THSBCA PLAY- BALL
FEBRUARY, 2015
Volume 6, Issue 20
The official voice of the TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION
Special Interest Articles
WACO CONVENTION
WELCOME TO THIS ISSUE OF THSBCA
PLAY BALL
NEWS:
POLL CHAIRMEN
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
PRE-SEASON POLL
NEW REGIONAL DIRECTORS
2015 ALL STAR COACHES
ALUMNI NEWS
SPONSORS PAGE
HALL OF FAME
WEST TEXAS SAYINGS
In BRIEF
The 44th annual THSBCA
Waco Convention and
Clinic was held January
8-10, 2015.Those who
attended heard
excellent clinicians and
received updates from
the UIL as well as rule
changes. The line-up of
speakers was excellent
thanks to Dane Saucier
our Pres.-Elect. We broke
all attendance records
with over 2700 attending
this year’s convention.
Our Hall of Fame
speaker was Leo
Mazzone, who also
served as a clinician.
2015 POLLS:
Our Pre-Season poll
has already been
released and can be
found on page 2. Our
Poll Chairmen are:
JOHN ADAIR- Elkhart
HS and ERIC
FORESTIER- SA
Harlandale HS. All
District Reps need to
contact their
Regional Directors
each week beginning
March 11 to identify
the top teams in their
District.
With everyone’s input
these Poll Directors will
be able to rank the top
teams throughout the
season. And don’t
forget to use Game
Changer for all your
stats.
The next UIL meeting is in
June. Please contact
the THSBCA office with
any concerns or
suggestions that we can
take to that meeting.
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PRESIDENTS LETTER
FROM JON RUSTENHAVEN
Coaches,
I don’t know about you, but 2015 is already flying by quickly! For me, it all began with
another great clinic and convention in Waco. We had the opportunity to hear outstanding
speakers, see the latest baseball technology, and maybe, the best of all, see and connect with old
friends. To me, I can’t think of many better ways to start a new year.
By the time you read this letter, our seasons will be well under way. I want to take this
time to remind you all how very fortunate we are to be coaching baseball in a state with
amazing athletes. The high school, collegiate, and professional ranks are full of players from
our great state. I encourage you to take the time to enjoy this time with your players and
embrace the unique challenges that you and your coaching staffs face on a daily basis.
I also want to encourage you to become more involved with the workings of the
THSBCA. A very important part of our organization is the recognition of our outstanding
athletes. I strongly urge each of you to nominate your players for our All-Star and All-State
teams. Nominations for All-Star teams are to be completed and submitted by May 1st . These
players must be seniors. All-State and Academic All-State nominations are due by June 1st.
These players can be of any classification. The forms for all of these and other nominations can
be found on the THSBCA home page, to the left, under forms. Please complete these
nominations and help us with this extremely difficult process.
As I conclude this letter, I want to remind each of us to remember that we coach a great
sport with a great history. I truly hope you have an enjoyable and rewarding season. Maybe
along the way, you will make your own history!
Yours in baseball,
Jon Rustenhaven
President- THSBCA
PRE-SEASON SEASON POLLS
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION
2015 PRE- SEASON POLLS
January 29, 2015
6A:
4A:
1. Flower Mound Marcus
2. Pearland
3. Atascocita
4. Laredo Alexander
5. Flower Mound
6. Dallas Jesuit
7. Coppell
8. Corpus Christi Carroll
9. Southlake Carroll
10. Smithson Valley
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Langham
Creek, Clear Creek, Arlington Martin,
Round Rock, Cy Ranch, and San Antonio
Reagan.
1. Hidalgo
2. Iowa Park
3. Huffman Hargrove
4. Pleasant Grove
5. Robinson
6. Argyle
7. La Vernia
8. Andrews
9. Bridge City
10. Abilene Wylie
3A:
1. Bishop
2. Sunnyvale
3. West
4. Hallettsville
5. Palmer
6. Banquete
7. Idalou
8. Troy
9. Central Heights
10. Kirbyville
5A:
1. College Station
2. CC Calallen
3. Hallsville
4. Cleburne
5. Rockwall- Heath
6. Brenham
7. Medina Valley
8. Arlington Heights
9. Victoria East
10. George Ranch
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Prosper,
CC Moody, Aledo, Corsicana, Canyon, and
Kingwood Park
2A:
1. Douglas
2. Flatonia
3. Bosqueville
4. Center Point
5. Weimar
6. Refugio
7. Price Carlisle
8. Kenedy
9. Booker
10. Centerville
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WACO CONVENTION:
The following new Directors were selected at our annual business meeting:
REGION 1 – JOHN DOAN – CANYON
REGION II – RANDY CULP – HARKER HEIGHTS
REGION III – DOUG RUSH - TOMBALL
REGION IV – CHAD KOEHL – SMITHSON VALLEY
The 2015 All Star Coaches are as follows:
6A NORTH – GARY HIX – LUBBOCK CORONADO
4A NORTH – RICKY GRIFFIN - ARGYLE
6A SOUTH – MARIO GARCIA – LAREDO ALEXANDER
4A SOUTH – JEFF SHANK – WEST COLUMBIA
5A NORTH – GREG HARVEY – ROCKWALL HEATH
5A SOUTH – SCOTT HOLDER – COLLEGE SATTION
3A NORTH – TIM ARDEN - SUNNYVALE
3A SOUTH – DEAN FITZNER - JARRELL
2A NORTH – JASON ARCHIBALD - MILES
2A SOUTH – STEVE SEBESTA - TROY
Congratulations to these outstanding coaches!
Honorary All- Star Coaches: from the Retired Coaches Assn.
TIM WHALEN – N -4-5A
HERB ESPINOSA – S – 4-5A
JACK BARDWELL – N-1-3A
KEN BARINGTON – S- 1-3A
ALL STAR COACHES
Each year when All Star coaches are selected we realize many worthy coaches have not
been nominated. This is “highlight” of any coach’s career is unfortunately not unrealized
because of the failure of a fellow coach to make a nomination.
Please consider your fellow coaches who you think are a deserving coach, and nominate
him.
Go to our website; www.thsbca.com and look under FORMS
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SPECIAL NOTES: WIN PLAQUE RECIPIENTS
100 WINS:
1. JEROMY SLAGLE – CADDO MILLS HS
2. RUSSELL DOEGE – SCHRETZ- CLEMENS HS
3. GEORGE VILLA – DEVINE HS
4. DOUG PEARCE – SEGUIN HS
5. PAUL COX – ALLEN HS
6. STACY LARGENT – FRISCO INDEPENDENCE HS
7. STEVE FOSTER - BOSWELL HS
8. JASON SCHNIERS – WALL HS
9. DAVID GREER – GARRISON HS
10. WES KOLLE – VICTORIA EAST HS
11. SAM FLUTY – HOLLIDAY HS
400 WINS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
TERRY MASSEY - WEATHERFORD HS
JOE KOESEL – SPLENDORA HS
RONNIE WULF – SANTA FE HS
SHAWN BRUNS – FLATONIA HS
DON FRY – PFLUGERVILLE HS
RENE ALVAREZ – ZAPATA HS
SCOTT CARTER – SWEENY HS
STEVE RIBERA – LUBBOCK HS
500 WINS
200 WINS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
TIM ARDEN - SUNNYVALE HS
WES COLLEY - PRICECARLISLE HS
JEFF WALLIS – CY LAKES HS
CHAD LANDRY – BRIDGE CITY HS
KENT CRAIG – HUGHES SPRINGS HS
ALEX DAVIS – LUMBERTON HIGH SPRINGS
EUGENE LAFITTE – DOUGLASS HS
CORY HAMILTON – RANDALL HS
300 WINS
1. JOHN DOAN - CANYON HS
2. BILLY MONTEMAYOR – SAN ANTONIO
EDISON HS
3. SCOTT MITCHELL – HALLSVILLE HS
4. LANNIE TEMPLETON - STAMFORD HS
5. CHANS CHAPMAN – SAN ANTONIO REAGAN
6. JEFF PRIEST - CANTON HS
7. JIM BOB WILLIAMS - BANGS HS
8. GLEN KIMBLE - HUDSON HS
9. EDDIE SERNA – WESLACO HS
1. STEVE GRIFFITH – LITTLE CYPREESSMAURICEVILLE HS
2. GARY HIX – LUBBOCK CORONADO HS
3. GARY VAUGHAN – MANSFIELD HS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
600 WINS
