Announcement
Anders set to play for Ag baseball team
By LARRY BOWEN
Eagle Staff Writer
Luke Anders was having a good summer, but it went from good to great last week when the A&M Consolidated baseball player got a scholarship offer to play for Texas A&M.
The left-handed pitcher and first baseman was planning to play at McLennan Community College, but Anders had a strong summer playing for the Brazos Valley Renegades and made a good impression when he worked out for new Aggie baseball coach Rob Childress last week.
Anders happily accepted Childress' offer of a partial scholarship and plans to sign with A&M as soon as the papers are prepared.
"I was stunned," Anders said. "It's starting to sink in that I'm going to A&M. It's what I've always wanted."
The Aggies apparently added Anders to boost their left-handed pitching, which was hurt when prized recruit Aaron Thompson of Houston Second Baptist signed with the Florida Marlins and transfer Dave Newmann of San Jacinto Junior College suffered an arm injury likely to prevent him from playing next spring.
NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from commenting on recruits until after they sign.
The 6-foot-6 Anders was one of the top players for the Renegades, who reached the championship game of the AAU 18-19U national tournament this summer. Renegades coach Duane Faltysek asked Childress to take a look at Anders.
"When the new coaches came [to A&M], coach Faltysek and some other coaches went up there and talked to them," Anders said. "They've been so busy that it was sort of hard [to set up a workout], but they finally came and saw me last week and they said I was what they want."
Anders went 5-2 with a 2.96 earned run average for the Consolidated baseball team, which reached the second round of the Class 5A playoffs. He excelled with the Renegades, posting a 7-0 record with a 1.86 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 40.1 innings.
He was named to the all-tournament team at AAU nationals, where he pitched a complete game in the Renegades' semifinal victory. Anders had a .402 batting average for the select team, which featured several college-bound players, leading the Renegades with six home runs, 10 doubles and 27 runs batted in.
"I think the summer helped a lot," Anders said. "I was all right in high school, but in the summer I sort of came out of my shell. I finally found my place.
"They said they were going to give me a shot as a hitter, too."
Anders also played football at Consolidated. He said he is looking forward to concentrating on baseball, and to playing for Childress, the former Nebraska pitching coach who was hired at A&M in June.
"I think he's going to be a great head coach and a great pitching coach," Anders said. "I can't wait to work with him. I played football all the way through high school and I never really had an offseason [in baseball].
"I'm excited about what we're going to do in the offseason."
By LARRY BOWEN
Eagle Staff Writer
Luke Anders was having a good summer, but it went from good to great last week when the A&M Consolidated baseball player got a scholarship offer to play for Texas A&M.
The left-handed pitcher and first baseman was planning to play at McLennan Community College, but Anders had a strong summer playing for the Brazos Valley Renegades and made a good impression when he worked out for new Aggie baseball coach Rob Childress last week.
Anders happily accepted Childress' offer of a partial scholarship and plans to sign with A&M as soon as the papers are prepared.
"I was stunned," Anders said. "It's starting to sink in that I'm going to A&M. It's what I've always wanted."
The Aggies apparently added Anders to boost their left-handed pitching, which was hurt when prized recruit Aaron Thompson of Houston Second Baptist signed with the Florida Marlins and transfer Dave Newmann of San Jacinto Junior College suffered an arm injury likely to prevent him from playing next spring.
NCAA rules prohibit college coaches from commenting on recruits until after they sign.
The 6-foot-6 Anders was one of the top players for the Renegades, who reached the championship game of the AAU 18-19U national tournament this summer. Renegades coach Duane Faltysek asked Childress to take a look at Anders.
"When the new coaches came [to A&M], coach Faltysek and some other coaches went up there and talked to them," Anders said. "They've been so busy that it was sort of hard [to set up a workout], but they finally came and saw me last week and they said I was what they want."
Anders went 5-2 with a 2.96 earned run average for the Consolidated baseball team, which reached the second round of the Class 5A playoffs. He excelled with the Renegades, posting a 7-0 record with a 1.86 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 40.1 innings.
He was named to the all-tournament team at AAU nationals, where he pitched a complete game in the Renegades' semifinal victory. Anders had a .402 batting average for the select team, which featured several college-bound players, leading the Renegades with six home runs, 10 doubles and 27 runs batted in.
"I think the summer helped a lot," Anders said. "I was all right in high school, but in the summer I sort of came out of my shell. I finally found my place.
"They said they were going to give me a shot as a hitter, too."
Anders also played football at Consolidated. He said he is looking forward to concentrating on baseball, and to playing for Childress, the former Nebraska pitching coach who was hired at A&M in June.
"I think he's going to be a great head coach and a great pitching coach," Anders said. "I can't wait to work with him. I played football all the way through high school and I never really had an offseason [in baseball].
"I'm excited about what we're going to do in the offseason."
Comments
There are no comments for this announcement.
