| Former Coyotes shine at the next level |
| Coyote News - Coyote Baseball | |||
| Wednesday, 10 March 2010 14:03 | |||
As the Weatherford College baseball team continues a successful season, former WC players are making their mark in a big way at the NCAA Division I level.
Photo: University of Texas Sports Photography
Former Coyote Paul Montalbano came off the bench Tuesday night to hit a game-winning RBI single for the Texas Longhorns in a 4-3 win over Texas State. Montalbano's heroics came in front of more than 6,500 fans at UT's Disch-Falk Field. Also in the Big 12, Oklahoma's Jeremy Erben is off to a 5-0 start with a staggering 0.54 ERA for the 12-1 Sooners. "When I see former players step in and have an immediate impact with some of the top programs in the country, it makes me realize how good junior college baseball is and how tough our region is, in particular," said Jeff Lightfoot, WC head coach. Steven Sultzbaugh went 3-for-4 Tuesday night for the Rice Owls. The former Conference MVP for the Coyotes is hitting .308 and starting in centerfield. TCU's Joe Weik is hitting .370 in the middle of the lineup. Weik has 10 RBI in the early going for the 9-2 Horned Frogs. Tyler Herriage and Garrett Smith are both playing critical roles for Stephen F. Austin. Herriage is the Lumberjacks' number one starter and off to a 2-0 start with a 4.40 ERA. Smith is hitting leadoff with a .310 batting average, 10 RBI and six stolen bases. Not to mention a number of former WC players in the professional ranks, gearing up in spring training camps across the country. "When you see a former Coyote have success at the next level, you need to understand that there is a network of people in Weatherford who supported and helped that student-athlete," Lightfoot said. "Whether it's a coach, an administrator, an instructor or community member, we all took part in helping that student get there. It feels good."
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