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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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By CHASE COLSTON
Tyler Morning Telegraph Staff Writer

Chad Sherman said he always dreamed of pitching in the Big 12, and he didn't have to be asleep to sign with Texas A&M on Friday.

Sherman, a sophomore at Panola College and a Bullard graduate, inked a scholarship to guarantee him two more years of college baseball and at one of the Big 12's premier programs.

"I just wanted to pitch in the Big 12," Sherman said in a phone interview. "They're giving me the opportunity so I'm going to take it."

The 6-5, 215-pound right-hander will room with former Bullard teammate Brody Greene, a sophomore for the Aggies. He will also join longtime friend and former rival Carson Middleton, a Lindale graduate, on the roster.

"It was definitely part of the decision, growing up with those guys and playing baseball with them," said Sherman, who pitches a fastball, changeup and slider. "It will definitely help out (with the transition)."

Sherman, the Region XIV conference record holder in ERA, is 3-5 this season for the Ponies with a 3.16 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 57 innings. Opponents, who have scored 42 runs but only 20 earned on Sherman, are batting .199 against him.

He owned a 5-5 record as a freshman with a 1.90 ERA. He graduated from Bullard in 2006 after being named All-East Texas and all-state in 2005 and 2006.

Sherman, who said he picked the Aggies over LSU and Arkansas, added that Greene's advice and preparation at Panola got him to this point in his career.

"It's competitive. That's all (Greene) pretty much told me," said Sherman, a kinesiology major. "Everyone you play is good and you've got to bring your 'A' game every time you play.

"They're going to give me the opportunity to pitch, whether it's over the weekend, middle of the week or out of the bullpen. I'll do whatever I can do to help A&M win."

Notes: Two other East Texas graduates, who signed in the fall, made their official announcements with Sherman. Scott Copeland, a White Oak graduate, has signed with Mississippi and Harleton's Daniel Martin with McNeese State.

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