Texas Sports Center

By Michael W. Love of Texas Sports Center.com 

 Huntington Head Baseball Coach Kelly Dickinson confirmed today that he will take over the position of head baseball coach in Jasper left vacant by Shawn Mixon, who recently resigned, stating that it had everything to do with family. Mixon wanted to be more involved with his daughters sport of softball, and to see her play. In fact, he took a job in his home town of Woodville to coach the very team she will be playing for.

Coach Dickinson has made great strides with the Huntington baseball program in the past two years. The team has been moving forward and getting better with each season, so much that they were only a half game out of replacing Jasper as the third team in the district to make the playoffs. A Jasper team that forced a best 2 out of 3 against a very strong China Springs team in the 3rd round.

Now the search is on. This may be one of the most applied for jobs in the state as far as head baseball coaching positions go. Not just because of the fishing either, but it doesn't hurt.

 Jasper Baseball has long been recognized as a team to be dealt with for 20 plus years and has become one of the most successful programs in Southeast Texas. Jasper rally's behind their team each year fueled by it's booster club, which raises more than $30,000.00 in a single night at their annual baseball banquet each year to pay for field repairs, maintenance and upgrades to fields, dugouts and lighting and much more.

That money is also responsible for the large banner sign on the left field fence along with beautiful statue in the shape of Texas to commemorate their 2007 3A Texas State Championship Title.

 With dedicated fans, loyal financial support and a long winning tradition, it would be just about any coaches dream job. This sounds like an appeal, but it's just the facts. Jasper has some of the most talented baseball athletes to come on the scene in a long while, and most of them have been teammates since T-ball. This particular group will be high school freshman in the spring of 2013. I just wanted you to know what your getting if you are chosen for this prestigious position.

 Thank you to Coach Shawn Mixon and Coach Steve Smith for exciting baseball and a great experience we all will recall with gratitude and pride for many years to come.

The District 18-3A All District selections were made public this week after the last remaining district team, Jasper Bulldogs play off run ended in the third round against the China Spring Cougars last week end.

All-District honories are selected by each team's coach, and then they are voted on by the opposing coachs of the district, who are restricted from voting for their own players.

This year's District 18-3A MVP of 2012 is, Hudson Sr. Austin Kimble.

• Offensive MVP is Sophomore Eric DeJesus of Diboll.
• Defensive MVP is Senior Chris Kellam Hudson. 
• Newcomer of the Year is Freshman Dalton Horton of Center. 
• Pitcher of the Year is Junior Riley Smith of Hudson.
• Coach of the Year is Glen Kimble of Hudson.

First-team team Pitchers:

• Jasper Sr. Tyler Bolton
• Center Sr. Johnathan Hennigan
• Huntington Sr. Hunter Palmer 
• Diboll Sr. Sergio Castillo

First-team 1^st Base:

• Jasper Sr. Clayton Hart

First-team Infielders:

• Hudson Sr. Drake Floyd and Jr. Trever Adams
• Huntington Sr. Zach Hunter
• Center Soph. Louis Morales.

First-team Outfielders:

• Jasper Jr. Collin Shellhammer
• Central Jr. Jacob Kelly and Sr. Clay Crawford
• Diboll Jr. Alex Grimaldo.

First-team Catchers:

• Jasper Sr. Jo Walker
• Kirbyville Sr. Holdon Holsomback

First-team DH:

• Central Jr. Justin Scroggins.

First-team Utility Player:

• Central Sr. Brandon Andrus

Second-team team Pitchers:

• Huntington Soph. Paul Fernandex

• Central Soph. Chase Taylor

• Diboll Jr. Jay Lowe

Second-team 1^st Base:

• Hudson Jr. Michah Ellison

Second-team Infielders:

• Center Jr. Lou Burns

• Huntington Sr. AJ Noel

• Jasper Sr. Jessie Due

• Diboll Jr. Jason Cook

Second-team Outfielders:

• Hudson Soph. Cody Sanches and Jr. Garrett Fenely

• Jasper Sr. Matt Perdue

• Central Sr. Clayton Collmorgan

Second-team Catcher:

• Huntington Sr. Kerry Thompson

Second-team DH:

• Hudson Sr. Austin Guerra

Second-team Utility Player:

• Huntington Sr. Devin Horton

• Hudson Sr. Cameron Hathorn

• Center Fr. Josh Burns and Soph. Ross Mahon

• Central Sr. Colton Boles, Soph. Zach Kornegay and Jr. Joseph Lansford

• Jasper Sr. Lane Kipp

• Kirbyville Sr. Randall Allday and Soph. Rhett Allday

• Huntington Soph. Efran Alberto and Sr. Matt Mcgaughey

• Diboll Sr. Zane Anthony, Sr. Doug Waters, Sr. Cody Gelvin, Sr. Hunter Willis and Sr. Germariyea Mott

The Jasper Bulldogs and the China Springs Cougars squared off on Friday evening in a double header at Fireman's Park in Brenham, Texas. Jasper took game one but it was a battle as both teams took a lead only to give them up later but Jasper held on to win 9 to 8.

Game two was quite different, as Jasper jumped out with a 2 run lead to in top of the first but then gave up 5 runs in the bottom of the inning. That was the last lead the Bulldogs would see the rest of the night as the China Springs Cougars hit just about every thing Jasper threw at them. China Springs racked up 17 hits and committed 3 errors, while Jasper eventually got 7 hits most late in the game and also matched the Cougars in errors with 3, allowing China Springs to score 13 runs to Jasper's 7.

The two game split forced a tie breaker that will be played on Saturday at Fireman's Park at high noon and pitching as always will be the big story in determining who moves on to the next round. Both teams hit the ball deep with plenty of power, good speed on the bases, the defenses were pretty even and pretty athletic, as several great plays were made throughout the two games. If both starting pitcher's get into a zone, it could be a fast game and a nail biter. If not, the bases could be loaded a lot for one or both teams and make it a high scoring game.

The Jasper Bulldogs, the last remaining team from the 18-3A District after both Diboll and Hudson lost out in the 2^nd round of the playoffs, travel to Brenham, Texas to take on the China Springs Cougars in round 3. After splitting the double header 9-8 Jasper and 13-7 China Spring on Friday , they met again on Saturday for a high noon showdown.

Jasper couldn't get anything going in their first at bat but the Cougars did with unearned 4 runs on 2 errors. Jasper continued to struggle allowing China Spring to pull away as they scored 2 more in the second and 1 in the third inning to take a 7 to nothing lead and it looked like the Cougars were headed to the next round in a hurry.

Jasper finally got a run in the 4^th inning to squash the wrought and they also stopped the Cougars from scoring in the bottom of the inning. Bulldogs pitcher Tyler Bolton and the defense got a little tougher and slowed down the offensive display that had gone on for two and half games by China Spring. They left no doubt in this series that they could hit the ball deep and into the gaps just where they needed it at the right time.

Despite that, Jasper did manage to make several plays on defense to keep them off the scoreboard for the of the game as they picked up a run in the 6^th and the 7^th inning falling short by the score of 7 to 3. Congratulations to both teams for a great athletic display of heart and effort. Good luck to the Cougars on your bid for a championship. To the Jasper Bulldogs, your community and fans are very proud of you. And from this sports writer, you are all a great group of young men and wish all of the graduating class good luck and great success in your future.

China Spring will now move on to face LaGrange in the Regional Semi-finals on the weekend of May 26^th.

Bridge City defeated Hufman 7 to 5 in a one game "winner take all" contest last Thursday May 18^th, and now moves on to Regional Semi-finals against the number 1 team in the state, the Robinson Rockets.