RICHARDSON - The LeTourneau YellowJacket baseball team landed five student-athletes on the 2013 American Southwest Conference All-Division Team on Tuesday morning. Junior Curt Copeland earned First Team All-ASC while junior Bryce Griffin, junior Jordan Price, and sophomore Ryan Bertram were all named to the second team. Junior Garrett Methvin earned Honorable Mention from the conference.
Copeland, a junior from Tyler, Texas, was outstanding in 2013, as he turned into the ace pitcher for the Jackets as the season progressed. He finished the year 8-2 with a 1.53 ERA in 82.1 innings pitched. He struck out 47 batters and walked only 10 while picking up nine complete games on the year. He picked up huge wins against great teams all season long including a 6-1 win over Louisiana College and Pitcher of the Year Ryan Webster, an 11-1 win over Texas-Dallas, and a huge 1-0 win over the Ozarks that propelled the Jackets to a late season run at the playoffs. He was phenomenal all season long and was a key part to the Jackets putting together their first winning season since 1999.
Griffin, a junior from Corona, California, was terrific both at the plate and defensively at shortstop in his first season with the Jackets. He compiled a .312 average including eight doubles, 20 RBIs, and a team leading 29 runs scored. He also had a .937 fielding percentage in an infield that improved greatly. Griffin had a huge weekend against Schreiner early in the season where he had a 4-for-4 day and a 5-for-6 day including two RBIs and three runs scored.
Price, a junior from Longview, was the Jackets top reliever in 2013, making 14 appearances to go with a 2.90 ERA in 31.0 innings pitched and a 2-1 record. Price struck out 17 batters and only walked seven. One of the highlights of his season came against the Ozarks where he picked up his first career win, pitching the final four innings and only allowing one run and striking out three to propel LeTourneau to a key sweep. He also had a complete game in his second start of the year against Dallas, allowing two runs and striking out five.
Bertram, a sophomore out of Friendswood, Texas, led the team in numerous offensive categories including batting average (.331), doubles (9), slugging percentage (.426), and RBIs (33). He also added 27 runs scored, one triples, and one home run on the year. Bertram had a three RBI game including his one home run of the season in a 2-for-3 effort against Louisiana College in a 6-1 victory. He also led the team in multi-hit games with 14 on the year and had three hits in a game on four separate occasions.
Methvin, a junior out of Longview, got back on the field after missing the previous season due to injury and batted .307 at the plate including seven doubles, three home runs, and 21 RBIs. Methvin had 13 multi-hit games on the season including a huge 4-for-5 day with two doubles and four RBIs in the season finale against Mary Hardin-Baylor. He had a couple of huge hits including a go ahead home run on April 6th against the Ozarks and a huge three run bomb early against Dallas that led LeTourneau to a 5-4 win in the home finale.
Texas-Tyler utility player/designated hitter Kevan House, Louisiana College right-handed pitcher Seth Webster, Howard Payne outfielder Carlton Brown and Concordia Texas right-handed pitcher Ryan Ullmann all earned top individual honors to highlight the 2013 American Southwest Conference baseball awards, following a division-only vote by head coaches.
House (Whitehouse, Texas / Texas-Permian Basin) earned the title of East Division Player of the Year after batting .378 with eight home runs, six triples, 14 doubles and 42 RBIs. The 6-foot, 210-pound junior, who also helped fuel conference and division titles, led the league with 109 total bases and scored 35 runs.
Webster (Deville, La. / Nicholls State), a 6-foot-5, 210-pound senior, earned was named East Division Pitcher of the Year after going 10-3 with a 1.77 ERA. He struck out 65 batters and walked just eight over 91 2/3 innings. Webster's win total led the league as well as his 11 complete games and four shutouts.
Brown (Arlington, Texas / Mansfield Legacy HS) earned was named West Division Player of the Year after hitting .341 with two home runs, six triples, 12 doubles and 30 RBIs. The 6-1, 190-pound senior also went 5-2 on the mound with three saves and struck out 24 over 23 2/3 innings.
Ullmann (Bryan, Texas / BHS), a 6-foot-6, 225-pound senior, was named West Division Pitcher of the Year after going 6-4 with a 1.53 ERA and 61 strikeouts over 76 2/3 innings. He went the distance in seven games and logged four shutouts. Opponents hit just .223 off Ullmann, who did not allow a home run.
House, Webster, Brown and Ullmann were all first team selections in their respective divisions. House also doubled as East Division Newcomer of the Year.
Other East Division award winners included East Texas Baptist outfielder Tyler Bates (Alvarado, Texas / AHS), who was named freshman of the year after hitting 14 doubles and stealing 10 bases. Texas-Tyler senior third baseman T.J. Martin (Plano, Texas / Bishop Lynch HS) was voted ASC East Division Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year.
Other West Division award winners included Mary Hardin-Baylor freshman designated hitter Zack Whiddon (Katy, Texas / Alvin CC), who was tabbed newcomer of the year after recording six triples and 28 RBIs. Concordia Texas first baseman Connor Bertsch (Fayetteville, Texas / FHS) and Hardin-Simmons designated hitter Colson Craddick (Lubbock, Texas / Monterey HS) shared the West Division Freshman of the Year award. Bertsch had seven doubles and 22 walks, while Craddick totaled eight doubles and 20 walks. Schreiner senior first baseman Chris Whitehead (Edna, Texas / Texas A&M-Kingsville) was named the division's sportsmanship athlete of the year.
Louisiana College (Mike Byrnes, Matt Byrnes, James Halle, Andrew Shelton, Stuart Morgan) earned the East Division coaching staff of the year award. Texas Lutheran (Greg Burnett, Rick Heines, Pat Burns, Fla Strawn) was honored as top staff in the West Division. Head coach Byrnes and the Wildcats finished as conference runner-ups for the first time in program history, while head coach Burnett and the Bulldogs captured a division crown.
NOTE: ASC baseball awards are given only at the division level.
-ASC EAST DIVISION BASEBALL AWARDS-
East Division Player of the Year: Kevan House, UTL/DH, Jr., Texas-Tyler
East Division Pitcher of the Year: Seth Webster, RHP, Sr., Louisiana College
East Division Newcomer of the Year: Kevan House, UTL/DH, Jr., Texas-Tyler
East Division Freshman of the Year: Tyler Bates, OF, East Texas Baptist
East Division Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year: T.J. Martin, 3B, Sr., Texas-Tyler
East Division Coaching Staff of the Year:
Louisiana College (Mike Byrnes, Matt Byrnes, James Halle, Andrew Shelton, Stuart Morgan)
(Listed in order of voting point totals; # indicates tie in voting at that position)
ALL-EAST DIVISION FIRST TEAM
1B Issac Tijerina Sr. Texas-Tyler San Antonio, Texas (Texas Lutheran)
2B Jacob Price Sr. Texas-Dallas Mesquite, Texas (Richland College)
SS Mitchell Powers Sr. Ozarks North Little Rock, Ark. (CAC)
3B T.J. Martin Sr. Texas-Tyler Plano, Texas (Bishop Lynch HS)
C Kyle Feazell# Jr. Louisiana College Elmer, La. (Belhaven)
