Back to All-City, All-South Plains Baseball Teams

Player of the Year
A.T. Rivera
Jr., Estacado
Arguably the city’s most well-rounded player, Rivera led Estacado to the District 1-3A championship with his right arm and his bat. He went undefeated during the regular season and finished 8-2 with a 1.88 ERA and 83 strikeouts, and he also led the Matadors’ offense with a .383 batting average, three home runs and 30 RBIs.

Pitcher of the Year
Sam Lovato
Sr., Estacado
Lovato entered the season with only a smidgen of varsity experience on the mound, which made his 2009 campaign even more remarkable. The crafty left-hander didn’t lose a start, finishing 7-0 with two complete games, 59 strikeouts and a team-best 1.24 ERA. Lovato also batted .302 with 19 runs scored and 17 RBIs.

Coach of the Year
Chad Reynolds, Frenship
Although Frenship lost both of its top pitchers from a year ago — and the majority of its non-district games this year — Reynolds still managed to build one of the most successful teams in Lubbock. He guided the Tigers to their first district championship since 2006 and their fifth straight playoff appearance.

Pitchers
Jared McDougal
Jr., Lubbock Christian
McDougal sparked Lubbock Christian’s offense with a .450 batting average and 48 runs scored from his leadoff spot, and he also was the Eagles’ ace. The right-hander went 10-2 with a 3.39 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 76 innings, and he won both of his postseason starts to lead LCHS back to the TAPPS state tournament.

Hunter Scott
Jr., Coronado
Along with being a solid third baseman and one of Coronado’s leading hitters, Scott emerged as the Mustangs’ ace on the mound. The hard-throwing right-hander went 6-1 with two saves, four complete games, a 4.24 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 361/3 innings pitched. Scott also batted .406 with 23 RBIs and 12 extra-base hits.

Lance Ratliff
Sr., Frenship
The multi-sport standout was especially adept on a pitcher’s mound, where he helped lead Frenship to the District 4-4A title. The right-handed Ratliff went 7-0 with one save, a 2.63 ERA and 59 strikeouts, and he hurled a no-hitter in a district game against Plainview — an eventual regional semifinalist.

Catcher
Bryson Fuller
Sr., Cooper
Few hitters in Lubbock were as powerful as Fuller, who belted a school-record 14 home runs for the Pirates. The cleanup-hitting catcher also led Cooper with a .491 batting average and 59 RBIs, and he added nine doubles and 33 runs scored. Fuller struck out only 11 times in 112 at-bats and threw out six would-be base stealers.

First baseman
Alex Linker
Jr., Coronado
Switching positions this year didn’t throw Linker off his game. If anything, it ignited the former shortstop. The left-handed-hitting Linker tied a school record with a .512 batting average, and he also had a .700 on-base percentage, two home runs, 36 RBIs, 36 runs scored, 22 walks and 19 stolen bases in 19 attempts.

Second baseman
Jordan Vestal
Jr., Monterey
A solid infielder and capable option on the mound, Vestal also was one of Monterey’s most productive offensive players. He led the Plainsmen with 28 runs scored and nine stolen bases, and he ranked among the team leaders with a .420 batting average, 11 extra-base hits and 15 RBIs.

Third baseman
Bobby Lonngren
Sr., Lubbock Christian
In his only season at Lubbock Christian, Lonngren rewrote the Eagles’ offensive record book. He set single-season school records with a .516 batting average, 63 hits and 66 RBIs, and his eight home runs tied the school mark. Lonngren also led LCHS, which returned to the TAPPS state tournament, with five triples and 52 runs scored.

Shortstop
Jamodrick McGruder
Sr., Coronado
Lubbock’s most physically gifted player provided a boost to Coronado with his quick bat, slick fielding and game-changing speed on the basepaths. McGruder tied a school record with 26 stolen bases and also led the Mustangs with 47 runs scored, and he added 11 extra-base hits, 25 RBIs and a .545 on-base percentage.

Outfielders
Shaney Wilkinson
Sr., Coronado
Coronado’s record-setting wide receiver also stood out on the baseball diamond. Wilkinson was one of the city’s best defensive center fielders, and he batted .475 with team highs of five home runs, 41 RBIs and a school-record 15 doubles. The future Princeton football player also scored 44 runs and stole 19 bases.

Garrett Wentz
Sr., Trinity Christian
Wentz committed only one error in the outfield, and he anchored a potent Trinity Christian lineup. The sweet-swinging lefty led the Lions with a .430 batting average and 39 RBIs, and he ranked second on the team with 36 runs scored. Wentz also had 13 extra-base hits, including four home runs, and struck out only seven times.

Jordan Richburg
Sr., Frenship
The younger brother of Texas Tech slugger Chris Richburg swung a similarly mighty stick for the Tigers. The left fielder batted .419 and led Frenship with 17 doubles, seven home runs, 38 RBIs and an .800 slugging percentage, and he also chipped in 36 runs scored and seven stolen bases without being caught.

Designated hitter
Tyler Pridmore
Fr., Monterey
After being called up from the junior varsity for district play, the left-handed-hitting Pridmore slugged his way into a starting role. He led Monterey with a .451 batting average and .500 on-base percentage, and his 20 RBIs were tied for second-most on the team. Pridmore struck out only eight times.

Utility player
Aaron Rivera
Jr., Lubbock High
Rivera was a jack of all trades for Lubbock High, playing catcher, three infield positions and pitcher. He also was the Westerners’ most dangerous offensive weapon, batting .402 with 31 RBIs and 26 runs scored. Nineteen of Rivera’s 43 hits went for extra bases, including four home runs.

SECOND TEAM
Pitchers: Troy Nicholson, Jr., Monterey; Tyler Teter, Sr., Cooper; Reagan Pearson, Sr., Trinity Christian; Skyler Green, Jr., Frenship
Catchers: Tyler Pearson, Jr., Monterey; Mason Randolph, Jr., Coronado
First basemen: Will Brown, Jr., Cooper; Dylan Norris, Sr., Lubbock Christian
Second basemen: Attis Comer, Sr., Coronado; Josh Vasquez, So., Frenship
Third baseman: Anthony Trevino, Sr., Trinity Christian
Shortstops: Nick Rodriguez, Jr., Cooper; Mario Quesada, Jr., Estacado
Outfielders: Roddy Rivas, Jr., Frenship; Ethan Kohnle, So., Cooper; Tyler Sutton, Sr., Cooper; Dillon Stone, Sr., Monterey
Designated hitter: Josh Moreno, So., Lubbock High
Utility player: Guillermo Villagomez, Sr., Roosevelt