EDINBURG — Since UTRGV head coach Derek Matlock took over the baseball program in 2017, the Vaqueros have won a Western Athletic Conference regular-season championship, played in a WAC Tournament championship series, won a bevy of individual awards and recognition for its players, and seen record attendance numbers.
The only thing missing, according to Matlock and current UTRGV baseball players, is winning the WAC Tournament and clinching a berth into the NCAA regionals, something that hasn’t been accomplished by the program since 1986 when Al Ogletree was head coach.
“I think the support from the Valley has been outstanding. What they’ve done for us is really a lot more than we’ve done for them,” Matlock said. “We need to get more. We need to win 40 games. We need to get to a regional like Coach Ogletree did. Back in ‘86 was the last year they’ve been in one. We haven’t really got caught slapping ourselves on the back much. We’ve kind of felt like we’ve always kind of underachieved a little bit, and I think that helps us with the drive and fight to get better. We go into every year to win a championship, win 40 games and get in a regional. That’s what we’re going to shoot for and wherever we fall, we fall, and compete where we’re at.”
| University of Texas Rio Grande Valley head baseball coach Derek Matlock talks with officials before the start of a series opening game against George Washington at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Edinburg. (Joel Martinez | [email protected]) Joel Martinez |
The road to an NCAA regional begins Friday night for the Vaqueros as they open the 2023 season at 6:30 p.m. against Houston Christian. The three-game series also features games at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday, all at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.
UTRGV will retire the No. 6 jersey of former Pan American baseball player Jody Ramsey prior to Friday night’s game against Houston Christian. Ramsey, a student-athlete at the time, died tragically in an electrical accident during the construction of the baseball stadium being built on the Pan American campus in 1973. The No. 6 jersey hasn’t been handed out since but officially will be retired Friday.
“We’re excited to be able to honor Jody this way,” Matlock said in a UTRGV news release in January. “I’ve heard what a great human being he was in addition to being an outstanding baseball player. This award will allow us to keep Jody Ramsey’s spirit alive while instilling his values within our team.”
In recent years, the Vaqueros have opened seasons with one home series to start followed by a lengthy road trip before returning to play games at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
This year, the Vaqueros will play their first 11 games of the season on their home field in Edinburg.
Following the three-game series against Houston Christian from Friday through Sunday, UTRGV will welcome Central Michigan for a five-game series beginning Tuesday. The first game between UTRGV and Central Michigan is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with four games slated for the weekend, including a doubleheader Feb. 24 and one game Feb. 25 and 26. The Vaqueros then host Houston for a three-game series March 3-5.
Single-game tickets can be purchased at UTRGVTickets.com.
AT THE PLATE
UTRGV returns three of its top five hitters in batting average from a season ago in graduate students Brandon Pimentel, Montclair Cain (who went by Brett last season) and PSJA High alumnus and junior infielder Jacob Sanchez.
Pimentel, a preseason All-WAC baseball team selection, hit .377 last season with 12 home runs, 17 doubles, two triples, 47 RBI and 54 runs scored.
Cain batted .370 last season with eight home runs, 41 RBIs, 16 doubles, three triples and 40 runs scored.
“We’re just going to stick to our plans and everything we’ve worked on these past couple months. We’re just excited to get in there and have fun and compete,” Pimentel said.
Returning starters also include Edinburg Vela alum and redshirt sophomore Isaac Lopez, who started at shortstop for the majority of the 2022 season but will slide over to second base this year. Fellow Edinburg Vela alum and graduate student RJ Ochoa is also back and healthy, and will play a key role behind the plate for the Vaqueros this season.
“Wherever they need me, I’ll be ready to practice and play. I’ll play wherever they need me to win games,” Lopez said.
| UTRGV’s Isaac Lopez shortstop looks to throw a ball to second during practice at Edinburg Baseball Field April,7,2022 in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez/The Monitor | [email protected]) Delcia Lopez |
PITCHING DEPTH
The opening rotation for UTRGV will be graduate student Jesus Aldaz on Friday, redshirt sophomore lefty Randy Garza on Saturday and graduate student Colten Davis on Sundays, Matlock said. J.C. Ariza is set to pitch Tuesday games during the season. Behind them is a loaded bullpen that will provide depth and competition throughout the season as UTRGV chases a WAC tourney title.
Aldaz, a graduate student from Phoenix, Ariz., has overcome adversity during his college baseball career after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2020 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. He’ll now get the ball as the Friday night starter each weekend for UTRGV.
| Jesus Aldaz |
“It was very difficult because I had (Tommy John surgery) during COVID season, so it was very hard to get treatments and therapy and all that because of scheduling. I definitely had a couple days where I reflected on my baseball career and thought it was over just because with surgeries like that, it’s hard to come back,” Aldaz said. “It’s definitely a blessing to be out here and be able to compete and try to help the guys win. It’s an honor to be back and definitely can’t take this game for granted.”
VALLEY BOYS
This year’s roster includes 11 Rio Grande Valley high school baseball products led by returning starters Lopez, Ochoa and Sanchez.
The new additions to the team include freshman infielder Juan Rivera (Sharyland Pioneer), junior infielder Damian Rodriguez (PSJA North), junior pitcher Nico Rodriguez (Edinburg Vela), freshman catcher Rudy Gonzalez (Edinburg Vela), freshman outfielder Viggo Lopez (PSJA High), freshman outfielder Jorge Zavala (Weslaco East), graduate student pitcher Abanny Garcia (McAllen High) and freshman pitcher Daren Barrera (Edinburg High).
| UTRGV’s Jacob Sanchez (19) tags out a Lamar runner after a catch from pitcher Jesus Aldaz (24) at Edinburg baseball field Sunday ,March,27,2022 in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez/The Monitor | [email protected]) Delcia Lopez |
Nico Rodriguez is in his first year with the program after transferring from Kansas State. He’ll be relied upon as a long relief arm out of the bullpen.
“It means everything — just coming back, my family being able to see me, everybody coming out and supporting us,” he said. “The support that UTRGV gets day in and day out, this community is going to come out and support us, and we’re just grateful for the opportunity given to us and hopefully we take advantage of that.”
COACHING STAFF
UTRGV also added three former players to its coaching staff, one of which is another RGV high school baseball product. They’ll join Matlock, assistant coaches Robert Martinez and Kyle Kilgo, and director of baseball operations Michel Matlock. Martinez also serves as recruiting coordinator for the Vaqueros.
Jacob Hirsh played for the Vaqueros as an outfielder from 2018-22 and is now a volunteer analyst with the team. He hit eight home runs, 58 RBIs and stole 15 bases while playing lights-out defensively in the UTRGV outfield.
Ryan Jackson played high school baseball at McAllen Rowe and pitched for UTRGV from 2015-19. He’s in his first season as a volunteer assistant with the program and has coaching stops at Texas Lutheran and Texas A&M International. Jackson’s 15 saves as a closer for UTRGV is the second-highest total in program history.
Chris Mondesi is a graduate student and now a student assistant with the team after suffering a significant shoulder injury during the fall. He played third base for UTRGV last season, making 32 starts while recording 29 hits, four home runs and 20 RBIs.