Apaches News
Wed, Jun 24, 2009 - [Baseball]
By JOE BUIE, Staff Writer, Tyler Morning Telegraph
 
The Tyler Junior College baseball team, which finished second in league play, had four players voted All-Metro Athletic Conference for the 2009 season.
 
Sophomore Jordon Vierra, whose .462 batting average ranked No. 2 in MAC play, joined teammates Jeff Pine, Payton Parsons and Drew Johnson as all-conference members from TJC.
  
Vierra, from Georgetown, was named all-conference as a first baseman. He missed 11 conference games with an injury but still drove in 29 runs and had three home runs. Vierra had 42 hits in 91 at-bats.

Pine, a freshman from Round Rock McNeil, made all-conference at third base. Pine hit .386 in 29 games with four home runs and 27 RBIs.

Parsons and Johnson, who were starting pitchers for the Apaches, combined for a 17-3 conference record. Parsons (7-2), another Round Rock McNeil product, was No. 2 in the MAC with a 2.41 ERA in 59 2-3 innings. He walked 25 and struck out 53.

Johnson (10-1), a freshman from Plano West, was fourth with a 3.30 ERA in 71 innings. He walked 15 and struck out 31.

Conference champion Richland swept the superlative honors with MVP K.C. Pfister and Pitcher of the Year Kirk Pritchett.

Pfister batted .429 with eight home runs and 41 RBIs in 35 conference games. Pritchett, a former standout at Corsicana Mildred High School, went 10-1 and led the league with 78 strikeouts.


All-Metro Athletic Conference Baseball Team
Most Valuable Player -- K.C. Pfister, Richland, Soph.

Pitcher Of The Year -- Kirk Pritchett, Richland, Fr.

Infielders -- 1B Jordon Vierra, Tyler, Soph.; 2B Chris Castillo, Richland, Soph.; SS Cody Stigall, Richland, Soph.; 3B Jeff Pine, Tyler, Fr.

Outfielders -- Corey Gummelt, Brookhaven, Fr.; Drew Haliford, North Lake, Soph.; Anthony Flenoy, Eastfield, Fr.

Catcher -- Colin Elmore, Richland, Soph.

Pitchers -- Chad Rogers, Richland, Fr.; Payton Parsons, Tyler, Fr.; Drew Johnson, Tyler, Fr.

Relief Pitcher -- Steven Richardson, Richland, Fr.

Designated Hitter -- Greg Govea, Cedar Valley, Fr.

Utility -- Trey Evans, Eastfield, Fr.