Tag: baseball

Brett Vasquez sets strikeout record as Saints baseball takes series against Louisiana Christian

The baseball team won two of three games against Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) opponent Louisiana Christian University (LCU) this weekend. The Saints are now 9-15 overall and 6-6 in conference. The Wildcats drop to 15-6 overall and 9-3 in the RRAC.


History

This was the first meeting between both programs.

Game One, 3-8

The Saints used a strong seventh-inning surge to take game one. LCU opened the scoring in the third inning with three runs on four hits. The Saints responded in the following inning when Matthew Klar (JR/San Antonio, Texas) scored because of an error, and Tyler Vivier (SO/San Antonio, Texas) doubled to score two runs. The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh inning. Brandon Betancourt (FR/San Antonio, Texas) broke the tie with a double to left field that scored Jacob Montejano (JR/San Antonio, Texas). Vivier and Christian Martinez (FR/Corpus Christi, Texas) also picked up RBIs as part of a five-run frame. The Saints held the Wildcats scoreless in the final two innings and won 8-3, backed by nine hits.

Saints starting pitcher Brett Vasquez (JR/Baytown, Texas) struck out 15 batters in eight innings of work – the most of his career in a single game. He threw 109 pitches and allowed only five hits. Layne Klostermann (JR/Raymondville, Texas) closed the game for OLLU. Jacob Mitchell (SR/Harker Heights, Texas) and Vivier batted 2-for-3. Vivier also added five RBIs.

Game Two, 6-2

OLLU totaled eight hits in game two but only plated two runs. The Wildcats scored one run in the first, third and fifth inning to lead 3-0. The Saints cut the lead to one after scoring two in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jonathan LaCourse (SO/San Antonio, Texas) doubled to left field to bring in Vivier, and Noah Rodriguez (JR/Victoria, Texas) singled to score Sebastian Ledezma (FR/Los Fresnos, Texas). The Wildcats grew the advantage to two runs after a passed ball scored Nick Brunet in the sixth inning. LCU added two more runs in the seventh inning to win 6-2.

Trey Ramirez III (SR/Donna, Texas) started on the mound for the Saints and allowed four earned runs in 5.1 innings. Mitchell was the only Saint with a multi-hit game.

Game Three, 9-5

The Saints closed the series strong with nine runs on eight hits. They scored six runs in the second inning to lead 6-1, with four players recording at least one RBI. The Wildcats slowly cut the deficit to 6-4 after plating one run in the fifth inning and two in the sixth inning. The Saints scored one run in the sixth, seventh and eighth inning to eventually win 9-5. The Saints used five pitchers who totaled 14 strikeouts.

Klar and Martinez drove in two runs each. Mitchell finished game three with two doubles.

Up next

The Saints welcome Stevens Institute of Technology for a doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 1 p.m.

Baseball wins third game against Texas A&M-Texarkana in dramatic fashion

The baseball team won one of three games against Texas A&M University – Texarkana (TAMUT) in a Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) series. The Saints are now 7-14 overall and 4-5 in the RRAC, while TAMUT is 13-10 overall and 6-3 in the conference.

Head Coach Bryan Aughney commented, “It was great to see our guys compete for all nine innings in the last game. We had been struggling to do that as of late. We faced adversity in all three games, and we finally responded the way we were capable of doing. We still have things we need to clean up, and hopefully, this gives us a little momentum.”

History

The Saints won a four-game series against TAMUT in 2021, winning 13-10, 18-6 and 6-5 and losing 1-8.

Game One, 2-6

Alec Martinez (SR/Corpus Christi, Texas) started on the mound for the Saints, pitching 2.1 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs while striking out two to suffer the loss. Trey Ramirez III (SR/Donna, Texas) pitched 5.2 innings and allowed two hits.

Brandon Betancourt (FR/San Antonio, Texas) went 2-for-3 with one run while Jarod Smith (FR/Baytown, Texas) went 2-for-4 with one run. Christian Martinez (FR/Corpus Christi, Texas) and Robert Arredondo (SR/Corpus Christi, Texas) had one RBI each.

Game Two, 3-5

Brett Vasquez (JR/Baytown, Texas) suffered the loss after pitching all six innings. He struck out 10 and allowed six hits and five runs.

Jarod Smith went 2-for-3 and had one run. Arredondo had two RBIs in the game. Jacob Arriola (SO/San Antonio, Texas) and Christian Martinez scored one run each.

