Cove’s Johnson named to THSBCA All State Team

By TJ MAXWELL

Cove Leader-Press

For the second time in as many weeks, a Copperas Cove baseball player was recognized for their efforts on the diamond.

After Jaylen Smith was made the first-ever Copperas Cove baseball player to be selected in the Major League Baseball draft last week, senior starter Cameron Johnson was selected to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches’ Association Class 6A All-State Team this week.

Johnson was selected as a Third Team Pitcher, along with 8-6A rival junior Preston Mills of Ellison.

Jackson Rinehart of Harker Heights was also selected as a Third Team Catcher.

Pitching from the no. 1 starting spot, Johnson led the Bulldawgs with a 1.500 earned run average as a senior and finished the year with an 8-2 record in 11 games started. He surrendered 25 runs (13 earned) on 28 hits while striking out 103, walking 37 and hitting 11 batters. Johnson also had the team’s lowest WHIP at 1.071.

Johnson also got it done at the plate as a senior with a .360 batting average and a team-best .524 on-base percentage and third-best slugging percentage of .494.

Johnson finished the year with 32 hits in 89 at bats with 23 runs batted in and 30 runs scored.

He improved mightily from his junior campaign where he had a 4-5 record from the bump and a 1.739 ERA. He also had 35 more strikeouts and gave up eight fewer free bases in eight more innings of work.

Johnson also bolstered his efforts at the plate from a year ago. He had a .243 batting average and .322 on-base percentage as a junior as compared to the .360 BA and best .524 OBP in his senior campaign.

Johnson committed play baseball for the San Angelo State Rams during a ceremony at the high school last November.

Other local players selected were Salado junior Rustin Hale (Class 4A Third Team Catcher) and Temple senior T.J. Rumfield (Class 5A First Team 3rd Base).

Local players selected to the THSBCA All Star Teams were Salado shortstop Jacob Wilk (2A-3A-4A South All Stars) and outfielder Riley Lambert of Waco Midway (5A-6A North All Stars)

The All Stars will play their games at Dell Diamond in Round Rock tomorrow with first pitch set for noon.