HEATH -  Rockwall-Heath’s All-American pitching and first baseman sensation Jake Thompson signed a national letter of intent Wednesday to play baseball and continue his education at Texas Christian University (TCU) in 2013.

Thompson is a senior and will play once more this Spring for the Hawks baseball team. He had previously verbally committed last year to play at the University of Nebraska, until the Cornhuskers fired their baseball coach last year.

His parents said they are very happy that Jake will now be attending college closer to home so they can see him play more often.

His father, Keith Thompson, who works in administration for the Garland school district, expressed his appreciation Wednesday at Heath High for all those who have supported their son and family.

“Many of you were present this morning and we all thank for that tremendous show of support. It has been a long hard grind, with countless hours of hard work by Jake, but it all came back to him this morning. Thank you all very much and let’s all hope he can stay healthy his senior year!

Thompson also volunteers as a sportswriter for TheRockwallNews.com, reporting on Heath Hawks baseball.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

HEATH – The honors keep piling up for Rockwall-Heath pitcher and first baseman Jake Thompson, who was recently named a first team high school All-American by Baseball America and ESPN Rise, first team All-State by the Texas Sportswriters Association and first team by the Dallas Morning News SportsDay.

During the 2011 season, the 6’4″ 235 lb. junior hit .504 with 15 home runs, 17 doubles, 58 RBI and 45 runs, while compiling a 12-3 record, with a 1.90 ERA and 131 strikeouts for the Class 4A Region II finalists.

“Big Jake” also saved some of his best for the playoffs, winning several close games with clutch extra-base hits and pitching. Opposing teams purposely walked him numerous times.

“We’re very, very proud,” said his father, Keith Thompson, who is an administrator in the Garland school district and contributing sportswriter for TheRockwallNews.com.

“The Baseball America award is very, very prestigious. It’s a huge honor and accomplishment for a junior. I still cannot believe he made that one. He was only one of two juniors nationwide to make first team and one of only two Texans.”

After verbally committing last year to the University of Nebraska, Thompson recently switched that commitment to Texas Christian University. which has made the NCAA tournament for the past eight seasons in a row. After Nebraska fired their third-year coach May 22 for again failing to make the Big 12 tournament, Thompson said his son decided to switch.

“After Nebraska changed coaching staffs, Jake wanted to reconsider his options as he was quite fond of the coaches who recruited him at Nebraska. He settled on TCU after narrowing his choices to them and Oklahoma. The success of the TCU program in recent years and their track record of developing highly successful pitchers led Jake to choosing the Frogs. The fact that they are close to home is a bonus for family and friends who enjoy watching him play.”

Verbal commitments are non-binding. The earliest a baseball commit from the Class of 2012 can sign a National Letter of Intent is Nov. 9, 2011.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

(ESPN Dallas) HEATH – Last season, Rockwall-Heath, in just its fourth year as a program, came one step away from the Class 4A state baseball tournament before getting swept by Frisco Wakeland in a regional final series.

A rematch of that regional final almost materialized this year. But Mesquite Poteet first won a coin toss to play Wakeland last week in single-elimination regional semifinal game (rather than of a best-of-3 series), then won the game in TKO fashion, 10-2.

Instead, the 4A Region II final pairs two teams that, on paper, are very different.

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FRISCO – Five Rockwall-Heath players slugged home runs as the Hawks blasted Frisco 12-1 Friday night for their second victory in a row over the Raccoons, earning Heath (29-5-1) the right to advance to a Bi-District best of three-game playoff series next weekend against Dallas Molina.

WYLIE – Rockwall-Heath’s Jovan Hernandez threw a no-hitter and first baseman Jake Thompson slammed three home runs as the Hawks clobbered Wylie East, 11-0, last night to finish the regular season in a tie for first place in District 10-4A with Highland Park with 12-2 records.

Jake Bledsoe also hit a homer and Bret Boswell had two doubles for Heath (27-5-1).

Highland Park defeated McKinney, 11-2, Friday, finishing the season at 27 -4.

Rockwall-Heath will meet Frisco or Frisco Centennial from District 9-4A in the Bi-District playoffs next weekend. Times and dates are to be announced.

By J.J. Smith, Publisher

The Dallas Morning News. The result was so sudden, so unexpected and so resounding no one could have seen it coming.

In the aftermath of Frisco Wakeland’s 12-3 victory over Rockwall-Heath in the Class 4A Region II final Saturday, both teams were in shock. In less than three hours, Rockwall-Heath, ranked first in at least one national poll, watched its once-perfect season end without fanfare, while Frisco Wakeland, which almost missed the playoffs, earned its first trip to the state tournament by completing a shocking series sweep.

