PREP BASEBALL: Coaches hail Indians’ Abshere assistant of year

Published 12:31 am Sunday, January 14, 2018

Norman Abshere said his job from the first day he met Port Neches-Groves baseball head coach Scott Carter was for Carter to get his name in the newspaper.

That’s still a job he doesn’t take lightly.

The Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association has recognized Abshere for his work in helping the Indians win their first state championship last June and named him the state Assistant Coach of the Year. Abshere was presented with the honor at the association’s convention in Waco.

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“It’s a great honor to be recognized,” Abshere said. “From day one, working with Coach Carter, I told him my main job was to get his name in the paper and that remains my number one goal. I share this award with my family for allowing me to do what I love and with every player on the 2017 PNG baseball roster and their families. Those kids made me excited to come to work every day.”

Abshere’s duties include working with the infielders and on game days aligning the defense and calling pitches.

His work paid off as Carter was named the Texas Sports Writers Association’s 5A Coach of the Year and pitcher Josh Hranicky earned the writers’ 5A Most Valuable Player award. Another PNG pitcher, Brandon Morse, earned the 5A state tournament MVP honor.

— I.C. Murrell

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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