By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
At six years old, Marco Sanchez told his father he would one day play college baseball.
“Ever since then, he hasn’t stopped mentioning it,” said his father, Carlos Sanchez. “It was routine for him to say it.”
On Wednesday afternoon, the Hanna catcher formally realized his lifelong dream and signed his intent to play for Alvin Community College, about an hour south of Houston.
After dialogues with one of Hanna’s baseball coaches, Jamieson Wicks, Sanchez arranged a visit and made his decision, citing the program’s ability to send players to Division I schools.
“I didn’t know that they had seen me play before,” Marco said. “They saw that I had improved throughout the summer.”
Sanchez plans to study exercise science or kinesiology. His father said he was impressed with the school’s academic focus.
“Education is first, baseball is second,” Carlos said. “We liked what we saw.”
While Marco had offers to play elsewhere, including in California and Illinois, he was ultimately sold on the Alvin coaching staff’s commitment and interest in him, as well as the possibility of additional playing time at first base. Another key factor was being closer to home, something that was of mutual interest to Marco and his parents.
“They showed me what kind of program they have,” Marco said. “They showed me what players have come through there, and how many of them have gone on to a Division I college. I saw the stats, and I really liked it because I will develop as a player in a community college and hopefully transfer to a university in two years.”
Marco’s athletic success comes as no surprise to anyone familiar with the Sanchez family. He is the youngest of three siblings, all of whom played sports and were encouraged to do so by their parents.
“It’s an honor for me and my family,” Carlos said. “We went on a lot of road trips — in about a month and a half, about eight or nine. We went to a lot of camps for him to be looked at, and a lot of scouts. And he has come to show a lot of respect for the game. We’re very happy for him.”
Marco credited his father for cultivating his interest in baseball and his development from the time he first put on a set of catcher’s gear.
“He pushed me to the limits, he got after me,” Marco said. “He knew what to say and how to get me to use my anger in good ways to play harder.”