BB: Estes leads area THSCA All-State players
to the THSCA All-State teams. (Photo by Ray Jackson)
Despite suffering from a nagging injury to this throwing elbow, Shelbyville's Brad Estes completed his high school career by leading the Dragons to the District 21-1A championship and a berth into the third round of the Class 1A State playoffs.
Estes was recognized for his outstanding effort recently as he was named to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) First-Team All-State squad after leading the Dragons to an overall mark of 21-9-3.
Other first-team pitchers included senior Kody Robinson of New Deal and senior Tye McKinney of Blue Ridge.
Second-team pitchers included Joey Gamez (Sr.) of Shiner, Laramie Blackwell (Sr.) of Johnson City and Weston Wuthrich (Jr.) of Archer City. Players making the third-team included Andrew Groseclose (Jr.) of Port Aransas, Jimmy Johnson (Jr.) of Cayuga and Cody Bates (Sr.) of Hamlin.
Estes led the Bulldog squad with an ERA of 1.17, allowing only a .143 batting average in 71.2 innings pitched. He allowed only 12 earned runs and 38 hits the entire season. He struck out 127 and walked just 22, posting a record of 8-2 with one save. He started 10 of the 18 appearances, working seven complete games.
On the other side of the plate, Estes hit .402 on the year, with 38 runs and 41 hits, while driving in 44 runs. He doubled six times, hit a triple once and connected on six home runs.
Other area players on the THSBCA team included Garrison junior catcher Dustin Strahan and Bulldog junior first baseman Russell Carrell.
Strahan was a first-team catcher on the squad, along with Wortham senior Hance Spencer. Alto's Rhett Gresham (Sr.) and Ronnie Martinez (Sr.) of Woodsboro were the second-team catchers, while Crosbyton's Michael Medina (Sr.) and Jacke Beebe (Jr.) of Valley Millers were third-team players.
Strahan was the second-leading hitter on the Garrison ballclub with a .443 batting average. He cashed in 39 hits and scored 28 runs on the year. He also drove in 38 runs while tagging 19 doubles, a triple and five home runs on the year. Strahan boasted an on-base percentage of .573 and an impressive slugging percentage of 852. He was also successful on five of six stolen bases this season.
Carrell was a second-team first baseman, along with senior Trey Swartzenberg of Riesel. Fayetteville's Connor Bertsch (Jr.) and Evadale's Tyler Tucker (Sr.) were the first-team first basemen. Named to the third squad were Luke Feaster (Sr.) of Ralls and Tyler Kosechata (Sr.) of Petrolia.
Carrell led the Bulldogs with a batting average of .449, pushing in 52 runs while pounding 13 doubles and a pair of home runs. He had 44 hits and 42 runs. He posted a .643 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .578.
TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION
2011 CLASS 1A ALL-STATE TEAMS
First-Team Pitchers
Kody Robinson (Sr.) - New Deal
Brad Estes (Sr.) - Shelbyville
Tye McKinney (Sr.) - Blue Ridge
Second-Team Pitchers
Joey Gamez (Sr.) - Shiner
Laramie Blackwell (Sr.) - Johnson City
Weston Wuthrich (Jr.) - Archer City
Third-Team Pitchers
Andrew Groseclose (Jr.) - Port Aransas
Jimmy Johnson (Jr.) - Cayuga
Cody Bates (Sr.) - Hamlin
First-Team Catchers
Dustin Strahan (Jr.) - Garrison
Hance Spencer (Sr.) - Wortham
Second-Team Catchers
Rhett Gresham (Sr.) - Alto
Ronnie Martinez (Sr.) - Woodsboro
Third-Team Catchers
Michael Medina (Sr.) - Crosbyton
Jake Beebe (Jr.) - Valley Mills
First-Team First Base
Connor Bertsch (Jr.) - Fayettville
Tyler Tucker (Sr.) - Evadale
Second-Team First Base
Russell Carrell (Jr.) - Garrison
Trey Swartzenberg (Sr.) - Riesel
Third-Team First Base
Luke Feaster (Sr.) - Ralls
Tyler Kosechata (Sr.) - Petrolia
First-Team Second Base
Zach Terchik (Sr.) - Borden County
Tyler Pate (So.) - Port Aransas
Second-Team Second Base
Slade Chasteen (Jr.) - Dawson
Ross Tucker (Sr.) - Archer City
Third-Team Second Base
Shawn McCarley (Jr.) - Blue Ridge
Sebi Palacios (So.) - Ben Bolt
First-Team Third Base
Joe Perez (Jr.) - Goldthwaite
Landon Darwin (Jr.) - Dodd City
Second-Team Third Base
Coy Boedeker (Sr.) - Shiner
Dylan Gruden (Jr.) - O'Donnell
Third-Team Third Base
Abraham Valdez (Sr.) - New Deal
Trevor Malota (Jr.) - Fayetteville
First-Team Shortstop
Lucas Neely (Sr.) - Johnson City
Ty Duncan (Sr.) - Windthorst
Second-Team Shortstop
Johnny Gaines (Sr.) - Clarendon
Mickey Villanueva (Sr.) - Stamford
Third-Team Shortstop
Branson Ponder (Sr.) - Hamlin
Tyler Rhodes (Jr.) - Overton
First-Team Outfield
Justin Reyna (Sr.) - Crosbyton
Zack Gidney (Sr.) - Blue Ridge
Luke Stone (Sr.) - Lovelady
Second-Team Outfield
Kylor Fine (Sr.) - Ira
Kyle Tomlinson (Sr.) - Hamllin
Kris McDonald (Sr.) - Johnson City
Third-Team Outfield
Gunnar Thompson (Sr.) - Cayuga
Zach Brightwell (Fr.) - Carlisle
Ryan Leerskov (Sr.) - Kerens