RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The Vaqueros baseball team took the field for the first time on a cool day with an opportunity to get warm and back into the groove of practice at UTRGV Baseball Stadium Tuesday, exactly one month prior to the season opener, set for Feb. 13 against Kansas.
 
"I was very pleased with the first day of practice and with the team," head coach Derek Matlock said. "Our expectations for these guys are high, but it was a great first day. It was a beautiful day, and the guys got after it. I thought they played hard and there were a lot of great things to watch. But we got a long way to go. Got a month, and we got a hard schedule, so we have to be prepared and get going."
 
After a brief meeting by first base, the Vaqueros warmed up, stretched, reported to their positions, and began practice with the fundamentals of bunting and fielding.
 
The Vaqueros went through a structured, high-tempo practice focused on fundamentals and defensive precision. The session opened with bunting drills split between the plate and second base, followed by warm-up tosses and long toss along right field. Players and staff then transitioned quickly into full workout mode, setting up equipment and machines as practice shifted into position-specific work.
 
Infielders gathered briefly near first base for a team huddle before taking their defensive spots to work ground balls to first. Catchers split off near the visiting dugout to focus on blocking, later progressing to framing drills, receiving pitches from the machine, and throwing out runners.
 
Outfielders ran fielding drills in center field, while pitchers divided time between bullpen work and instruction near the home dugout. The practice transitioned with middle infielders refining tags at second base using the pitching machine, emphasizing game-speed execution across all units.
 
Practice later transitioned into live game situations, emphasizing communication and situational awareness. Assistant coach Taylor Steen drove balls into the left field corner as outfielders executed reads and throws to the cutoff man, with infielders vocally directing traffic—calls of "THREE, THREE, THREE" sending throws to third base. Pitchers simultaneously simulated deliveries, reacting to each play by breaking toward the appropriate base or backup position based on the call. The drill also featured throws to the plate, allowing catchers to work on receiving outfield throws in run-prevention scenarios. The sequence rotated across the outfield, shifting from left to center to right field, reinforcing consistent execution, communication, and defensive responsibility across all positions.
 
Following outfield work, the focus shifted back to the infield with run-prevention drills at the plate. Infielders practiced throwing home in simulated runner-at-third situations, reinforcing timing and accuracy under pressure. Double-play work followed, with first basemen initiating multiple turns including 3-6-3, 4-6-3, and 6-4-3 combinations. Third basemen were challenged with deep ground balls near the grass line, making strong throws across the diamond, before transitioning to slow rollers that tested footwork and arm strength.
 
The team then moved into live baserunning scenarios. Catchers worked on controlling the running game by firing to second base to prevent steals, while also mixing in pickoff attempts at third by throwing behind aggressive runners. Pitchers rotated on the mound delivering live pitches, reacting to pump fakes and defensive calls, as catchers chased runners back to the bag.
 
The session concluded with live batting practice, featuring full-speed shagging and infield defense. Ground balls were fielded and thrown to first with a baserunner in motion on contact, simulating true game tempo and reinforcing execution in live-action situations.
 
The Vaqueros operated with rhythm and confidence as this team was together and working hard throughout the fall as well. The culture around the team is tight knit and the players are working hard for the new season.
 
"It was up to the players, and we all put it upon ourselves, and we got here a week early, just to get our feet under us, get used to the field, and get used to hitting on the field again," junior Armani Raygoza said. "It wasn't a shocker because everybody takes accountability for the things they do and everybody came back prepared."

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