THE NATION'S WINNINGEST JUNIOR COLLEGE PROGRAM
5 TIME NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
4 TIME NATIONAL RUNNER-UP
3 TIME JUCO SEMI-FINALIST
1 AL MVP
6 CY YOUNG AWARDS
1 CY YOUNG RUNNER-UP
RESPECT
"The Gators are a perennial contender for the Juco World Series title" -Jim Callis, BASEBALL AMERICA
"JC powerhouse San Jacinto (Texas)" -BASEBALL AMERICA
"San Jacinto's rich history is second to none in junior college baseball" -COLLEGIATE BASEBALL "Like All-American Roger Clemens, (Charlie) Thames came to Texas from San Jacinto Junior College. His cousin, former Rice shortstop Damon Thames, also went from San Jacinto to Division 1 All-American." -BASEBALL AMERICA
"The San Jacinto Gators have been one of the best Junior College programs in the country for a number of years." -STAN BRZEZICKI, TeamOneBaseball.com
"(Damon) Thames arrived at San Jacinto with a reputation as a good fielder who couldn't hit much. He wears the opposite label now." -BASEBALL AMERICA
"The Gators have long been the model for successful programs around the country." -Roland Flores, The Laredo Times
"San Jacinto (is) considered the jewel of the south when it comes to recruiting for major college baseball and the major leagues." -David Taylor, North Channel Sun
"(San Jacinto) has four major things going for it, one is location, right in the middle of a hotbed of high school talent. Another is the facility (there), third is the scholarship budget and fourth is the tradition." -DANNY WATKINS, University of Alabama assistant baseball coach
"Playing at San Jacinto College did everything for me. Playing here made me want to be the best I could. Not only did we have an excellent coaching staff, but the teammates we competed against in practice were outstanding." -JEFF MCCURRY, former MLB relief pitcher
"I may not be where I am today had it not been for some of the things I learned while playing at San Jacinto College." -ANDY PETTITTE, New York Yankees starting pitcher
Grand Junction: The Goal for 2006
Despite hitting a bump in the road to the Junior College World Series in 2005, San Jacinto College North remains one of the most storied baseball programs in the nation and currently ranks 13th in the nation entering the 2006 season.
The Gators made appearances in Grand Junction, Colo. for the series in 2002, 2003 and 2004, and the team has made seven appearances in the big show over the past nine years. San Jac North claimed five national titles in the 1980’s.
For 2006, the goal is a return to prominence.“It’s our goal every year to make it to the World Series,” fifth-year head coach Tom Arrington said. “Here at San Jacinto College North, it’s about winning and nothing else on the baseball field. Aside from that, we recruit the finest student-athletes possible and expect a lot from them.”
And the results have spoken for themselves. Arrington, just the fourth head coach in Gator history, welcomes 22 newcomers this season. As always, the Gators are loaded with top-notch pitching and are preparing for a swarm of Major League Baseball scouts at John Ray Harrison Field. If the hitting comes around, then San Jac North will be the team to beat in Region XIV.
“Our pitching is very impressive,” Arrington said. “Overall, we have 14 draft-and-follow players on the roster. I expect the defense to be su-perb and our team speed will be good. In the fall we were looking for some big hitters to materialize. If that aspect comes around we are going to be tough to handle.”
In 2005, the Gators appeared well on their way to a fourth straight trip to Grand Junction before the injury bug hit the team. San Jacinto lost its regional tournament opener, stayed alive with a win but then fell out of the tournament to finish 39-17 overall. Such a record will not be good enough for Arrington this time around.
“Last year was tough because the bulk of the team was built with sophomores,” Arrington said. “We had some guys get their chance to perform, and for the most part they stepped up. Our losses at the regional tournament were probably toughest on the sophomores because it was their last chance to get back to the series.”
And with somewhat of a new cast, the Gator’s goal for this season is to get back to Grand Junction.
“That will always be the goal here at San Jacinto College North,” says Arrington. “How you finish is usually the final judgment of your season. We want ours to be better in 2006.”