By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Last season, Lopez had a mostly senior laden pitching rotation.
This year, the Lobos are reloading with a pair of players with limited experience to be the team’s one-two punch on the mound.
Sophomore Alex Olguin, last season’s All-Metro newcomer of the year, and senior Marky Ordonez will be the focus of the Lobos’ rotation this season. Olguin was in the rotation behind a few seniors in 2015 and also played shortstop. Ordonez was a utility player that played several positions and pitched in relief situations.
“Alex has a year under his belt,” Lopez coach Victor Martinez said. “Hopefully with that experience it will improve his numbers this season. Marky was in our reliever role last season and this season we’re asking him to be a starting pitcher. We’ll see how that goes, he’s never gone more than four or five innings.”
Olguin was chosen as the staff ace.
“I took it as an honor when coach (Martinez) told me,” he said. “Last year I was the number two or three. I took it as a challenge.”
Meanwhile, Ordonez said he happily accepts his expanded role this season.
“I’m comfortable wherever they put me,” he said. “I’m confident, I’m good. I like the pressure, wherever the coach needs me. I’ll do it for him and for the team.”
Martinez saw Olguin’s poise on the mound last season and expects that to increase with a year of experience. With Ordonez, he hopes that his proficiency will expand after handling pressure situations last year.
“We have to be realistic with our goals (of Olguin) — he’s just a sophomore — but we have high expectations of him. I feel he’ll come through for us as our number-one pitcher. (For Ordonez) we’re hoping with bullpen sessions and exhibition games he’ll be able to go deep in games in district.”
Both players played on travel baseball teams last summer and the experience has given them confidence as they get ready for district. Olguin said he’s more comfortable with pitching this season, enough to shake off signs at times and call different pitches. And Ordonez said he has started many games on the mound for his travel teams, so the transition won’t be much of a stretch with the Lobos.
Martinez has them learning when they’re not on the field as well. He talks to them about pitch counts, different game situations and what they would do or do differently in the same scenario.
Probably most importantly, Olguin and Ordonez will be looked to for their leadership.
“They’re naturally leaders and as a pitcher you have to be a leader,” Martinez said. “They have the ability to be great pitchers and with their experience, their baseball IQ, that’s a plus. They’re great learners, they’re very coachable.”
Both players welcome the opportunity.
“It’s important to be a leader, especially as a pitcher,” Ordonez said. “If someone makes an error, we can’t get on them, we have to shake it off, just keep your head up and we’ll get it back. Always be confident and play with your heart, never be negative on the field.
“We’re brothers, we’re a family. We started as friends, teammates and now we’re a family. Whatever happens, we always have each other’s back.”
Olguin agreed.
“I feel really confident with these guys, these guys are my brothers,” he said. “I can throw whatever pitch and when they hit it, I know these guys will have my back. I feel pretty confident up there. Just give me a run, that’s all I need.”
With his pitchers confident and ready to go, Martinez is excited.
“I’m eager to see how they’ll perform in district,” he said. “I like our chances with these two guys on the mound. We have a chance to compete against anybody.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.
By ANDREW CRUM
Staff Writer
Last season, Lopez had a mostly senior laden pitching rotation.
This year, the Lobos are reloading with a pair of players without much experience to be the team’s one-two punch on the mound.
Sophomore Alex Olguin, last season’s All-Metro newcomer of the year, and senior Marky Ordonez will be the focus of the Lobos’ rotation this season. Olguin was in the rotation behind a few seniors in 2015 and also played shortstop. Ordonez was a utility player that played several positions and pitched in relief situations.
“Alex has a year under his belt,” Lopez coach Victor Martinez said. “Hopefully with that experience it will improve his numbers this season. Marky was in our reliever role last season and this season we’re asking him to be a starting pitcher. We’ll see how that goes, he’s never gone more than four or five innings.”
Olguin was chosen as the staff ace.
“I took it as an honor when coach (Martinez) told me,” he said. “Last year I was the number two or three. I took it as a challenge.”
Meanwhile, Ordonez said he happily accepts his expanded role this season.
“I’m comfortable wherever they put me,” he said. “I’m confident, I’m good. I like the pressure, wherever the coach needs me. I’ll do it for him and for the team.”
Martinez saw Olguin’s poise on the mound last season and expects that to increase with a year of experience. With Ordonez, he hopes that his proficiency will expand after handling pressure situations last year.
“We have to be realistic with our goals (of Olguin) — he’s just a sophomore — but we have high expectations of him. I feel he’ll come through for us as our number-one pitcher. (For Ordonez) we’re hoping with bullpen sessions and exhibition games he’ll be able to go deep in games in district.”
Both players played on travel baseball teams last summer and the experience has given them confidence as they get ready for district. Olguin said he’s more comfortable with pitching this season, enough to shake off signs at times and call different pitches. And Ordonez said he has started many games on the mound for his travel teams, so the transition won’t be much of a stretch with the Lobos.
Martinez has them learning when they’re not on the field as well. He talks to them about pitch counts, different game situations and what they would do or do differently in the same scenario.
Probably most importantly, Olguin and Ordonez will be looked to for their leadership.
“They’re naturally leaders and as a pitcher you have to be a leader,” Martinez said. “They have the ability to be great pitchers and with their experience, their baseball IQ, that’s a plus. They’re great learners, they’re very coachable.”
Both players welcome the opportunity.
“It’s important to be a leader, especially as a pitcher,” Ordonez said. “If someone makes an error, we can’t get on them, we have to shake it off, just keep your head up and we’ll get it back. Always be confident and play with your heart, never be negative on the field.
“We’re brothers, we’re a family. We started as friends, teammates and now we’re a family. Whatever happens, we always have each other’s back.”
Olguin agreed.
“I feel really confident with these guys, these guys are my brothers,” he said. “I can throw whatever pitch and when they hit it, I know these guys will have my back. I feel pretty confident up there. Just give me a run, that’s all I need.”
With his pitchers confident and ready to go, Martinez is excited.
“I’m eager to see how they’ll perform in district,” he said. “I like our chances with these two guys on the mound. We have a chance to compete against anybody.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.