Slew of Pump Jacks Named to All-Star Team

Published on July 11, 2011 under Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


So far, the 2011 season has been one for the books for the East Texas Pump Jacks.

The team clinched a division championship and their fourth consecutive playoff berth in dominating fashion. A franchise-record 11 current and former Pump Jacks were selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft.

The team has picked up league awards in four straight weeks, a streak that is still intact.

The accolades continued Monday, when the Texas Collegiate League announced rosters for the 2011 Cricket Wireless TCL All-Star Game. The Pump Jacks posted 11 players to the North roster, more than any other team in the league.

The infield for the North squad will look very familiar to Pump Jacks' fans with Ty Marlow at second base, Hunter Dozier at third base and Kirby Pellant at shortstop. Seth Granger will represent the Jacks in the outfield while Jake Pinchback will take the designated hitter slot. Beau Maggi will be behind the dish for the North. All six players were selected to start in the contest.

More than half of the North pitching staff also hails from East Texas. Starters Jaden Dillon, Matt Munson, James Guillen and Donnie Hart will be joined by closer Jason Jester in the midsummer classic.

For the second straight year, the TCL will use the familiar North-South format for the All-Star Game. The Alexandria Aces and the Coppell Copperheads will join East Texas on the North side. The South squad will consist of host the Bravos Valley Bombers, the Acadiana Cane Cutters and the Victoria Generals.

The 2011 Cricket Wireless TCL All-Star Game will be played on July 18 at Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark in Bryan, Texas. The contest will be preceded by the Brazos Bingo Home Run Derby. The all-star home run derby was won last year by former Pump Jack Lee Orr.

Leading the Pump Jacks with three home runs, Marlow is tied for third in the league in round-trippers. His .330 batting average is second in the TCL among qualifiers, and he's also second in the league with a .485 slugging percentage.

Dozier earned his way onto the squad thanks in large part to a hot bat over the last fortnight. He batted .412 with a .522 slugging percentage two weeks ago to earn TCL Player of the Week honors, driving in six runs and scoring three more. He then batted .400 and slugged .500 last week with six runs scored and four RBI. His eight steals on the season are tied for second on the team.

Pellant has become a staple in the East Texas infield, leading the Jacks with 31 games played. He's become one of the league's top table-setters, leading the league with 25 runs scored. Pellant has reached base by a hit or walk a team-high 49 times, topping the squad with 17 walks and 13 stolen bases.

Backstopping the North pitching staff is Maggi, who is batting .313 in 14 games for the Jacks. Despite joining the team late, he has 14 RBI on 15 hits since his arrival to go with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

Voted a starter in the outfield, Granger is batting .310 and trails only Pellant in runs scored with 24. He is first in the TCL with four triples, and his nine extra-base hits are tied with Marlow for the team lead. Granger's 21 RBI tie him for the team lead with Colton Bickerstaff.

One of the team's top run producers, Pinchback is third on the Pump Jacks in RBI (19) and fourth in runs scored (20). He's registered 30 hits in 27 games for a .306 average, and his eight stolen bases tie him with Dozier for second on the Pump Jacks.

A two-time TCL Pitcher of the Week and the league leader in wins with five, Dillon will heads the four Pump Jack starting pitchers invited to the contest. He has a 2.81 ERA in 41.2 innings pitched this season, the second highest total in the TCL.

Munson, who tops the circuit with a 1.23 ERA, will be joined by fellow University of Southern California hurler Guillen on the North pitching staff. Guillen, the TCL Co-Pitcher of the Week in Week Two, has a 1.76 ERA in five starts this season. Hart, who has struck out 23 while allowing only 14 hits in 19.1 innings pitched, rounds out the Jacks starters heading to Brazos Valley.

Jester will add stopping power to the North's bullpen. The Hallsville native has struck out 21 batters in 14.2 innings, picking up four saves in the process.

East Texas head coach Ben Taylor will serve in the same capacity for the North squad for the second straight year.

The Pump Jacks welcome the Alexandria Aces to historic Driller Park tonight for the first of a two-game set.

Tonight's game will be Dollar Day Monday. Kids will get in for just a dollar while Jacks fans can get hot dogs, soft drinks, popcorn and souvenir programs all for just a buck.

Tuesday night is Family Night presented by the Longview News-Journal. Jacks fans can bring the whole family out for a night of fun and baseball, all for an affordable price. A group of four tickets are only $10 with the option to add four meals for another $15.

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Texas Collegiate League Stories from July 11, 2011


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