(Victoria, Tx) The Victoria Generals of The Texas League are pleased to announce the addition of two more pitchers to their roster for the upcoming summer, including a local phenom. Head Coach Chris Clemons, a former big league pitcher himself, is assembling a nice staff.
Blake Payne a Right hander at Seminole State College in Oklahoma will return home for the Generals Inaugural season. Blake, a 6′ 2″ 170 pounder was a Two (2) year Letterman in Baseball, 2007 District & Bi-District Champions advancing to State Playoffs while throwing in high school.
Ralph Escalona, the Memorial HS assistant Athletic Director was Blake’s baseball coach and said he was,”…one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever coached.” Escalona also noted that, “Blake was one of those kids that just had a burning desire to win, and I know he’s going to be a successful pitcher for the Generals because of that work ethic.”
Clemons is is also pleased that Tom Filip a Junior RHP from Baylor University will stay in Texas for the summer. Filip hails from Granite Hills H.S. in Apple Valley, California.
Filip comes with a nice pitching resume (from the Baylor website):
SUMMER 2008
Pitched for the DuPage County Dragons of the Central Illinois Collegiate League … Led Dragons to a 26-22 record … Appeared in 14 games with three starts … Posted a 1-3 record with a 4.72 ERA and one save … Logged 18 strikeouts in 34.1 innings.
2008 (FRESHMAN)
Appeared in three games, all in relief, with two outings in Big 12 play … Allowed a run on a hit and a walk with two strikeouts in 1.0 inning against Illinois (2/29) … Surrendered a run on two hits in an inning of work at Oklahoma (3/28) … Tossed 1.0 scoreless frame with a strikeout in the second game of the Nebraska series (4/26).
SUMMER 2007
Pitched for the DuPage Dragons of the Central Illinois League … Helped Dragons to a 25-25 record … Made 19 appearances with three starts … Was 4-3 with a 3.09 ERA and 47 strikeouts over 46.2 innings.
2007 (REDSHIRT)
Sat out season as a non-medical redshirt.
HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Granite Hills High School in Apple Valley, Calif. … Pitched and played first, second and outfield for head coach Tyler Scurlock … Led Granite Hills to Desert Sky League title as a sophomore in 2004 and DSL runner-up finishes in 2003 and 2006 … Three-time all-league pitcher and team pitcher of the year … Named Apple Valley Daily Press All-Area during junior and senior seasons … Desert Sky League Player of the Year, Daily Press Athlete of the Year and first-team all-state southern section as a senior … Named to all-tournament team at 2006 Perfect Game Winter BCS in Hawai’i … Posted an 8-2 record with six complete games, a 1.27 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 71.1 innings as a senior … Hit .471 with three home runs, 11 doubles, 18 RBI, 27 runs, a .570 on base percentage, a .757 slugging percentage and a 17-game hitting streak in 2006 … Established single-season school records for doubles, stolen bases (batting) and strikeouts (pitching) … Graduated 28th out of 482.
Baylor Head Coach Steve Smith said,”Tom is an outstanding young man with a great breaking ball. He should be a welcome addition to the Generals.”
The Generals season begins on the road June 5th, with the Home Opener on June 11th at Riverside Park.