Game Three, 10-9

Ram Maldonado (SR/McAllen, Texas) started on the mound, and after allowing three hits and three runs in the first inning, was replaced by Ziegen Farley. Layne Klostermann (JR/Raymondville, Texas), Guiliano Hernandez (FR/Boerne, Texas), Pablo Montante (SO/San Antonio, Texas) and Joshua Mendez (JR/Corpus Christi, Texas) took turns on the mound. Mendez earned the win after pitching three innings and striking out four.

Arredondo went 2-for-4 scoring two runs and batting in two RBIs. Matthew Klar (JR/San Antonio, Texas) went 2-for-4 with one run and three RBIs. Jacob Mitchell (SR/Harker Heights, Texas) had two RBIs and a home run. Jarod Smith had one run and one RBI. Jacob Arriola had two runs.

The Saints went into the seventh inning trailing 4-9. A hit by Jarod Smith sent D’Artagnan Perez-Padron home. Moving into the eighth inning, trailing 5-9, Mitchell’s home run also scored Arredondo, tightening the game to 7-9. In the ninth inning, with the bases loaded, Arredondo walked scoring Perez-Padron, and a single from Klar to left field scored Jacob Montejano (JR/San Antonio, Texas) and Jarod Smith, giving the Saints a 10-9 lead. The Saints were able to hang on to win the game 10-9.

Up next

The Saints will host Louisiana Christian University March 11-12.

Baseball routs Texas College with 53 runs in two games

The baseball team scored 53 runs against Texas College (TC) in two games this weekend. The Saints won both games and the Steers forfeited the third game. OLLU moves to 6-8 overall and starts Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) play at 3-0.

Game One

The Saints won 32-0 in the first game to set the Saints single-game scoring record. The Saints tallied 30 hits and limited the Steers to two. Texas College also had three errors. OLLU scored nine runs in the first inning to take a commanding lead. Seven different players recorded at least one RBI in the inning. The most productive inning for the Saints was in the fourth frame when they plated 12 runs. Starting pitcher Alec Martinez (SR/Corpus Christi, Texas) struck out 12 batters in four innings.

Brandon Betancourt batted 5-for-6, and six Saints players had three RBIs. Francisco Martinez (FR/San Antonio, Texas), Betancourt, Sebastian Ledezma (FR/Los Fresnos, Texas), Pablo Trevino (FR/San Juan, Texas) and Christian Martinez (FR/Corpus Christi, Texas) all hit a triple.

Game Two

OLLU continued scoring at will in the second game. They plated 21 runs on 22 hits. OLLU didn’t allow any runs all series. The Saints scored at least one run in all innings on Saturday. Brett Vasquez (JR/Baytown, Texas), Javier De Alejandro (FR/San Antonio, Texas) and Pablo Montante (SO/San Antonio, Texas) combined for a no-hitter.

Jacob Mitchell (SR/Harker Heights, Texas) and John Ortega II had three RBIs. Alejandro Ybarra (FR/San Benito, Texas) batted 4-for-4 with a double.

Up next

The Saints visit LSU-Shreveport (LSUS) next weekend for a showdown of two solid RRAC teams. LSUS is ranked No. 10 in the NAIA. The three-game series starting on Feb. 25 will take place in Shreveport, La.

Baseball completes four-game series against Central Methodist

Hear from Head Coach Bryan Aughney and watch highlights.

The baseball team was swept in a four-game series against No. 2-ranked Central Methodist University (CMU) this weekend. The Saints drop to 1-6 overall while the Eagles start the season 4-0.

Game One

The Saints had a tough start to the series against the Eagles. Central Methodist scored 16 runs on 15 hits including four home runs. OLLU’s lone run came in the bottom of the second inning when Matthew Klar (JR/San Antonio, Texas) singled to center field to score Francisco Martinez (FR/San Antonio, Texas). The Saints were held to five hits and left seven runners on base. Alec Martinez (SR/Corpus Christi, Texas) pitched 4.2 innings allowing 10 hits and nine earned runs. The Saints used four relief pitchers that allowed a combined seven runs.

Noah Rodriguez (JR/Victoria, Texas) batted 2-for-3 and Klar tallied the lone RBI. Alex Garza (SO/Houston, Texas) struck out two batters in one inning of work.

