Hays High School Rebel Baseball standout Cole Irby, a three-year varsity starter for the Rebs as catcher, signed his collegiate Letter of Intent to play ball for Texas Lutheran University. Flanked by his mom, Allison Irby, and his dad, Bill Irby, Cole inked his letter to the applause of his friends, teammates, and family. Coach James Howard explained Cole’s contribution to the team: 2016 2nd-Team All-District with a .320 batting average. On the cusp of the Rebs’ entry into the 2017 playoffs, he’s sporting a .391 average, with 27 hits and 15 RBIs. Howard said, “As good as Cole’s stats are, he has an even bigger impact as a defensive catcher ... with a strong arm and he calls a great game behind the plate. He is like having another coach on the field and his baseball IQ is through the roof.”
