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28/01/2010 14:02
Russell LaFleur is already attracting attention in 2010, and he hasn’t even picked up a bat yet.
The University of Missouri junior was selected as a “Player to Watch in 2010” by “Summer Ball”, a national blog dedicated to summer collegiate baseball. The site has selected several players this off-season that it believes are poised to burst onto the national scene in 2010. The site can be found by clicking here, and the story can be found here.
LaFleur has signed to return to East Texas this summer, where he will be joined by fellow All-TCL performer Greg Fontenot.
LaFleur already had a breakout season with the Pump Jacks in 2009, when he earned All-TCL honors. He shined on the basepaths, leading the Jacks and finishing second in the league with 11 stolen bases – a figure that would have been higher had he not been limited by a nagging back injury. LaFleur batted .276, third among Pump Jacks regulars, with an on-base percentage of .375, the second-best figure on the team. He also finished among team leaders in hits (34, third), walks (17, tied for third), and runs (22, fourth).
The Katy native distinguished himself with more than just statistics, though. His enthusiasm and ever-present smile were a boon to players and fans, even as he played through pain. He proved to be a model player and teammate, quickly establishing himself as a fan favorite.
Upon returning to campus, LaFleur showed the Mizzou coaching staff he was ready to shine. In the first game of the Tigers’ Fall World Series, LaFleur hit a game-tying three-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings. He went on to star for the Gold team with five RBI and four runs scored in four games.
LaFleur was joined on the Gold team by former Pump Jack and 2009 All-TCL catcher Brett Nicholas. Nicholas, who transferred to Missouri after his sophomore season at Scottsdale Community College, made a big splash in the Fall World Series as well. The 2009 TCL RBI champion batted .384 (5-for-13) with five RBI, tying with LaFleur for the second-highest RBI total in the series.
LaFleur, Nicholas, and the Tigers open the 2010 season February 19 against Gonzaga as part of the Collegiate Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz.
The Pump Jacks season will kick off on the road on June 2, with the home opener set for Friday, June 4, against the North Texas Copperheads. The Jacks will play a 56-game season in 2010 with 28 home games, both record highs. The full schedule can be found by clicking here.
Season tickets for the 2010 season are on sale now. Despite the longer schedule, season ticket prices have not changed since the Pump Jacks arrived in East Texas in 2008. Prices start at $105 – and $85 for children and seniors – saving fans as much as 25%. Season ticket information and an order form can be found here.
The Pump Jacks are expected to begin announcing more player signings as early as next week. To learn about new players as they are announced, and to follow all of the Pump Jacks preparations for the upcoming season, log on to the team’s official web site at www.pumpjacksbaseball.com. |
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