[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 81 (Friday, June 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1256]]
  CORPUS CHRISTI'S CALALLEN HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM, 2005 4A STATE 
                                 CHAMPS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 2005

  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Corpus Christi's 
Calallen High School Varsity Baseball team on winning the 2005 4A State 
Championship last weekend, winning the championship game 10-3. This is 
the second time the Wildcats have dominated Texas high school baseball, 
the first being in 2000.
  The Cats' won their first victory against the Wichita Falls Riders--
an impressive 12-2 game, with seven hits and a grand slam by sophomore 
Ryan Duke. The game was called in the fifth inning, by way of the 10-
run ``mercy rule.'' But mercy was the last thing the Wildcats showed 
their next opponents, the Waco-Midway Panthers.
  Calallen earned the title through sheer power at the plate, with 13 
hits and 10 runs, all scored by the fourth inning. Leading the Cats at 
bat in the championship game were Seniors Jonathan Vest, Luke McCall, 
Wes Callihan, Randy Haughton, and Sophomore Ryan Duke.
  Wildcat pitchers Seniors Chip Nance and Brandon Key, and Sophomore 
Ryan Duke provided the other power station for the Cats on the mound. 
Nance boasted nine strikeouts in six innings and held the Midway 
Panthers to five hits, earning MVP honors in the championship game.
  South Texas is proud of these young men as is their coach, Steve 
Chapman, to whom the victory came as no surprise. With such talented 
players and excellent coaching, it seemed only right that this would be 
the year. Besides receiving an impressive ring to commemorate their 
victory, these boys have learned the endurance, discipline, self-
sacrifice, and determination that it takes to be the champions.
  In high school sports, as in life, the way to winning is hard work 
and a can-do spirit every day, both in practice and on the field. 
Sports teach young people many things, most importantly how to be 
gracious In defeat and in victory. That will be as important as how 
they play the game of life.
  I congratulate the Wildcats, for their hard work which paid off 
handsomely. The following roster of players earned the title of 
Champions: Chip Nance, Wes Callihan, Jonathan Vest, Tyler Marrou, 
Cameron Lucky, Ryan Miller, Brandon Key, Corey Schick, Steven Vidaurri, 
Bucky Bryan, Randy Haughton, Sean Hoelscher, Paul Flores, Ryan Duke, 
Jared Verret, Daniel Alonzo, Luke McCall, Matt Brynestad, Kyle Plumley, 
and Jacob Kaup.
  The Coaches who led them to victory are: Coach Steve Chapman, Asst. 
Coach Rudy Salinas, Asst. Coach Jon Irvine, Asst. Coach Micheal Watson, 
and Asst. Coach Jose Luis Lopez.

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