Seven Pump Jacks Voted to 2012 TCL All-Star Game

Published on July 5, 2012 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


It has been an impressive 2012 season so far for the East Texas Pump Jacks, complete with Texas Collegiate League accolades, a near-flawless 12-1 record at historic Driller Park, a #7 national ranking among more than 250 collegiate summer league teams, a first-half division championship, and the team's fifth consecutive playoff berth.

The honors continue to roll in for the Jacks, as the team has had seven players selected to participate in the 2012 TCL All-Star Game, presented by the University of Houston-Victoria.

Two Jacks were voted as starters at their positions for the game, with Tyler Sullivan in the outfield and Kirby Pellant at second base. Both players have won TCL Player of the Week honors this season. R.J. Santigate was also named as reserve infielder.

In addition, four Pump Jacks hurlers were named to the North squad, with starter Kyle Kubat joining the trio of relievers known to Jacks fans as the "Three Amigos"- Jeff Stovall, Gerardo Esquivel, and closer Jason Jester.

Head coach Ben Taylor will also lead the North squad for the third straight year by virtue of the Jacks' first-half division championship.

For the third consecutive summer, the TCL will split the league into North and South squads. Joining the Pump Jacks on the North side this year will be the Alexandria Aces, the Texas Marshals and the Brazos Valley Bombers. The South side will consist of players from the Acadiana Cane Cutters, The Woodlands Strykers and the Victoria Generals.

The Jacks led all North teams with seven all-stars, which was second only to the host Generals, who posted nine stars to the South roster.

The 2012 TCL All-Star Game, presented by UHV, will take place on Monday, July 9, at Riverside Stadium in Victoria, Texas. The game will be preceded by the 2012 TCL Home Run Derby, presented by Victoria Nissan. When the Generals last hosted the All-Star Game, in 2010, the Home Run Derby was won by former Pump Jack Lee Orr.

Sullivan has been one of the best two-way players in the TCL this season, leading the league with a .354 batting average. He tops the Jacks in runs scored (16) and hits (28) while adding five doubles. A mainstay at the top of the order since he arrived in Kilgore, Sullivan has stolen six bases this summer, and has flashed an impressive glove in center field. He was named TCL Player of the Week after batting .524 with four multi-hit games and eight runs score along with five stolen bases between June 18 and June 24.

Pellant has also been a sparkplug at the top of the Jacks lineup, his second campaign in East Texas. Batting .315 this summer, he leads the Pump Jacks with seven doubles and ranks third on the team in hits (23). He has also used his speed to steal six bases, tying him with Sullivan for second on the team. Pellant was named TCL Player of the Week immediately before Sullivan, batting an incredible .588 with three doubles and ten hits in six games with six runs scored between June 11 and June 17. This is the second-straight year that Pellant has been named an all-star starter, having started at shortstop last summer for the North squad.

Santigate has been a steady bat in the middle of the Pump Jacks lineup as well as a trusted glove at third base this season. Ranking just behind Sullivan and Logan Davis for most games played on the team, Santigate is batting .275 overall while tying for second on the team in runs scored (15) and ranking fourth in hits (22). He has also demonstrated a patient eye at the plate, drawing 16 walks to lead the Jacks and rank fifth in the TCL. His defense at the "hot corner" has been excellent, making difficult plays on tough ground balls hit to him look effortless.

Kubat has emerged as the ace of the Pump Jacks' pitching staff. In his five starts this summer, the lefty from Nebraska has struck out 27 batters in 30.2 innings, tying him for fifth in the TCL. He has demonstrated great control, walking only seven hitters all season long. Among qualifying pitchers this summer, only the Jacks' own Stovall has a better ERA than Kubat's sparkling 1.17 mark, which is almost a full half-run better than the next starting pitcher on the list. Kubat's three wins are second only to Stovall in the TCL among unbeaten pitchers.

Sporting a 4-0 record and a TCL-leading 1.11 ERA, Stovall joins his Nebraska teammate Kubat on the all-star roster. Tied with fellow "Amigo" Esquivel for second in the TCL in appearances, Stovall owns 19 strikeouts against just five walks in 24.1 innings so far this season, setting the tone for the dominant Pump Jacks bullpen.

Esquivel has also been called on to shut down the opposition late in close games, and has done so marvelously to the tune of a 1.47 ERA and 20 strikeouts in only 18.1 innings pitched. The right-hander from Kansas State is also the only Pump Jack other than Jester to earn a save this season, and he joins his college teammate Santigate on this year's all-star roster.

Last season, Jester shared All-TCL Closer honors with Garrett Shepherd of the Brazos Valley Bombers, but there has been no debate whatsoever about this year's top closer. Jester's numbers are off-the-charts in 2012, as the right-hander from Hallsville has made opposing batters do a double-take with a remarkable 28 strikeouts compared to just two walks in only 19 innings pitched. The 28 batters fanned by the flame-throwing Jester ties him for second in the league despite being the only pitcher in the top-16 with under 20 innings pitched. His dominance has earned him 12 saves just halfway through the summer, only one off the all-time TCL single season record of 13. He has yet to even allow an earned run this season. Like Pellant, Jester is a repeat all-star this year.

The Pump Jacks return home on Friday night to face off against the Marshals in the second Fireworks Friday of the season, presented by Patterson Motors of Kilgore and CBS-19. Fans can cap Independence Week with a spectacular fireworks show set to a new, unique soundtrack.

The Jacks will then take on the Acadiana Cane Cutters at Driller Park on Saturday in their final game before the all-star break. Boasting one of the nation's top teams and a nearly unbeaten record at home, the Pump Jacks have designated Saturday as Guaranteed Win Night. If East Texas doesn't win, every fan in attendance will win FREE tickets to the Jacks' next Fireworks Friday on July 20. No matter what, everyone goes home a winner!

First pitch for each game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 5, 2012


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