T-Birds Shine in TX-NM JC All-Star Baseball Game

New Mexico Junior College

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T-Birds Shine in TX-NM JC All-Star Baseball Game

(Hobbs, NM)  Five members of the T-Bird baseball team traveled to Brenham, TX and Blinn College September 16-18, to represent NMJC in the annual Texas-New Mexico JC Baseball Coaches Association All Star Game.  The showcase was a representation of the best junior college baseball players in NJCAA Region 5 and Region 14.  This covers both the state of New Mexico and Texas and a total of 31 colleges.  The showcase has also presented potential Major League Standouts such as Chris Davis (Baltimore Orioles) and John Lackey (Chicago Cubs).

The five members that represented NMJC this fall are Brian Archibald (Palmer HS, TX) RHP; Jesse Becton (La Cueva HS, NM) MIF; Larry Leitha (Calallen HS, TX) OF/P; Alex Pinedo (Eastlake HS, TX) RHP and Eddy Vasquez (Rio Rancho HS, NM) MIF.  Each player was allowed to play in one eight inning game as a position player and the pitchers were allowed to pitch two innings.

Brian Archibald raced through his two innings of work with no hits and 2 strikeouts during the performance.  The sophomore is coming off a 4-2 record last season where he posted 33 strikeouts in 40.1 innings for the T-Birds. 

Jesse Becton made some noise in Brenham by finishing second in the Homerun Derby and was the only hitter in the competition to hit a HR over dead centerfield.  Becton's in-game performance included a one for three showing with a sacrifice fly and one RBI.  Becton's numbers last season included 49 hits, 18 of those homeruns and pilling up a .358 batting average.

Larry Leitha both pitched and hit during the event.  On the mound allowed three hits and three strikeouts in two innings of work.  At the plate Leitha was able to bang out a one for three showing with one RBI.  Larry was able to bang out 11 homeruns in 2016 on his way to a .337 average.  On the mound the sophomore righthander had 20 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched for the T-Birds.

Alex Pinedo had the "K" meter working in his two innings as he marked up four strikeouts of the six outs recorded during his performance.  Pinedo was able to command 82 strikeouts in 75 innings of work for the T-Birds during the 2016 season.

Last, but not least is Eddy Vasquez.  Eddy had some bad luck as he was 0 for 1 then had to leave the game due to a leg injury.  Vasquez earned his right to play on the All-Star team by banging out 20 hits, which four were extra base hits and generating a .377 average.

NMJC was represented in sparkling fashion.  Coach Jimmy Durham was very proud of each player and has solid reasons to believe that they will be playing in the D-1 ranks next season.

For more information: Deron Clark, NMJC Athletic Director: 575-492-2741 or dclark@nmjc.edu.

Photos attached (l-r): Eddie Vasquez-Inf, Larry Leitha-Rhp-of, Brian Archibald-Rhp, Jesse Becton-Of, Alex Pinedo- Lhp .