| Rowlett ace shines with bullpen work 04/09/2001 By David McNabb / The Dallas Morning News Before every game, Rowlett baseball coach Paul Carmon tells senior Derek Tillery he's going to come in relief as the closing pitcher.
Last week, Carmon wasn't kidding.
Tillery came on in three games to pick up saves for Rowlett, which had a make-up game of a rainout as well as two District 10-5A games.
Tillery totaled eight shutout innings in Rowlett victories over Garland, Garland Naaman Forest and North Mesquite.
Tillery also added a homer and had five RBIs against North Mesquite.
He went 6-for-11 as Rowlett's DH.
"I like coming and closing in tight situations," Tillery said.
Tillery is Rowlett's No. 3 starter behind a solid one-two of junior J.M. Mullinax and senior Tanner Goff. But with rainouts forcing a busy schedule in the last 10 days, it was critical for Tillery to come through to keep Rowlett tied with Mesquite for first in 10-5A.
"Coach Carmon always tells me I'm going to close," Tillery said. "It's so I'll be thinking and prepared even if I don't come in. But I knew I'd probably be pitching more."
Last Monday, Rowlett played Garland in its third district game in three days.
Two days before, Mullinax picked up his fourth complete game with a victory over South Garland on Saturday.
Goff started against Garland on Monday and threw five innings before giving way to Tillery.
Tillery cruised through the final two innings for a 7-3 victory.
On Tuesday, Mullinax came back with little rest from Saturday's outing. Mullinax went four innings against Naaman Forest with Rowlett holding a 3-2 lead.
Mullinax tired in the fourth after having to work out of a bases-loaded jam, and Tillery came in to shut down Naaman in the final three innings.
Rowlett expanded its lead on the way to a 6-2 victory, which kept Rowlett from falling out of first and into a second-place tie with Naaman and South Garland.
On Friday, Tillery drove in five runs as a DH. He came on to finish the last three innings as well in a 14-5 victory.
Rowlett is looking to repeat as a district champion after getting its first title since the school opened in 1996. Rowlett advanced three rounds in the Class 5A state playoffs last year.
Tillery was one of several returnees with high hopes. He's never sure whether he'll contribute as a starting pitcher, a reliever or DH.
"I'm just trying to do whatever it takes to win," Tillery said.
| HONORABLE MENTION
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| Player | School | Cl. | Pos. | Comment |
| Ty Walter | Corsicana | Sr. | P | 16 K's, 3-hit victory |
| Jared Latta | Canton | Sr. | P | 18 K's in two games |
| Jared Ables | Kennedale | Jr. | DH | 5-for-8, two doubles, five RBIs |
| Terry Drake | TC-Cedar Hill | Fr. | SS | 5-for-10, HR, three RBIs, GW home run |
| Michael Hollimon | Jesuit | Sr. | SS | 6-for-12, three triples, HR, four RBIs |
| David Purcey | TCA-Addison | Sr. | P | 7 IP with one hit allowed in two games |
| Dale Smith | W.T. White | Sr. | CF | 5-for-9, five runs, nine RBIs |
| Will Garry | Gar. Naaman Forest | Sr. | P | Pitched four-hitter and hit GW RBI |
| Josh Terrell | Princeton | Jr. | P | Four wins in 18 IP with 21 K's |
| Zack Segovia | Forney | Jr. | P | 19 K's in 8 IP; Batting: 12-for-19, 12 RBIs |
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