RODNEY GARDNER - ANDREWS HS
MIKE CAMPBELL - LEWISVILLE HS
KENNY TIMMES – DALLAS SUNSET HS
BARRY RUSSELL – MIDLAND HS
SCOTT COOK – FRISCO HS
ELISEO PAMPA – McALLEN HS
700 WINS
1. RICK CARPENTER – PROSPER HS
800 WINS
1. BART BRATCHER – WESTWOOD HS
9OO WINS
1. STEVE CHAPMAN – CORPUS CHRISTI
CALALLEN HS
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NEWS FROM OUR ALUMNI- COACHES ASSOCIATION
We had a great time at the Waco Convention Center this January. The Alumni Association is growing
in membership and still has that old baseball feel about the group. I am not sure anyone here ever
lost a game and their pitching staff is much like the LA Dodgers of present time. Just like ole times
and the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
We had an informative business meeting and a great Coaches’ Panel which had many people
laughing. The information of the panel had the feel of church with the number of “Amen Brother”
that were heard.
We gave our first scholarship at the Hall of Fame Meeting and Ms. Abigail Graham was our selection.
She is the granddaughter of Coach Bob Rombach. We hope to give 2 scholarships next year.
We have four Honorary Coaches for the All-Star Game in June from our group. There will be more on
this in future newsletters. A great shout out of thanks to THSBCA for all their help in making this a great
experience for us.
Joe Ray Halsey
SPONSORS
We want to highlight two of our long-time sponsors:
1. MILLER NET – Harold Miller, owner of Miller Net, has been an active sponsor for the
THSBCA for over ten (10) years. His company is located in Memphis, Tennessee and has been
selling high quality baseball netting for over 30 years. As a young coach I once asked Mark
Johnson, TAMU head coach, who made the best nets and would stand behind them and he told
me” without a doubt, Harold Miller of Miller Net”. Check them out at millernet.com
2. SPORTS FIELD SOLUTIONS – If you are looking to build a new field or just repair an existing
field, look no further than SFS. They are located in Benbrook Texas just out of Ft Worth. They
can do it all with recent fields such as Baylor University, Texas Rangers, Sam Houston
University, UTSA, SMU, and Dallas Baptist. Give Mike Pender a call at 817) 691-8188 or
[email protected]
PLEASE SUPPORT ALL OUR FINE SPONSORS
Since 2002 we have awarded over $180,000 in Scholarships thanks to our Sponsors. For a
complete list of sponsors look at our website; www.thsbca.com
BLUE BELL/ THSBCA HALL of FAME
We are still looking for baseball related items to be loaned to the Hall of Fame
and Museum. If you have items that you think could be used by the museum
please contact Jim Long, the Director for the museum, or Rex Sanders.
Our Museum now has on display pictures of almost all State Champions since
1947. The next project is to display the All Star teams since 1973. If you have any
of these pictures please contact Jim Long.
Thanks to several donations, we are in the process of purchasing a kiosk for the
Hall of Fame. We hope to have it ready for viewing in the Fall of 2015.
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WEST TEXAS SAYINGS by Joe Ray Halsey
Calling all Coaches - Bomb in the Building!
School system administrators have an oddly prejudiced pecking order which is
perceived by them to be the most logical, important and beneficial to the student’s, if
not their own, welfare. Consider the following true story for a school in West Texas in the
early 1970’s.
