Sandi Draper
Stephen Burke
Donna Leftwich
Rusty Leftwich
Michelle Norris
Brenda Sellers
Mark Tomaszewski
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UPDATED 2/9/12
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Updated 2/29/12
March 26, 2012
Reporting from Richardson, TX
PSO Board member Mark Tomaszewski reports:
Lots to like, lots to be proud of from the weekend in Dallas:
Respect — That’s what is gained when a team with a 1-5 conference record (LETU) beats a team with a 5-1 conference record (UT-Dallas) two out of three. If you attended the series not knowing the records of the teams, it was hard to tell which was which in Games 1 and 2. The Yellow Jackets looked just as good as UT-Dallas … even better in some aspects. Tremendous performances all around by the Yellow Jackets. Great starting pitching performances from Ryan Whitehead and Travis Norris. Key hits at key times. Aggressive base-running. And a nifty double-play in the final inning of Game 2 to relieve the pressure!
Resilience — The Yellow Jackets never quit. We have played the entire season with two key all-conference players out for the season because of injury. The Jackets suffered another blow with the injury to Brent Sellers in Game 3. It’s horrible to see anyone go down with an injury. But if you weren’t there, you missed one of the most remarkable efforts you will see on the baseball field. Brent ran into the left field fence while on an all-out sprint to try to catch a ball. After an audible crash that knocked him flat, Brent still had the wherewithal to get up and throw the ball back into the infield, keeping two more runs from scoring. Brent’s strong play in the field, at the plate (he leads the club in home runs) and on the basepaths (he stole second and third on consecutive pitches Friday) will be sorely missed. But his effort on the field — to keep fighting despite the records, despite the injuries — will inspire his replacements. (Brent's mom gives us an update on his condition below.)
Reunion — The LETU baseball family is strong in numbers. (And the umpires probably would attest that we do a good job of keeping them honest!). LETU had more friends and family in attendance than the home team. The fan base and interest level has grown tremendously in the four years Nate has been a Yellow Jacket. This season's between-game lunches that the parents provide for the players are quite impressive. (I have snagged a few left-overs!) It’s wonderful to see so many families be able to pitch in throughout the season. As most of you know, Nate has no “blood” relatives in Texas. But he has definitely developed an “ETF” — Extended Texas Family. He has been very fortunate to have so many people offer support, occasional housing and, of course, food (his eating exploits are legendary). One special member of Nate’s ETF is Mike Kelly, an ice hockey coach and all-around great guy who lives in Dallas. During his freshman year at LETU, Nate played on Mike’s 18-under Midget team. Mike also is a sports fan (or nut!) in general, and has come out to see LETU whenever they are in Dallas (he was there for Nate’s first college home run, at UT-D in 2009.) Anyway, Mike was in attendance Friday and Saturday — he, too, agree that the Yellow Jackets have come a long way in the past 4 years. Thanks, Mike, for your continued support!
PSO coordinator Sandi Draper reports:
The Jackets baseball team even has some four-legged fans in regular attendance.
Right, one of the Bertram family dogs gives Jackets player Chris a playful chomp on the neck. Left, Tomaszewski dog Sparky traveled all the way from California to root the team to victory, though given the chance he likes to nibble on Texas greenery.
Brenda Sellers reports that son Brent is in a white cast from his fingers to above the elbow. "I think he wanted a color (cast), but now everyone needs to go by and sign it!" Brent got out of the hospital Sunday morning and was driven back to Longview by some friends.
In a sad bit of irony, the other Sellers son, Sean, tore the MCL in his left knee an hour after Brent broke his wrist. Sean Sellers plays third base for Edmunds Community College in Washington state. Brenda was in Washington watching him play while dad Greg was in Richardson watching Brent play. "We were all in ICU at the same time, both boys out for their season," Brenda says.
"We were overwhelmed with the support Brent has from the team, and other LETU friends. His girlfriend, Brooklyn has been great too!" Brenda says. "As a mom, I just hope he can heal and not get to down
about it over the next few weeks."
Our best for a full and speedy recovery for both Sellers baseball players!
