BCA Rookie of the Year

Baseball Factory’s Director of the Signature College Recruiting Program, Ryan Koch, recently traveled to the National High School Baseball Coaches Association (BCA) Convention in St. Louis, Missouri to present the National Rookie of the Year Award.  This award is given to the top sophomore or freshman in the country, based on their performance during the 2006 spring high school season.  Throughout the year, high school coaches can go to http://www.baseballfactory.com/hscoach/ to nominate their best players for consideration of this award. 

Baseball Factory and the BCA reviewed this year’s nominations and selected Tuerlings Catholic High School player Taylor Dugas.

Dugas, a sophomore pitcher/outfielder from Lafayette, Louisiana, had a record of 8-2 with an ERA of 3.24 in 50 innings, with 58 strikeouts and only 22 walks.  As a freshman, he went 10-2 with an ERA of 3.21 in 58 1/3 innings, with 52 strikeouts and only 15 walks.  Dugas performed just as well at the plate, batting .535 with 50 RBI’s and 44 runs.  He hit 21 doubles, 10 triples and two home runs.  In 2005, he hit .435 with 27 RBI’s, 36 runs and one home run. 

Taylor has also taken time with his studies, earning a 3.6 and 3.4 GPA during his freshman and sophomore year.

Dugas was unable to attend the BCA Convention to receive his award; however, Baseball Factory has recently named him as a 2007 Under Armour Pre-season All-American.  As such, Dugas will be presented with his Rookie of the Year Award at the Under Armour Pre-season All-American Tournament.  The event will take place at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Arizona from January 12 – 14, 2007.  Dugas will join 200 top players from across the country in this tournament.

Dugas was also a standout performer at the 2006 Team One South Regional Showcase. 

On a sidenote, Baseball Factory’s Koch and Assistant Director of Marketing, Dave Lax, almost didn’t make it to St. Louis.  They battled a snow and ice storm that caused an overnight detour in Chicago and numerous hours sitting on the runway.  This storm kept many attendees from making it to the BCA Convention, but despite the attempts by Mother Nature, the event was a success and Baseball Factory was happy to take part once again.  Baseball Factory has been a proud partner with the BCA since 1998.

To nominate a player for the 2007 BCA Rookie of the Year Award, please go to www.baseballfactory.com/hscoach and submit a nomination form.

For more information on Taylor Dugas, please review the article on the BCA web site: www.baseballcoaches.org/dugas.pdf