Firepower and depth to lead Lobos on the hill
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The University of New Mexico Lobo baseball team has reloaded the artillery on the mound with firepower and depth to make a run at the 2010 Mountain West Conference Championship. The Lobos return a young group of pitchers with 90 mph arms and have brought in some of the best arms from the Southwest. The Lobo pitching staff has reloaded after the loss of Friday night ace John Hesketh and closer Cole White. Returning to the bump for the
Rudy Jaramillo
Lobos is sophomore Rudy Jaramillo. Jaramillo went 4-2 on the season with the Lobos’ only complete game, an 8-4 win over UNLV on May 1. He also struck out 37 batters and posted an ERA of 5.73. Making a return to the starting rotation will senior Willy Kesler. Kesler was sidelined for the first four weeks of the 2009 season after recovering from May 2008 Tommy John surgery but is ready to return to the form that started the 2008 season off 4-0. Senior Edwin Carl posted a record of 2-1 last season and fanned 30 batters. Senior Travis Dirk went 4-2 on the season with 35 strikeouts before and elbow injury sidelined party way through. Junior Kenny Toves picked up two wins in relief work and struck out 25 batters while picking up one save. Sophomore Gabe Aguilar had the Lobos’ lowest ERA with a 1.98 and went 2-1 on the season. Senior Jason Oatman posted a record of 4-1 on the season and made 18 appearances in relief.
In the off-season the Lobos loaded up on firepower to compete with the top teams in the country. Junior transfer Mike LaChapelle is one of the top junior college prospects out of Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona. who has a 90 mph arm. Sophomore transfer Gera Sanchez comes to New Mexico from New Mexico Junior College and was an all-state pitcher for Rio Grande High School in Albuquerque. From Baulkham Hills, Australia and Clarendon Junior College is Richard Olson. Olson brings middle relief depth and aggressiveness to the mound. Jerome Montoya-Maston comes to New Mexico from Eastern Arizona College and will have an immediate impact as the Lobos top closer. Montoya-Maston was part of four 4A State Championship teams with Farmington High School from 2005-08 and can touch 95 mph.
The Lobo coaching staff also picked up some of the best talent in the southwest. Local products Oscar Almedia (Rio Grande HS) and Austin House (La Cueva HS) will both have an immediate impact on the hill for the Lobos. From El Paso Texas, Bobby Mares, who led Socorro High School to its first-ever state championship, has shown the coaches that he is ready for Division I baseball. Zak Miller (Surrey, BC, Canada/Elgin Park Secondary HS), Steven Florez (Mesilla, N.M./Las Cruces HS) and Jacob Nelson (Lakewood, Colo./Wheatridge HS) also come to New Mexico with high expectations.
(From New Mexico Media Relations)