Catcher excited about return to Reckling
6/1/2012 12:04:00 AM | Baseball
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From Today's Houston Chronicle by Sam Khan Jr.:
When Sam Houston State faced off against the Rice Owls in their last visit to Reckling Park in Houston for the NCAA Regional, only two members of the current 2012 Southland Conference championship team were on the field in their Bearkat uniforms.
Senior pitchers Justin Jackson and Jordan Bunch were freshman that day and took their spots along the first base line when the entire rosters of both teams were announced just prior to the first pitch of the game.
But lined up along the third baseline was a third senior member of the 2012 Kat squad. He was wearing a Rice uniform as a catcher for the Owls.
John Hale started his career at Rice where first year SHSU head coach David Pierce was an assistant coach for nine years in charge of the Owls' pitchers.
Now Hale returns as a senior for the Bearkats as Sam Houston begins NCAA postseason play against Arkansas at 1 p.m. Friday.
Things have worked out well in Huntsville for both former Owls.
Pierce guided his new team to a Southland Conference regular season championship and a spot in the program's seventh NCAA Baseball Championships regional. He was named as Southland Conference "Coach of the Year" for 2012.
Pierce said Hale has become key to the Bearkats' defense while starting 73 games during the past two seasons.
"John has been the backbone of our defense and our pitching staff," Pierce said. "He understands our pitchers and what he is expected to do."
Hale played for Lamar High School in Houston and appeared in 17 games for Rice as a freshman. He then transferred to join the Bearkats.
"It just wasn't the time for me to be at Rice," Hale said. "I had an opportunity to come to Sam Houston and it worked out pretty well. It's interesting how things work out."
The Bearkats will have Caleb Smith on the mound Friday and the sophomore lefthander from Huntsville said Hale's presence is vital.
"He is a great catcher," Smith said. "I really admire him. He's been hurt the past few games but we need him."
Hale said he knew what to expect and was happy when Pierce was announced as the Bearkats' new head coach replacing Mark Johnson.
"It definitely was easier for me in the transition because Coach Pierce knew me and I knew his style," Hale said.
The fifth-year senior said being back at Reckling Park rekindled some memories. Many of his teammates also played their high school ball in Houston so it will be an opportunity for them to play in front of home town fans.
"It's exciting," Hale said. "We didn't really care where we went. We just wanted to be in a regional somewhere. To come back to Reckling is great."
