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Demel and Walker form special bond at TCU Horned Frog battery was part of Schlossnagle's first recruiting class with the Frogs
May 25, 2007 LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- TCU pitcher Sam Demel and catcher Andrew Walker have a bond that extends beyond 60 feet and six inches. The Frogs' standout duo was instrumental in Friday's 8-7 come-from-behind Mountain West Conference Tournament victory over BYU, catapulting TCU into Saturday's championship game. Walker's two-run single in the bottom of the eighth, part of his three RBIs in the game, provided the go-ahead runs before Demel entered in the ninth to extend his season (13) and career (20) TCU saves records. The two-time All-Mountain West Conference selections were part of head coach Jim Schlossnagle's first recruiting class at TCU. Along with All-American and first-round draft pick Lance Broadway, the Demel and Walker-led class was ranked as the third-best in the nation by Baseball America. Demel, drafted out of Spring High School by the Texas Rangers, was rated as the No. 11 recruit in the state by Texas Baseball News. Walker, from Houston Bellaire, was the No. 24 prospect. The Frog duo played together in area code games in California during their prep days. While Demel and Walker have been to NCAA postseason play each year at TCU, the Frogs didn't have that annual tradition when the pair was being recruited by new skipper Schlossnagle and associate head coach Todd Whitting. Demel, though, welcomed that challenge. He said he wanted to start a tradition rather than join one. "I could easily tell when I first visited campus that TCU was extremely supportive of athletics," Demel said. "Lupton Stadium is beautiful, and the facilities were really nice and very well put together. "I really loved Schloss and his drive and passion for the game." Demel was also attracted to TCU upon hearing that Walker, a 2007 candidate for the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top catcher, would be one of his teammates. "Walker was the first to commit and that was big for me," Demel said. "I knew that I would be throwing to a catcher that I liked and had played with before." Schlossnagle agreed that Walker's commitment got the ball rolling for his stellar recruiting class. "Andrew Walker is kind of our Lone Ranger," Schlossnagle said. "He's the one who took that very first leap of faith with us. At the time, we were selling what we were going to do compared to what we had done. TCU is now a lot easier sell for us. "As one of the top players in the state, Walker could have gone anywhere in the country. He legitimized us. Sam Demel can quickly after that, and then it kind of snowballed for us into a top-three recruiting class. "They are special kids who bleed purple." The bond between Demel and Walker, which started in high school and even extended to the 2006 summer with the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod League, is now three years strong at TCU. "We've built up a real good comfort zone," Demel said. "He knows what I'm thinking, and I know what he's thinking behind the plate. That's huge for a pitcher so you don't have to worry about anything." Those sentiments are echoed. "We have a good bond," Walker said. "From having played together before college, we're always on the same page every time we step out there." Schlossnagle hasn't had to worry about who will be on the mound in a late-inning situation. In his first season as a full-time closer, Demel is 6-1 with a 2.12 ERA and .189 opponent batting average. He has surrendered just 32 hits in 46 2/3 innings, striking out 68 and walking 15. Demel is a candidate for All-America honors as well as the Stopper of the Year Award by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). In addition to providing the comfort zone for Demel and other TCU hurlers, Walker has swung a hot bat this spring. Walker is among the Frog leaders in average (.332), home runs (11) and RBIs (56). He has either equaled or set career-highs in those categories. During MWC play, Walker had six homers and 30 RBIs in just 23 games while increasing his average to .360. Walker has also shined with the glove, committing just three errors in 435 chances (.993). He has thrown out nearly 25 percent of opposing base stealers. Both Demel and Walker entered their junior seasons after earning honors in the 2006 Cape Cod League. Demel was an All-Star selection, while Walker received the league's Manny Robello 10th Player Award. Like Demel, Walker was sold on TCU almost instantly by Schlossnagle and Whitting. "My visit was awesome," Walker said. "I was sold on the dedication and drive by the coaches. "We want to build a tradition and go to Omaha (site of the College World Series). The ultimate goal is to be national champions." Now that they've been in the program for three seasons, Demel and Walker believe TCU and its coaching staff sell itself for future top recruiting classes. "The school and academics are awesome here, along with the coaching staff and their drive and commitment for baseball," Walker said. Demel is proud to carry the recruiting mantra for TCU. "Look at the facilities," he said. "You know the school is going to back you 100 percent, and there's a lot of support from alumni, professors and the administration. "You're going to be playing at a place that loves baseball. You'll also play for a coach who loves the game and cares about you on and off the field. "Playing at TCU is a lot different than playing at other schools, because it's a family."
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