Game Two

The Eagles continued scoring at will in the second game of the series. They brought home 12 runs on nine hits with seven players recording at least one RBI. After allowing four runs in the top of the first inning, the Saints responded with three in the bottom of the frame. Tyler Vivier (SO/San Antonio, Texas), Jacob Mitchell (SR/Harker Heights, Texas) and Rodriguez all drove in runs. The Saints had the potential to tie the game, but left the bases loaded. Central Methodist scored three more runs in the top of the second inning and led 7-3 until the sixth inning. Bobby Nichols hit an inside the park home run to grow the Eagles lead to 8-3. The Saints responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning but ended up losing 12-5.

Five different Saints players recorded an RBI. Robert Arredondo (SR/Corpus Christi, Texas) and Francisco Martinez both had two hits.

Game Three

The Saints started the second day of the series with a lead after three innings in game three. After the Eagles had a 1-0 advantage in the third inning, the Saints recorded two runs. Francisco Martinez doubled to center field to score Mitchell and Jacob Montejano (JR/San Antonio, Texas). The Eagles tied the game in the top of the fifth inning and added three more runs in the sixth inning to end up winning 5-2. The Saints had six hits but committed three errors. Brett Vasquez (JR/Baytown, Texas) had a career-high 11 strikeouts in five innings of work.

Montejano batted 2-for-3 and Francisco Martinez added two RBIs. Pablo Trevino (FR/San Juan, Texas) led the Saints with 11 putouts.

Game Four

The Saints struggled in the series finale. They gave up nine runs on 10 hits and were only able to muster three hits total. OLLU’s two runs came in the bottom of the fourth inning when Francisco Martinez homered to left field to score Mitchell. Javier De Alejandro (FR/San Antonio, Texas) started on the mound for the Saints and allowed five earned runs in three innings. Ziegen Farley (FR/San Antonio, Texas), Guiliano Hernandez (FR/Boerne, Texas) and Mitchell pitched in relief. Francisco Martinez finished with a team-high two RBIs.

Up next

The Saints welcome Mid America Christian University for a four-game series starting on Feb. 11.

Baseball begins 2022 campaign in three-game series against USAO

Hear from Head Coach Bryan Aughney and watch highlights.

The baseball team took one of three games against the No. 14-ranked University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) in the 2022 season series opener this weekend. The Saints start the year 1-2 while the Drovers sit at 2-1.

Game One

The Saints began the 2022 season with a 9-7 victory in a back-and-forth battle against the Drovers in a seven-inning matchup. Francisco Martinez (JR/San Antonio, Texas) drove in Robert Arredondo (SR/Corpus Christi, Texas) in the bottom of the first inning and Tyler Vivier (SO/San Antonio, Texas) added two more runs with a double. OLLU loaded the bases in the following inning and Sebastian Ledezma (FR/Los Fresnos, Texas) scored on a wild pitch. The Drovers’ offense came to life in the third and fifth inning by scoring three runs in each frame. Saints starting pitcher Alec Martinez (SR/Corpus Christi, Texas) went four innings and allowed two hits and three earned runs with three strikeouts.

OLLU tied the game 6-6 in the bottom of the fifth inning. Vivier hit a sacrifice fly to score Matthew Klar (JR/San Antonio, Texas) and Noah Rodriguez (SR/Victoria, Texas) brought in John B. Ortega II (SO/Harlingen, Texas). Jake Womack singled to center field to score Colton Bensch in the top of the sixth inning to give the lead back to the Drovers. USAO made costly errors in the bottom of the sixth inning. Christian Martinez (SO/Corpus Christi, Texas) scored on an error to tie the game and Vivier singled to bring in Klar and Arredondo. Joshua Mendez (SR/Corpus Christi, Texas) held the Drovers scoreless in the top of the seventh inning to give the Saints the 9-7 win. Vivier batted 2-for-2 with five RBIs and Francisco Martinez added three hits with an RBI.

Game Two

The Drovers controlled the second game of the series early on and tied the series heading into Saturday. They scored six runs in the second inning and four in the third inning to lead 10-0. Klar and Francisco Martinez drove in runs in the bottom of the third inning and Montejano scored on an error. The Saints added another run in the fourth inning when Christian Martinez grounded out to shortstop and Rodriguez scored. The exact same play happened in the following inning to cut the Drovers lead to 10-5. Gage Gaunt hit a two-run home run to left field in the seventh inning and the Drovers ended up winning 12-5 on 11 hits.

