RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros baseball program is set to host its annual Orange and Gray World Series on Nov. 12 and 13 at 6:30 p.m. at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
 
Both games are open to the public and admission is free.
 
Team Orange
 
The Vaqueros will split into two teams for the Orange and Gray World Series. Team Orange will be headlined by the reigning two-time Southland Conference Player of the Year Armani Raygoza at first base. Joining him in the infield are returning junior and Sharyland Pioneer alum Andy Chapa, Louisiana Tech transfer Nathan Houston, and Frontier CC transfer Gael Salinas.
 
Chapa has been a star throughout fall camp, earning the leadoff spot for Orange within the first couple of weeks. In that first week, Chapa posted eight hits throughout live at-bats and continued to find comfort at the plate.
 
Fans will get to see a brand-new outfield for Orange as senior McNeese transfer DJ Pinkerton is expected to get the start in center field. Meanwhile, standout sophomore Odessa College transfer Mateo Garcia and freshman La Joya alum Matthew Ortiz will play in the corners.
 
Ortiz has impressed on both sides of the ball throughout fall camp, showcasing his arm strength in right field while also connecting on a 380-foot opposite-field, two-run home run during a previous scrimmage.
 
Orange will feature two transfer catchers in sophomore Odessa College transfer and PSJA alum Jacob Delgadillo and junior Santa Ana College transfer Carlos Morales.
 
Returning fifth year Calen Graham is expected to get the nod for Orange on Thursday. Graham has yet to appear in any games for the Vaqueros but has shined throughout fall camp, pitching a perfect two innings on only 18 pitches in a previous scrimmage.
 
On Friday, fans will get their first look at Orange starter, sophomore Alvin Community College transfer Cole Fenton. At Alvin, Fenton made 15 starts, averaging more than five innings per outing while recording seven complete games.
 
Serving as Team Orange's manager for the series is Jon Barrera. Barrera pitched one season at Texas Tech before spending time at Cisco College then UTRGV.
 
"I'm excited to see the pitchers more than anything," Barrera said. "I'm excited to see how these guys do against the hitters, especially with the crowd and uniforms on. It will be a different mentality, so we will get to see how they handle that."
 
Team Gray
 
Fans will see some familiar faces scattered throughout the Gray lineup as the returning first-team All-SLC and All-Defensive Team selection Rocco Garza Gongora will lead the offense from center field. Joining him is fellow first-team All-SLC designated hitter and PSJA alum Julius Ramirez and two-time All-SLC honoree Easton Moomau.
 
Gray will have a trio of graduate students in the lineup with a combined 223 collegiate baseball games played in Edinburg Vela alum Rudy Gonzalez, Angelo State transfer Christopher Bernal, and St. Edward's transfer Nico Ruedas.
 
The final two position players for Gray are brothers of former Vaqueros. Junior infielder Nate Williams, brother of Thomas Williams ('26), transferred in from Santa Ana College. The junior has also made his presence felt offensively during fall camp, recording an RBI double and an RBI single in a previous scrimmage to help Gray build an early 6–2 lead.
 
Meanwhile, freshman Cutter Warren will play in the outfield, similar to his brother Hank Warren ('26), who won the Jody Ramsey Memorial Award last season.
 
Returning junior Harrison Thayer is expected to start on Thursday for Gray.
 
Thayer entered fall camp with 111 innings of work as a Vaquero and spent time with the Orleans Firebirds in the Cape Cod League this summer. This fall, Thayer has led a pitching staff that posted a combined 1.50 ERA through the first half of fall camp, which included two scoreless innings pitched in a previous scrimmage.
 
On Friday, fans will get to see returning junior Mason Engel on the mound. Engel started eight games last season with four scoreless appearances including a four-inning shutout against SLC Tournament Champion Lamar.
 
Leading Gray through the series is Luis Trevino. Trevino spent three years at Abilene Christian from 2017-19 and earned SLC Player of the Year honors in 2019. Trevino was then drafted in the 40^th round by the Tampa Bay Rays and spent some time with the Hudson Valley Renegades (Short-Season A), Charleston RiverDogs (Single-A), Bowling Green Hot Rods (High-A), and Durham Bulls (Triple A).
 
"I mean, [Easton Moomau, Julius Ramirez, and Rocco Garza Gongora] are old, so they're going to bring some real experience and leadership to our team," Trevino said. "They're going to be talking to the guys as well, and I think all three of them are going to be a big piece for us in the next two games."