FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
The East Texas Pump Jacks today announced the signing of members of the Louisiana-Lafayette baseball team, as well as a pitcher from Centenary College.
Joining the Pump Jacks are infielder Greg Fontenot and pitcher Patrick Holloway, both Ragin’ Cajuns. Also coming to East Texas is Centenary sophomore Stephen Tromblee.
Fontenot, a sophomore middle infielder, has burst onto the scene this year. He leads the Cajuns with a .377 average, ranking among the Sun Belt Conference leaders in batting and hits (55). Fontenot is among the team leaders in hits, at-bats (146), runs (25), doubles (8), total bases (68), and on-base percentage (.417). He also knows how to turn it up when it counts, batting a whopping .432 in conference games. And all this production isn’t a result of being reckless at the plate; with just 15 strikeouts in 38 games, Fontenot is among the toughest in the Sun Belt to strike out.
The Lafayette native earned himself some hardware this spring when he was named both the Sun Belt Player of the Week and the Louisiana Sportswriters Hitter of the Week for the week ending April 5. Fontenot batted .583 (7-for-12) with six RBI, five runs scored to key a 4-0 week for the Cajuns. He had a pair of game-winning RBI and did the little things, too, with three sacrifice hits and two stolen bases.
Fontenot has come a long way from his freshman season just one year ago. He saw little action last spring, batting .176 in just 34 at-bats, usually as a late-inning replacement. He spent the summer with the Delhomme Drillers, helping lead them to the Louisiana state American Legion tournament.
At Acadiana High School, Fontenot was a three-time all-district selection and a member of the All-Acadiana team.
A redshirt freshman because of the Ragin’ Cajuns veteran pitching depth last year, Holloway has been used sparingly. Last summer, he kept his game up by pitching for the Hampton (N.Y.) Whalers of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. There, the lefthander led the Whalers staff in appearances and was third in innings pitched, going 1-1 with one save.
Holloway was a rising star for two years at Brother Martin High School in Metairie, just outside of New Orleans. But when Hurricane Katrina struck the area, his family relocated to Lafayette, where his father was raised. Holloway found a new home at Opelousas Catholic High School and made himself comfortable immediately, earning two all-district selections and a spot on the all-state team.
Tromblee, another lefty, has been one of the steadiest pitchers for the Gentlemen this spring. He boasts a 3-1 record and 3.55 ERA, second on the team, and he’s struck out 36 batters in 38 innings. He’s also demonstrated his versatility by starting five games and working out of the pen six times, earning three saves.
Tromblee transferred to Centenary after a freshman season at Blinn College that saw him go 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in five relief outings. He spent the summer pitching for the Brazos Valley Renegades summer program, posting a 6-2 record with a 2.46 ERA in nine appearances, seven of them starts.
A three-sport star at Columbus High School between Houston and Austin, where he was named to the all-district team as an outfielder and utility player.
The three newcomers give the Pump Jacks 16 players announced for this year’s squad. The Jacks also boast T.J. Geith, Brett Nicholas, and Ryan Oesterle of Scottsdale Community College; Joey Castleman, Daniel Gonzalez, Justin Howard, and Ben Woodchick from New Mexico; Rice pitchers Abel Gonzales, Mark Haynes, and Matt Reckling; Maryland’s A.J. Casario and Ian Schwalenberg; and returning hurler Chad Sherman out of Texas A&M.
Free Season Tickets: That’s right, free! With players this season coming to East Texas from across the country, the team is actively searching for host families. Host families enjoy the opportunity to have a potential future major leaguer live with them, forging a bond that lasts a lifetime. As an added bonus, host families receive FREE season tickets for everyone in their household. Click here or contact the Pump Jacks for more information.
The 2009 season is scheduled to begin on Friday, June 5, when the Pump Jacks host the league’s newest team, the Victoria Generals. The 48-game regular season will run through August 8, to be followed by the playoffs and TCL Championship Series. Fans can download a copy of the team’s schedule by clicking here.
Season tickets are currently on sale, with ticket packages starting as low as $105 – and $85 for children and seniors – for all 24 regular season home games. Box seat season tickets are also available, including Lower Box seats, which feature in-your-seat wait service all game long, every game. For more information on Pump Jacks season tickets, click here or contact the Jacks office at (903) 218-GO ET.
