Sunday, June 2, 1996

Estes MVP in 4-5A; AHS has 5 on All-District

By LANCE FLEMING
Staff Writer

Cooper's John David Estes, who hit .410 in District 4-5A play and was arguably the best defensive catcher in the league, is the district's Most Valuable Player as voted on by coaches.

Estes, a three-year starter, was one of four Cougars named to the first team. Cooper head coach Jim Mavroulis is the coach of the year after directing the Cougars to the District 4-5A championship in his first season at CHS.

Abilene High, which finished third in district and made the playoffs for the first time in 24 seasons, had the most players on the first team with five.

AHS outfielder Jeff Byrd, who led the district in hitting at .543, was named to the first team, as well as first baseman John Lackey, catcher Brad Cowling, outfielder Chris Cortinaz and pitcher John Dallies, who was a unanimous selection.

Lackey, who was also a unanimous selection, finished second in the league in hitting at .541 and Cortinaz was fourth at .425. Dallies went 5-0 in district and 10-1 on the season. His only loss came in a 6-5 defeat to Cooper in the Region I-5A quarterfinals.

Cowling hit .297 on the season with a team-high three home runs.

Joining Estes from Cooper are pitcher Darin Janssen, designated hitter Cory Aldridge and utility outfielder James Rose. Aldridge was a unanimous selection as the DH.

Janssen, who was named to the first team last year as a junior, went 4-1 in district and helped lead the Cougars to the Region I-5A championship game.

Aldridge hit .378 in district with 14 RBI. He gave the Cougars the district title when his solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning gave them a 6-5 win over Midland Lee in a one-game playoff for the title.

Rose led the district with five home runs and drove in 13 runs in his only year on the varsity.
Rounding out the first team are second baseman Nick Benavidez of Midland Lee, shortstop Mike Carrasco of Midland High, third baseman Britt Harper of Midland Lee, utility infielder Justin Ham of Midland Lee, outfielder Kody Groves of Odessa Permian and pitcher Mark Holly of Midland Lee.

Benavidez, Harper and Holly were all unanimous selections.

Cooper dominated the second team with five selections, including its entire infield.
First baseman Michael Anderson, second baseman Kyle Frush, shortstop Craft Hughes and third baseman Clete Seyle are on the second team, as well as pitcher Kristian Allen.

Abilene High's lone representative on the second team is outfielder Justin Reese.
FIRST TEAM
Most Valuable Player - John David Estes, sr., Cooper
Coach of the Year - Jim Mavroulis, Cooper
First Base - John Lackey, jr., Abilene High
Second Base - Nick Benavidez, sr., Midland Lee
Shortstop - Mike Carrasco, jr., Midland High
Third Base - Britt Harper, sr., Midland Lee
Designated Hitter - Cory Aldridge, jr., Cooper
Utility Infielder - Justin Ham, sr., Midland Lee
Catcher - Brad Cowling, jr., Abilene High
Outfielders - Jeff Byrd, jr., Abilene High; Chris Cortinaz, sr., Abilene High; Kody Groves, jr., Odessa Permian
Utility Outfielder - James Rose, sr., Cooper
Pitchers - John Dallies, sr., Abilene High; Mark Holly, sr., Midland Lee; Darin Janssen, sr., Cooper SECOND TEAM<graf
First Base - Michael Anderson, jr., Cooper
Second Base - Kyle Frush, jr., Cooper
Shortstop - Craft Hughes, sr., Cooper
Third Base - Clete Seyle, sr., Cooper
Catcher - Jeff Burrows, sr., Midland Lee
Designated Hitter - Hector Morales, sr., Midland High
Outfielders - Matt Withrow, sr., Midland Lee; Justin Reese, sr., Abilene High; Nathan Parks, sr., Odessa High
Pitchers - Keith Lant, sr., Midland High; Kristian Allen, sr., Cooper
HONORABLE MENTION
Abilene High - John Michael Herrera, sr., 2B
Cooper - Chris Seamster, jr., P; Miles Durham, jr., OF