Hope to see a large fan base as the team goes up against East Texas Baptist University on Friday and Saturday, March 30-31. And don't forget our rescheduled games against Southwest Assemblies of God (fogged out home openers) on Tuesday April 3.
GO JACKETS!!!!!
March 1, 2012
Reporting on Tuesday, Feb. 28 from Irving, TX
PSO Board member Mark Tomaszewski reports:
LeTourneau baseball fans had much to be proud of on Tuesday in the doubleheader against the University of Dallas.
First of all, from my count, LETU had more fans in attendance than the home team! LeTourneau fan support and attendance – from both parents and students -- has increased dramatically this season.
(Of special note, I wanted to give a shout-out to special LETU fan Michael Kelly of Dallas. Mike was part of the LETU fan base at the game, and he endured listening to the “advice” that Rusty Leftwich and I had for the home plate umpire. Mike is a special friend; he coaches ice hockey in Dallas, and, Nate, as a freshman at LETU, was captain of Mike’s team. Nate often would spend “hockey weekend’s” at Mike’s house — I’m sure his refrigerator has yet to fully recover. Mike comes out to see LETU play a few times every year. He’s a “good luck charm” of sorts; in 2009, he was at an LETU game at UT Dallas when Nate, as a pinch hitter, hit his first collegiate home run.)
And from what I can gather, the LETU fan base will be well represented again this weekend in Austin. I’m happy to say that Nate will have a full contingent of fans as part of the group.
As for the action on the field, Game 1 was one best LETU victories that I have witnessed in four years!
UD was 9-2 coming into the game — our early schedule has been brutally tough this year -- and I was concerned that our club would be down after 3 tough losses last weekend.
Fear not!
We jumped to a 3-0 lead with timely hitting and great pitching. Even tough UD came back to go up 4-3, the Jackets responded with a 5-run inning that was ignited by clutch hits from Jay Lutz and Daniel Francis. An 8-5 victory over UD at their own field is a great achievement and confidence booster.
Perseverance is a hallmark of this team. The Jackets don’t quit — they constantly come from behind — and that approach will lead to more victories down the road. It’s very rewarding to see the hard work of Coach Harriss and Coach Gentry pay off; I’m very happy for them.
See you Friday.
PSO Board Coordinator Sandi Draper reports:
You would think into my fourth season as a California resident trying to keep tabs on LeTourneau Jackets baseball that I would be accustomed to the dullness of "Live Stats," the static, slow-to-update screen that I stare at to follow the games. Somehow, games lose a little excitement when you're awaiting typed input on any given player's at-bat. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse after "watching" the Live Stats from the Feb. 24-25 games against Texas Lutheran ... imagine my surprise on Feb. 28 when there was a media blackout on our double-header against University of Dallas. That school doesn't even provide Live Stats. Who'da thunk I would actually miss Live Stats.
Luckily for me, I'm travelling to Austin this weekend and will get to see all the action up close and personal. After that, I hope to spend a couple weeks in Longview — annoying Nate (except when I'm feeding him) and taking in as much baseball as possible during his final year at LETU.
I've talked briefly with Coach Harriss about improving LETU's game coverage. If any of you watched our opening game against Concordia, you'd know what I mean. Concordia provides
a behind-the-plate video feed of home games. Coach says the video coverage runs several hundred dollars a game — which would turn into a big chuck of change out of the baseball budget. Do any fellow parents want to explore this option with me? Perhaps while I'm in Longview the last two weeks of March, we could meet with Coach and explore the idea of finding a local sponsorship for game broadcasts. Won't help me for Nate's final season at LETU, but it would be a nice legacy to leave for the baseball program. And it would be a great complement to the field improvements pictured here — lights for night games, seat-back bleachers, etc. — that LETU has already accomplished.
Off to pack for my Austin trip … GO JACKETS!!!!!
Feb. 19, 2012
Reporting from the (improved) field
PSO Board member Mark Tomaszewski reports:
I went to my first LeTourneau baseball game of the season on Saturday ... and a women's basketball game broke out.
