Dec. 8, 2006
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Lobo baseball staff announced the signing of 15 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent. Four of the signees are New Mexico natives, in Richard Bohlken (La Cueva HS) and Jeffery Lucero (Valley HS) of Albuquerque, Matt Moore from Moriarty (Moriarty HS) and Kevin Chavez of Santa Fe (St. Michael’s HS).
“We’re very excited about every player we have signed,” head coach Rich Alday said. “We are continually working on making this program stronger and the guys we have recruited will fill the holes and make us better.”
ERIC BAALMAN
Right-handed Pitcher
Dakota Ridge HS – Colorado
Exceptional curve ball…throws 88-90 MPH…went 6-2 with a 3.49 ERA, 42 innings, 51 strikeouts and 23 walks in the spring…was 9-1 with a 1.25 ERA in 64 innings with 74 strikeouts last summer…played on the Colorado Rockies scout team…4.0 GPA.
RICHARD BOHLKEN
Infielder
La Cueva HS – New Mexico
Multi-talented athlete, lettering in baseball and football…named to the New Mexico all-state team as a junior…won two state baseball championships with La Cueva…hit .471 with 47 runs scored, 44 RBI, 10 doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 10 stolen bases as a junior…hit .347 with 31 runs, 28 RBI, 10 doubles, five homers, 13 walks and five stolen bases in summer ball…rushed for over 1,000 yards his senior year on the football field.
MIKE BROWNSTEIN
Infielder
Pima JC – Arizona
Talented middle infielder who started as a freshman at Cal Poly…transferred to Pima JC last year and will play for the Aztecs this season…solid hitter and good student…ran the 60-yard dash in 6.7 seconds in the fall.
KEVIN CHAVEZ
Right-handed Pitcher
St. Michaels – New Mexico
New Mexico all-state selection…guided his team to the state championship game last season…is slated to play as a quarterback for the Lobo football team.
CLINTON COX
Right-handed Pitcher
Vernon JC – Texas
Posted a 4.42 ERA, going 5-2 with five saves as a freshman…could be used as a starter or out of the bullpen…made the President’s honor roll both semesters as a freshman.
RAMON DELGADO
Right-handed Pitcher
Pima JC – Arizona
Went 6-4 with a 2.43 ERA last season, leading his team in wins, ERA and strikeouts…teamed to produce the lowest staff ERA in the ACCAC…named to the all-conference team…played in the Arizona Junior College all-star game.
EVAN FOREMAN
Left-handed Pitcher
Horizon HS – Arizona
Talented athlete who guided his team to the state championship game in 2006…has the potential to see a lot of innings as a freshman at UNM.
DANIEL GRUBBS
Right-handed Pitcher
Western Nevada JC – Nevada
Produced a 3-0 record, 1.48 ERA, two saves, 34 strikeouts and just nine walks in 30.1 innings…guided his team to a 38-17 season and a conference championship…named the team’s most improved player…has an outstanding slider… throws 84-87 MPH…excelled in the classroom both semesters last year, posting a 3.8 GPA.
WILLIE KESSLER
Right-handed Pitcher
Lamar JC – Colorado
Threw 55.2 innings for a 3.23 ERA…had 10 starts and struck out 46…named to the all-conference team as a freshman…slated to be the staff ace this season…has a good off-speed pitch…throws 88-91 MPH…two-time all-conference player out of Northglenn HS in Colorado…played in the Colorado Rockies top-40 senior game.
JEFFERY LUCERO
Right-handed Pitcher
Valley HS – New Mexico
Recorded a 1.55 ERA with nine strikeouts and no walks in 9 innings…hit .508 with 10 doubles, one triple, eight home runs and 42 RBIs…has a live arm with a fastball ranking from 88-90 MPH…good student academically.
ANTHONY MARTINEZ
Out fielder
El Paso CC – Texas
Hit .355 with 55 runs, 59 hits, 37 RBI and 14 stolen bases in 56 games last season…led the team in doubles (18), triples (8) and hit by pitches (19)…posted a .956 fielding percentage with six assists and a team-high 113 putouts among outfielders…named to the all-conference first team as a freshman and played in the Texas Junior College all-star game…made the Dean’s List with a 3.4 GPA.
MATT MOORE
Left-handed Pitcher
Moriarty HS – New Mexico
Multi-talented and high-profile athlete, lettering in baseball, basketball and golf…as a junior, named to the all-state first team as a designated hitter, all-state second team as a pitcher, all-district first team as a pitcher and first baseman, all-metro first team as a DH and all-metro third team as a pitcher…honored on the all-district second team as a pitcher and a first baseman as a sophomore…hit .452 with 38 hits, four homers and 31 RBI in 84 at bats as a junior…was 5-1 with a 3.65 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 38 innings last season…has been clocked between 87-90 MPH…holds a 3.2 GPA…could be drafted in the MLB draft in June…older brother, Bobby, is a sophomore left-handed pitcher for the Lobos.
RAFAEL NEDA
Catcher
Amphi HS – Arizona
Arizona Republic all-state second team honoree last year…named to the All-Kino region first team in 2006…hit .439 with 32 runs, 15 doubles, four triples and 35 RBI in 114 at bats as a junior…drew 17 walks and struck out only eight times in 2006…was 11-for-13 on stolen bases last year…went 4-for-4 in the state championship game…excellent athlete who can hit for average and will hit for power as he matures.
ANDREW SCHUGEL
Infielder
Mountain Vista HS – Colorado
Very good offensive player who will develop into a power hitter with some added size…hit .352 with 20 runs, 16 RBI, 14 walks and four stolen bases in 21 games last season…in summer ball hit .372 with 17 doubles, six home runs and 38 RBI…played on the Colorado Rockies scout team in the fall…dad is a major league scout with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
JAMES WALLACE
Right-handed Pitcher
College of Southern Idaho – Idaho
Has been selected in the MLB draft twice and is currently property of the Florida Marlins…posted a 2.35 ERA, making 15 appearances including two starts for 30.2 innings last season…earned three saves in 2006…struck out 46 and walked just 16 last year…boasts an exceptional slider…throws between 88-91 MPH.