By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
At 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, right-handed pitcher Luis Acosta is an imposing presence on the mound when he faces opposing batters as the ace for the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers.
Acosta, a senior, now will have an opportunity to be that type of pitcher at the NCAA Division I level, as he’s signed to play at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley.
The news that he was going to play for the Vaqueros was reported previously, and it became official Monday at an on-campus signing ceremony.
“It feels good, especially because this is something I’ve been dreaming of the whole time (I’ve played the game),” said Acosta, who led the Chargers to the District 32-6A title with a 5-0 pitching record in conference competition. “It’s a good feeling to know that I’m going to keep on playing baseball at the next level. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to this point.”
Acosta and his teammates will take on Laredo United in the area round of the Class 6A playoffs Friday and Saturday at Corpus Christi’s CabanissField.
“Our season has been awesome,” Acosta said. “The team chemistry we have is amazing. It’s just fun being together as a team, and it’s been a great year, especially since we won the district title. Going 13-1 in district is something that not a lot of teams can do, and to be part of this team, it’s just a great feeling.”
Brownsville Veterans coach Joey Benavides said the Chargers have a lot of confidence with Acosta on the mound.
“Luis is intimidating,” Benavides said. “His big body helps out a lot. He’s a hard worker and he’s always running. He does a real good job of locating his pitches, and that’s what makes him so good as a pitcher.
“I think Luis has all the goods to make it in college,” added Benavides, a 2002 Hanna graduate who played college ball himself. “It depends on how hard he works, and I believe without a doubt that he’ll do it. He has all the tools needed, academically and athletically.
“It’s a good feeling knowing that (baseball) athletes down here in Brownsvilleare getting recognized (at the NCAA Division I level). It’s nice to be able to play at that level, and hopefully by our kid’s signing, it’ll mean more recognition that we’ve got some pretty good baseball players in Brownsvilleand around the Valley.”
Acosta, who plans to study physical therapy, said he has been told he will start off as a UTRGV freshman by helping the Vaqueros out of the bullpen.
“That’s what I’ve been told, so I’m just going to be there whenever they need me,” Acosta said. “I’m just going to go out there and try to do the job they want me to do. My main goal is to try to help the team get some wins.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess.