CORPUS CHRISTI - The number 7 will no longer be an option for baseball players at Carroll High School. Cliff Pennington wore it too well.
Corpus Christi's own was back in town on Saturday for a ceremony in his honor. Pennington told us how proud he is of where he came from. Where he came from is certainly proud of him as well.
"To come back to Corpus and especially to come back to this field where so many hours and good memories are - it's just a great experience," the 5-year MLB pro said. "Where you're come from - you're proud of. When you see the guys that are taking up the reigns behind you to succeed, it makes you feel got and it makes you proud of where you're from."
A number of his 1999-2002 Carroll teammates attended the ceremony, alongside the current Tigers and many fans. Three of the four teams Pennington played on while at Carroll advanced to the regional playoffs, and one made a trip to the region finals. In Cliff's senior year (2002) he hit .357 with 6 homeruns, and posted a 9-2 record as a pitcher. After high school, Pennington played baseball at Texas A&M University. He was drafted in the first round of the 2005 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics. Cliff made his major league debut in 2008. In October, the A's traded Pennington to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"It's definitely going to be different. I was drafted and came up the whole time with the Oakland A's. There's a lot of people there that I know and love and a lot of relationships that I have formed," Pennington said. "But the Diamondbacks are providing me with a great opportunity. I'm really excited about being with a new team. I know the team is going to be good and that's a huge factor."
Spring training starts in a few weeks. Cliff will be back in Arizona, where he has for several years with the A's, but this time he'll be at a different facility with a different group of guys.
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