(Beaumont, TX) The Southland Conference named Lamar University’s C.J. Ebarb as their Aeropostale Hitter of the Week on April 10, 2006. No doubt, this is a new name to most. But, this is a young man who has been working at his stroke in the developmental hinterlands for several years.
Ebarb enters the Division I baseball fan’s radar, currently boasting a hefty .571 slugging percentage. He is in the top ten in the Southland Conference in HR’s, doubles, slugging percentage and RBI’s.
Long-time Lamar University Assistant, Matt Thompson believes that it was only a matter of time before Ebarb received recognition. “He just loves playing. He’s the consummate hitter. And, being a catcher, he understands both the mechanics of his swing and the strategy of pitchers”, said Coach Thompson. He went further: “CJ goes above and beyond most college athletes, often going independently for BP after formal team practice.”
As a four year starter at Jasper (TX) HS, Lamar’s catcher set school records for BA, OBP and walks. His team bio reveals that he helped Southern Nevada Junior College win the 2003 NJCAA National Championship, and that he was selected to the All-Tournament Team that year.
Although he has been consistently exceptional on the diamond at every level, recognition has been slow coming. But as Coach Thompson says, he loves to play. And, with his team sitting atop the league, after a (4/7-4/9) three-game sweep of 2nd place UTA, he likes to win. It’s never been about the accolades.
(I like this guy. He's a character. He caught a bullpen thrown by my son once. My son felt really big-time.)
