The Flower Mound baseball team has a two-headed monster this season that could prove very difficult for opposing playoff teams to overcome.
Andrew Vinson and Cody Gunter are among the area leaders in hitting and pitching for the Jaguars, and both have committed to playing Division I baseball next school year.
Coach Marte Amrine said that he has been impressed with the efforts of both young men this season and said their presence has definitely been felt.
“Andrew is our shortstop and one of our starting pitchers,” Amrine said. “He hits lead off for us and has done a great job all season as a hitter, fielder, and pitcher. Cody is our third basemen and one of our pitchers. Cody has also done a great job for us. Both of these guys are our top two hitters right now.
“They’re also great pitchers and have done a great job at each of their positions. I really think they bring an attitude with them when they take the field and our guys thrive off of that. They also have done a great job being leaders for us in the dugout and at practice everyday.”
Gunter his hitting .456 on the season with six home runs, seven doubles and 23 RBI.
In spite of the great season to this point, Gunter said he does believe that things could be going better for the Jaguars.
“I don’t think we are doing as well as we could be doing, but we’re not doing bad,” Gunter said. “Our focus now is mainly on the playoffs. I am comfortable with my hitting, but I feel that I could be doing better at third base.”
The Flower Mound senior has committed to play collegiate ball at Kansas State and said he chose to attend college in Manhattan for a couple of reasons.
“When I went there, I really liked it a lot,” Gunter said. “I really felt like I fit in there well. I love the coaches and their developmental program, their weight room and facilities are great. I just really like it there.”
The Flower Mound pitcher had a 1.02 ERA and 62 strikeouts heading into the season finale and said he does like the Jags’ chances in the post season.
“I think we are going to do really well,” Gunter said. “If we just relax and play, we should be fine. If we can relax and not press and just do what we do, I think we’ll be all right.”
Gunter said it has been great to have Vinson as a teammate this year, and one thing does impress him in particular about his fellow pitcher.
“I would say it is his competitiveness,” Gunter said. “He will go out there and give it 150 percent every day.”
Vinson, who is hitting .465 with eight doubles, three home runs and 14 stolen bases for Flower Mound, said he has been pleased with his teams’ effort this season.
“To this point, I am pretty satisfied,” Vinson said. “There have been some low points, but I think we’re getting pretty hot going into the playoffs. This is probably the best season I have ever had, and I am pretty happy about that.”
Vinson, who has a 1.74 ERA with 58 strikeouts this season, said what impresses him most about Gunter is his tenacity.
“The way that he battles against all the teams is impressive,” Vinson said. “It really helps me out at the plate, having someone hitting behind me, and then the fact that he can go however many innings we need him to go on the mound. He’s one of our leaders, and he leads by example.”
Vinson is headed to Texas A&M in the fall, and said for Flower Mound to have a good run in the post season, it will take a couple of things.
“Everyone that is hot right now needs to stay hot,” Vinson said. “We will need some of the younger players to do well in their roles and step up for us. If we can do that, we’ve got a good shot.”
Amrine said that he expects both players to contribute largely to the team’s playoff success and said that they will be missed next season.
“Both of these guys will vital for our post season run both as pitchers and position players,” Amrine said. “We will need them playing at their best to make a deep playoff run. We have a great team this year, but will need both of them to push us past the great competition we will see in the playoffs.”
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