Game Three

The series finale was a battle on the mound in a nine-inning showdown. Saints starting pitcher Brett Vasquez (JR/Baytown, Texas) pitched six innings allowing only four hits and one earned run. He also struck out six of the 22 batters he faced. The lone run he gave up came in the top of the first inning when Gaunt stole home on a double steal. The Drovers led 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning. The Saints took a 2-1 advantage after RBI singles from Francisco Martinez and Pablo Trevino (SO/San Juan, Texas). USAO regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning after a two-run home run by Joey Pena. The Drovers tacked on three more runs in the top of the ninth inning for a commanding 6-2 lead. Ledezma scored on a balk for the Saints in the bottom of the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough as the Drovers took the series and game three 6-3.

Up next

The Saints host No. 2-ranked Central Methodist University in a four-game series starting on Feb. 4 at 1 p.m.

OLLU is picked second in 2022 RRAC baseball preseason poll

After a Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) regular-season championship in 2021, the OLLU baseball team has been picked second in the 2022 RRAC Baseball Preseason Poll with 114 points – four of which were first-place votes. The RRAC tournament champion LSU-Shreveport (LSUS) received the first-place ranking with two fewer votes than the Saints and six first-place votes. 

The Saints finished their 2021 season with a trip to the NAIA National Championship Tournament, where they lost in the opening round. They marked their best-ever record of 34-19 overall and 20-4 in the conference.

In 2021, the Saints were picked second; in 2020, they were third; in 2019, fifth; in 2018, sixth; and in 2016 and 2017, fifth.

The team has also displayed success in the classroom with its fourth NAIA Scholar Team award and two consecutive American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Team Academic Excellence Awards.

This year’s squad will be led by 2021 NAIA All-American pitcher Brett Vasquez (JR/Baytown, Texas), who was named the conference’s Pitcher of the Year. Other all-conference winners returning include Matthew Klar (JR/San Antonio, Texas), Alec Martinez (SR/Corpus Christi, Texas), Jacob Mitchell (NA/Harker Heights, Texas) and Ram Maldonado (SR/McAllen, Texas). Maldonado and Mitchell also received Gold Glove honors in 2021.

Head Coach Bryan Aughney, the conference’s Coach of the Year in 2021, began his fifth season in 2021-2022. His overall record at OLLU is 105-82, and his conference record is 107-55. Aughney welcomes a new coaching staff featuring Matt Piker, Chris Casias, Ryan Chapa and Ryan Reyes. Father Cristopher Robinson will return as the team’s chaplain for his eighth season.

LSUS ranked 10th nationally in the NAIA Baseball Coaches Top 25 Preseason Poll released Nov. 3. Over the last decade, the Pilots have won either the conference regular-season or postseason title each year, including 8-of-10 conference tournaments. No championship was played in 2020. The Saints received 42 votes in the preseason poll.

Voting was conducted by the head coaches at the conference. The poll results are below, with points calculated through a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 format.

Texas A&M University – Texarkana follows as the third pick with 88 points, followed by LSU-Alexandria with 83 points, conference newcomer Louisiana Christian University with 75 points, the University of Houston-Victoria with 63 points, Xavier University of Louisiana with 60 points, the University of the Southwest with 59 points, Jarvis Christian College with 57 points, Huston-Tillotson University with 24 points, Wiley College with 23 points and Texas College with 16 points. All teams played in the 2021 season due to COVID-19 precautions, except for Huston-Tillotson, Texas College and Wiley.

OLLU receives 42 votes in the 2022 NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll

The baseball team received 42 votes in the 2022 NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 Preseason Poll released today. The team had received eight votes for the first time ever on March 11, 2020. Subsequently, the Saints were ranked in the top 25 as No. 21 on March 31, 2021; No. 24 on April 14, 2021; No. 22 on April 28, 2021; and No. 23 on May 12, 2021.

The Saints finished out their 2021 season as Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) regular-season champs. They qualified for the NAIA National Championship Tournament, where they lost in the opening round. They marked their best-ever record at 34-19 overall and 20-4 in the RRAC.

Poll Methodology

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and the Association of Independent Institutions.
The Top 25 is determined by a points system based on how each voter ranks the best teams. A team receives 30 points for each first-place vote, 29 for second-place and so on through the list.


The highest and lowest ranking for each team (a non-rating is considered a low rating) is removed and the team’s ranking will be recalculated with an additional point added to each team for every ballot (including discounted ballots) that the teams appear on.


Teams that receive only one point on the ballot are not considered “receiving votes”


The frequency of the polls is bi-weekly. This policy was approved by the National Administrative Council (NAC) prior to the 2016-17 academic season. This change allows raters the opportunity to consider a larger body of work between rating periods.


For the complete Top 25 calendar, click here.

