Area athletes ink with colleges
If you’re a good baseball player and you play for Azle coach Stephen Smith, there is a good chance you’ll play in college if you want.
In his 10 years as head coach for the Hornets, he has had 67 players sign to play at the college level, including seven this season. In his 21 seasons overall, 113 players have signed letters of intent.
In all, Azle had 16 players sign to play college sports on National Signing Day, Feb. 5. They are: Baseball
Gavin Graves, Amarillo College Braden Sirkel, Seminole (Oklahoma) State College Ethan Hadaway, Redlands (Oklahoma) Community College Ty Bonnett, Seminole State Ian Loeffelholz, Clarendon College Jaxon Liddicate, Seminole State Jacob McGee, Clarendon College Softball
Hayley Carlson, Coffeyville (Kansas) Community College Klaire Carlson, Coffeyville Rebeka Vidal, Southwestern University (Georgetown) Adrianna Wedeman, Northern Oklahoma Community College Brynlei Taylor, Seward County (Kansas) Community College
Basketball
Abbey Natusch, Austin College Tennis
Madison Hamilton, University of the Ozarks (Clarksville, Arkansas) Football
Devin Wingfield, West Texas A&M (Canyon) Hunter Ooten, Kansas Wesleyan “Super proud of these athletes. I’m excited they get to continue to play at the next level because of their dedication to our Hornet athletic programs,” Azle head football coach and Athletic Director Devon Dorris said.
BASEBALL PIPELINE
Smith pitched at Seminole State College for two years and then pitched two years at Texas State University. He was then drafted and pitched in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
“In my years of playing college and professional baseball and coaching for a total of 27 years I have made hundreds of connections with JUCO, NAIA, NCAA Division 3, NCAA Division 2, NCAA Division 1 coaches and close to 100 MLB scouts,” he said. “Through these connections I have been blessed to help 113 players and counting achieve their dreams of playing college baseball.”
He’s also helped seven players get drafted by Major League teams, one earn Big 12 Player of The Year, and two players reach the majors. One of those is pitcher Hoby Milner who just signed with the Texas Rangers and has been pitching in the Big Leagues for a few years with the Phillies, Rays, Angels and Brewers.
“My connection with Seminole is being an alum and also playing with current Seminole State head coach Mac Chambers at Seminole in 1993,” Smith said.
Smith said coaches and scouts say they love getting his players because of these things: They are tough physically and mentally.
They take care of their academics.
They know how to work on and off the field and enjoy the grind.
They love the game. They understand community service. They never give up.
SPRINGTOWN
Six Porcupines/Lady Pines committed to continue their athletic careers at the college level: Softball
Bailey Spillman, Northeast Texas Community College Ava Fernandez, Oklahoma Wesleyan University Riley Fagen, Seward County (Kansas) Community College Football
Chase Thompson, McPherson (Kansas) College Hayden Nichols, Texas Wesleyan University Soccer
Taylor Glover, Dakota Wesleyan University (South Dakota)
LAKE WORTH
Three Bullfrogs signed to play college football: Javion Jackson Hollie, Navarro College (Corsicana) Jeremiah Gordon, Cisco College Noah Washington, Oklahoma Baptist University
Seated (L-R): Azle baseball players who signed to play in college include Braden Sirkel, Ty Bonnett, Ethan Hadaway, Jacob McGee, Garrin Graves, Ian Loeffelholz and Jaxon Liddicote, along with teammates who support them. PHOTO COURTESY STEPHEN SMITH
