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Veteran Leaders and Rookie Teammates Make up Jacks' Latest Additions

May 21, 2015 - Texas Collegiate League (TCL)
East Texas PumpJacks News Release


East Texas Pumpjacks Signee Jake Nash
East Texas Pumpjacks Signee Jake Nash
(East Texas PumpJacks)

With the East Texas Pump Jacks' season just a week away, the team's roster continues to take shape for its inaugural season in Tyler. On Thursday, the Pump Jacks introduced four more players, including a Southland Conference standout, a former major league draft pick, and two true freshmen already making a difference.

The Pump Jacks announced on Thursday the signing of first baseman and Palestine native Jake Nash from Lamar University, right-handed pitcher Tanner Cable of Delta State University, and a pair of freshmen in Bryce Howe and Nick Roark from Oral Roberts University.

Nash joins the Jacks as one of the team's most experienced players. As a junior at Lamar this spring, Nash's .324 batting average and .388 on-base percentage were second on the team. He started 48 games, demonstrating his versatility by playing third base, first base, and the outfield because of team injuries. Nash collected 59 hits, 19 RBI, and 22 runs, and his 69 total bases ranked third on the roster.

No stranger to summer collegiate baseball, Nash fared well last summer with the Westhampton Aviators of the Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League. He hit .276 in his first wood-bat season, and collected three home runs, four doubles, and a triple in a team-high 145 at-bats. He led the team in both runs (23) and RBI (22), and finished second in walks (14) and third in hits (40).

Nash enjoyed two impressive seasons at Vernon College before transferring to Lamar. As a sophomore at Vernon, Nash hit .331 with four home runs and 42 RBI on his way to earning the Coach's Award. He hit .335 with 17 doubles for the Chaparrals in 2013 and was named Freshman of the Year.

Cable is returning for a second stint with East Texas after making his NCAA debut this spring at Delta State in Mississippi. Cable, who was drafted two years ago by the Toronto Blue Jays, pitched 3.2 innings in five appearances out of the bullpen for the Statesmen.

Pump Jacks Nation got a feel for Cable's pitching prowess last summer when he threw a complete-game seven-inning shutout in the second leg of a doubleheader against the Brazos Valley Bombers on August 1. He limited Brazos Valley to four hits and struck out six.

Cable's success last summer wasn't limited to one outing, though. In 41.1 innings he held opponents to a .179 average, and his 35 strikeouts ranked third on the Jacks' pitching staff.

Cable spent two seasons at Northwest Mississippi Community College before transferring to Delta State. He compiled a 4-4 record with in 4.11 ERA over 47.2 innings during his freshman campaign, which was enough to attract the attention of the Blue Jays. Toronto selected Cable in the 26th round of the 2013 draft, but the Hernando, Miss., native opted to return to school.

As a sophomore he posted a 6-2 record with a 4.27 ERA and finished third on the staff with 42 strikeouts in 47 innings to earn a spot on the all-state team.

Howe and Roark both enjoyed a successful season as true freshmen at Oral Roberts. Howe owned a 3-1 record in 12 appearances this spring, and his 10 starts were the third-highest on the staff. He was fourth on Golden Eagles with 36 strikeouts and only issued 12 walks over 44 innings. Howe rose to the occasion in conference competition, posting a 2-0 record with a 3.42 ERA and struck out 20 while walking just six against Summit League opponents.

At Claremore High School, Howe owned a career pitching line of 29-5 with a 1.98 ERA and added eight saves.

Roarke finished this spring with a .287 average, collecting 27 hits, 14 RBI, and 15 runs scored in 94 at-bats. He also posed a threat on the basepaths, stealing five bases for the Golden Eagles without getting caught.

In high school, Roarke helped the Broken Arrow Tigers to consecutive district championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014, as well as an appearance in the 2012 state championship game. Roark's prep career batting average stood at .401, and he collected a total of 30 doubles, 13 triples, and 10 home runs. He was named to the 2014 All-Metro first team by Tulsa World.

These four incoming Pump Jacks will join catcher Tyler Moore, pitcher Corey Fischer, outfielder Hunter Owens, and catcher Chad McKinney, who were announced on Tuesday. Returning all-TCL outfielder James Lear and outfielder Dilon Argo were the first two players on new head coach Ernie May as well as outfielders James Lear and Dilon Argo who were announced in April.

The Pump Jacks open the season with a six-game road trip beginning next Thursday, May 28.




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East Texas Pumpjacks Signee Jake Nash
East Texas Pumpjacks Signee Jake Nash
   

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