Kilgore — Time. It worked against the East Texas Pump Jacks in their inaugural season. It could work for them for their second season.

 

The first season for the Pump Jacks ended Wednesday when Coppell completed a 2-0 sweep in a Texas Collegiate League semifinal series. Pump Jacks co-owner and general manager Mike Lieberman said the Pump Jacks will return for a 2009 season next summer, adding they never would have formed if they weren't committed to at least two seasons.

 

Lieberman said he was pleased the Pump Jacks were second in the TCL in attendance behind the Brazos Valley Bombers with a regular-season average of 687 spectators in 24 games at Driller Park. He said he was pleased with the reaction of Kilgore city leaders, businesses, schools and community this season.

 

Lieberman said what worked against the Pump Jacks was they didn't exist until mid-January, with the nickname and mascots not being finalized until April.

 

'You would have liked more time to get out into the community and let our presence be known. Businesses would tell us they were excited about what we had to offer, but they had already set their budgets in November,' Lieberman said. 'The offseason starts now, and I think with that time, things will be 100 times better.'

 

Lieberman said he was pleased with the job head coach Stan Phelps did, especially with the time constraints. Leading the Pump Jacks to a 22-26 regular-season record, and staying in contention for second place until the final weekend, Phelps was named Coach of the Year by the TCL.

 

Lieberman said the Pump Jacks were at a disadvantage because they could recruit only since January, while the other TCL teams recruited last fall. Lieberman said the team plans to expand its geographic scope for players. Out of 33 players on its playoff roster, 24 Pump Jacks play for Texas colleges.

 

Lieberman said an example of this year's disadvantage is Coppell outfielder Jaron Shepherd, a Kilgore native who played high-school baseball is Driller Park. Shepherd currently plays for Navarro College.

 

'Jaron Shepherd committed to Coppell last fall. Navarro coaches told me if we had been around, they would have approved of him playing for us this year. That would have helped because Jaron killed us this year,' Lieberman said. 'We will be able to check out fall college baseball this year.'

 

Eligibility for the TCL expires when a player enters his senior season at colleges. The Pump Jacks lose six players from playoff roster, including All-TCL infielder Paige Hodges, Kilgore native Pat McCrory and Carthage native Luke Burnett. Burnett was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the 14th round of Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft in June.

 

Lieberman said all returning Pump Jack players are protected, but deals can be made with other TCL teams that could send them away, or other players could be brought in from other TCL teams via trade.

 

Lieberman said he is optimistic that the TCL will expand from its current total of four teams. Lieberman said the most serious talks of adding teams have been with Victoria, although there has also been discussion with Wichita Falls, Waxahachie and San Marcos. Wichita Falls had a TCL franchise in 2007.

 

'We expect at least two new franchises next year,' Lieberman said. 'I would like to see six solid franchises in the league.'

 

Leading Hitter: Adam De La Garza .292

 

Most RBIs: Matt Curry 25

 

Most Home Runs: Josh Riley 3

 

Most Stolen Bases: De La Garza 22

 

Most Pitching Wins: Aaron Wilkerson 4

 

Leading ERA (minimum 16 IP): James Alvarado 0.95

 

Most Pitching Strikeouts: Bryan Dixon 37'

 

 

Longest Winning Streak: 4 (July 11-15)

 

Longest Losing Streak: 4 (June 13-17)

 

Biggest Win: Pump Jacks 13, Brazos Valley 7 (June 18); Pump Jacks 7, McKinney 1 (July 6).

 

Biggest Loss: Brazos Valley 9, Pump Jacks 1 (July 22).

 

Most Spectators for Home Game: 1,312, July 5 (McKinney 9, Pump Jacks 7).