This being Nate's final season at LeTourneau, I am hoping to attend as many games as possible this spring; this is a tough "assignment" while living in California. I was, however, able to get the game scheduled for Feb. 18 against Castleton State of Vermont on my list as part of a business trip that ended in Miami.
It looked simple: Arrive at Longview Airport (GGG) on Saturday at 11 a.m., head to Conrad-Vernon Field for the 2 p.m. game, have a Saturday night dinner with Nate, then head back to California at 11:30 Sunday morning.
Then weather.com rained on my parade.
By Thursday the forecast didn't look good — and this was after the now-famous fog out of the first night game on Wednesday — and the rains came as predicted on Friday and Saturday.
When Nate picked me up at the airport, he greeted me with his obligatory "When do we eat?", and then told me we were going to watch the women's basketball team vie for a conference playoff spot because the baseball game had been postponed. The baseball game was rescheduled for Sunday at 2 — bad news for me, because I had to go through the hassle of changing flights, and good news for Nate because I could do his six loads of laundry Sunday morning.
As for the game, stellar pitching by Travis Norris, Ray Whitley and Kirby Cantalamesa and timely hitting by Chris Bertram propelled the Yellow Jackets to a 2-1 victory. The defense was solid and made the routine plays that are needed to win close games. I am confident the bats will soon come alive.
As for venerable Conrad-Vernon ... Wow! What a difference from the first time I saw the field in the Spring of 2008 when Nathan and I made our recruiting visit.
Chain link fencing -- gone.
Uncomfortable bleachers -- gone.
Outdated scoreboard -- gone.
Antiquated sound system -- gone.
I hope to share more thoughts on my four years as a LeTourneau parent as the season progreses. But for now, I want to deliver the message for everyone to get out to the new and improved Conrad-Vernon as much as possible to see all of the exciting improvements!
In fact, I'll be back this week for the series against Texas Lutheran.
See you soon!
Mark T.
PS No. 1 — My travels are nothing to those of the Castleton baseball team — a 36-hour train ride from Vermont to Texas!
PS No. 2 — The women's basketball team, playing without their best player, put up a valiant effort before falling and missing the playoffs.
Until we blog again … GO JACKETS!!!!!
Feb. 10, 2012
Greetings Jackets Baseball Fans:
We’re going to try something new this season by including a weekly blog on the PSO website. As Parent Support Organization coordinator for the season, I’d like to introduce you to our board members. We have returning members Brenda Sellers, mother of pitcher Brent Sellers; Stephen Burke, father of pitcher Jeremy Burke; Michelle Norris, mother of pitcher Travis Norris; Mark Tomaszewski, father of first baseman-outfielder Nate Tomaszewski. And Sandi Draper — that’s me — seems to have found herself as PSO coordinator by default. I am Nate’s mom.
Joining us on the board this year are Rusty and Donna Leftwich, whose youngest son Matt has joined the Jackets this season. One of the nice things about having the Leftwiches on board is that they are local to Longview and could help us if we try to do some community outreach, perhaps with a Little League day at Conrad-Vernon Stadium.
Just as an FYI, the Norris, Tomaszewski & Draper board members will be “graduating” this Spring — Good Lord willing! If you are interested in knowing more about the PSO, what we do and how you can join the board, you are always free to browse our website, jacketsbaseballfans.com. (Actually, if you're reading this, you're on it ~ nose around.) And, of course, at games feel free to chat with any or all of us about the PSO. (Maybe not in the middle of our son's pitching rotation or our son’s at-bat, though.)
Of course, Ken also asked us to pass along a plug for La Hacienda RV Resort & Cottages, which he owns and which he tells us is 10 minutes from the Concordia stadium. It's too late for this Austin trip, but you might want to check him out for the March 2-3 games. He offers a discounted rate for parents/fans coming to Concordia. Simply mention "Tornado Baseball" and you’ll get 10% off your reservation. (He won’t even hold it against you if you root for LeTourneau.) For detailed information and reservations, visit www.lahaciendarvpark.com.
So, until we blog again … GO JACKETS!!!!!
Last updated on Monday, March 26, 2012