VYPE Hot 20 Pitchers: No. 6 Travis Ballew, Rockwall

Ace. Stud. Stopper. High school baseball lingo uses such terminology to describe a team’s best pitcher.

You can identify a team’s stud pitcher by the sound of his fastball pounding the catcher’s mitt and the sight of scouts whipping out their radar guns before his first pitch.

It doesn’t matter if he’s a right or a southpaw. A team’s ace pitcher is defined by his ability to rack up wins and strikeouts, while keeping his earned run average below 2.00 – if not 1.00.

Coaches look down the calendar in order to schedule their best pitchers against their best competition. Opposing batters hope to see his name in the box score the game before they play, in hopes he’ll be resting his cannon when it’s their turn to face him.

Most teams are fortunate to have one workhorse pitcher. He’s the name that drives some coaches to schedule one-game playoff series. Others are blessed with a deep rotation that includes two hurlers who can bring it with the best of ’em.

An ace pitcher might lose a game due to a lack of offense, but more times than not he’ll take the mound and carry a team on his back to victory, and hopefully to state.

Here is our take on this seasons’ s top 20 pitchers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area:

*Statistics at presstime.

Today's pick is:

 

6. Travis Ballew

Rockwall

9-0            1.21            93 Ks

Right-hander has signed with Texas State.

Previous picks were:

7. Adam Choplick

Denton Ryan

9-1, 0.33, 55 Ks

Sophomore dug down deep to pull out clutch wins.

8. Crayton Bare

Highland Park

7-3, 0.39, 73 Ks

He’s committed to pitch for Baylor next season.

9. Zak Hermans

Coppell

6-1, 1.91, 81 Ks

Cowboys ace has signed with Princeton.

10. Jamen Parten

Plano

8-1, 0.61, 86 Ks

Helped Wildcats sweep defending state champions


11. Tyler Nurdin

FW Paschal

0.98, 78 Ks

Junior left-hander gives Paschal rare 1-2 punch.

 

12. Will Lane

Mansfield

8-1, 1.00, 111 Ks

Led the Tigers to the District 4-5A title.

Previous picks were:

13. Brad Kottman

Denton Guyer

10-0, 1.40, 73 Ks

Senior left-hander was perfect 9-0 in District 5-4A play.

14. Aaron Gilbreath

Colleyville Heritage

8-1, 1.19, 84 Ks

Lefthander has signed to play at Dallas Baptist University.

15. Tony Rizotti

Arlington Martin

7-1, 0.72, 73 Ks

Led Martin to playoff berth in tough 4-5A.

16. Clayton Woodruff

Prosper

9-1, 1.75, 80 Ks

Led Eagles into Class 3A playoffs.

17. Jordan Badarack

Frisco Centennial

8-1, 1.45, 74 Ks

Tall right-hander outdueled Rockwall-Heath’s Jack Baune in playoff.

18. Andrew Blum

Plano West

4-1, 1.71, 74 Ks

Hero of last year’s playoffs as been recruited by Florida and Miami.

 

19. Andrew Kautz

Mansfield

8-1, 1.78, 48 Ks

Gives Tigers a commanding 1-2 rotation.

20. Jordan Stafford
Keller

7-1, 1.88, 55 Ks

Indians ace hurled a no-hitter in 2009.

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