Sam Shook# So. Ozarks Katy, Texas (Cinco Ranch HS)
OF Freddy Prince Jr. Ozarks Jonesboro, Ark. (Westside HS)
Jeremy Pinder Jr. East Texas Baptist Jasper, Texas (Texas Wesleyan)
Tyler Bates Fr. East Texas Baptist Alvarado, Texas (AHS)
DH Phillip Windham Jr. East Texas Baptist Keithville, La. (Itawamba CC)
UTL Kevan House Jr. Texas-Tyler Whitehouse, Texas (Texas-Permian Basin)
SP Seth Webster Sr. Louisiana College Deville, La. (Nicholls State)
Curt Copeland Jr. LeTourneau Tyler, Texas (NE Okla. A&M)
Jordan Marah Jr. Texas-Tyler Conroe, Texas (Northwood)
RP Derek Miller Sr. Texas-Tyler Flint, Texas (Tyler JC)
ALL-EAST DIVISION SECOND TEAM
1B Brett Hightower Sr. Mississippi College Hurst, Texas (Texas-Tyler)
2B Cary Myers# So. Louisiana College Zachary, La. (ZHS)
Josh Perez# Sr. Mississippi College New Iberia, La. (Baton Rouge CC)
SS Bryce Griffin Jr. LeTourneau Corona, Calif. (New Mexico State)
3B Ryan Bertram So. LeTourneau Friendswood, Texas (Baytown Christian)
C Cayden Cunniff Sr. Texas-Tyler Joshua, Texas (JHS)
OF Cole Bagbey Sr. Louisiana College Monroe, La. (Sterlington HS)
Mark Riendeau So. Louisiana College Carlsbad, Calif. (Tri-City Christian)
Sam Lane# Fr. Texas-Tyler Plano, Texas (Plano East HS)
Derick Smith# So. Texas-Tyler White Oak, Texas (Panola JC)
DH Kevan House Jr. Texas-Tyler Whitehouse, Texas (Texas-Permian Basin)
UTL Taylor Beavers Jr. Louisiana College Georgetown, La. (Tioga HS)
SP Calvin Campbell# So. Texas-Dallas Plano, Texas (Plano Senior HS)
Chance Cotton# Sr. Texas-Tyler Van, Texas (East Texas Baptist)
RP Jordan Price Jr. LeTourneau Longview, Texas (Diana HS)
Matt Sheppard Sr. Texas-Tyler Humble, Texas (Tyler JC)
Honorable Mention
1B Garrett Methvin Jr. LeTourneau Longview, Texas (Arkansas)
2B Nick Brill Sr. Ozarks Siloam Springs Ark. (SSHS)
Jeff Kosta Sr. Texas-Tyler Mississauga, Ontario (Arkansas-Monticello)
SS Will Allen Sr. Texas-Tyler Arp, Texas (Tyler JC)
Zak Anderson Sr. Texas-Dallas Heath, Texas (Tyler JC)
3B Tim Cole Fr. Texas-Dallas Carlsbad, Calif. (Roosevelt)
C Trevor Clifton Jr. Texas-Dallas Cypress, Texas (Tyler JC)
OF Kyle Blount# Jr. Mississippi College Independence, Miss. (NW Miss. CC)
Daniel Saxon# Sr. Texas-Dallas Wylie, Texas (WHS)
UTL Micah Easterling# So. Texas-Dallas Denton, Texas (Ponder HS)
Taylor Parker# So. Ozarks Hot Springs, Ark. (Lakeside HS)
SP Brooks Fortenberry So. Mississippi College Magee, Miss. (MHS)
RP Ryan Lynch So. Texas-Dallas Crowley, Texas (Eastfield)
-ASC WEST DIVISION BASEBALL AWARDS-
West Division Player of the Year: Carlton Brown, OF, Sr., Howard Payne
West Division Pitcher of the Year: Ryan Ullmann, RHP, Sr., Concordia Texas
West Division Newcomer of the Year: Zack Whiddon, DH, Fr., Mary Hardin-Baylor
West Division Co-Freshmen of the Year:
Connor Bertsch, 1B, Concordia Texas; Colson Craddick, DH, Hardin-Simmons
West Division Sportsmanship Athlete of the Year: Chris Whitehead, 1B, Sr., Schreiner
West Division Coaching Staff of the Year:
