SEASON FOR THE BOOKS
May 13, 2008

FORT WORTH, TX:  The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team had one the program’s most successful seasons in 2008.  The Rams’ 42 wins were the third most in school history and the most since 1978 (52).  Texas Wesleyan finished third in Region VI, trailing only top ranked Lubbock Christian and fifth ranked Oklahoma City.  The team also set or tied 25 school records.

Amazingly head coach Mike Jeffcoat’s squad accomplished so much despite not having a single All-Region selection.  Steven DeFratus, the Red River Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, did get a nod for his glove, making the Region VI all-glove team, but no Rams made the All-Region squad.

One of the most productive offensive teams in school history, the team set school records with a .354 team batting average, a .430 team on base percentage, 494 runs scored, 690 hits, 139 doubles, 432 runs batted in, and 1,005 total bases.  Meanwhile their 110 stolen bases were the third most in school history.  The Rams also tied single game school records with 23 hits (vs. UT-Dallas and SW Assemblies of God), eight doubles (vs. SW Assemblies of God), and four double-plays turned (vs. Lubbock Christian).

Shortstop Butch Ballez led the offensive by hitting a team-high .418, while ranking second on the squad with 18 doubles, nine home runs, 61 RBI, and 82 hits.  The All-Region nod at shortstop went to Blake Kelley of Rogers State University (35-16, 5th in Sooner Athletic Conference) who hit .370 with 13 home runs and 49 RBI.

While extending his own career record to 46 times hit by a pitch, senior outfielder Brandon Frazier set two of the more notable individual records.  Frazier’s 73 runs scored were a single season record while his four stolen bases against LeTourneau tied the school mark.

The pitching staff also did its part.  During a school-record 19-game winning streak, Rams hurlers went 41 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.  Hayden Lackey made a school record 33 appearances.  He also extended his school career record to 24 saves while setting NAIA career records with 105 total appearances and 104 relief appearances.  DeFratus also tied the school’s single season and career records with three shutouts.  Those three shutouts came in succession and led to three RRAC Pitcher of the Week Awards for the senior right-hander.

At 42-16 overall and 14-1 in conference play, 2008 was a season to remember.  With 83 wins in the last two seasons and one of the best facilities in all of college baseball, Texas Wesleyan Baseball has become a perennial player in the national NAIA picture.