By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
LOS FRESNOS — Victor Loa knew the expectations would be high when he started his varsity baseball career with Los Fresnos as a freshman.
From 1988-91, his father, Victor Sr., was “the biggest name in Los Fresnos,” new Falcons athletic director David Cantu said. The younger Loa said his father did a lot of good for the program, including bringing the Falcons their first baseball district championship. The senior pitcher/outfielder wanted to live up to the expectations that came with being a Loa on the diamond, and he certainly did.
On Wednesday, Loa signed his letter of intent to play baseball for Texas State University. The southpaw will be studying exercise and sports science while competing in the Sun Belt Conference at the NCAA Division I level, unless the right opportunity comes along for him to start the professional career he has been dreaming about his whole life.
“It’s surreal. It’s a feeling that’s never going to go away for me and a day I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Loa said. “It’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life, signing myself off to a DI program that gave a chance to a Los Fresnos native. Not big enough, not strong enough, I’ve been doubted my whole life. But I’ve continued to work to get to where I’m at, and I’m glad I put God before everything because that’s what got me here today.
“A lot of people have heard about me, so I’ve had my name talked about around MLB scouts,” he added. “If I really do good this year, which I’m hoping for, I’m hoping to possibly get drafted out of high school. But it’s God’s plan. If it happens, it happens. If not, I’ll get ready for college and go from there.”
Loa’s stellar pitching performances with Los Fresnos and his travel organization, the Banditos Baseball Club, earned him plenty of college interest to consider. Joining the Bobcats to play under coach Steven Trout felt like the best decision for Loa to get playing time right off the bat and continue improving, as he aims to be drafted as a junior.
The impact Loa has had on the Falcons’ program is undeniable. During the ceremony, the Los Fresnos coaches raved about the way he elevates the team’s confidence and competitiveness when he’s on the mound. Coach Rene Morales said “not many freshmen will get the ball in Game 3 of a playoff series, but Victor did,” when reflecting on the numerous high-pressure situations Loa has not only been placed in since his rookie season, but shined in.
Throughout his three seasons, Loa has accumulated 226 strikeouts and boasts a 1.44 career ERA. As a sophomore in 2019, his 135 punchouts were fourth-most in the state in Class 6A, and his 0.94 ERA was in the top 20. Loa led Los Fresnos to the regional quarterfinals that season, taking the mound and defeating Weslaco High and Laredo United in one-game playoffs during the first two rounds.
“He’s one of the best pitchers I’ve ever had. He carries himself with a great attitude, and it carries over to the team,” Morales said. “He’s one of those guys that’s self-motivated, and he’s getting everything he wants. He knows how to conduct himself on the mound, and he has the baseball savvy that not a lot of kids have. We knew this day was going to happen. It’s a great day for our baseball program and for Victor Loa. We’re very proud of him.”
Loa appreciates the trust Morales and the staff show him by putting him in tough situations, and he’s even grateful for the few times he was unable to work out of jams. He’s proud of what he and his teammates have accomplished so far, and in his final go-round, he’s “ready to do whatever it takes to get Los Fresnos to the state championship.”
“The coaches pressured me, put me in risky situations … that’s when I realized that baseball’s going to beat you down, but you have to rise up to the challenge every single time,” Loa said. “The ball’s round, it can go any way it wants, that’s what my dad always tells me. That’s what I live by. I don’t let pressure get to me.”
Loa delivered a heartfelt speech at the ceremony, thanking a plethora of friends, coaches and trainers for turning him into the person and player he is. He got emotional when talking about his family and some past relatives, and promised to make them and the city of Los Fresnos proud when his next chapter begins.
“My grandpa, my great grandma and my great grandpa that I lost, I’m doing it for them every single day,” Loa said. “My parents are the biggest supporters I’ll ever have. My siblings, everybody in my family has encouraged me through the whole process and encouraged me to keep going when times got rough. I couldn’t do this without them.”