3 baseball players honored, 2 sign with 4-year schools
Published or Revised May 24, 2013
Paris Junior College baseball players Nick Rodgers, left, and Alex Bissacca, right, stand with PJC baseball coach Deron Clark after signing to continue their education and playing careers at four-year schools recently.
Three Dragons baseball players from Paris Junior College have been named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All Region Team, and two others have signed to continue their education and playing careers at four-year schools.
Receiving All Region honors were G.R. Hinsley, Chase Harvey and Blake Johnson.
Right-handed pitcher Alex Bissacca signed with Sam Houston State University. Bissacca came to PJC from Plano High School in Plano, Texas.
"He was injured most of the season and so wasn't able to play in the NJCAA Region XIV Tournament," said PJC baseball coach Deron Clark. "As a freshman he secured a 6-1 record, which helped push the Dragons into the 2012 Regional Tournament."
Left-handed pitcher Nick Rodgers, from Naaman Forest High School in Garland, Texas, has signed to play for Newman University in Wichita, Kan.
"Nick transferred to PJC from Clarendon College and has been a left-handed relief pitcher for the Dragons this season and will take his talents to Kansas and play for the Jets," said Clark.
The Dragons recently competed in the regional tournament at Angelina College. Opening play with a 10-inning, 3-2 win against Alvin College, they lost to Navarro 4-3 in 13 innings, then lost in the elimination bracket to Bossier Paris 8-4.
"The Dragons sent a veteran group of 17 sophomores to the tournament, including 15 players who signed to attend schools next season and continue their baseball careers," Clark said. "This was the second consecutive trip to the regional tournament for this group of sophomores."
