Dylan Jasso Named Second Team All-American, Brent Iredale Voted WJCAC MVP, and HC Michael Robbins Earns Second Straight WJCAC COY Award
The Thunderbird baseball team stocked the awards cabinet full following the conclusion of the 2022-23 baseball season.
Dylan Jasso was voted to the NJCAA All-American second team. Jasso also was named WJCAC All-Conference and All-Region V. The Parral, Chihuahua, MX native had a historic season offensively for the T-Birds batting .453 with 96 hits, 86 runs scored, 65 RBIs, 47 walks, 25 homers and 21 doubles. The third baseman was second in on base percentage in the NJCAA, fourth in runs scored, fifth in home runs, and fifth in hits.
Brent Iredale was voted the WJCAC MVP and took home All-Conference and All-Region V honors. The shortstop batted .411 for the year with 81 hits, 67 RBIs, 64 runs scored, 19 doubles, and 17 homers.
Starting pitcher EJ Miramontes earned WJCAC All-Conference and All-Region V honors going a perfect 7-0 from the mound with 64.2 innings pitched, 67 strikeouts, and a 2.78 ERA. Catcher Lorenzo Morresi received WJCAC All-Conference and All-Region V honors as well after batting .363 with 62 hits, 51 RBIs, 46 runs scored, 20 doubles, and nine homers.
Erick Ballenilla was the last T-Bird to earn WJCAC All-Conference and All-Region V honors. The Left fielder finished the season with a .382 batting average, 57 RBIs, 47 hits, 44 runs scored, 16 doubles, and 13 home runs. Second baseman Aaron Lugo was named WJCAC All-Conference after batting .390 with 90 hits, 85 runs scored, 67 RBIs, 26 doubles, and 10 homers. Lugo was ranked No. 4 in the NJCAA in doubles and No. 5 in runs scored.
NMJC baseball head coach Michael Robbins was named the WJCAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season. Robbins led the T-Birds to a 46-14 (30-6) record with the Thunderbirds winning the WJCAC for the second straight year. The T-Birds advanced to the Region V tournament where they finished runner-up to Weatherford College.
The T-Birds had three pitchers make the WJCAC Honorable Mention list.
Landen Yorek led the team with 79 strikeouts, 67 innings pitched, a 5.37 ERA, and a 5-4 record. Max Swenson finished the season with a 3-0 record, 54 strikeouts, 36.1 innings pitched, a 3.96 ERA, and three saves. Robert Bonilla had a 4-0 record with 40 strikeouts and a 5.17 ERA on 40 innings pitched.
The T-Birds had six position players make the WJCAC Honorable Mention list.
Catcher/first baseman Luis Gonzalez was the first member on the list as he batted .328 with 75 hits, 58 RBIs, 45 runs scored, 12 doubles, and 10 homers. Designated hitter/first baseman Mark Henning finished the year with a .371 batting average, 43 hits, 37 runs scored, 33 RBIs, and three long balls. Center fielder John David Moreno ended the season with a .304 batting average, 49 hits, 40 runs scored, 37 RBIs, 12 doubles, and three home runs.
Right fielder Rafael Gross batted .305 with 43 hits, 38 runs scored, 33 RBIs, 10 doubles, and 10 homers. Pitcher/right fielder Josh Pearl went 25.2 innings with a 5.26 ERA from the bump. He batted .336 with 41 hits, 30 runs scored, 29 RBIs, and 11 doubles. Designated hitter Jesse Herrera batted .275 with 35 runs scored, 30 hits, 22 RBIs, 21 hit-by-pitch, eight doubles, and three home runs.