A Lubbock Dust Storm -- Photo Courtesy of VirtualLubbock.com

As you would expect in a West Texas town, football is king. Red Raider football games are huge events and the local high school teams are popular. However, there is decent baseball to be found in Lubbock as well. Texas Tech always fields a respectable squad and has produced quite a few major league baseball players over the years. Dallas Barden and Josh Bard are two former Red Raiders that are currently playing in the Bigs. On the high school level, Lubbock Monterey is a Texas powerhouse, winning state four times and appearing in the semi-finals fourteen times.

In last year’s draft, the Rockies picked Chad Bettis, a former pitcher for Monterey and Tech. While I was attending law school at Tech, Chad was pitching for Monterey. Now, I really wish I had gone to see him play. As a second round pick, Bettis was one of the highest drafted Tech players ever. He has the potential to be one of Lubbock’s all-time great baseball players.

The Monterey High Plainsmen

In high school, Bettis was a standout. He was recognized as his district’s MVP and earned All-State honors. He was drafted by the Astros in the eighth round of the 2007 draft, but chose to attend college instead. That draft was a disaster for Houston and losing Bettis to Tech was part of the reason. However, Red Raider and Rockies fans are very glad that he didn’t sign with the Astros.

Chad struggled his freshman year at Tech, but still led the team in innings pitched. After that season, he was selected to pitch in the Cape Cod League where he made the most of his opportunity. Against some of the best young talent in the country, he threw 43.2 innings with a 2.68 ERA. He struck out 39 hitters and allowed only one homerun.
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The Rockies sent minor league pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth to the A’s in exchange for Clayton Mortensen. Hollingsworth was drafted by the Rockies in the fourth round of the 2008 draft and is coming off his best season yet. Last year with Modesto, he made 25 starts, going 12-8 with a 3.31 ERA. He was promoted to Tulsa late in the season, but was shelled in two starts with the Drillers.

Mortensen was a first round draft pick of the St. Louis Cardinals. He was acquired by the A’s when they traded Matt Holliday to the Cards. He made 26 starts with AAA Sacramento last season and 6 starts with the A’s. Mortensen won’t compete for a spot in the Rockies’ rotation next year, but could see time in the bullpen.

In order to make room for Mortensen on the forty-man, the Rockies were forced to designate pitcher Samuel Deduno for assignment. Deduno was once considered a top Rockies’ prospect, but he never realized his potential. The Rockies must either trade or release Deduno within 10 days of his designation.
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