By MARK MOLINA | The Brownsville Herald
LOS FRESNOS — For Los Fresnos outfielder/pitcher JJ Sanchez, choosing the school where he will begin his next chapter needed to have just one thing: A place to play ball.
The now-former Falcons player officially decided that school would be Texas A&M International University, an NCAA Division II school in Laredo after inking his athletic agreement during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon at Los Fresnos High School.
While Sanchez had more than one opportunity, a full scholarship to join the TAMIU Dust Devils was too good to pass up.
“ I was looking for the right option to go play baseball, but I was also looking for an option that would require my parents to not pay any money,” Sanchez said. “I was able to get a full ride here. Honestly, I wanted to go play baseball, so that’s what I’m going to go do over there. Laredo doesn’t have the best surrounding, but the school was very nice. It’s also not that far, so I’ll likely be home every month.”
Sanchez was a three-year starter for the Falcons and was key cog in the outfield and on the mound in back-to-back District 32-6A championship runs as a junior and a senior.
The Falcons finished the season 27-11 with a trip to the regional quarterfinals where they eventually fell to Edinburg Vela in a three-game series.
He also garnered several honors including the district and The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Most Valuable Player in 2017, as well as first-team all-district and All-Metro honors this past season.
With Sanchez’s departure, the Falcons will need to fill a void on defense, but Los Fresnos head baseball coach Rene Morales is nothing but happy for his former player.
“ Every time you can get someone to sign and play college, it feels great,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to get our kids to do. (Sanchez) was a big part of what we’ve done the last couple of years and how successful we’ve been. He was three-year starter. He had that baseball mentality where he loved to play the game hard. A lot of things that he did carried on to the other kids and I thank him for all that he did for our program.”
Sanchez now joins TAMIU which plays in the Heartland Conference.
Sanchez said he liked the impression he got from the program during a visit and is confident he is ready to help the Dust Devils went 13-36 overall and 5-23 in conference play.
“ The coach really wanted me to go there so he (made it happen),” he said. “I’m going to go play pitcher and centerfield and I’m pretty sure I’ll be a starting pitcher. It’s not the same anymore, this is college. You have to worry about your own (roll), watch yourself and you’ll be good.”
Morales believes Sanchez is athletic enough to make a smooth transition.
“ I think (Sanchez) can just go in and help out either on the mound or in the outfield,” Morales said. “He’s pretty fast, so he can contribute as soon as he gets there.”
Sanchez plans to major in the medical field.