Sports
TC baseball signs area talent
Published: June 2, 2002
In April, Academy senior Luke Barganier was trying to decide whether to play basketball at Texas A&M-Commerce or an Oklahoma junior college or football at Mary Hardin-Baylor.So he chose to play baseball at Temple College.Barganier, a four-sport star for the Bumblebees, this week signed an NJCAA national letter of intent to attend and play for TC's Leopards beginning this fall.Temple coach Craig McMurtry also signed Troy four-year starting infielder Grant Lambert and Lorena ace pitcher Brooks Graham recently, adding to a strong recruiting class that already included standout right-handers Terry Killion of Austin Bowie and Eric Stiba of Hewitt Midway. On Friday, McMurtry added the name of Temple's three-sport star Ronnie Gaines to the impressive haul.Barganier said he's excited to join an up-and-coming TC program that made its first NJCAA Region V Tournament appearance this spring."I started talking to TC about halfway through baseball season, and I got real interested," said Barganier, a versatile football performer who also led Academy to this year's Class 2A state basketball championship, helped the Bees go 14-0 in District 25-2A baseball games, and won a silver medal in the triple jump at the 2A state track and field meet."Coach McMurtry's a real good coach, and I think it'll be a good place to play ball."Barganier, a shortstop/pitcher in high school, likely will shift to the outfield at TC."I can see him stepping in as an outfielder for us, probably in right and center," McMurtry said. "And he might get a chance on the mound this fall.". . by Greg Wille