We regret to report that Teague Head Baseball Coach Kyle Kilman passed away Sunday, July 26, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Coach Kilman just completed his 6th year at Teague and earlier this year picked up his 300th win as a Head Baseball Coach. He was one of the North All-Star Coaches for the 2012 1A/2A/3A All-Star Game. He had been a coach for 26 years and Head Baseball Coach for 21 years with coaching stints at Cross Roads, Lancaster, Groesbeck, and Manor before taking the Teague Head Baseball Coach job in 2009.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and the community of Teague.

After seven years at Carthage, Jim Goldman is leaving to take over the program at Central.  Goldman won 175 games to go along with the 2009 state championship in his time with the Bulldogs.

Dustin Russell, a catcher from the 09 team, will be joining Goldman as an assistant coach at Central.  Central is in 22-3A and in 2015 finished tied for 5th in the district with a 7-7 record.

http://www.news-journal.com/news/2015/jul/13/et-baseball-goldman-takes-post-at-central-goodwin-/

Photo courtesy of the Longview News-Journal.

Will Foster will take over the Ben Bolt program this season. Will is in his 4th year of coaching.  He hails from Mesquite, Texas where he played baseball and football at Mequite Poteet.  Poteet went to the football state championship game in 2007.  He played 2 years of football at ACU and was and student assistant there.  He will also be the offensive coordinator for Ben Bolt football.

THE JORDAN CASEY WRIGHT FOUNDATION RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE BASEBALL TOMORROW FUND

  (Celeste, TX) (Thursday, July 16, 2015) – The Jordan Casey Wright Foundation announced today that it was recently awarded a grant in the amount of $127,180 from the Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF). The grant will support Celeste Independent School District and provide funding for field lights. The field lighting equipment will be provided at a significant discount through a partnership between BTF and Musco Lighting, Inc., a leader in the sports lighting industry.

Purchasing field lights for Celeste High School’s baseball field has been more than fifteen-years-in-the-making with the first attempt made in 1999 when the field was originally constructed. Even though the task at hand came with an enormous price tag, $260,561.68 to be exact, this was the JCW Foundation’s first goal because baseball was Jordan’s favorite sport and this was an already-established desire shared by our small but strong community. We are excited because installing Musco’s Light Structure Green™ lighting system significantly extends practice field availability during the regular season and it allows both summer teams to begin practicing later in the evening, avoiding the extremely hot temperature of a Texas summer. Furthermore, Celeste can finally host tournaments throughout the year, and regular season home games can be scheduled later in the evening so that more community members, especially parents, can attend games after work.

Recipient Quotes

Jordan’s favorite Bible verses were James 1:2-4 which state, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” As Jordan’s eldest brother and president of the JCW Foundation, I have had a front-row seat to witnessing personal tragedy turn into something beautiful. Even though field lights could never brighten the darkness of losing my youngest brother, they can and will illuminate the night sky over Celeste, Texas, one practice, one game at a time.”

The Jordan Casey Wright Foundation President Joshua Eric Wright

“I would like to personally thank the Globe Life Texas Rangers Grant Program, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, Sharyland Utilities and all others who have donated to the Jordan Casey Wright Foundation to help us reach our goal. Through massive amounts of hard work and dedication, present and future student athletes of Celeste now have the privilege of playing America’s favorite pastime under state-of-the-art field lights.”

Celeste High School Head Baseball Coach Boe Parr

“On behalf of Celeste Independent School District, I would like to express my utmost appreciation to the JCW Foundation for the countless hours they have faithfully dedicated to this project in loving memory of Jordan Casey Wright as well as the Baseball Tomorrow Fund for their incredibly generous grant. This was a monumental task for our community, but hard work, persistence and generosity made this project possible.”

Celeste Independent School District Superintendent Brad Connelly

“After hearing about Jordan’s accident and JCW Foundation’s ambitious goal to provide field lights for the CHS baseball field, Musco Sports Lighting knew this was a project we wanted to support. Less than a year later, the lights are up and we could not be more thankful to have played a role in helping preserve Jordan’s legacy.”

Musco Sports Lighting Chris Johnson

Other major supporters of the project include (Sharyland Utilities, Celeste Independent School District, Solid Rock Fisheries, Globe Life Texas Rangers Grant Program, Carol McCaslin, Boe Parr, Jerry Ervin, Brad Connelly, Jeffrey Babers). The Jordan Casey Wright Foundation is still accepting in-kind and monetary contributions. Those interested in donating to the project may contact Joshua Eric Wright at JCWFoundation@gmail.com or (903) 408-7496.

