Jacks schedule.

Host Families: The Pump Jacks are seeking host families for the 2014 season. Hosting a player gets you closer to the team than ever, but it's so much more. When a Pump Jacks player lives with you for the summer, he becomes a part of your family, forging a relationship that becomes much bigger than the game. Plus, everyone in your household receives free season tickets! If you're interested in learning more about the host family program, please contact the Pump Jacks at (903) 218-GO ET or info@pumpjacksbaseball.com.

Season tickets for 2014 are on sale now! Grandstand season tickets start at just $105 for adults and $85 for children and seniors. Step up to Upper Box seats for $150 each, or enjoy the luxury of in-your-seat wait service in our Lower Box Seats for only $199 per seat. Season tickets offer a discount of at least 25% off the price of tickets at the gate, and all season ticket holders enjoy the benefit of a Pump Jacks Concierge.

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