Things just keep getting better and better for Chris DeVito. Just days after being named to the District VIII Player of the Year by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association of America, the catcher/DH was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the eighth round, 253rd overall.
Despite a top-five finish in the men’s 1500 meter qualifier on Wednesday, the New Mexico men’s track and field team was unable to put up any points at the National Outdoor Championship this year in Eugene, Ore. Freshman runner Josh Kerr finished 10th in the men’s 1,500-meter final on Friday, bringing a close to the 2016 outdoor track and field season for the men.
New Mexico’s women’s basketball program joined the men with a top-25 fan base in the nation. The NCAA announced on Friday morning that the women’s basketball program finished 11th in the nation with an average of 5,511 fans in 17 home games at WisePies Arena.
The New Mexico women’s track and field team is amidst a logjam with six teams tied for eighth place, thanks to Alice Wright. For the second year, the sophomore freshman has been rewarded with All-American honors after her 32 minute and 46.99 second time in the 10,000-meter was the second best in the nation.
Day one of the 2016 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships presented a freshman face competing in the finals in addition to two UNM careers coming to a close. Freshman Josh Kerr’s new personal record 3 minutes, 41.08 second time in the 1,500-meter run was good enough for fifth place on the day, giving him an automatic bid to compete on Friday for gold.
For half a century New Mexico fans have been amongst the elite in the nation to watch UNM men’s basketball. According to a release on Wednesday, UNM’s 13,030 fans in attendance per 16 home games ranked 23rd in the nation. It is the 50th consecutive year that the Lobos have cracked the top-25.
Add another accolade to the New Mexico baseball team’s season. Local product Andrew Pratt has earned Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American honors, according to the UNM baseball twitter account.
Though their postseason journey ended early, New Mexico was appointed two to the All-NCAA Lubbock Regional squad, announced by Texas Tech on Monday.
Shortly after the New Mexico men’s tennis season officially concluded, the team’s head coach announced it will also be the end of his coaching tenure. New Mexico’s Bart Van Leijsen and Hayden Sabatka started their quest for a national championship at the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
While awaiting her chance to race for gold this weekend, Courtney Frerichs has been recognized as the NCAA Division I Mountain Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association announced on Monday.
Within 24 hours two New Mexico head coaches stepped down from their respected positions. On Thursday, UNM announced that Bart Scott will no longer be the head coach of the men’s tennis program after just two seasons at the helm of the program. On Friday, Kunio Kono announced his resignation from the swimming and diving team after four years.
New Mexico had plenty of opportunities to continue its season in Sunday’s 5-3 loss to the Dallas Baptists on Sunday afternoon. However, the 13 runners left on base put an end to the UNM’s postseason dreams.
New Mexico will have to fight through the loser’s bracket if the club wants a chance to move to the super regionals for the first time in the program's history. Following sophomore right-hander Tyler Stevens’ gem, the Lobo bullpen squandered a 3-1 lead, putting UNM on the ropes following Saturday night’s 4-3 loss.
Make it 116 consecutive games the Lobos have won when leading after the eighth inning. New Mexico's starter Colton Thomson was cruising through five innings before the Patriots were able to finally get to UNM’s ace. Dallas Baptist exploded in the bottom of the sixth to bring them within shouting distance of the Lobos late in the ballgame.
A pair of Lobos have joined the All-American squad for their work in the classroom. Chris DeVito and relief pitcher Alex Estrella are two of three players in the Mountain West to receive the honor, Air Force’s Russell Williams received the nod as well.
The road to Omaha will feature some familiar faces for New Mexico in the regional tournament this weekend. On Monday, UNM was selected as the No. 3 seed in the Lubbock, Texas Regionals. Of the three opponents, New Mexico has faced off against two of the clubs in the double elimination tournament.
For the first time in two decades, the Lobos will open up the season on a Thursday night. Originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 3, UNM will now kick off its season against South Dakota on Sept. 1.
Sophomore Carl Stajduhar is running out of room for all the accolades rolling in from the 2016 campaign. New Mexico’s third baseman can now add All-American to his resume, following his first team all-conference, MW triple crown, and the Mountain West Player of the Year award.
New Mexico recruit Ethan Zubak has opted to forgo his college eligibility in order to pursue a professional career with the L.A. Galaxy. Zubak, a Los Angeles, California native, committed verbally to UNM as a junior in high school and signed his letter of intent in February of 2016. He will forgo his college eligibility to join the MLS.
The local vibes required many fans to stand along the third baseline if they had not arrived to any of the three New Mexico games during the Mountain West tournament. Head coach Ray Birmingham has turned the UNM program into a site of familiarity with all of the native faces up and down the Lobo lineup.
Solutions by The State News
