The Llano High School baseball Yellow Jackets made their pitch on the All-District first team--seven players; two are pitchers, and both will return in 2009.

Junior Ty Compton posted a superb, 9-3 record, with 63 strikeouts in 59 innings. He fired a two hitter against Devine, shutting out the Warhorses, 6-0; the win wrapped up the area round in the playoffs, May 9.

Sophomore Kyle Leyendecker was 3-1 on the mound, and, like Compton, averaged more than a strikeout an inning. “These two pitchers,” head coach Chad Krempin said, “were huge reasons we surprised a lot of people and were battling for the district championship in the final game of the regular season.”

Dustin Jordan, the young man with the smooth-as-satin swing from the left side of the plate, was an easy choice as the best first baseman in 25-3A. He swatted .450 with 35 runs batted in; both robust marks led the team. One of his two home runs was a majestic blast into the night at Bandera, April 11, as Llano bullied the Bulldogs, 9-2.

“Jordan was a catalyst for us,” Krempin stated, “and he should do well at Ranger Junior College next year.”

Reagan Friedrich will wear the Jackets' uniform again in ‘09. “He really played strong defense for us,” the coach noted, “and he has great speed.” Reagan is the All-District’s third baseman.

The three-man outfield on this prestigious squad include two Llano seniors: Cody Fietz and Lance Dickey. Cody hit over .400 and returned to the lineup, after a throat infection, to place a triple down the right field line against Devine in the playoffs.

That drove in three runs, as the Black and Orange scored seven times in the fifth inning in a 9-1, Game-One win. Fietz had a two-run double in the second contest.

Dickey, Mr. Reliable in three sports, batted close to .400 and chased in 34 runs. He slammed three home runs--one at Bandera in the tough, championship-deciding, 10-9 loss; and one on May 3, against Luling, which broke an 8-8 tie in the fourth inning of the second game of the bidistrict round. The Jackets went on to win, 18-8.

“Dallas Redden hit .345 for us,” Krempin advised, “and he should be very good next season and two more after that.” Dallas, a freshman who also pitches, won the designated hitter spot on the All-District club.

His twin brother and battery mate, Dean, made honorable mention.

Senior lefty, Nathan Dudley, won second-team honors. He had a stretch in the playoffs when he hurled ten and a third innings, gave up one run on five hits, struck out 15 and earned victories over Luling and Devine.

Outfielders Ty Thurman and Trey Brooks claimed 25-3A, second-team recognition, as did another promising freshman, shortstop Travis Ramos. He homered three times; one was a three-run rocket off Bandera’s Ethan Lutz, the Most Valuable Player in the district.

The other Jackets to receive honorable mention are A.C. Pippenger and Wes Regmund.

“The seniors were a great group of kids,” Krempin pointed out, “and I will really miss them. We will return a lot of talent next year, and that’s good because the district will be tougher. I expect us to improve and take another step or two in the playoffs.”

Cody Fietz and Dustin Jordan won the Fighting Jacket Award for baseball, while Leslie Weihs secured that major tribute in softball. The other winners in other sports were announced during the Awards Presentation, April 21.