It’s awesome not just for the Valley guys, but for the guys coming in from different cities and states. They see the support we have from our community and it makes us want to put on a show for them, because they come out for us
EDINBURG — The center field fence at UTRGV Baseball Stadium received some pop during the offseason with the word Vaqueros written in large, green cursive lettering. The different shades of green make for a nice touch under the sun during day games and under the lights at night.
Just above the bullpens in left and right field are large orange letters spelling UTRGV evenly spaced out with palm trees in between, giving the stadium a true Valley feel.
Last season, the team took turns painting the steps inside the stadium orange to add some flair, and now there’s orange plastic covering along the railing down first- and third-base lines.
Weeks before opening day this season, the UTRGV athletics department unveiled upgrades to the clubhouse at UTRGV Baseball Stadium featuring new lockers with padded seating, tile flooring with a UTRGV logo painted in the middle and a fueling area for baseball players.
It’s all part of putting the players first, says sixth-year head coach Derek Matlock, which has translated to a winning program and turned the UTRGV baseball team and the Rio Grande Valley into a place players want to play ball. Matlock and the UTRGV coaching staff have done a lot of the work around the stadium themselves.
“We’re a players-first program,” he said. “All of our focus every day is on our players and I think that gets out in summer baseball and kids telling other kids, ‘You can come play for our guys, our coaches get after it and they love us and they take care of us.’ I think it does spread and I think it’s happened with a couple players that have come here and played and said, ‘We don’t have an atmosphere like this. This is big time.’ So I think the atmosphere and, of course, the culture of being a players-first coach really makes kids want to play here.”
The Vaqueros will play three games this weekend in Edinburg against Houston beginning at 6:30 tonight, 6:30 p.m. Saturday and at noon Sunday as part of the Al Ogletree Classic. Tickets can be purchased at GoUTRGV.com/Houston or in-person at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium box office.
The turnaround has led to an uptick in attendance during Matlock’s tenure, proof of which can be found memorialized inside the UTRGV baseball team’s clubhouse with a drone shot of the stadium sold out for last season’s home game against the Texas Longhorns.
Edinburg Vela alumnus Isaac Lopez, who starts at second base for the Vaqueros, said the support from the community has made it an attractive place to play, not only for homegrown talent but also for players from cities and states everywhere.
“It’s awesome not just for the Valley guys, but for the guys coming in from different cities and states. They see the support we have from our community and it makes us want to put on a show for them, because they come out for us,” Lopez said.
College baseball players around the Western Athletic Conference and state of Texas have taken notice and transferred to UTRGV. Some have made instant impacts on this year’s squad.
Zerek Saenz played three seasons at New Mexico State and was an All-WAC first-team selection in 2021 as a junior, leading the Aggies in batting average, hits, triples, runs scored and walks. With one year left of eligibility, a run-in with former UTRGV baseball player-turned-volunteer analyst Jacob Hirsh at independent baseball league tryouts during the summer helped convince Saenz to bring his talents to UTRGV.
He’s now starting in center field for the Vaqueros and has nine hits, 12 runs scored, five RBIs and two home runs in eight starts this season.
“When I first got here I was, like, ‘Wow, I love this place.’ It’s only an hour away from South Padre Island, and I’ve never been this close to the beach before,” Saenz said. “Whenever I saw the culture and the fans everywhere when we would go watch volleyball and basketball games, the culture is just a lot different than New Mexico State. I just love this place so much, and I just love to be around fans that like to be part of the team, as well.”
Senior Roberto Gonzalez led Incarnate Word in hits, doubles and RBIs last season, playing in all 52 games. After transferring to UTRGV, Gonzalez has been leaned upon as the team’s designated hitter with seven hits and six RBIs in eight games this season.
Adrian Torres transferred from WAC school Grand Canyon to UTRGV and has made six starts in left field so far, and right-handed pitcher Alex Havlicek is in his first year with the Vaqueros after transferring from Sam Houston.
Shortstop Kade York went from junior college in Arizona to being an everyday starter for the Vaqueros this year. He’s recorded hits in eight straight games and said being a part of the program is something special.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it. It’s very new to me, but this is one of the most fun groups of guys I’ve ever been around,” he said. “They’re electric, always excited, and it’s a family now.”
The Vaqueros (6-2) are slated to welcome the Cougars (3-5) to the RGV with a three-game series beginning tonight. It’s Houston’s first trip to the Valley since Feb. 15, 1995.
EN ESPANOL
UTRGV announced plans to broadcast three Saturday baseball games in Spanish on Vallevisión Channel 8, a Televisa television station that transmits from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and can also be seen in the Rio Grande Valley.
Fans can catch the UTRGV baseball games against Houston on March 4, Tarleton on April 1, and Grand Canyon on May 13 on Vallevisión, with each telecast starting at 6:30 p.m. Hector Zapata and Luis Rubio will team up on the call for all three games.