“If you said this is the way it would have happened,” Frisco Wakeland coach Barry Rose said, “I would have told you you were crazy.”

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By J.J. Smith. The nation’s top-ranked high school baseball team didn’t look like it last night.

For only the second time this year, the Rockwall-Heath Hawks (39-2) were defeated – actually clobbered – by a revved-up Frisco Wakeland (39-10) squad, 14-6, in the first of their best-of-three-game series for the Class 4A Region II championship.

The game was played in front of a largely partisan Frisco crowd at Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.

Jumping on ace Hawks pitcher James Baune right away, Wakeland scored five runs in the top of the first inning behind Greg McCall’s two-run home run.

The Hawks came right back to score four runs in the bottom of the first after doubles by Jake Thompson and John Branum.

Frisco then added another run in the top of the second and third innings and led 7-5 after three innings.

Armando Villa walked, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jovan Hernandez to pick up a Hawk run in the third inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Hawks scored one more as Hernandez singled, making it his 40th game in a row that he’s had a hit. He’s now just two games away from tying the Texas UIL record of 42 games set by Jeff Granger.

In the top of the sixth, Baune gave up three more runs and reliever Caleb Copley threw a wild pitch, which scored one of them. Frisco’s lead was now 10-6.

In the top of the seventh innning, Wakeland had three more hits combined with two Hawk errors and scored four more runs, increasing their lead to 14-6.

The Hawks had one hit in their final at-bat but then three outs in a row to end a game they would probably just like to forget.

Frisco pounding Heath pitching for a total of 14 hits on the night. The most runs scored previously this year against normally excellent Heath pitching was seven.

The second game of the series will be played this Saturday at Dallas Baptist University, beginning at 5 pm. If necessary, the third game will follow immediately after.

The games will be broadcast on radio station 92.1 KXEZ-FM, owned by former Rockwall Mayor Ken Jones.

By J.J. Smith (James Baune photo by In Focus Photography). The Class 4A Region II Baseball Championship series between the nation’s top prep baseball team, Rockwall-Heath (39-1), and Frisco Wakeland (29-10) will begin tomorrow at Dr. Pepper Ballpark in Frisco at 7:30 pm.

The Ballpark is the home of the Frisco Roughriders minor league baseball team.

Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students.

Game 2 will be Saturday, June 5, at 5 p.m. at Dallas Baptist University, 3000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211.

Game 3, if necessary, will follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

By J.J. Smith (In Focus Photography photo). For the third time in a row USA Today newspaper named Rockwall-Heath the number one high school baseball team in the nation in their Super 25 Index May 27.

The Hawks top-ranking came as a result of their string of 37 straight victories, two recent playoff wins over Dallas Kimball, 9-0 and 18-3, plus their shutout of Carrollton Newman Smith, 6-0.

The ranking came out just before they beat Cleburne last week, 4-1, and 6-2, in their best of three-game Class 4A Region II Semi-final playoff series to advance to the Finals against Frisco Wakeland.

But since the Hawks also lost their first game of the season to Cleburne, 4-3, it will be interesting to see how that affects their ranking, especially if they win the Region II Championship.

The number two team continues to be Sumrall, Mississippi (34-1), after the three-time defending state champion Bobcats won the Class 3A State Championship last weekend.

By J.J. Smith. Playing a playoff double-header yesterday, the nation’s top-ranked Rockwall-Heath baseball team finally lost their first game of the season to Cleburne, 4-3, but came back in the final game of their best-of-three-game series to defeat Cleburne 6-2, advancing to the Class 4A Region II Finals.

The Hawks had already beaten Cleburne Thursday night, 4-1.

In the final game, Jovan Hernandez survived a difficult start but pitched a complete game and also had two RBI hits to lead the Hawks.

Jake Thompson had two RBI hits, as well, and Drew Baxter and John Branum doubled runs home.

In the first game, Cleburne jumped on pitcher Jake Thompson early and grabbed a 4-0 first inning lead, before Heath almost caught up.

Drew Baxter and Jake Thompson each drove in runs in the third inning and Armando Villa scored on a wild pitch in the fourth inning. The Hawks had runners on first and second in the seventh inning but a Cleburne double-play ended the game.

Rockwall-Heath now has 39 victories and just one defeat for the season.

They will next play Frisco Wakeland (29-10) in the Class 4A Region II Finals at a location and date to be announced. Wakeland beat Waco Midway (26-12-1) twice Thursday and Saturday to earn the spot, 4-3 and 6-1.