Robinson’s formula for victory during the Class 3A playoffs was simple.

All the Rockets had to do was send Chad Hollingsworth to the mound.

The junior right-hander pitched five times in the playoffs, and Robinson came away a winner every time.

Chad Hollingsworth went 5-0 on the mound in the playoffs to lead Robinson to the state title game.
Rod Aydelotte / Waco Tribune-Herald

That run included a pair of shutouts, and no opponent put up more than one run against the University of Texas commit.

The Rockets fell short of their ultimate goal with a 5-1 loss to Kennedale in the state championship game, but Hollingsworth’s magical postseason earned him the Super Centex Player of the Year award.

“I think everybody just comes out and they’re all nervous (in the playoffs),” Hollingsworth said. “I don’t get too worked up about the games. If you just relax and just play like you can, it’s going to seem like your game is rising because everybody else is so nervous.”

In no game did Hollingsworth display his calm demeanor more than the opener of a regional semifinal series against Bridge City.

After getting the final three outs, Hollingsworth trotted off the mound like nothing had happened.

That’s because he didn’t think anything had. He thought it was only the sixth inning.

“I was just really calm,” Hollingsworth said. “I pay attention to the game, but nobody got too worked up. It was the last inning, and everybody on our team was really relaxed. You can’t tell if it’s the first inning or seventh inning.”

It’s easy for a team to relax with a beast like Hollingsworth on the mound.

He features an assortment of a four-seam fastball, curveball, slider and change-up.

His ability to throw all four of them for strikes at any time keeps opposing hitters guessing.

But he does most of his damage with the fastball, and it’s no wonder since his travels at 90-plus mph.

“A lot of 3A hitters can’t catch up to a 90s fastball,” Hollingsworth said. “If you throw that hard, you’re going to be good.”

For the season, Hollingsworth finished with an 11-2 record with 131 strikeouts and a 1.30 ERA. He also hit .368, drove in 28 runs and scored 22 more to earn the District 19-3A MVP honor.

Still, the title of state champion has eluded him, but he’s hopeful the Rockets can take the final step next year.

“It was a good season, but we really didn’t reach our goal,” Hollingworth said. “We wanted to win state, but I think we’re going to come back strong next year. We lost a couple of key seniors, but we got state experience, so I think we’ll be stronger.”

Coach of the Year:
John Broussard, Cameron Yoe

Nearly three weeks after bringing home Cameron Yoe’s first-ever state baseball crown, coach John Broussard still can’t believe it’s real.

“It still hasn’t hit me yet,” he said. “It’s like living in a dream. As a coach, that’s your one dream. This year, we had a great team that didn’t play as individuals. They played as a team, and they accomplished their goal. There’s no better feeling in the world than to say you’re the No. 1 team in the state.”

At state, the Yoemen dominated Bushland, 6-0, then won the Class 2A crown by jumping on Nacogdoches Central Heights with a five-run second inning en route to a 7-3 victory.

For leading the Yoemen to school history, Broussard is the Super Centex Coach of the Year.

“Central Texas is loaded with great coaches,” Broussard said. “It’s a great honor to receive this award. Our kids worked hard all year, and they got me this award. They did everything I asked them to do. I couldn’t ask for more out of them and also my assistant coaches put in a lot of hard work and long hours.”

Yoe committed just one error in the two games at the state tournament, compared to six by its opponents.

In short, the Yoemen simply handled being on the big stage better. That comes with the experience their seven seniors provided, but they were also prepared for everything that came their way. That comes from coaching.

“We had good senior leadership, and they didn’t panic when things didn’t go our way,” Broussard said. “Playing in big games before in football and basketball also helped prepare them for state.”

Newcomer of the Year:
Hunter Jarmon, Midway

In his first varsity game playing for Midway, Hunter Jarmon smacked a grand slam to help the Panthers rout Temple.

It was just a preview of what to come.

“When you throw a sophomore in there, you never know,” Midway coach Paul Offill said. “He hit a grand slam on an 0-2 pitch in the opening game, so we saw what he was capable of. He never really slowed down.”