About the Baseball Tomorrow Fund

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is a joint initiative between the Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball designed to promote the growth of youth baseball and softball throughout the world by awarding grants to support field renovation and construction projects, equipment and uniform purchases, coaches training material and other selected program expenses. Since its formation by the MLBPA and MLB in 1999, BTF has awarded more than 800 grants totaling over $27 million to non-profit and tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia. BTF also facilitates league-wide initiatives including the collection and distribution of new and gently used equipment to organizations in need as well as field maintenance education clinics. For more information, visit baseballtomorrowfund.com and follow BTF on Facebook, Twitter and MLBlogs.

About Musco

Musco Sports Lighting, a proud partner of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, has specialized in the design and manufacture of athletic field lighting for over 35 years. Recognized around the globe as the world-class leader in sports lighting, Musco’s Green Generation Lighting® enhances the playing of Americas favorite pastime while cutting energy costs and the impact on the environment. Working with many prestigious organizations worldwide, Musco has played a key role in developing guidelines for safe, efficient sports facilities. Musco is a proud partner with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Little League® Baseball and Softball, Babe Ruth League, Minor League Baseball, and the Amateur Softball Association. For more about Musco Sports Lighting, visit www.musco.com.

About the Jordan Casey Wright Foundation

Conceived in loving memory of Jordan Casey Wright, the JCW Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance for underprivileged athletic programs and student athletes. With strong initiative, the JCW Foundation has secured over $250,000 worth of support thanks to the generosity of programs and organizations such as the Globe Life Texas Rangers Grant Program, MUSCO Sports Lighting, and especially the Baseball Tomorrow Fund. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Celeste, TX to serve over 200 student athletes, the JCW Foundation connects underprivileged student athletes with financial sponsors through the CYSA Student Sponsorship Program as well as presents the annual JCW Foundation Scholarship to one, graduating CHS senior who demonstrates athletic involvement and honorable character. Visit www.jordancaseywright.org for more information.

July 30, 2015 Lighting Ceremony Invitation

After losing Jordan in a car accident on December 30, 2013, my family and I created the Jordan Casey Wright Foundation in his honor.  Because baseball was his favorite sport and lack of funding had already led to three, failed attempts to purchase field lights for Celeste High School, we soon began raising support to purchase Musco’s Light Structure Green™ lighting system.

Even though our organization was less than a year old, the Texas Rangers stepped up to the plate by awarding the JCW Foundation a $10,000 grant on September 10, 2014!  This support not only validated our organization in its infancy, but it also helped us become a finalist on March 31, 2015 for a Baseball Tomorrow Fund Grant. The grant, in the amount of $127,180.84, was the balance needed to purchase field lights.  On April 20, 2015, the grant was awarded; and on June 27, 2015, those lights were installed!

All this to say, as Jordan’s brother and president of the JCW Foundation, I have had a front-row seat to witnessing how much a community can be impacted by prayer, a little hard work and a whole lot of faith.  We could not have done this without you, so we don’t want to celebrate without you either.  Whether you bought a bracelet, said a prayer or wrote a check, you are officially and personally invited to join us on July 30, 2015, what would have been Jordan’s 18^th birthday, at 8PM for a field lighting ceremony and a celebratory softball game between Jordan’s teammates and community adults who played a major role in this project’s success.

Sincerely,

JCW Foundation President and Jordan’s brother

Josh Wright

Please RSVP via jcwfoundation@gmail.com by Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Jordan Casey Wright Foundation Event Schedule

• JCW Foundation Lighting Ceremony and Softball GameCHS Baseball Field – 609 FM 1562 Celeste, TX 75423
• Thursday, July 30, 2015 at 8:00pm
• 1^st Annual JCW Foundation TournamentCHS Baseball Field – 609 FM 1562 Celeste, TX 75423
• Saturday, August 1^st and Sunday August 2^nd 2015
• Josh Wright Acoustic Concert Benefiting the JCW FoundationHighland Terrace Baptist Church – 3939 Joe Ramsey Blvd. E, Greenville, TX 75401
• Sunday, August 2^nd, 2015 at 6:00pm
• Begin Raising Support for a New Celeste High Football, Track and Field Sports Complex
• Monday, August 3^rd, 2015

After 8 years at Fort Stockton, Coach Scotty Bruington will take over as the Head Coach in Floydada.  In 2015, Coach Bruington took Fort Stockton to the Regional Semi Finals and several players from this team will be playing college ball.  Good luck at Floydada.

Justin Swenson has taken the head job at 4A Stephenville. Swenson comes over from Iowa Park, where he was an assistant coach under his brother, Michael Swenson. Justin has been at Iowa Park for 4 years, including being the hitting coach the past two seasons.

Coach Swenson has had success in the past with the Hawks, and feels he is ready to take the reigns of another top program.

“I have been apart of one of the top baseball programs in 4A the past couple of years and I feel that it has prepared me to start my own. I’m thankful to Stephenville for giving me this opportunity and they will not be disappointed.

