2014 Lone Star Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year
2013 Lone Star Conference Pitcher of the Year
2013 Rawlings/ABCA Division II All-America Third Team
2013 ABCA South Central Region Pitcher of the Year
2013 NCBWA South Central Region Second TeamÂ
In 2013: Ponder had one of the best seasons by a Javelina pitcher in program history. He finished 10-2 on the season with a 3.46 ERA winning his first nine decisions, tying for the LSC lead in victories and setting a single-season record with three shutouts. The hurler was 10-1 as a starter losing a game on short rest in relief at the LSC Tournament. He led the LSC in innings pitched with 88-1/3 and tying Matt Rhodes for the most starts in the LSC last season and the most in school history. Ponder was second in the league with 88 strikeouts which is the first most in Javelina history for a single and now is ninth program history with 155 Ks. The righty twice struck out 12 in a contest. He fanned 12 in seven innings against Fisher and tossed a complete game shutout against West Texas A&M in which he allowed just two hits and struckout 12. Ponder fanned seven or more batters on seven occasions.
In 2012: Ponder appeared in 13 games as a season making eight starts. He posted a 4-1 record with a 4.01 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 49.1 innings. Ponder limited hitters to a .232 average which was second on the team, while his strikeout total was third. He earned his first win of the season against Tarleton and won back-to-back games versus West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico. Ponder had a career-high 10 strikeouts and back-to-back games with 7Ks.
In 2011: Ponder did not see any game action until March 1 and did not make his second appearance until March 29, but he eventually worked his way into the starting rotation. He pitched 6.0 strong innings, but got a no-decision in a 3-2 win over Texas A&M-International. He made four scoreless relief appearances to start the season.
High School: Ponder led Flatonia High School to the baseball state finals in 2008 and to the golf state finals in 2009 and 2010. He earned all-state honors as a sophomore. He was a three-time first team all-district selection and was the 2010 District Offensive Player of the Year. He was the Babe Ruth Regional Tournament Most Valuable Player and Babe Ruth World Series Home Run Derby champion. He was an honor graduate and a member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Ponder is the son of Kenneth and Beverly Ponder and is studying Architectural Engineering. His father played baseball at the University of Texas.Â