RANKLASTSCHOOL [FIRST-PLACE VOTES]RECORDFINAL POINTS
11Georgia Gwinnett [19]51-10529
22Central Methodist (Mo.)49-8507
35Southeastern (Fla.)51-9480
43Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)44-8474
57Tennessee Wesleyan53-6459
64Faulkner (Ala.)32-20457
76Indiana Southeast (Ind.)50-15428
89Keiser (Fla.)37-18400
98Oklahoma Wesleyan49-11388
1010LSU Shreveport (La.)45-16382
1111Cumberlands (Ky.)46-8362
1214Loyola (La.)36-15330
1313Vanguard (Calif.)40-16328
1415Science & Arts (Okla.)34-12295
1517Indiana Wesleyan44-14263
1616Hope International (Calif.)29-15257
1719St. Thomas (Fla.)34-21253
1812Concordia (Neb.)42-12252
1918Middle Georgia State37-20230
2020Oklahoma City36-19190
21NRReinhardt (Ga.)34-21167
2224MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)41-16148
2325Benedictine Mesa (Ariz.)32-16134
24NRBellevue (Neb.)41-18129
2523Point Park (Pa.)40-16128

Others Receiving Votes: William Carey (Miss.) 120; Bryan (Tenn.) 106; Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 42; Westmont (Calif.) 39; Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 32; Webber International (Fla.) 28; Columbia (Mo.) 24; Ottawa (Kan.) 20; Indiana Tech 13; CIU (S.C.) 8; Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 5; Texas Wesleyan 4; Warner (Fla.) 4; Doane (Neb.) 3; Southwestern Christian (Okla.) 3Arrows

Baseball and Men’s Basketball to host Alumni Events this weekend

The OLLU baseball team will host its Inaugural Baseball Alumni Day on Oct. 16 beginning at 11 a.m. The event will include a game against current Saints team members and alumni, a commemorative t-shirt and a postgame social with food and beverages. It will take place at Missions Baseball Academy, 5707 State Highway 151. Alumni from the team’s first season in 2015 through last year are invited to participate and families are welcome to attend. Contact Assistant Coach Ryan Chapa at rtchapa17sp@ollusa.edu for additional information.

The men’s basketball team will hold its annual alumni day on Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. with a social to follow. Alumni from 2009 through 2021 and families are invited to attend. A social with food and beverages will follow afterward in UWAC 104. Contact Head Coach Chris Dial at cdial@ollusa.edu for additional information.

Baseball Head Coach Bryan Aughney announces new coaching staff

The baseball team and Head Coach Bryan Aughney are excited to announce a brand-new coaching staff. Joining the team for their first year are Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Matt Piker, Assistant Coach Chris Casias, Assistant Coach Ryan Chapa and Assistant Coach Ryan Reyes.

The additions come after the departures of Assistant Coach Zach Luevaos, who chose to pursue baseball in the private sector as the Director of Twelve, a nationally recognized select organization in San Antonio. Assistant Coach TJ Kassner accepted a graduate assistant position at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pa., where he will take the lead on infield play and hitting. Assistant Coach Benjamin Garcia will be a full-time teacher at Bishop Independent School District and a varsity assistant for baseball and football.

Aughney commented, “As it always has been, coaches move on, and they must make decisions that are best for their careers and best for their families. I am grateful to each for their time and dedication to Saints’ baseball and our players. As my job is to move our players on after their playing days, I feel it is equally important to mentor young coaches and get them set up for their next step in their journey.”

Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Matt Piker

Piker joins the coaching staff from Mayville State University (MSU), where he was the pitching coach for the last four seasons. During his time with the Comets, Piker was a member of two successful seasons that resulted in the 2018 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) regular-season championships and the 2021 NSAA Conference Tournament Championships.

Piker said, “My wife, Haley, and I are thrilled to be joining the campus community at OLLU. Having spent the last four seasons in a program with a long-standing tradition of excellence, getting to be a part of what Coach Aughney has been building is extremely exciting. I’ve considered San Antonio a second home for many years, and it will be awesome getting to coach here.  I can’t wait to get to work and begin serving our student-athletes. Go, Saints!”

Piker coached six NSAA First Team All-Conference award winners during his time at MSU. Mason Swegarden earned honors as the 2018 NSAA Conference Pitcher of the Year and was named an All-American, and Kenny Stewart also was named an All-American during the 2021 campaign. In 2021, the MSU pitching staff finished the season ranked in the Top 15 in the country in ERA and averaged just more than eight strikeouts per game.

