Photo by Lester Murray SLIDE! — Adam De La Garza (above, 27) slides into second base against Coppell, the Pump Jacks' playoff opponent tonight at Driller Park. De La Garza was one of four Pump Jacks named to the Texas Collegiate League's All-League team. The Sam Houston State signee led the league in hits, walks and stolen bases.

East Texas Pump Jacks head coach Stan Phelps won the Texas Collegiate League coach of the year honors, according to the Pump Jacks' web site this morning.

 

Phelps' honor was the only TCL superlative that didn't go to the McKinney Marshals. McKinney's Myrio Richard was named the league's player of the year; Michael Bolsinger was named pitcher of the year; and Jimmy Nelson of the Marshals was named freshman of the year.

 

Other Pump Jacks besides Phelps were honored. Center-fielder and sometimes shortstop Adam De La Garza and infielders Paige Hodges, Matt Curry and Josh Riley were all named to the All-League team.

 

 Also named All-League was former Kilgore High School standout Jaron Shepherd, a member of the Coppell Copperheads, the Pump Jacks' first-round opponent in the playoffs that begin tonight.

 

The Pump Jacks finished the regular season Sunday with a 22-26 record, and as noted on the 'Jacks' web site, Phelps' timeline might have been one reason he was tabbed coach of the year.

 

The Pump Jacks weren't even in existance, officially, until January, and Phelps, pitching coach at the University of Texas at Tyler and hired in February, didn't even begin signing players until weeks later.

 

Phelps is assisted by Hart Hering and Brad Stevens.

 

De La Garza, a Sam Houston State University signee, Red Oak native and sophomore at New Mexico Junior College, was a legitimate player of the year candidate. In 45 games this summer season, he hit .292, the third-best batting average in the league; he had an on-base percentage of .440; led the league in hits (49), walks (42) and stolen bases (22). He scored 34 runs.

 

Hodges, a junior at Mississippi College from Crowley, La., batted .244, recorded 21 RBI and saw time at first base and third base, and catcher.

 

 Riley, a Sulphur Springs native and sophomore at Howard College, batted .233 and had 22 RBI on the season. He was third in the league with nine doubles and had three home runs. Over the course of the season, he saw time at third base, second base and right field.

 

Curry was named All-League at first base, with a .281 batting average (41 hits), 25 RBI and two home runs. Like De La Garza, Curry is also from Red Oak, and is a teammate of Riley's at Howard.