Javelinas from all over
A lot of sports at Texas A&M- Kingsville (TAMUK) have recruits from all over the United States. The recruiters from each sport look in the hot spots of athletes to build their roster around. For example ,in Texas the hotspots include the big cities like Houston, Austin and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. But sometimes the recruiting hand can reach further out and reach outside of Texas and the United States.
This is a prime example of what is going on with the TAMUK baseball program.
The coaching staff currently has two international recruits, Ivan Duarte, a senior from Chihuahua, Mexico, and Colton Taylor from Amherstburg, Canada.
Both of these players are not only international recruits but also starters from last year’s baseball team that was one win away from making it to the Super Regional for the NCAA College Baseball Playoffs.
Being far away from home is not an easy situation to be in. Missing family and friends back home weighs on them constantly, but making new friends in Kingsville and getting used to the area helps them create a home away from home.
Duarte is not completely foreign to the United States nor Texas. He played two years at El Paso Community College in El Paso, Texas. Duarte had to learn English his whole first year. “My first year there was only English classes. I was redshirted because of that,” Duarte said.
He then talked about how it was very difficult to be without baseball the game he loved and not know how to talk to anyone.
“At the beginning it was really hard, to be honest the hardest time of my life. The language barrier was hard to overcome, it took me a couple of years to get confident,” Duarte said.
Taylor on the other hand has been in Texas his whole college career. He first started off at Frank Phillips College his first three years.
“My favorite part about living in the States and especially down south here in Kingsville is the weather because it is so much warmer and also the culture change and the people,” Taylor said. “I have made a ton of really good friends, some that I even consider family. I couldn’t imagine staying home these past four plus years and never meeting them or making those connections.”
Now with the holidays coming up these two individuals want to go home and see their families. But, it’s not that easy. Taylor can’t just drive up to Canada and back in a couple of days. He has to fly from Corpus Christi all the way to Canada to see his family.
“It is great to see family and friends when I am home. They know I am living my dream and I am always eager to get back to Texas, where I think I belong,” Taylor said.
Duarte on the other hand being from Mexico makes the trip in his car to go back and see his family.
“And for the holidays I drive back home – 11 hours,” he said. “I leave at 5 a.m. to get there not so late, and during school I can’t wait to go back home.”
Both players being away from home is a sacrifice, but both agree that it is a sacrifice they are willing to make for the love of the game.
Duarte and Taylor hope to lead the Javelinas back to the post season this year and try to reach the College World Series.