By Joshua McKinney, Staff Writer
David Anaya was born a ballplayer and will continue to play in college.
Anaya signed to play baseball for Incarnate Word University in a ceremony Wednesday at Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School. The senior shortstop batted .421 with four home runs and 25 RBIs during a standout junior season in which he won the District 32-6A and Brownsville Herald All-Metro Most Valuable Player awards, led the Chargers to the district title and took part in a Premier Baseball Junior National Championship in July with the South Texas Sliders.
Getting to play for Incarnate Word is just another chance for Anaya to keep playing a sport that’s been his first love since he could hold a bat.
“Ever since I was 4, it’ s been my dream of mine to play baseball at the next level,” Anaya said. “It’s amazing to be able to make that dream come true.”
Incarnate Word made its sales pitch to Anaya after his sophomore season at Brownsville Veterans. The San Antonio-based university hit all the right marks for Anaya, who spurned offers from the University of Texas-San Antonio, Texas State and Oklahoma State to play third base for the Cardinals.
“It’s close for my family,” he said. “They’ll be able to come watch my games because it’s only four hours away. It’s a good academic school as well, and I have some good friends who are going to play on the baseball team there as well.”
Brownsville Memorial athletic coordinator David Cantu, who’s watched Anaya grow from a freshman playing on varsity to an NCAA Division I signee as a senior, hopes Anaya can be an example of what students can accomplish through hard work in sports at the school.
“It brings a lot of pride to our school,” Cantu said. “It’s brings credibility to our baseball and athletic programs. This is our goal at (Brownsville Veterans), for kids to go on to the next level. Trying to get our kids to college is the most important thing we do, and if we can get them there it’s a great feeling.”
Anaya doesn’t mind being an example for future Chargers players who want to take their talents to next level.
“Hopefully people will be able to look at me and say it’s possible for others to do it as well,” Anaya said.
Joshua McKinney covers sports for The Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected].