2010-05-12 / Sports

Pump Jacks sign players with local ties

New season just around the corner
From pumpjacksbaseball.com
One is a lefty, the other a right-hander. Both were selected district MVP, all-state, and All-American. Both spurned major league interest and left East Texas to pitch Division I baseball, And this summer, both will return home to pitch for the East Texas Pump Jacks.


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NEWS FLASH ~ The next new

NEWS FLASH ~ The next new field improvement by the Pump Jacks will be a walk-in cooler. Just guessing but I would say that would be used to store the beer and kegs ($$$$$$). Driller Park needs a walk-in cooler like we need a hole in the head. I have been involved in the operation of that complex for many years so take my word for it...even during the High School playoff period, when we have a lot of people coming in from out of town, we have never needed a walk-in cooler. So YOU the taxpayer will be stuck with paying the electric bill for a walk-in cooler that is not needed or required. What will we do after the Pump Jacks are gone...mothball the cooler or continue to pay the electric bill. A real improvement and money much better spent would be to lower the dugouts, or double and cover the visitors batting cage so Kilgore High would have cages for Varsity, Junior Varsity and Freshmen...just an opinion. Wonder what the next big improvemet will be..........

the walk-in beer cooler will

the walk-in beer cooler will bring such needed valut to this HISTORIC LANDMARK!

you notice under driller park

you notice under driller park improvements,zip,nada.there should be a tab for,thanks for all the free equipment so we can make money kilgore high school parents and coaches.I appreciate someone bringing more baseball to east texas, but not at the expense of kisd and its parents.find some one else to pay your way.

Go to

Go to http://www.pumpjacksbaseball.com/park/seating/. Chose the "Driller Park" tab and click on the drop down menu item "Ballpark Improvements" You will find a blank page. Chose some of the other tabs such as "Buy Tickets" or "Volunteer to be a Host Family" and there will be plenty of information for you to spend your money or volunteer.

I would venture to say that

I would venture to say that all of these very successful college players had a baseball field to play and practice on during the summer. (I know for sure that Garrett and Trevor did) It is very unfortunate that the only baseball complex in Kilgore that is equipped and large enough for High School age players is Driller Park. June 1st the Pump Jacks will move into that facility and at the height of the summer baseball season our Kilgore players will no longer have a facility on which to play or practice. Sad but true. Part of the original 3 year contract with the Pump Jacks dictated that $10,000 of improvements would be made on the complex annually. I haven't seen them. The High School doesn't use the portable ticket booth that was moved in outside the gate...it is actually an eyesore. It doesn't blend in with the surroundings or the ambiance and new landscaping that the City has done such a masterful job with around the park. The only other improvement that I have seen is the deck that it took 2 years to construct behind the Visitors dugout...the High School doesn't need or use that either. Real improvements like the new fences down both lines and the $5,000 tarp to cover the field were purchased by the Kilgore Baseball Booster Club. Many of the other amenities at the complex were paid for with private donations and labor. Many local private citizens and businesses have contributed much money and sweat to make the improvements that are in place today. A friend of mine owns the $3,500 ice machine that is used for the concession...yes it is his, it wasn't donated. Yet after the Pump Jacks move in and start making money from the use of his ice machine, cover the field with the $5,000, non profit organization purchased tarp, maintain the field with the $4,000 Sand-Pro machine... purchased by a non-profit organization...his son is not allowed to use the facility to practice. Locked out!!! Last summer the Pump Jacks manager allowed another out of town High School age team based in Tyler (The Prospects) to come to Driller and conduct a baseball tournament while our own Kilgore players were not allowed in. What's wrong with this picture??? As long as this continues, the baseball program in Kilgore will have a very tough time being successful. There should be no reason why Driller Park can not be used by our Kilgore youth when it is not being utilized by the Pump Jacks. i.e. When they are out of town or won't be needing the field for several days. I as well as other coaches and players have maintained this field for many years...WE TAKE SPECIAL CARE OF IT!!! I was talking to a college coach that walked in to Driller a couple of years ago to watch a game. I was standing in the entrance tunnel and the first words out of his mouth were "WOW, This is fantastic" We Kilgorite baseball people know what a special place it is and how important it is for the development of "OUR PROGRAM". Maybe there is something advantageous to Kilgore that I am missing. I would appreciate others opinions or facts on this subject.

After this posting I was told

After this posting I was told that the (Prospects) high school age team that used Driller Park for a tournament last year paid the Pump Jacks to do so. I would like to see the Pump Jacks contract to determine if that is a clear violation or breach of contract as to what is stipulated. The Kilgore Boys Baseball Association who has provided support through supplying equipment, field supplies (chalk etc.) and promoted the Pump Jacks organization at the youth baseball complex since its inception, was turned down when they asked to use Driller Park for a tournament. The Pump Jacks manager made a veiled threat to a KBBA Board member this year. Something to the effect of "If you don't want us around we can leave" I'm not sure how they handle that up north but down here in East Texas our response to that is "DONT LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE BUTT!

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