This was a relative age of innocence before cell phones and GPS tracking systems. It
was before bomb sniffing dogs and black uniformed SWAT teams. The school system's
chain of command followed the basic education curriculum, such as English,
mathematics, biology, library science, and band. Notice there is no mention of physical
education or coaching. The reason will be explained clearly in the following
paragraphs. This could have been part of the John Wayne movie “They were
expendable” It was a Thursday before Daylight Savings Time which occurred in later
October. This is a key point since darkness occurs much sooner than standard time. The
principal receives a phone call from an unknown caller that a bomb is in the building
and set to explode in 2 hours. He quickly decided to have an unscheduled fire drill to
empty the building. Before he made his decision he first visited with the Head football
Coach, his golfing buddy and the band director, his brother-in-law. They quickly
decided that the safety of the students was their first responsibility. That decision out of
the way they advanced to the other important decisions, one being the order in which
the teachers and staff would leave the building. Then who would remain behind to
secure the building and do the bomb search also known as the, "coin toss." You have
probably already guessed the faculty and staff evacuation priority: English, math,
biology, history, library science, cafeteria workers and custodians were to evacuate
right behind the students! The Coaches were called to the principal’s office and
briefed. We were the impromptu, make shift, calling all coaches, volunteer Bomb
Squad. The assignment was simple “find the bomb and do your best not to get hurt because our insurance does not cover bodily injury due to school bombings. “The Head
Coach” gave us his blessing as we placed our hands on the football and swore to find
that bomb for God, country and a chicken fried steak down at the Wagon Wheel truck
stop. The high school choir was also volunteered to sing the fight song at our funerals if
we failed to find and disarm the bomb. A quick side note the Head Coach did not
accompany us on our search since this was not is his contract. The principal pulled the
fire alarm, the bell rang and the students, the previously prioritized teachers and staff
were evacuated from the building in short order. The coaches were given a pair of
science lad goggles and a meter stick for the bomb search. Why the stick we asked?
“You will know when you find it” was the response as principal and head coach left the
building.
There were six of us in the band brother coaches as we ascended the stairs to begin our
locker searches on the third floor. We spread out and began our sweep of the 144
lockers in silent military precision. This was the plan, open each locker, and hold your
breath and poke around inside with our meter stick.
I need to add here that daylight was fading fast (DST) and the lights had already been
turned off to prevent possible stray electrical current from setting off the bomb. The
principal was yelling directions in a bull horn and the choir outside were practicing the
school fight song (for encouragement?) as we searched each and every one of the
144 lockers. The principal then informed us that police and fire department would be
late because they were out on an oil well fire west of town. Great; just great. Could
things get any better?
Meanwhile the sun set fast in the west and it got night time dark real quick. Adding to
the drama we only had two working flashlights. The students, teachers and staff were
long gone and safe inside their own homes. The principal continued to shout
unintelligible instructions via his bullhorn and “The Head Coach" encouraged us in his
best sideline voice that he would write about our bravery in the Texas Coach Magazine
regardless if we survived or not. After a lot of locker banging and trash can kicking it
became obvious we were not going to find the bomb especially if it was in a locker or
trash can. The track coach was the first to crack saying, "enough is enough!" and he lit
a shuck out the side door out of sight of the principal. The rest of the coaching staff
soon agreed and drew lots to determine who would Leave next. The offensive
Coordinator suggested that we provide ourselves some cover by lighting a trash can
before we exited the building. Planning, Leadership and Execution (not to mention
bravery) all came together in a flash as we set the trash can ablaze, yelled “fire in the
hole, everyone duck!” We escaped with our lives and dignity. The next day we were
heroes and the newspaper headlined the Bomb story with our photos on the front
page, in the Thursday edition. Gratefully the bomb call was a hoax and the custodians
never mentioned the fire blackened trash can they found in the hall the next day. The
coaches performed their coin flip assigned Bomb Squad jobs all in true West Texas hero
fashion. A Lubbock sandstorm blew in right after all this happened just to remind
everyone that life goes on no matter who thinks they are in charge.
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