By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
All the time spent on the diamond dating back to his West Brownsville Little League days starting at age 6 has made Aaron Recio the talented baseball player he is today.
Recio is a senior multi-sport standout in baseball, football and track who is nearing the end of his high school athletic career and looking forward to his next challenge as a baseball player for Schreiner University, an NCAA Division III school in Kerrville.
The standout catcher/outfielder, a three-year starter for Brownsville Veterans Memorial, on Wednesday signed a college athletic scholarship agreement before a packed audience of students, teachers, coaches, administrators and family members at the school library.
It was an event he’ll long remember.
“It’s a great day,” Recio said. “It’s a day I’ve been looking forward to since my freshman year, and actually, even before then.
“I’ve worked so hard for this,” he added. “I’m grateful and blessed for this opportunity.”
At Brownsville Veterans, Recio has played on district championship baseball squads as a sophomore and a senior. The Chargers were District 32-5A runners-up in 2017 when he was a junior and earned first-team all-district honors at catcher for batting .400 with a pair of home runs. Recio is expected to garner similar honors when the 2018 season is completed.
“Aaron has a lot of speed and that’s one of his biggest assets along with hitting,” Chargers coach Albert Rodriguez said. “He has 36 stolen bases for his (three-year varsity) career.
“He’s like having a quarterback on the field in baseball,” Rodriguez added. “We’re a young team this year and he’s one of our senior leaders. He’s contributing day-in and day-out, on and off the field. He’s just the typical player that you want on a team. He’s is a role model for our younger guys.”
This season, Recio is batting .345. He has hit .350 with 47 hits and 25 RBIs during his career.
“If you can hit the ball, regardless of your size, then you’re going to find somewhere (in the lineup) to play,” Rodriguez said. “That’s who he is.
“Aaron may be small in stature, but he has a big heart and a big will,” the coach added. “He’s a real competitor.”
Recio said he will pursue a degree in sports management at Schreiner with the intent of someday becoming an athletic trainer.
The senior standout said he hopes to carry the success he has enjoyed at Brownsville Veterans with him to college. He expects he’ll probably play in the outfield rather than catcher at Schreiner as a way to utilize his speed.
“It’s been awesome playing for this program and the Chargers,” Recio said. “We’ve had a great team for a long time and we’re undefeated (12-0 in district) so far this season. I came here for a reason and that’s to win district championships. Let’s see how far we go in the playoffs.”
Recio has his priorities set for college.
“First of all, I want to maintain my (good) grades at Schreiner,” said Recio, who ranks in the upper 25 percent of his class academically. “Then I’m going to try my best to start as a freshman, maybe as an outfielder or designated hitter.
“I’m very thankful for my family and coaches and everyone who has been there for me throughout my life,” he added. “God has a plan for me, and hopefully, everything goes well. I pray every day that I’m kept safe. God has put me on the right path.”
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess