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By year two Rob Childress has the Aggies on the right track compared to the coaching starts at of Steve Smith at Baylor and Aggie Garrido at Texas and had completely surpassed them this last season. We are comparing "apple to apples" as it had been one season since Baylor was in NCAA play when Smith took over at Baylor in 1994 and Texas had won the SWC and had been in the tournament the year before Garrido became coach of the 'Horns in 1997. Texas A&M was also one year removed from tournament play when Childress was named head coach. Year three again shows how the Aggie coaches and players have Texas A&M poised for even higher expectations in 2009 and beyond.

Rob Childress has an overall record of 119-68-1 (.636 winning percentage) and his record in year two and three is 94-38 (.712 winning percentage)
Steve Smith had an overall record of 89-78 (.527 winning percentage) and his record in years two and three was 64-50 (.561 winning percentage)
Augie Garrido an overall record of 88-80-1 (.524 winning percentage) and his record in years two and three was 59-58-1 (.504 winning percentage)
A&M Set the Big 12 record of 16 straight conference victories and swept five conference series in 2008 (it took Texas ten years to sweep five series and Baylor has never done it)
Won the Big 12 Regular Season Championship (it took Texas and Baylor both six years to win their first championship)
Childress was named Coach of the Year in year three (it took Garrido and Smith both six years to earn that honor)
In year two, A&M won the Big 12 Tournament Championship (it took Texas five years and Baylor never has won it)
In year two, A&M went to Super Regionals (it took Texas four years and took Baylor five years)
Went to Super Regionals in back to back seasons (it took Texas five years and Baylor has never done it)
In year two, A&M won 48 Games (it took Texas six years to win at least 48 games and Baylor has only done it in 1999)
Won 46 or more games in back to back seasons (it took Texas seven seasons and Baylor never has done it)
A&M improved record by 23 wins last year (21 games is Texas' largest improvement in year six and 17 is Baylor's in year 11)
In Year two, A&M had four players drafted in the first 10 rounds (it took Texas seven years and Baylor six years)
In Year two, A&M finished the season ranked as high as 11th (it took Texas four years and took Baylor five years)
A&M finished in the Top 11 in back-to-back seasons (it took Texas seven years and Baylor has never done it)
In Year two, A&M had three All-Americans (it took Texas five years and Baylor four years)
In Year two, A&M had a freshman All-American (it took both Texas and Baylor three years)
A&M has back to back newcomers of the year (it took Texas five years and Baylor had never had a Newcomer of the Year)

He has accomplished this despite having significant losses in his two previous recruiting classes. In 2006, LHP Clayton Kershaw (first high school player taken), LHP Zach Britton and OF Matt Sulentic signed after being drafted in the first three rounds and LHP Kevin Angelle and SS Nick Papasan, who signed in August, forgoing their scholarships at A&M as well. In 2007 it happened again, SS Kevin Ahrens (ninth high school player drafted), OF Eric Eiland, SS/P Will Middlebrooks and LHP Drake Britton all took the pro dollars and never enrolled. This year the Aggies have finally caught a break with the MLB draft with their four prime time prospects expected to arrive on campus next fall instead of playing pro baseball. SS Adam Smith and LHP Ross Hales are considered the top prospects at their position in the State of Texas by professional baseball. Randall Thorpe was considered to be the third best outfielder in the state and Nathan Eovaldi was in the top 10 RHP in the state this year. Having the top four high school prospects of this years recruiting class come to school instead of signing pro contracts has the Aggies poised to "kick the door in" next season and advance to the College World Series.

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Major League Baseball draft could also come into play for Brownwood senior in June
By Derrick Stuckly - Brownwood Bulletin
Published: Tuesday, November 18, 2008 8:54 AM CST

It should surprise no one who has witnessed Shelby Miller play baseball for the Brownwood Lions that his career will continue.

Miller officially signed a national letter of intent to play baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies on Monday, but the June 9 Major League Baseball amateur draft could alter those plans.

Competing at various MLB combines and camps across the nation over the last few months, Miller's stock has skyrocketed. That could lead to a tough decision for Miller if he is selected in the early rounds of the draft, but he isn't planning to cross that bridge until he gets there.

"When the draft comes around I'll take it as it comes," Miller said. "As far as I know right now I'll be going to college. If (the draft) is there, it's there and it will be my decision when it gets here. It's a win-win situation. There's not a bad route, and whatever I pick is obviously going to be what's best for me and my family. Hopefully it all works out perfect."

Miller, a senior, has put up staggering numbers for the Lions in his first two years on the varsity roster.

As a sophomore, Miller was 10-5 on the mound with a 2.36 ERA and 127 strikeouts and 38 walks in 86 innings. At the plate, Miller batted .446 with four home runs, 31 RBIs, 12 doubles and 28 runs scored as the Lions reached the regional semifinals.

Last season, Miller earned Class 4A second-team all-state status by the Texas Sportswriters Association.

He tossed two no-hitters and a perfect game in succession en route to finishing with an 8-2 record and a 1.11 ERA with 119 strikeouts and 30 walks in 57 innings. With the stick, Miller hit .413 with nine home runs, 32 RBIs, six doubles and 24 runs scored.

Miller's impressive high school seasons earned him invitations to MLB combines in both California and Florida.

"It's been fun," said Miller of competing against the top competition in the nation. "Going out to Florida and California have been great. I've met a lot of new guys and played with high-level competition. It's definitely not high school baseball. We're out there with future draft picks who are going to be in Major League Baseball."

As for his decision to sign with Texas A&M, Miller stated he was sold on the Aggies after attending a camp this past December.

"I went there last year and I really loved it there," Miller said. "The coaching, the atmosphere, the crowd and the student life there is great. Everything is perfect there for me. I knew what I wanted when I got there."

As for the upcoming high school season, the Lions will be competing in District 2-3A with the defending state champion Snyder Tigers. Miller feels the Lions can not only compete for a playoff spot, but capture the district title.

'Snyder won it all, obviously, but I seriously think we're going to be the best team in district and go deep in the playoffs," Miller said. "We should have a good team and we've set our goal to win district."

As for what Miller would like to personally accomplish this season, he pointed to continuing his development.

"I should be way better this year, maybe throwing in the high 90s hopefully," Miller said. "I'd also like to get a couple more no-hitters."

Hobson lived up to reputation, led Mustangs to title

BY ZACH EWING, Californian staff writer
zewing@bakersfield.com | Saturday, Jun 21 2008 10:05 PM

Last Updated: Saturday, Jun 21 2008 10:07 PM

When K.C. Hobson, son of an everyday Major League Baseball player and manager, moved across the country to Bakersfield and Stockdale High School, his reputation preceded him.

Stockdale's K.C. Hobson led the Mustangs to the Central Section Division I championship. Hobson is The Califorian's All-Area baseball player of the year.

"Greyhound's disease is when a kid gets off the bus and loses about four inches in height and drops about 30 pounds (from an exaggerated description)," Stockdale coach Dan Lemon said.

"K.C. definitely didn't have Greyhound's disease."

And Hobson, who came from Nashua, N.H., was good as a sophomore. Good enough for a .463 batting average, a 2.33 earned run average on the mound and a Californian All-Area selection.

But, Lemon said, he also led the team in "butt-chewings" because of some swing problems and never really got his feet completely on the ground.

"It was a little bit of an off-year last year," Hobson said. "... I was pressing too much, doing too much, trying to show everybody what I can do. So this year I said, 'Forget everyone; I'm just going to do what I know I can do.' And it worked out for me."

Indeed it did. After a junior season in which Hobson hit .505, more than doubled his home run total to seven, was 10-0 with a 3.03 ERA and had the game-winning hit in the Central Section Division I championship game, he is The Californian's Baseball Player of the Year.

"One thing I have learned from being around the game such a long time is, if you're not having fun, it's not worth playing," Hobson said. "The night before the championship game, I was thinking to myself, 'It's just another game.'"

That's using experience to fulfill expectations. Hobson has both because he grew up at Fenway Park in Boston. His dad, Butch Hobson, played for the Red Sox from 1975-80, for the California Angels in 1981 and for the New York Yankees in 1982, then managed the Red Sox from 1992-94 before moving on to minor-league ball in Scranton, Pa., and independent-league ball in Nashua.

"Living in New Hampshire, my dad's team was right there -- five, 10 minutes from my house," K.C. Hobson said. "So I was there every day. I got to hit (batting practice), I was in the locker room, in the dugout. And the atmosphere does help a lot."

Problem was, winters last long enough in New Hampshire to cut into baseball season. High school teams typically play no more than 15 games, and being on the field year-round is impossible.

Enter Bakersfield. Hobson's mother, Christine, and Butch moved the family to Kern County to be closer to her parents, who moved here for real-estate business, and for baseball.

"I don't want to say baseball in New Hampshire is not what it is in California, but that's how it is," said Butch Hobson, who helps out on Stockdale's coaching staff and now coaches the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the independent Atlantic League during the summer. "These young players need to learn by playing games."

K.C. Hobson said he's better for the decision. After a short transition period in the summer, Hobson quickly met some friends at Stockdale during football season and is now completely at ease.

"K.C. just absolutely loves Bakersfield," Butch Hobson said. "He's found himself a home."

That's a home he's currently terrorizing on the diamond. Hobson, a left-hander who can throw 90 mph or more pitching, maintains he's a doubles hitter and first baseman by trade.

"He's a doubles hitter, but every now and then, he will just powder one," Stockdale assistant Greg Showers said. "Last year at Clovis, there was a track meet going on. They were getting ready to start an event, and K.C. gets a hold of one and the ball lands on the track and stopped the track meet."

He hit another tape-measure shot in the first inning of the section championship game, a come-from-behind 7-6 victory for Stockdale that Hobson ended in the eighth inning with a single almost to the wall in right field.

"As soon as football ended, I got in the (batting) cage," Hobson said. "The main thing was to be the best hitter I could be and help my team win a lot of games."

Now there are no limits. K.C. Hobson is spending the summer traveling to different showcase events, will return to Stockdale next year and then anticipate a high MLB Draft selection.

"He's much better than me," Butch Hobson said. "He's much stronger, and as he matures, he learns to be more patient. But he's way ahead of where I was (at his age)."

This, no doubt, is one reputation you can consider well-earned.

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