Ryan’s Wright hopes to catch on at CU

By Jeff Kaley

RYAN — RYAN — An invitation from Cameron University will give Hunter Wright an opportunity to recapture some time he thought had been lost.

If everything works out right, the Aggies and the former Ryan High School athlete will benefit from Wright’s “second chance.”

For the past four years, Wright was one of the top all-around athletes at RHS and around the area. He was a standout running back and defensive back on the Cowboys’ football team, a starter in basketball and a top prospect in baseball. However, “prospect” was a key word, because his baseball career had problems getting completely on track

Wright’s prowess in prep football drew attention from several small colleges, but the gridiron wasn’t where he attention lay.

“I’ve always loved baseball, I’ve been playing since I was 3-years-old. I’ve always kind of been looking at playing college baseball,” said Wright. “Baseball is just a part of me. My Dad (former RHS athlete Terry Wright) and I spent hours and hours working together on it.

“I’ve always played in the summer, but I only got to play two full seasons in high school because of injuries.”

Wright had just started his freshman baseball season in 2004, when a broken leg sidelined him for the rest of the spring. Two years later, a serious knee injury suffered during the 2006 football season meant Wright spent the spring recuperating from major surgery.

“Basically, he said, “they had to completely reconstruct my knee — almost everything was torn, and I had fractured a bone. The surgery was in January (2007) and I didn’t get released to play baseball.”

Wright had played in summer leagues as a younger player and in the summer of 2006 he got an opportunity to play for the Burkburnett Blacksox, a long-time Connie Mack League power in Texas.

He led the Blacksox in home runs and the Burkburnett club reached the Connie Mack World Series in College Station, Texas.

Wright’s senior year started well in August 2007. He’d gained over 1,000 rushing the season before and was considered one of the top defensive players in Class C. A high ankle problem during the regular season kept Wright from being the dominant back the Pokes had hoped for, but he was able to continue to play defense well enough to be named to the Class C All-State team.

After sitting out the basketball season, in April, Wright was healthy to begin the baseball campaign — and he made the most of it. While helping the Cowboys go 13-9 and place second in the district, he hit .641, with 9 home runs, 47 RBI, 33 runs scored, 27 stolen bases and a .734 on-base percentage.

Primarily a catcher, Wright committed only 4 errors and threw out base runners 17 times on 22 total stolen base attempts. He also played shortstop at times, and as a pitcher the 6-foot, 210-pounder tossed an 11-strike out, no-hitter against Central High during the regular season.

Wright was named the Southern 8 Conference Player of the Year, and it attracted the attention of Cameron head coach Todd Holland.

Wright attended a tryout at Cameron but didn’t have the necessary equipment to workout at the catching spot. Still, Holland was interested.

“Coach Holland said I needed to be ready to start practice on the first day of the fall season,” Wright said. “I’ll walk on, and then, hopefully, if I do good, I’ll get a scholarship.”

The Aggies are coming off a 35-22 spring season that was just one win off the program’s single-season victory record. CU won its first game in the Lone Star Conference Tournament before bowing out, and the Aggies will trying to fill several positions in the fall. That’s were Wright’s versatility and athleticism could help.

“I believe Cameron has a catcher coming back, but Coach Holland said he likes it that I can play about any position,” Wright noted. “There’s a good chance I’ll play an outfield position because of my speed.”

Wright didn’t return to the Blacksox this summer but has played a few games with area teams. He’s also been working on staying in shape by participating in several all-star football games.

Wright and former RHS teammate Armon Wilson played in the Greenbelt Bowl in Childress, Texas, where Wright was a starting safety. Next week, he and Wilson will play in the Oklahoma 8-Man Football Coaches Association All-State Game

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