Stephenville finished the 2015 season at 12-14 with an area round playoff finish.

Somerville HS (26-2A) has announced the hiring of new head baseball coach Justin Garcia.

Louis Park will take the helm of the Celeste Baseball program after Coach Bo Parr left to be the Assistant at Caddo Mills. Coach Park was the Assistant Coach for Trenton when they went to the State Tournament in 2013. He left that year to teach and coach in Greenville. Coach Park is excited about returning to coaching. He stated they have a good looking bunch of young men with a great incoming Freshman class and Sophomore class. Combine that with the experience of the Junior and Senior Classes and the future of Celeste Baseball looks bright. Good luck in Celeste and Welcome back to District 12 Coach Park.

Crawford Senior Braden Murphy’s baseball season ended up one win short of the goal, but by most standards, his Senior year was an outstanding success. In many small schools, it is an unwritten requirement for athletes to be multi-sport athletes. Murphy was no exception. He excelled on the football field, the basketball court, the track and finish with the year playing in the last game of everyone’s baseball season. Although, he missed basketball season due to an ankle injury in football. His efforts were more than enough to be selected as the Waco Tribune’s Male Athlete of the Year Honor.  Murphy will play football at Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Congratulations Braden!

AJ Johnson, a third baseman from Decatur, has been chosen to play for the United States in the Tricolore Games in Italy.  The junior played a big role in the Eagles success this year in district 8-3A.  In 2015, Decatur won the district championship and finished the playoffs in the area round.  Johnson hit just under .450 during his junior season.

  http://www.wcmessenger.com/2015/sports/baseball-italian-job-decaturs-johnson-heads-to-italy-to-play-baseball/

After nearly 30 years and 775 career wins, Coach Gene Kasprzyk is ready for retirement. The long-time coach led the Pirates to 3 state championships in 1988, 1989, and 2002. Coach Kasprzyk and the Sinton Pirates ended the 2014 season with a 19-13 record, taking his team all the way to the regional semifinals before falling to El Campo, the regional champion out of region IV.

We had a chance to ask the legendary coach some questions about his career at Sinton.

1. What are some of the most memorable moments you had while at Sinton?

There are many so it is hard to single one out. The first state championship will always be special, an amazing group of young people.

I think hearing from his Dad that Mike Adams had gotten the call to the Big Leagues was pretty exciting for me, our first and only Big Leaguer so far. Seeing him pitch in the World Series was pretty neat.

The memories go more to the people than the accomplishments. We have been so fortunate to have such great kids and parents that support them.

It was really cool when Adrian Alaniz was selected to the UIL All Century team. (I think he was on the 2nd team…got beat out by some guy called Nolan Ryan and another called Roger Clemens.)

Some of my fondest memories are the players that excelled only at the high school level, too many to list. They were never going to play college or pro baseball and had no misconceptions about that. Those kids came and worked hard every day for their school, their community, their families, and their teammates. Those are the guys that make this job so special.

I am also proud to say we once had an immensely talented first base person that just happened to be a young lady. The way she attacked her practices earned the respect of every male teammate. This was before softball existed at SHS. What an honor it was to have coached her. She is in public education today and I am so proud of her.

2. Talk about the program and how you let and it and how you feel it is moving forward?

It was always my goal to establish a program that was able to compete year in and year out at the highest level. I think with the help of the community, school administration, and the parents in Sinton we were able to do that. It is a baseball town going back to the Plymouth Oilers and the folks in Sinton take their baseball very seriously. What they also do is leave you to your business and let you coach their kids, always expecting excellence both on and off the field. There are a lot of places with parents hovering around the dugout trying to coach their kid during the game or who come to practices to check up on the progress of their son. We have very little of that at Sinton.

The new regime has some very talented young people in place and others along the way. They will expect excellence as will the community and baseball will thrive in Sinton as it did before I got there under former Coach Atzenhoffer.

3. Any plans for retirement?

My immediate plans are to continue my work with the Corpus Christi Hooks as a broadcaster, travel more to tick off a long bucket list, read a bunch of books I have never gotten around to, and watch my girls grow into young adults. I’m guessing my wife is compiling a list of things to get done that always seemed to get put on hold!

4. Closing Thoughts

I never set out to be known as a baseball coach. I am equally proud of my years in the classroom at Three Rivers and Sinton High Schools. Baseball has always been a big part of my life thanks to my mom and her roots.  Her uncle pitched in the 1935 World Series for the Cubs.  My mother was always a huge baseball fan and I remember many trips to Houston to see the Colt 45’s and then the Astros. I have made so many lifelong friends in the baseball world I am truly fortunate. I hope I have given a small portion back to the game that has given me so much.