Texas Lutheran (Greg Burnett, Rick Heines, Pat Burns, Fla Strawn)
(Listed in order of voting point totals; # indicates tie in voting at that position)
ALL-WEST DIVISION FIRST TEAM
1B Chris Whitehead Sr. Schreiner Edna, Texas (Texas A&M-Kingsville)
2B Marcus Uechi Jr. Hardin-Simmons San Antonio, Texas (Marshall)
SS Josh Vasquez So. Sul Ross State Lubbock, Texas (Frenship HS)
3B Jennings Boothe Sr. Texas Lutheran Cuero, Texas (CHS)
C Chase Valdez Jr. Schreiner Katy, Texas (Morton Ranch HS)
OF Carlton Brown Sr. Howard Payne Arlington, Texas (Mansfield Legacy HS)
Andrew Bell Sr. Hardin-Simmons Odessa, Texas (Permian HS)
Tony Gennusa# So. Texas Lutheran Kingwood. Texas (KHS)
Brent Shaekel# Jr. Concordia Texas Houston, Texas (Concordia Lutheran)
DH Derek Kansas Sr. Texas Lutheran New Braunfels, Texas (Canyon HS)
UTL Sam Dollahite Sr. Howard Payne Highland Village, Texas (Liberty Christian HS)
SP Ryan Ullmann Sr. Concordia Texas Bryan, Texas (BHS)
James Simmons Sr. Hardin-Simmons Abilene, Texas (Cisco JC)
RP Sean Kistler Sr. Texas Lutheran Conroe, Texas (CHS)
Tyler Brunneman Sr. Hardin-Simmons Garden Ridge, Texas (GRHS)
ALL-WEST DIVISION SECOND TEAM
1B Klaus Bohrmann So. Texas Lutheran San Antonio, Texas (Johnson HS)
2B Seth Mogavero Sr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Robinson, Texas (RHS)
SS Pete Trevino Sr. Schreiner Alice, Texas (AHS)
3B Houston Holmes Sr. Howard Payne Brownwood, Texas (BHS)
C Ryan Hill Jr. Texas Lutheran New Braunfels, Texas (NBHS)
OF Christian DeBlanc Jr. Texas Lutheran Kingwood, Texas (KHS)
Chris Florack Sr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Houston, Texas (Cy Woods HS)
Jake Sadler So. Howard Payne Liberty Hill, Texas (LHHS)
DH Dakota Dill Sr. Sul Ross State Spring, Texas (Univ. of Houston)
UTL Heath Spencer Jr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Temple, Texas (THS)
SP Jeff Spillane Sr. Texas Lutheran Houston, Texas (Angelina)
Dakota Dill Sr. Sul Ross State Spring, Texas (Univ. of Houston)
Chance Ryan Sr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Lott, Texas (Rosebud-Lott HS)
RP Austin Rupert Sr. Concordia Texas Houston, Texas (Langham Creek)
Honorable Mention
1B Troy Nicholson Jr. Hardin-Simmons Lubbock, Texas (Monterey HS)
2B Marco Carreon Fr. Schreiner San Antonio, Texas (Central HS)
SS Jon Finney Jr. Hardin-Simmons Lubbock, Texas (Monterey HS)
Zach Jacobs So. Texas Lutheran Brenham, Texas (BHS)
C Emmert Crisp So. Sul Ross State Del Rio, Texas (DRHS)
Robert Loewe Jr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Waller, Texas (Temple College)
OF Tyler Carollo# Jr. Texas Lutheran Houston, Texas (Waltrip HS)
Brian Lalima# Sr. Sul Ross State Spring, Texas (Montgomery CC)
DH Chance Leissner# Jr. Concordia Texas Bay City, Texas (Alvin CC)
Zack Whiddon# Fr. Mary Hardin-Baylor Katy, Texas (Alvin CC)
Colson Craddick Fr. Hardin-Simmons Lubbock, Texas (Monterey HS)
SP Aaron Aleman So. Texas Lutheran Corpus Christi, Texas (Incarnate Word)
