Moore trio shines in Sunbelt

By Michael Kinney
The Moore American

NORMAN June 25, 2008 09:23 am

— This spring Chris Hinckley had pretty much seen it all. As he and his Moore teammates rolled through the Class 6A state baseball tournament, Hinckley saw some of the best players Oklahoma had to offer.
Then came the 32nd Annual Sunbelt Classic. Hinckley was invited to be part of the Oklahoma Junior all-stars and compete against the senior all-star teams comprising the rest of the tournament field. He realized quickly he would be going up against an entirely new level of competition.
However, just like during the prep season, Hinckley had his twin brother Jeff and teammate Cody Hudson by his side. They have been playing together since they were in kindergarten.
“I was a little nervous going up against seniors,” Chris Hinckley said. “But it was cool, especially when I found out I was playing with Cody and Jeff. That was real special.”
“It’s always good to play with your own teammates,” Jeff Hinckley said. “And it’s real special that we have three players here, and that is the most out of any team. That is a really good accomplishment for Moore.”
All three players were instrumental in helping Moore make it to the Class 6A title game and a runner-up finish. They continued their roll during the Sunbelt Classic, though it did take some time.
“The first couple of games, we were a little shaky at the start,” Hudson said. “But we finally got a win and it felt pretty good. We came out here and played our hardest.
“These guys are one year older than us and you think it doesn’t make much of a difference. But you can tell out here. Better pitching, better hitting … we just had to roll with the changes.”
Unfortunately for the Oklahoma Juniors, they were only able to win one game in the tournament, which came during the final day of the round-robin portion. Then they fell to Maryland 4-3 in the seventh-place game Saturday to end their first senior Sunbelt Classic experience.
“It was tough at first,” Jeff Hinckley said. “Then, after you get that first game out the way, you realize they’re not that much better. It was good knowing you can compete with those guys. It’s just getting that first game out of the way.”
It was in the final days of the tournament the Moore trio started to see what it could accomplish and how much it had improved since the Sunbelt began.
“I think seeing this pitching is going to make me a better hitter,” Chris Hinckley said. “That’s what I think I will take most out of this. And all the people I met and the friends I have made. I like all these guys.”
Jeff agreed with his brother.
“We faced a guy last night that got drafted in the 16th round by the Braves,” Jeff Hinckley said. “You get a hit off that guy and you can say you got a hit off a guy that’s going to the pros. Just for us three to know we can play at this level.”
Throughout the Sunbelt, the players from Moore had one particularly interested fan waiting at home, literally, for news. MHS baseball coach David Hinckley also is Chris and Jeff’s father.
“He is asking how we did,” Jeff said. “But if we struggle, he says it’s all right. These guys have one year on you and a little more strength and power. He is mostly just supportive and excited we are here. I am looking forward to the challenge and he is always challenging us to exceed our expectations. I think this will help it.”
They also have their sights on what they can do in the future.
“Hopefully, us three, we can get up there next year,” Hudson said. “I’m pretty sure we can. Hopefully, we are back here as senior Sunbelters instead of junior all-stars.”