FWISD NAMES BASEBALL COMPLEX AFTER FORMER FORT WORTH CATS' PLAYER!!
Fort Worth, Texas - The Fort Worth ISD Board of Education has named the baseball complex and field at Trimble Tech High School the Yovani Gallardo Baseball Field.
Yovani Gallardo played baseball at Trimble Tech High School and graduated in 2004. He was selected as a second round draft pick and currently is a starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. In addition to being selected to his first All Star appearance during the 2010 season, he concluded a multi-million dollar contract that will keep him with the Brewers through the 2014 season.
Gallardo and his wife Patricia, also a Trimble Tech grad, live in Fort Worth with their son Yovani, Jr., who is in kindergarten.
(Arlington HS, Texarkana JC, UT Arlington)
Former Fort Worth Cat, Hunter Pence showed up to the 2010 spring training camp looking bigger, stronger and hungry for more success. Though he's getting to be more of a household name, Pence is still the same affable, energetic kid who turned heads with a .322 batting average as a rookie three years ago.
Last season, the 26-year-old earned his first All-Star selection by hitting .282 with 25 home runs and 72 RBIs. He's had 25 home runs in each of the last two seasons, and he increased his batting average by 13 points and his on-base percentage by 28 points from 2008. "I'm still trying to get better,'' Pence said. ``I feel like I had a great season last year. I learned a lot."
Who We Are....
The Fort Worth Cats baseball club is a select baseball team comprised of 15-18 year olds who yearn to play at the next level. Since their inception in 1989 every senior player that has wanted to play baseball at the next level has been awarded a scholarship offer.
Founder Jay Meadows, who ran the team from 1989 through the fall of 1995, has had all of his players - that's 100% - given scholarship offers to play baseball at the next level. After the fall of 1995, Jay decided it was time for a break so that he and his wife, Toni, could start up their family.
In 1999, with Jay's permission, the Fort Worth Cats were brought back by myself, Bruce Kirby. As an assistant coach for Jay, (1993-1995) I realized what a special program this was and what a wonderful goal he had in mind: to help further the education of these kids through athletics.
Now, as we are looking forward to the summer of 2010, we are working hard to make sure we stay at the level that Jay left this program. We are well on our way as we once again made sure that all 23 of our senior players from last summer, who wanted to play at the next level, are now attending college on a scholarship they were offered by the institution.
(Waxahachie HS, TCU)
Former Ft Worth Cat, Lance Broadway was called up on Tuesday (April 25) from AAA Charlotte. Lance came in middle relief on Tuesday night with the White Sox well behind and gave up two runs on five hits over 2.1 innings.
Luke Cannon Enjoying His Time in Pro Ball
On June 7, 2006, former Fort Worth Cat, Luke Cannon, was selected in the 21st round of the first-year player draft. Cannon was picked by
the San Diego Padres as the draft’s 633rd overall selection. He was the first Texas State Bobcat to be selected since Kyle Anson, Dominic Ramos and Chris Jean were picked a year ago.
“I’m very excited to go; it was a huge relief for me and my family,” Cannon said. “The opportunity to keep playing baseball is great.”
Cannon said he began to get nervous watching round after round pass by, after hearing rumors that he would go higher than he did.
The Crandall native had a breakout season in the batter’s box by claiming the school record in single-season home runs with 18. Along with his home runs came a .753 slugging percentage to pace the Southland Conference. He also led the team with 65 RBIs and a .347 batting average, compared to 27 and .228 in 2005. Cannon shared his thoughts on how he improved and remained consistent at the plate.
On being selected in the draft, Cannon does not have a favorite team in the big show; he is just glad a scout got in touch with him.
“I didn’t really have a team preference; I’m just happy to be playing,” Cannon said.