San Angelo Central pitcher Weidner will continue career at Midland College
San Angelo Central High School senior pitcher Hunter Weidner is making the most of his only season with the Bobcats before heading back to his old stomping grounds to play for Midland College.
Weidner transferred to Central from Midland Lee (which has since changed its name to Legacy) after his junior year and he says, "It's been amazing ever since."
The lanky 6-foot-3, 150-pounder made his college plans official when he signed an agreement with the Chaparrals at the Sports Next Level facility Saturday night.
Midland College is one of the top JUCO programs in this area.
"Really, I'm just excited to get the opportunity to go pitch there," Weidner said. "It's going to be nice to go back there and pitch for them and hopefully go to the World Series."
Central wrapped up the regular season with a 5-1 loss on the road against Odessa High on Friday. The Bobcats finished with an overall record of 11-18 and a 9-9 mark in District 2-6A to finish fourth.
The 'Cats will face El Paso Americas in a best-of-three games bidistrict series this week.
Weidner has played an instrumental role in helping Central make the playoffs again.
"We got him on loan for a year, so to speak, and he's been a joy," Central head coach Patrick Penry said. "He's been hitting in the top of our lineup, too, (in addition to) what he brings to the mound.
"He brings a lot of energy. He's always smiling and just a great teammate and a competitor."
Penry says it'll be the perfect situation for Weidner, returning to Midland where he'll be around family and his support system.
"He always has one of the biggest cheerleading sections," the Bobcats coach said.
Penry said the Bobcats weren't counting on Weidner to contribute as a hitter as well, and that's been the big surprise with him.
"He's stayed in the (batting) cages and he ironed out a few things with his swing and he's leading hitter right now," the Central coach said, noting that Weidner's hitting around the .400 mark.
"I know he's recruited to pitch for (the Chaparrals), but the way he flies around in the outfield and the way he's hitting, it's one of those things where, Midland, you may have gotten a hitter, too."
The Bobcats coach talked about what Weidner brings to the table as a pitcher.
"He commands the zone and he works fast and keeps the defense on its toes," Penry said. "What we teach is pitch to contact and to make it weak contact and Hunter does just that.
"And when you throw 90-plus, which he does, it offers another element to his game. He's an extremely competitive young man and he's going to do great. We have a whole team of those guys that are going to the next level that when it all clicks, they're a tough team to beat."
And now Weidner will try to help the Bobcats pull off a big upset against Americas in the first round of the playoffs.
"We've just got to go out there and be determined to win and not get behind, but if we do, keep working hard and keep trying to come back," the senior pitcher said.
"One of my old coaches, (Legacy head coach) Brian Roper, always told me, 'When you put your leg on a rattlesnake, don't let its head come up or you'll get bit, just keep your head on the rattlesnake and keep going.' "
Charles Bryce is a journalist covering sports in West Texas. Send him a news tip at cbryce@gannett.com. Consider supporting West Texas journalism with a subscription to GoSanAngelo.com.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: San Angelo Central pitcher Weidner will continue career at Midland College
