For the 2024 Texas-New Mexico Junior College All-Star Game, Coastal Bend College will send Sophomore Infielders, Harold Laracuente and Derek Ruiz. Both will head to Dallas Baptist University, the host of the TX-NM All-Star game, on September 21st. The Texas-New Mexico Junior College All-Star game brings some of the best talented baseball players from Texas and New Mexico to compete throughout the weekend. Not only is it an opportunity to play against great competition, but also for these players to gain exposure in front of some of the top NCAA Division 1 schools in the country.
Laracuente and Ruiz both will be representing Coastal Bend this weekend for the TX-NM All-Star game. Both players were leaders as Freshmen for the 2024 spring season, leading in many offensive categories for the Cougars. Laracuente, a Middle Infielder and Outfielder, led the Cougars in Batting Average with a 0.336, Hits with 50, Home Runs with four, and RBIs with 30. Laracuente stepped in immediately to provide high quality play that the Cougars lineup needed.
Ruiz, a first baseman, was not far behind Laracuente in stats during the 2024 season. Ruiz finished with a 0.327 Batting Average, 33 Hits, three Home Runs, and 27 RBIs. Ruiz provided a steady level of play at 1B and was a leader in the lineup, despite being a freshman.
Both players coming in for Head Coach Ryan Benitez, who was in his first season at the helm of the Cougars program in the spring, saw something special from both these young men and their achievement to be invited to the TX-NM All-Star game.
"I am very proud of Harold and Derek for this achievement. Being able to represent themselves and the Coastal Bend College program is a huge honor. With the 2024 season being my first year as the head coach, this makes Harold and Derek my first group of All-Stars. As much as it is a special moment for these two young men, it is also a special moment for me as their coach. I can't wait to see what the future holds for these two young men.