Rams ‘ace’ pitcher Kade Bragg continues historic season heading into playoffs.
Angelo State baseball coach Kevin Brooks planned to take junior pitcher Kade Bragg out of the game against Texas A&M-Kingsville after pitching a shutout in seven innings in a 0-0 game going to extra innings.
After the Rams took the lead off a sacrifice fly from Jackson Hardy which brought in Tripp Clark for the run, Bragg talked Brooks into finishing the game. Bragg pitched another inning to close out the game for Angelo State and finished the game with 12 strikeouts and no walks in 127 pitches.
After the eight-inning shutout against Texas A&M-Kingsville, Bragg has pitched 21 consecutive innings without allowing a run. In Bragg’s first season with the Rams, he has 83 strikeouts, has given up five runs in 62.2 innings and has an earned-run average of 0.29. Bragg is undefeated with 10 wins and the Rams are the No. 1-ranked Division II team in the country with a 36-6 record with eight games remaining before the Lone Star Conference Baseball Tournament.
Brooks, who’s been with the program since 2005 and is the team’s only head coach in its history, scouted Bragg at Weatherford College and brought him into the program to be a starting pitcher.
“I mean, what I’ve witnessed thus far I don’t think I’ve ever seen before,” Brooks said. “You know, I expected him to come in and be dominant, but he’s probably raised that a little bit because what he’s done thus far has been just amazing to watch and the consistency with which he’s done it.”
Bragg grew up in Ennis, where he started playing baseball at an early age with his brothers playing wiffle ball in their backyard. While his brothers shifted to playing football, Bragg stayed with baseball and eventually earned a scholarship to play at Texas A&M after high school. After an injury to his left arm and A&M-rescinding his scholarship offer, Bragg enrolled at Weatherford College. In his two years at Weatherford, Bragg appeared in 29 games with 13 wins and 196 strikeouts in 151 innings.
“Yeah, I have a chip on my shoulder,” Bragg said. “… I hold a lot of confidence in myself. I have a higher standard where I know I can beat anybody (and) I just gotta keep my mind to it. I just don’t let the little things affect me, so yeah, the confidence has always been there for me (and) I just keep working.”
Even though Brooks brought Bragg into the program to be an ‘ace’, Bragg said he knew nothing was guaranteed.
“Everybody’s goal is to come in here and play so you have to come in and beat all the guys out,” Bragg said. “But, you take what’s given (and) play when you can. Obviously, you want to start but you have to earn that, so I think that’s what I’ve done over the last 10 starts.”
Senior outfielder Jacob Guerrero played with and against Bragg from little league to where they are now in their college careers and said he saw the progression of how Bragg matured as a teammate and player.
“He’s always had that special stuff,” Guerrero said. “He brings a lot of positive energy to the game and when he’s not in the game he’s always there picking you up and helping you out that way… Over time you’ve seen him mature and gain more knowledge and be able to know where to throw pitches and know what the hitters are going to do. Ever since we were little he goes out there and attacks and just does his thing.”
With two series and eight games left in the regular season, Brooks said he is confident that Bragg will continue his dominance to finish out the season and into the postseason.
“Here’s a guy that when he’s on, he can pretty much go win a game by himself and that’s a good feeling to have,” Brooks said. “I know his teammates and coaches (feel) that when he is getting the ball we feel like we’re going to win that day, and there’s nothing more of a bigger compliment to a pitcher that your team feels when you got the ball, we’re gonna win.”
The Rams are back at Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium for their last home series of the regular season against St. Edward’s Friday through Sunday, before the conference tournament begins May 5.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Angelo State pitcher Kade Bragg continues historic season.
