BASEBALL: Rodriguez has been valuable pitcher for the Chaps

By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Even though Luis Rodriguez has been penciled in to start for the Midland College baseball team in Saturday's game of the NJCAA Region V Tournament, head coach Hector Rodriguez asked him if he would be ready if needed to relieve in the opening game.

Without hesitation, Luis Rodriguez said, "Coach, I'll do whatever you want."

That unselfish and can-do attitude is part of the reason why second-year pitcher from Denver City has been a key part to the Chaps' success this season.

The Chaparrals (37-18) begin tournament play at Christensen Stadium at 10 a.m. Friday against Ranger College (20-12).

If the Chaps win that game, they will play at 5 p.m. Saturday or 10 a.m. Saturday if they lose against either Howard College or McLennan Community College.

Hector Rodriguez, no relation to Luis, and the Chaps hope they don't need to use the 6-foot, 225-pound right-hander in the first game because he's been a valuable starter. He has gone 9-2 this season with one save and a team-best 4.12 ERA and he has usually started the first game of the Saturday doubleheaders in Western Junior College Athletic Conference play.

"To me, he's the conference pitcher of the year," Hector Rodriguez said. "He shows up every day, he's done his job and you know what you're going to get from him when he gets the ball on Saturdays. He's pitching like an ace. We put him in seven-inning games because he can shorten the game in a hurry. He throws all three pitches for strikes, commands the zone, works fast and he's a teammate and a coach's dream. When you're out there playing defense for him, you know you've got to be ready to go. The guys are excited when he's on the mound."

Luis Rodriguez

Luis Rodriguez said that when his teammates are cheering him on from the dugout, it really gets him pumped up and motivated to do his best on the mound.

"I feel like I've been doing really well," he said. "I'm just ready to go out there and fill the strike zone. I like working quick and getting my defense some work. I feel like the fastball command has been key. Being able to locate that at any time has been the biggest thing. Then my offspeed has been helping me out a little more this year, along with being able to locate my changeup."

Last year, Rodriguez was a valuable member of the bullpen as he went 2-3 with six saves and a 3.58 ERA.

Because, he was a starter in high school, he said that there wasn't much of a transition for him this year. The only difference was his mindset as last year he just threw as hard as he could for one or two innings.

Rodriguez said the biggest difference since high school is being able to throw offspeed pitches because all he did then was throw four-seam fastballs.

There's no doubt that the ability was there while he was at Denver City High School as Hector Rodriguez saw the potential. The pitcher will next take his talents to the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio next year and he is grateful to get the chance, especially coming from a Class 3A high school program.

"I didn't think I was going to be able to go play D-1 baseball after this year," he said. "I just showed up every day, gave it the best that I could and competed."

But before he moves on, Rodriguez would love nothing more than extend his time with the Chaparrals all the way to the JUCO World Series.

"We've been up and down a little bit but I think we're going to come out strong and show them what we can do," he said. "A big part will be if our pitching can come out strong and throw strikes. If our pitchers can do that, our hitters will be fine and we'll be able to win some ballgames.

"We're all ready to go and this is what we've worked for all year. We've had some injuries that have kind of hurt us during the year, but we've had some freshmen who have especially stepped up big out of the 'pen and out of the dugout. I think we have what it takes to win. Nobody is ready to go home yet."

NJCAA REGION V TOURNAMENT
MIDLAND COLLEGE VS. RANGER COLLEGE

When/where: 10 a.m., Friday, Christensen Stadium

Records/seeds: Midland College 37-18, No. 2 seed out of the WJCAC; Ranger College, 20-12, No. 3 seed out of the NTJCAC

Notes: Play begins in the double elimination tournament to determine the representative in the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction May 28-June 3. .. The Chaps last qualified for the JUCO World Series in 2014. … RHP Luke Young (8-4, 4.59) is scheduled to start for MC today. … MC coach Hector Rodriguez said he didn't like the way his team played hot and cold in a 2-2 series split at El Paso Community College last weekend but said the team has put that performance behind and focused on the tournament. "Postseason play is what we work all year-round for," he said. "We fell short of one of our goals of winning an outright conference championship, but we know that the big one is still in front of us. The guys are more excited than ever. I told them in the team meeting the other day that they have gone through everything, the highs the lows, the injuries, the fatigue, the mental, physical toughness that it takes to get through a long season. I think they realize that and they're going to be ready for the opportunity that's in front of us." … MC is still dealing with key injuries as outfielder/pitcher Caleb Heuertz (ankle) is out but there's a chance that outfielder Luke Bumpus (finger) and shortstop Frayner Chavez (finger) might be able to play. … MC and Ranger played early in the season with each team winning a close game. Rodriguez said the Rangers will bring a lot of energy. "Their dugout is going to be loud and their guys play with a ton of energy," Rodriguez said. "They obviously have a belief in themselves by making it to the regional tournament for the first time in, I believe, 39 years. If there's a team that's going to be ready to play this weekend, I believe it's going to be the Rangers."

Next: Winner plays Howard College or McLennan Community College at 5 p.m. Saturday. Loser plays Howard/McLennan at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Follow Oscar on Twitter: @OLeRoy_MRT 

NJCAA Region V Baseball Tournament
at Christensen Stadium

Friday

First round

Game 1: (N3) Ranger College (20-12) vs. (W2) Midland College (37-18), 10 a.m.

Game 2: (W4) Howard College (24-27) vs. (N1) McLennan CC (43-10-1), 1 p.m.

Game 3: (N4) Weatherford College (36-19) vs. (W1) New Mexico JC (41-15), 5 p.m.

Game 4: (W3) Odessa College (36-19) vs. (N2) Grayson College (24-8), 8 p.m.

Saturday

Elimination bracket

Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 10 a.m.

Game 6: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 1 p.m.

Winner's bracket

Game 7: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.

Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 8 p.m.

Sunday

Elimination bracket

Game 9: Game 6 winner vs. Game 7 loser, 10 a.m.

Game 10: Game 5 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 1 p.m.

Winner's bracket

Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 5 p.m.

Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 8 p.m.

Monday

Elimination bracket

Game 13: Game 11 loser vs. Game 12 winner, 1 p.m.

Championship game

Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 13 winner, 5 p.m.

Tuesday

If necessary game

Game 15: Game 14 winner vs. Game 14 loser, 1 p.m.