Indeed, he didn’t.

Jarmon, who likely would have been a varsity player as a freshman had he not been ruled ineligible after transferring in, settled into the middle of the lineup and cranked out 57 hits, scored 42 runs, hit seven home runs and recorded 52 RBIs in his impressive debut season.

“He really solidified the middle of our lineup,” Offill said. “His athletic ability is enormous. The other thing is hitting behind Kramer (Robertson), it helped Kramer see better pitches. You couldn’t pitch around Kramer, because then you had to pitch to Hunter.”

Jarmon spent his time in the outfield as a sophomore, but Offill said he could play almost any position, including pitcher.

“He’s special,” Offill said. “I’d take a team full of him.”

jorts@wacotrib.com

757-5717

2011 SUPER CENTEX BASEBALL TEAM

First-team profiles

JOSEPH OLSON

Catcher

Sr, Robinson

First-team all-stater hit .402 with 39 RBIs while stifling opposing running games from behind plate.

JUSTIN TERRY

First base

Sr, Fairfield

20-3A co-MVP rapped 4 HRs, drove in 34, was also overpowering on mound with 74 K’s in 44 innings.

GARRETT MATTLAGE

Second base

Sr, West

Terrorized opposing pitchers with 11 HRs, 53 RBIs to go with .472 average; also went 8-1 with 2.13 ERA.

KOLBEY CARPENTER

Shortstop

Jr, West

2010 Player of Year cranked 14 HRs, 48 hits while sparkling defense nabbed 8-3A defensive MVP award.

HEATH HARRIS

Third base

Sr, West

Two-time first-teamer pounded gaps for 22 doubles as part of 64-hit season to earn all-state honors.

THOMAS RINN

Outfield

Sr, Cameron Yoe

Provided pop in middle of state champ’s lineup with 8 HRs, 62 RBIs; also picked up win on mound in 2A title tilt.

CODY LOVEJOY

Outfield

Sr, Lorena

Supplied speed with 20 stolen bases, 42 runs scored, power with 5 HRs, defense with an error-free season.

MICHAEL MARTIN

Outfield

Sr, China Spring

Helped guide young Cougars to second straight regional quarterfinal with .448 season, 36 RBIs.

KRAMER ROBERTSON

Designated hitter

So, Midway

Backed up 2010 Newcomer of Year campaign with .463 average, .573 on-base, 50 hits and 6 HRs.

D.J. McCORMICK

Utility

Sr, Bosqueville

Senior leadership behind plate invaluable to regional semifinalist, named district MVP with 12 HRs.

ZACH BRASHEAR

Pitcher

Sr, Cameron Yoe

Rubber-armed right-hander picked up win, save to lead Yoemen to 1st-ever state baseball championship.

CHAD HOLLINGSWORTH

Pitcher

Jr, Robinson

Player of Year upped his game in postseason, never allowing more than 1 run in going 5-0 for state finalist.

MATTHEW KENT

Pitcher

Sr, Midway

Dominating lefty fired three no-hitters, went 10-2 with 0.66 ERA, struck out 132 and walked only 10.

STERLING WYNN

Pitcher

Jr, China Spring

19-3A defensive MVP almost single-handedly pitched team into playoffs with 9-2 mark, 0.99 ERA.

AUSTIN ANDERSON

Pitcher

Sr, Midway

Never suffered defeat in final season, finishing with 9-0 record, twirled pair of no-hitters, 3 shutouts

TYLER HOELSCHER

Pitcher

Sr, Troy

Garnered all-state recognition after fanning 120 batters in 67 innings pitched to go with 1.15 ERA.

HUNTER JARMON

Outfield

So, Midway

Impressive debut included 57 hits, 42 runs, 7 HRs, 52 RBIs batting in middle of Midway’s potent lineup.

JOHN BROUSSARD

Coach

Cameron Yoe

Guided driven Yoemen team led by 7 seniors to school history with its first-ever state baseball title.

RELATED SEARCHES

• High school all-district baseball teams
• Super Centex Softball Team: Midway senior made 3 state trips