Castillo 2011 Lifetime Achievement Recipient

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - Legendary high school baseball coach Steve Castillo is this year's recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, to be presented at the Seventh Annual South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet on Thursday, February 3, at the Omni Bayfront Hotel.

Castillo, with over 600 career wins as a head coach at Moody and John Paul II, led the Centurions to the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS) 4A championship in 2010 in just their third season of varsity play.  In those three years, the Centurions have amassed an overall record of 83-24-2.

"Steve has been a major force in giving South Texas the reputation of having some of the best high school baseball in the state and in the country," said Hooks president Ken Schrom.  "There's no doubt that the positive impact he's had on so many young men over the course of the last three decades makes him very deserving of this recognition."

Castillo forged a powerhouse program at Moody over the span of 23 years and is in the process of building yet another juggernaut at John Paul II.  His record as a head coach is exemplary, including 634 career victories, 18 post-season appearances at Moody and last year's state title with John Paul II.

Castillo guided the Trojans to the 5A state tournament five times (1983, 1994, 1995, 1997 and 2000) and the 5A state championship game on three occasions (1983, 1994 and 2000).  His Moody teams posted a record of 551-168-10 from 1979 through 2001.

"The first time I set foot in Coach Castillo's class at the age of 15 my life changed," stated Moody head coach Corky Gallegos, who played and coached for Castillo and took the reins of the Trojans' program in 2002. 

"His intensity, confidence and genuine care for his students radiates a powerful aura that commands an athlete's attention and loyalty.  Coach Castillo is a living legend, and someday I will be boasting to my grandchildren that I played for him." 

Castillo, the Athletic Director at John Paul II since the school's inception in 2006, has been named the Caller-Times All-Metro Coach of the Year on four occasions and the Caller-Times All-South Texas Coach of the Year three times. 

His years at Moody also included five seasons as head football coach, leading the Trojans to a record of 30-22 with consecutive playoff appearances in 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Castillo and his wife of 38 years, Zulema, have three sons; Steve, Javier and David.  Their youngest son, David, was an assistant on last year's state championship squad and now holds a similar position at Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado.

Castillo's recognition is one of the highlights of the South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet, which also features pitching legend Roger Clemens as guest speaker.  The Corpus Christi Caller-Times and ClearChannel Radio are presenting sponsors of the event.

Individual tickets for the banquet are $50 and are available at the Whataburger Field box office or by calling 361-561-HOOK.  Corporate table sponsorships are also available.  Proceeds benefit the Hooks Field of Dreams program.

Past Lifetime Achievement Award Winners:
2010 - Gene Kasprzyk
2009 - Bart Shirley
2008 - Ox Miller (awarded posthumously)
2007 - Rudy Jaramillo
2006 - Brooks Kieschnick
2005 - Burt Hooton