Before MSU, Piker was a graduate assistant at Arkansas Tech University (ATU) from 2015-2017. While earning his Master of Science in College Student Personnel, he oversaw the outfielders, coached first base and coached the pitching staff. Several of his players won postseason awards under his tutelage there, as well.

Piker arrived at ATU from the University of the Ozarks, where he also played and began his coaching career after receiving his Bachelor of Science in Physical and Health Education.

Piker has been a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association for the last seven years. He has been actively involved with collegiate summer ball throughout his career. He was the assistant coach of the Briarcliffe Seagulls in the Beach Collegiate Baseball League in 2015 and the head coach of the Chesterfield Vipers in the Mid-Atlantic Collegiate League from 2016-2017.

“I am excited to get Coach Piker down here and let him get to work with our guys,” Aughney commented. “He stood out in our search from the very beginning.  He is dedicated to developing players, a student of the game and is continually learning and adapting – things I value in today’s game.  In his prior stops as a coach, he has been a part of championship programs, and that is what we are after.”

Assistant Coach Chris Casias  

Casias spent the two previous seasons at Southeastern Oklahoma University (SOA) as a graduate assistant. Before SOU, Casias was at Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) for two years.

A native of San Antonio, Casias graduated from Earl Warren High School in 2015 as a two-sport athlete.  As a sophomore and junior, Casias was a First Team All-District outfielder. He was also a Second Team All-District quarterback his junior year.

Following high school, Casias went on to play for two years at OPSU before transferring over to SOA. Casias will graduate this summer with a master’s degree in Sports Administration from SOA.

Assistant Coach Ryan Chapa

Chapa joins the staff after playing for the Saints the past four seasons; he was an integral part of OLLU’s 2021 RRAC Championship Team. He holds the OLLU record for most hits in a game with five against Texas College in 2020. 

In December 2020, Chapa graduated from OLLU with a Bachelor of Arts in History with a certification in education grades 7-12. This past summer, he began his coaching career with the South Texas Sliders, assisting their 17U Team. 

Chapa is a native of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Assistant Coach Ryan Reyes

Before joining the Saints’ staff, Reyes spent two years part of the Central Christian College Tigers baseball program. During the 2017-2018 season, he served as a recruiting assistant for Texas. In the 2018-2019 season, Reyes joined the coaching staff as a student-assistant coach. His duties included working with outfielders, corner infielders and hitters.

From 2016-2018, Reyes began his coaching career by revamping the Del Rio Express-Select Organization, managing and assisting in age groups from 10u to 18u.

Reyes was born in Del Rio, Texas. He graduated from Del Rio High School, where he was a part of the baseball team for three years.

“I am excited to get these young men continued in their coaching journey,” Aughney said. “They are pivotal in our success as a program.  Each of them brings a different background to the game and ideas that will help our players.”

Saints baseball made history last year when the men won the Red River Athletic Conference regular season with a best-ever 34-19 overall record and 20-4 in the conference. The team marked best-ever records in batting average, at-bats, runs, hits, triples, home runs, RBIs, total bases, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, sacrifice flies, fielding percentage, wins and shutouts.

The team will play a handful of fall scrimmages and enter its eighth season in spring 2022 at Missions Baseball Academy located at 5705 State Highway 151 in San Antonio.

Jose Diaz signs professional contract with Florence Y’alls of the Frontier League

Former baseball player, OLLU alumnus, and current graduate student Jose Diaz has signed a professional contract with the Florence Y’alls of the Frontier League.

The Frontier League is a professional independent baseball league with 16 teams spread throughout the Northeastern and Midwestern United States, as well as Eastern Canada. The Y’alls play in Florence, Ky., just south of Cincinnati.

Diaz holds multiple Saints records. He totaled 231 games played, 175 runs scored, 260 hits, 54 doubles and more. During his fifth year at OLLU in 2021, Diaz was recognized as Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Player of the Year. Diaz also helped lead the Saints to their first NAIA World Series opening round appearance last season. He was awarded Big Blue Top Saint in 2020 and 2021, which recognizes male and female athletes for their dedication to academics and athletics.

Head Coach Bryan Aughney commented, “This is a big-time accomplishment for Jose, and everyone associated with our program past and present is pulling for him to have great success. With all the turmoil that comes with professional baseball, signing any type of contract is much harder these days than in comparison to past years. The Frontier League is one of the most premier Indy leagues in the country. Now he just has to go excel and continue to get opportunities. Jose was a great player for us. He was a great teammate and leader, so we are all very proud to see him continue in his career.”