The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Former Bridge City Cardinal baseball players will flock home to relive the ‘glory days’ on Saturday, Feb. 12. Over 50 former Cardinals have already signed on to play in the Bridge City Baseball Alumni Game at Cardinal Field starting at 3 p.m.

Players from as far back as 1967 and as recent as last season will divide into ‘even’ and ‘odd’ year teams and get another swing at the good old days. But this certainly isn’t an old-timers game as many of Bridge City’s best from yesteryear are joining in.

Teams include players from three state baseball tournament teams and several guys whose names are still on the roster in colleges and the pros. Some are in the coaching profession today.

“We thought it would be a good way for former players to become active in our baseball program again,” said Chris Moore, a former Bridge City baseball player from 1997 who also organized the event. Moore is currently an assistant coach for the Cardinals.

“The purpose of the alumni game and our web site is to show the younger guys the history and success our program has had through the years and to honor those former players for their accomplishments.”

Moore, along with Head Baseball Coach Chad Landry and assistant coach Elmer Laird have put the program together hosted by the Bridge City High School baseball program.

Teams will be split between ‘even’ years and ‘odd’ years. Jacob Monceaux, a teammate of Moore’s in 1997, will coach the ‘odds’ and current Bridge City coach Josh Smalley, 1994, will coach the ‘evens.’ Smalley was a member of the 1992 state finalist team under then head coach Chuck Young.

Johnny Dishon, 2007, and Kevin Angelle, 2006, are most notable alumni players from recent seasons. Dishon, is with the Milwaukee Brewer organization and Angelle, a current MLB free agent, each played in two state baseball tournaments for Bridge City in 2005 and 2006 under then head baseball coach Billy Bryant.

Also from the 2005 state tournament team will be the return of Hunter Hayes and David Coulter. From 2006 are Dale Armond and Brett Day.

In 2007, the Cardinals went as far as Game Three of the Region III final series before falling to the eventual state champion Jasper Bulldogs. From that team, Chase Warner, Troy Bolton, Jeff Stringer, Jordan Lemoine and Daniel Willey will be slugging it out in Saturday’s alumni game. Among them was catcher Casey Jackson, 2008, who will be ready to take a swing.

But the roster also includes many others who left their mark on Cardinal baseball. Charles Miller played four years before graduating in 1967 later becoming a baseball coach at Bridge City for many years. Also signed on for the alumni game are Pat Meeks, 1980, Ronnie Shugart, 1987, Roman Carpenter, 1990, Brandon Denison, 1993, and Jeremy Wilson and Daron Benoit, 1994. Tony Bramblett from 1995 will be there.

The list of alumni players also includes Derek Bradley and Jacob Monceaux, 1997, Frank Giarratano, Clay Richards, and Jesse Herin, 1998, and Lance Polk, Mark Crorey and Josh Sanders will represent the 1999 team.

From 2000 is Justin Tegge, Aaron Myers, 2001, Luther Sanders and Lanston Fults, 2002.

The 2009 Cardinals were also state playoff contenders. Coming home for the alumni game are Eric Mathews, Grant Encalade, Blake Hubbard, Daniel Wallace, Anthony Cessac, Dustin Breaux, Blake Snyder, Michael Schrieber and Jared Raggio.

Representing last season’s Region III finalist will be Luke Rhodes, Cody Quigley and Josh Lemoine.

Announcing the game will be former BCHS principal and baseball coach Terry Stuebing and Bill Dixon.. Umpires for the game are from the Beaumont Chapter of TASO.

Admmission is free. For more information log on to http://bridgecitycardinalbaseball.webs.com

See the upcoming issue of 'The Record' for more.

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