Donald Boyles
Premium Members
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2012
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As we wrap up 2013 and move towards 2014, I had the privilege of being invited out to an Advance Skills Camp at Texas Prospect Academy. Texas Prospect Academy is the home facilities of the Houston Banditos. The Banditos are run and operated by Ray Deleon and are highly regarded as one of the Premier Select Baseball organization not only in the Sate but the Country.
Now, how does all of this relate to Longhorn Baseball? Very Simple, Ray and Skip Collegiate career cross paths at UT-Pan Am...Skip and Drew Bishop were out at Texas Prospect Academy running the camp along with the Hitting Scout of the Miami Marlins, Julio Garcia, Seattle Mariners Scout Jeremy Booth and Texas State Asst. Coach Jeremy Fikac.
So, You can only imagine that I was in hog heaven. Watching these coaches work and speak, players from 14-18, trying to make an impression, it was a great day in Tomball, Texas..
So, the main reason for me being out there was that Ray Deleon wanted me to photograph the event. So, there I was photographing and taking the event all in..TO give you some insight into what I do, I always keep to myself..I do not want to be persuaded by Parents, So I will shot and edit as I move around.. As I was observing the players one of my sources came up to me and the conversation turned toward Longhorn Baseball.
We spoke about last season, the frustration of watching the players not perform, recruiting(how the 2011-2012 & 2012-2013 class hurt the team last year), the impact that the freshman will make, the pitching depth, and how does the roster shape up..So, keep in mind I was there in official capacity but, I ended up getting great info on Longhorn Baseball.
RHP Holden Helmink has transferred to San Jacinto, Matthew Moynihan has transferred out and LHP Kirby Bellows will focus on getting his knee healthy. Bellow tore his ACL in his Sr. year of high school during the 1st game of the Football season. He was just beginning to get back to where he wanted to be but he suffered a set back this past summer and had to have his knee cleaned out in August and then in December he had his kneed repaired again. So, the Roster is set at 35.
The Coaching staff are really high on Freshman Bret Boswell, Zane Gurwitz, Tres Barrera, & Andy McGuire. Bret and Andy both came in expecting to push C.J. Hinojosa for the starting Spot at SS. But, CJ came in and realized that he need to up his game. CJ in his best shape he has ever been and has been working out with Austin Dean and Courtney Hawkins up at Texas Prospect Academy. Dean and Hawkins were part of the recruiting class that CJ was in but, they opted out to sign with their MLB team.
Source said that they will have some movable parts in the pitching rotation and be on the look out for Lukas Schiraldi to push for a weekend starting job.. They also want to bring RHP John Curtiss along slowly. Curtiss is coming back from Tommy John Surgey back in the summer of '12.. Source said Curtiss will be more important in June then in March..
Now, how does all of this relate to Longhorn Baseball? Very Simple, Ray and Skip Collegiate career cross paths at UT-Pan Am...Skip and Drew Bishop were out at Texas Prospect Academy running the camp along with the Hitting Scout of the Miami Marlins, Julio Garcia, Seattle Mariners Scout Jeremy Booth and Texas State Asst. Coach Jeremy Fikac.
So, You can only imagine that I was in hog heaven. Watching these coaches work and speak, players from 14-18, trying to make an impression, it was a great day in Tomball, Texas..
So, the main reason for me being out there was that Ray Deleon wanted me to photograph the event. So, there I was photographing and taking the event all in..TO give you some insight into what I do, I always keep to myself..I do not want to be persuaded by Parents, So I will shot and edit as I move around.. As I was observing the players one of my sources came up to me and the conversation turned toward Longhorn Baseball.
We spoke about last season, the frustration of watching the players not perform, recruiting(how the 2011-2012 & 2012-2013 class hurt the team last year), the impact that the freshman will make, the pitching depth, and how does the roster shape up..So, keep in mind I was there in official capacity but, I ended up getting great info on Longhorn Baseball.
RHP Holden Helmink has transferred to San Jacinto, Matthew Moynihan has transferred out and LHP Kirby Bellows will focus on getting his knee healthy. Bellow tore his ACL in his Sr. year of high school during the 1st game of the Football season. He was just beginning to get back to where he wanted to be but he suffered a set back this past summer and had to have his knee cleaned out in August and then in December he had his kneed repaired again. So, the Roster is set at 35.
The Coaching staff are really high on Freshman Bret Boswell, Zane Gurwitz, Tres Barrera, & Andy McGuire. Bret and Andy both came in expecting to push C.J. Hinojosa for the starting Spot at SS. But, CJ came in and realized that he need to up his game. CJ in his best shape he has ever been and has been working out with Austin Dean and Courtney Hawkins up at Texas Prospect Academy. Dean and Hawkins were part of the recruiting class that CJ was in but, they opted out to sign with their MLB team.
Source said that they will have some movable parts in the pitching rotation and be on the look out for Lukas Schiraldi to push for a weekend starting job.. They also want to bring RHP John Curtiss along slowly. Curtiss is coming back from Tommy John Surgey back in the summer of '12.. Source said Curtiss will be more important in June then in March..
