LHP Aaron Daab, 6-3, 210, Fr-HS (Katy HS)

RHP/INF Will Middlebrooks, 6-4, 190, Fr-HS (Liberty-Eylau)

Liberty-Eylau’s pitcher commits to A&M 

http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2006/07/13/local_news/sports/sports02.txt

Thursday, July 13, 2006 9:47 AM CDT By Johnny Green

Junior shortstop/pitcher Will Middlebrooks was named Class 3A Player of the Year and Rick Fowler the Coach of the Year in balloting by the Texas Sports Writers Association.

Middlebrooks, who made the first team all-state at both pitcher and shortstop, finished the season with a 15-2 record on the mound, including 5-0 in the postseason. He was the winning pitcher in L-E’s state semifinal win over top-ranked Bridge City. In 78 innings, he struck out 136 batters and his earned run average was just over one per game.

As a hitter, Middlebrooks batted .464 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs. Three of the home runs, two triples and seven doubles came in the playoffs, during he reached base in 37 of 45 at-bats. He was named 3rd team all state punter by TSWA, 2nd team all state punter by AP, 1st team place kicker and punter in district 14-3A, and second team quarterback

Now that Will Middlebrooks has made a decision on his future, Liberty-Eylau’s two-sport star can relax.

Balancing the merits of football vs. baseball, Middlebrooks followed his heart last Monday when he made a verbal commitment to Texas A&M University to join the Aggies’ baseball program upon graduation next year.

“It’s been a dream of mine since my freshman year,” said Middlebrooks, who led L-E to the Class 3A state championship last month and was named player of the year. “I went down there my freshman year for a quarterback camp and fell in love with Kyle Field (football) and Olson Field (baseball). It’s an awesome place, and I wanted to go there.”

So, Middlebrooks and his family were given a tour of the College Station school and its athletic facilities by head baseball coach Rob Childress on Monday. Childress is a former assistant and head coach at Texarkana College.

“I love the coaching staff (which also includes former TC coach Matt Deggs), at A&M,” Middlebrooks said. “The first time I talked to them was at a camp, and they treated me just like I was one of their players.”

Middlebrooks, a first-team all-stater at shortstop and pitcher, will primarily play the infield at A&M, but pitching is not out of the question.

“They told me I would play shortstop and pitch as a closer whenever they needed me,” he said. “That’s what I want to do, but shortstop is my first love. I love hitting and playing the field, but if they need me to pitch, I will.”

And football?

“We talked about me possibly punting at A&M,” he said. “I can’t as a freshman because I will be on a baseball scholarship, and I won’t be allowed to play football. But I’m going to try to work it out my junior and senior years. They said they’ve had a guy do it before. But there will be no quarterbacking. That will take away too much time from baseball, and will make it a lot harder to stay healthy.”

Until Middlebrooks made his decision Monday, it appeared Arkansas and former TC head coach Dave Van Horn was in the running for his talents.

Until Middlebrooks made his decision Monday, it appeared Arkansas and former TC head coach Dave Van Horn was in the running for his talents.

“I have talked to Arkansas, but you’re obviously going to pick the place you want to go the most,” he said. “For me, that’s Texas A&M.”