By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Carl Junction High School graduate Matt Lawson, who’s in his third season playing baseball in the Texas organization, is a member of the Class A California League All-Stars.
Lawson, a second baseman for the Bakersfield Blaze, was averaging .296 on 67-of-226 through Monday night. He had 36 runs scored, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs and 31 RBI. He was 5-for-7 in stolen bases.
Third baseman/DH Mauro Gomez also will represent Bakersfield against the visiting Carolina League All-Stars on June 23 at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore.
Bakersfield (29-35) lost 3-2 at Lake Elsinore on Monday night despite Lawson’s solo homer.
Lawson, a standout at Missouri State in Springfield before signing as a 14th-round pick with the Rangers after the 2007 campaign, averaged .251 last season at Clinton (Iowa) of the low Class A Midwest League.
Lawson, 23, a Joplin native, offered several reasons on Tuesday for the improved showing.
“I’m a more intelligent hitter,” Lawson said. “I’ve learned from playing a complete season (100 games after 56 in 2007 at Spokane of the rookie Northwest League). I have the confidence, too, that God put me in the California League this season for a reason.
“I also have changed some mechanics at the plate from last season,” Lawson said.
The Bakersfield manager is former big league third baseman Steve Buechele. Jason Wood is the hitting coach.
“Being married (to the former Mallory Lahm of Carl Junction) helped a great deal, too,” Lawson said. “Any time I have a bad game I go straight to her. She takes my mind off the game if I become frustrated.
“Mallory and I have had so much support from our families back home for us to be able to do this,” Lawson said.
Lawson said living at Bakersfield with a host family — Rick and Sherry Morrison — has been a giant plus.
“We didn’t know what to expect. It’s an awesome situation,” he said. “We just pay for the utilities. Mallory has found a job.
“Mallory’s parents knew someone at Ozark Christian College and those people know someone at Bakersfield,” Lawson said. “All this after our first intentions were to rent an apartment.”
Frisco of the Double-A Texas League is the next stop up the Rangers’ chain.
“Moving up? I don’t think about it. I remind myself to have fun and enjoy where God has put me. I want to do the best with this opportunity.
“This — playing professional baseball — mentally and physically is a difficult job,” Lawson said. “I thought it would be a little more glamorous in college.”
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Matt Lawson selected to Class A all-star team
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