NMMI Sports Press – Jan. 24, 2019
Four former and five current New Mexico Military Institute baseball players earned national ink in the Jan. 4 2019 edition of the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, a bi-monthly publication that has been heralding the accomplishments of amateur baseball players for over 40 years.
In their pre-season edition – which can be found online at baseballnews.com – CBN printed several articles listing players to look out for during the quickly approaching 2019 spring campaign.
Former Bronco right-handed pitcher Chris Suarez (NMMI 2016) garnered mention in the "Other Top Players to Watch" category in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Suarez finished the 2018 season with 2-1 record, 5 saves, 2.93 ERA, 18 K, and 13 BB for NCAA D1 Texas Southern University.
Infielder Alex Pimentel played in all but two of NMMI's games during the 2017 season posting a .338 batting average before moving on to play at NCAA D2 Southwestern Oklahoma University. "Kirby" was selected by CBN as a 2019 Central Region pre-season All American. Last season as a Bulldog, Pimentel earned All-American honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and was tapped as the "Division II Player of the Year" for the All-OklahomaSports.net squad.
Big-hitting first baseman Bobby Galindo had 40 RBIs and a .427 batting average for NMMI last season, then signed on to continue play at West Texas A&M University (NCAA II). Bobby was listed by CBN as a top newcomer for the pre-season #18 nationally ranked Buffalo baseball program.
Middle infielder Adam Abeyta boasted a .908 fielding percentage last season for the Broncos, while hitting over 300 at the plate with a .681 slugging percentage. Abeyta has signed to play for Antelope Valley University, an NAIA school in Lancaster, California. Abeyta was selected by CBN as a top newcomer for the pre-season #7 nationally ranked Marauder baseball program.
Adrian Arpero made CBN's 2019 Junior College Players to Watch list as a right-handed pitcher. Arpero played in 28 games for the Broncos last season, including six appearances in the mound as a reliever, averaging 10.8 strike-outs per nine innings. The El Paso, Texas native played his prep ball at Americas High School.
Incoming freshman Tyler Hardwick was also named as a right-handed pitcher on CBN's juco Players to Watch list. Hardwick compiled as impressive 1.64 ERA an 8-2 record for Goddard High School last season, helping the Rockets reach the NMAA's Class 5A State Championship game.
Another El Paso native, Miguel Soto played as a prep for Montwood High. Soto displayed both prowess at the plate and grace in the field, hitting .340 last season as freshman for NMMI with 6 home runs, 49 RBIs, and an extremely solid .956 fielding percentage. Miguel earned juco Players to Watch honors as a second baseman.
More local talent comes to the NMMI team from Gabriel Perez Torres. Perez played as a prep for the Roswell High Coyotes. As a frosh for the Broncos, 'Gabby' played in 26 games with a .310 batting average and .429 slugging percentage. He made CBN's juco Players to Watch team as an outfielder.
The final Bronco player named to the CBN juco squad was Henry Paulino. Although only a freshman, coaches expect Paulino to be a big part of the NMMI outfield this upcoming season. Henry played his high-school ball at Dwight Morrow HS in Englewood, New Jersey.
In addition to those nine, NMMI just recently had another former player, Andrew Spinnenweber, a senior at the United States Merchant Marine Academy, selected as an NCAA III Pre-Season 2nd Team All American by D3baseball.com. "Spin" earned a 3rd Team All American nod in his 2018 junior season on the mound, after collecting 99 strikeouts in ten starts for the Mariners, along with seven wins and a 1.73 ERA.
"I'm extremely happy that these 10 players have received recognition prior to their respective seasons," said head Bronco baseball coach Chris Cook. "It could shape up to be a significant year for Bronco alumni and current players, and that hopefully tells people how far this program has come over the past 6 and a half years. We as coaches at the Institute have had the wonderful opportunity to coach unbelievable kids that work extremely hard and enjoy the game of baseball. I can't wait to get our season started and I wish all of our former players the best as they get ready to start their respective seasons across the country!"