SAN JUAN — PSJA High’s Viggo Lopez was a standout receiver for the PSJA High football team and a regional qualifier in track and field as a sprinter in the 200-meter relay during his senior season. Baseball has always been his bread and butter, however.
“My favorite sport has always been baseball,” Lopez said. “Ever since I was a freshman, I wanted to try those three sports because I felt like it would help me perform way better on the field, hitting and eventually it did.”
Lopez, The Monitor’s 2022 All-Area Baseball Offensive Player of the Year, batted .483 to go with 43 hits, 43 runs, 32 RBIs, 14 doubles, three triples and four home runs. He stole 14 bags and walked 17 times with a .603 on-base percentage and .843 slugging percentage.
“Stepping in the (batter’s) box, I have to expect what’s coming and know what the pitcher’s throwing. It’s a mind-game and I have to be 100% with my thoughts,” he said of his approach.
Lopez helped lead the Bears to a 28-5-1 record overall and the District 31-6A championship with a 13-1 league record. PSJA High also earned a bi-district win to advance to the area round for the first time in four seasons.
“Winning that district title and getting past that first round was the goal. Although we fell short in the second round, we met our expectations and had a good season with one of the best records we’ve probably had at PSJA High,” he said.
The Bears’ lineup was one of the most lethal in South Texas scoring 10 or more runs in 16 of 34 games during the 2022 campaign.
The Bears offense posted run totals of 17 in a Game 1 shutout win over Harlingen High in Round 1 of the playoffs and 15 runs in a Game 2 win against Eagle Pass in Round 2.
“It didn’t matter if we were down by two or three in the early innings, we knew we had the bats. When it was our turn, we knew we were going to do a lot of damage,” Lopez said. “We had each other’s backs in the lineup so if one of us pops up, you know that person behind you is going to come through.”
Next for Lopez is the start of his college baseball career at UTRGV after signing with the Vaqueros in the spring.
“One of my goals was to get a scholarship and it happened with UTRGV. It’s a blessing and an honor and all that hard work paid off,” Lopez said. “I’m excited to begin my college career and prepared for it.”
