Local slugger signs with Texarkana
Phillips inks deal to play for defending Regin XIV champs
By
KEVIN GORE
Sentinel Staff
David Phillips decided that baseball was his sport of choice when he was four years old.
He spent the majority of his summers at the ballpark. As he grew older, he played on summer and school teams and for select teams in Houston and Dallas the last two seasons.
All of the time he spent traveling and playing baseball was toward the goal of eventually earning a scholarship.
The Nacogdoches Dragon senior left-handed first baseman signed one with Texarkana College Wednesday.
Texarkana College has become a powerhouse among two-year colleges, going 238-110 in six seasons, including 50-11 last year, under coach James Mansinger.
Mansinger said Phillips was brought to his attention by scouts who watched Phillips display his skills at a hitting camp at Texas A&M.
Mansinger said he received a few phone calls from contacts who told him there was a solid fielding first baseman with some power potential in Nacogdoches who was looking for a college.
Phillips hit .365 as a junior at Nacogdoches last season.
“We're excited that he decided to sign with us,” Mansinger said. “We look at him being a good defensive first baseman for us. He's showed the ability to hit for power for us.
“That will come when we get him here and in our weight program.”
The coach said the players that he signs are not projects, because they are only at his school for two seasons before they will move on to larger schools.
“They have to be able to come in and play as freshman,” Mansinger said. “We expect David to be able to do that.”
Phillips' path to Texarkana took a lot of turns throughout the years.
It all started when he first picked up a bat and ball as a youngster and continued when his parents, David and Kay Phillips, invested their resources and time to help their son fulfill his goal.
“I'm thankful that my parents helped me,” Phillips said. “They did everything that they could to help me be the best player that I can be.”
Phillips' father played football two years and baseball two years at Texas A&M.
“He's way better than I ever was,” Phillips' father said. “He can hit with a lot of power, and he can hit for average.
“David has always been complimented for having a good, smooth swing. But over the past year or so, he's been developing more and more power. That's what the college and professional scouts have taken notice of.”
Phillips, a 6-1, 190-pounder, will be under the direction of first-year coach Todd Sparks this season.
The Dragons open their season in late February.
“He has a good work ethic,” Sparks said of Phillips. “He's hit three or four out of the park in the time I've had him during our baseball period.
“We're looking forward to having a good season.”
While Phillips has a scholarship in hand, he said the work toward improving will continue.
“I just want to keep working as hard as I can to be the best I can be,” he said.
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Kevin Gore’s e-mail address is kgore@coxnews.com
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