A&M's Nettune is Jacks' signee
EAST TEXAS PUMP JACKS BASEBALL
From special reports

NETTUNE

The East Texas Pump Jacks' first-ever signee is Athens native and Texas A&M catcher Andrew Nettune.

After having to set up basic items first - the franchise organization, hiring a coach, developing a name and logos to go with it - the Pump Jacks are now getting down to the business of filling out their roster. They announced on Wednesday afternoon that Nettune, a former player at All-Saints Episcopal School in Tyler, is their first pick-up.

The Pump Jacks will play their inaugural season in the Texas Coll egiate League, boasting a roster of some of the best college players in the nation.

Nettune qualifies. He set the All Saints career record with 27 home runs, and he never batted under .400 in a high school season. Although he played only five games his senior year, Nettune hit .450 with three home runs and a pair of doubles. As a junior, he hit at an astounding .496 clip, adding 10 homers, 52 RBI, and 26 extrabase hits in leading the Trojans to a berth in the state finals.

Nettune captured district MVP honors as a sophomore when he posted a .476 average, eight home runs, 14 doubles, and 47 RBI, again landing All Saints in the state title game. Starting for the Trojans as a freshman, Nettune hit .404 with six round-trippers and 41 RBI.

He was a four-year starter at All-Saints, a four-time all-district choice, and although he was injured as a senior, he still earned second-team All-State.

He helped All-Saints to four straight TAPPS state tournaments, getting to the title game twice. And he's recognized by Baseball America as one of the top three high school catchers in the state, one of the nation's top 300 prospects.

He's also one of the top 100 Major League Baseball draft prospects on scout.com, a widely known recruiting web site.

"I thought coming out of high school that he was one of the best all-around catchers I've ever seen," said Pump Jacks head coach Stan Phelps. "He has pop and a great arm behind the plate. When we started putting together the roster, he was the first catcher that popped into my mind."

The 20-year-old's achievements weren't limited to high school. He starred for various summer league teams and participated in elite showcase events as well. Nettune helped lead the Texas Prospects to backto back IBC World Series titles in 2006 and 2007, capturing MVP honors last summer with a .476 tournament average.

Only a freshman with the Aggies, Nettune is getting acclimated to the college game in a season that will likely classify as a redshirt. He is the son of Bob and Jane Nettune of Athens.

Season tickets for the Pump Jacks inaugural season are on sale now. For more information on Upper and Lower Box seats, in-your-seat wait service, the Pump Jacks Premier Club, and all there is to know about season tickets for the inaugural season, visit the team's web site at pumpjacksbaseball.com; stop by the team's offices at 1100 Stone Road, Suite 120 in Kilgore; or call the Pump Jacks at their brand new office phone, (903) 218-GO ET.