Preparations under way for 2009 Pump Jacks' campaign

The talk in Texas may have turned to football, but that doesn't mean baseball has shut down. Baseball programs are busy with fall practices, scrimmages, and annual exhibition series.

So while the East Texas Pump Jacks recruiting process is in high gear, former Pump Jacks are busy preparing for a new season.

Former Panola College standout pitcher Chad Sherman is part of a Texas A&M recruiting class that Baseball America tabbed as the sixthbest in the country. He joins fellow Aggies Andrew Nettune and Steven Martin in College Station, where the three recently participated in the school's annual Fall World Series.

Nettune's bat made the biggest impact in Game One, crushing a homer off the scoreboard in left-center field on his way to four RBI in the Plowboys' victory. Nettune added a double in going 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

Two games later, Sherman got the start for the Plowboys, going a solid six innings and allowing just one run. The Bullard native scattered three hits, walked three, and struck out two. He was relieved by Martin, who picked up a strikeout in 1.1 innings.

Martin, whose power pitches on the mound are matched by

his power bat at the plate, scored two runs while playing first base in Game Four of the series. Sherman saw more action in Game Five with a short relief outing.

Scott Copeland has also been busy in new surroundings this fall. The former all-conference hurler from Panola is now a member of the Southern Miss pitching staff. Copeland saw action in exhibition games against William Carey and Nichols State, going two innings in each outing. He also tossed two scoreless innings in the annual Southern Miss "Black and Gold" game. For the fall, Copeland has pitched six shutout innings, allowing three hits with five strikeouts.

TCL All-Star first baseman Matt Curry spurned the Pittsburgh Pirates, who drafted him in the 37th round, and has transferred to TCU. The former Howard College slugger is part of the Horned Frogs' stellar recruiting class, which Baseball America ranked the ninth-best in the country.

Several other Pump Jacks All-Stars have found a new home in Huntsville. Adam De La Garza and Josh Riley have both transferred to Sam Houston State, where they have been reunited with former East Texas teammates Matt Shelton, Daniel Nottebart, and Ryan Mooney. De La Garza had concluded his juco career at New Mexico Junior College prior to joining the Jacks, while Riley had finished up at Howard.

Another Pump Jacks reunion took place this fall in Beaumont, home of the Lamar University Cardinals. Versatile pitch Kory Cleveland transferred from Panola to Lamar, joining Austin Roff, who shipped in from Seward County Community College. The two are expected to participate in Lamar's annual Fall World Series this week.

But the biggest cache of former Pump Jacks can be found right here in East Texas, at the University of Texas- Tyler. Reigning TCL Coach of the Year Stan Phelps has added no fewer than five Jacks to his Patriots roster since the end of the season.

Joining Phelps are TCL All-Star third baseman Paige Hodges (from Mississippi College) and outfielder Keenan Duke (Eastfield College), while Clint Helms (Louisiana Tech), Matt Sparks (Northern Oklahoma College-Enid), and James Alvarado (Howard) bolster the pitching staff.

Aaron Wilkerson has returned to Panola for his sophomore season, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been busy. The TCL's #8 pro prospect in 2008 according to Baseball America was selected to play in the prestigious Texas/New Mexico Junior College All-Star Game at Baylor University at the end of September.

Both Pump Jacks pitchers who made the jump to the pros have also been busy. Justin Murray was in Arizona last month for instructional ball with the Oakland A's; Luke Burnett was participating in a similar camp with the Seattle Mariners. Instructional ball is an invite only activity that Major League organizations generally reserve for highly-regarded prospects.

While so many Pump Jacks are busy near and far, the franchise is also active on the home front. Season tickets for the 2009 season are on sale now, with a 10% discount available for all season tickets purchased and paid for by November 14.

The team has also added a more affordable Grandstand season ticket option, offering general admission tickets for every game at the low price of just $105 for adults and $85 for children and seniors.

The Pump Jacks' offices are located at 1100 Stone Road, Suite 120, in Kilgore, and you can also call (903) 218- GOET and get tickets over the phone.

The Jacks are expected to begin their search for host families very shortly as well. With the team engaged in a national recruiting effort, there will be an even greater need for host families this coming season.

Host families have a wonderful opportunity to bring a Pump Jacks player or two into their homes, establishing lifelong relationships with players who very well could go on to pro careers. More news of host families, including how you can free season tickets for becoming a host family, will be available shortly.

With the holiday season on the horizon, the Jacks will also have gift ideas for fans of all ages. To follow all of the Pump Jacks' off-season developments, log on to the team's official web site, pumpjacksbaseball.com.