Nederland's Bellow signs with Texas
Nederland pitcher Kirby Bellow on Tuesday felt good about throwing a baseball for the first time since August, but he felt even better after signing with The University of Texas on Wednesday.
Nine weeks after suffering a partial ACL tear in his right leg, Bellow was one of six area baseball players to sign a national letter of intent to play college baseball in 2011. Bellow, 17, suffered the injury Aug. 28 in the Nederland football team's season-opener against West Orange-Stark.
"I haven't thrown off the leg yet," said Bellow, who also played quarterback for the football team. "I am sure I will be hesitant that first time I throw, but after that I think I will be fine."
Bellow verbally committed to play baseball at Texas on July 23 after leading Nederland to its first regional semifinal round appearance since 1999. He went 10-2 with a 1.46 earned run average and was also named the District 20-4A player of the year.
David Bellow, Kirby's father, said his son started rehabilitating his right leg a few weeks after the surgery.
"He's been doing everything from leg curls to squats to staying on the bicycle," said David Bellow, who works for the Nederland ISD. "And during that time, he managed to keep his arm in shape so he could be ready when he starts throwing off the mound."
Nederland baseball coach Cody Robbins said he is not going to rush Bellow back onto the mound.
Robbins said he wants Bellow to be in good shape when Nederland starts its defense of its district title in March.
"We've always had high expectations of Kirby and we expect him to be better this year than he was last year," Robbins said. "Last year, we went far but fell short of getting to (the state championship game.) This year, we feel that we can go to Austin but we need him to be healthy for us to do it."
Around 30 people showed up to the Nederland gym to watch Bellow sign his letter of intent. Six members of Bellow's family, including his parents, showed up to the ceremony wearing burnt orange.
Nederland athletic director and football Larry Neumann said Bellow is the first baseball player to sign with Texas in his 16 years there.
"After the injury I had a lot on my mind when it came to football, baseball and Texas," Bellow said. "But there is relief in signing with Texas because it showed that they still wanted me to be there and they are going to take care of me."
Nederland pitcher Kirby Bellow on Tuesday felt good about throwing a baseball for the first time since August, but he felt even better after signing with The University of Texas on Wednesday.
Nine weeks after suffering a partial ACL tear in his right leg, Bellow was one of six area baseball players to sign a national letter of intent to play college baseball in 2011. Bellow, 17, suffered the injury Aug. 28 in the Nederland football team's season-opener against West Orange-Stark.
"I haven't thrown off the leg yet," said Bellow, who also played quarterback for the football team. "I am sure I will be hesitant that first time I throw, but after that I think I will be fine."
Bellow verbally committed to play baseball at Texas on July 23 after leading Nederland to its first regional semifinal round appearance since 1999. He went 10-2 with a 1.46 earned run average and was also named the District 20-4A player of the year.
David Bellow, Kirby's father, said his son started rehabilitating his right leg a few weeks after the surgery.
"He's been doing everything from leg curls to squats to staying on the bicycle," said David Bellow, who works for the Nederland ISD. "And during that time, he managed to keep his arm in shape so he could be ready when he starts throwing off the mound."
Nederland baseball coach Cody Robbins said he is not going to rush Bellow back onto the mound.
Robbins said he wants Bellow to be in good shape when Nederland starts its defense of its district title in March.
"We've always had high expectations of Kirby and we expect him to be better this year than he was last year," Robbins said. "Last year, we went far but fell short of getting to (the state championship game.) This year, we feel that we can go to Austin but we need him to be healthy for us to do it."
Around 30 people showed up to the Nederland gym to watch Bellow sign his letter of intent. Six members of Bellow's family, including his parents, showed up to the ceremony wearing burnt orange.
Nederland athletic director and football Larry Neumann said Bellow is the first baseball player to sign with Texas in his 16 years there.
"After the injury I had a lot on my mind when it came to football, baseball and Texas," Bellow said. "But there is relief in signing with Texas because it showed that they still wanted me to be there and they are going to take care of me."
