The crack of a bat and the roar of the crowd may still be a few weeks away, but the baseball season unofficially kicked off today with the National College Baseball Hall of Fame’s First Pitch luncheon.  The event which coincides with the Texas Rangers Winter Caravan is a chance for baseball fans to talk baseball with Texas Tech Coach Tim Tadlock, LCU Coach Nathan Blackwood and members of the Texas Rangers baseball club.  In town this year, new Rangers bench coach Don Wakamatsu, relief pitcher Keone Kela, and Rangers field reporter and Plainview native Emily Jones.  Also announced at Thursday’s event was the presentation of the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation grant to Artesia Little League and the 2018 Kal Segrist award.  This year’s recipient is long time youth baseball umpire Hub Crowell.  The Segrist award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to youth baseball over the years.