Photo by Kevin M. Cox
The Daily News
FRIENDSWOOD — It’s no secret that recently graduated
Friendswood pitcher Will Hibbs turned a lot of heads in the final month of the
2012 baseball season.
Because of his late-season success in Friendswood’s playoff run, Hibbs was offered an opportunity to pitch for Lamar University next season. He originally signed with New Mexico Junior College in April, but pitching in nearby Beaumont for a coaching staff he grew very fond of was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
On Thursday, Hibbs signed his letter of intent to pitch for the Cardinals.
“It was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up,” Hibbs said. “It’s a great program and, obviously, it’s a lot closer to home, so my family definitely likes that part of it.”
After a relatively quiet first two months of the season, Hibbs blazed through the last month. Nearing the end of April, Hibbs had pitched only 16 innings, compiling an impressive 0.88 ERA, primarily in relief appearances.
But the 6-foot-6 flamethrower earned his first start in one of the last games of district play, blanking rival Santa Fe in a complete-game shutout to help the Mustangs guarantee a playoff spot.
He continued that streak of not allowing any runs for 17 innings before finally giving up a few runs in a regional quarterfinal loss to Santa Fe.
In a span of 19 innings pitched in the postseason, Hibbs had an incredible 35 strikeouts and a 1.34 ERA.
“I had been primarily used as a closer, but once they gave me a chance to start again, I didn’t want to let them down,” Hibbs said.
Hibbs earned First Team All-District 24-4A and First Team All-County honors under Friendswood coach Charlie Taylor. He will play for legendary Lamar head coach Jim Gilligan, one of just six active college baseball coaches in the country with 1,000 career victories.
Because of his late-season success in Friendswood’s playoff run, Hibbs was offered an opportunity to pitch for Lamar University next season. He originally signed with New Mexico Junior College in April, but pitching in nearby Beaumont for a coaching staff he grew very fond of was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
On Thursday, Hibbs signed his letter of intent to pitch for the Cardinals.
“It was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up,” Hibbs said. “It’s a great program and, obviously, it’s a lot closer to home, so my family definitely likes that part of it.”
After a relatively quiet first two months of the season, Hibbs blazed through the last month. Nearing the end of April, Hibbs had pitched only 16 innings, compiling an impressive 0.88 ERA, primarily in relief appearances.
But the 6-foot-6 flamethrower earned his first start in one of the last games of district play, blanking rival Santa Fe in a complete-game shutout to help the Mustangs guarantee a playoff spot.
He continued that streak of not allowing any runs for 17 innings before finally giving up a few runs in a regional quarterfinal loss to Santa Fe.
In a span of 19 innings pitched in the postseason, Hibbs had an incredible 35 strikeouts and a 1.34 ERA.
“I had been primarily used as a closer, but once they gave me a chance to start again, I didn’t want to let them down,” Hibbs said.
Hibbs earned First Team All-District 24-4A and First Team All-County honors under Friendswood coach Charlie Taylor. He will play for legendary Lamar head coach Jim Gilligan, one of just six active college baseball coaches in the country with 1,000 career victories.
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