RIO GRANDE VALLEY – For the first time under head coach Derek Matlock, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros baseball team spent the entirety of fall camp divided into Team Orange and Team Gray, inspiring competitiveness, buy-in, and a sense of urgency from the opening week.
 
In that first week, junior Andy Chapa was among the first to make an impression, taking advantage of the increased opportunity by leading the team in hitting with eight hits during live at-bats.
 
Chapa continued to shine throughout the fall finishing with a team-high 19 hits, earning the leadoff spot and starting at shortstop for Team Orange in the annual Orange & Gray Intrasquad World Series. In that first game, Chapa showcased his presence at the plate, going 2-for-3 with one RBI.
 
Among the newcomers making an immediate impact were sophomore Odessa College transfers Jacob Delgadillo and Mateo Garcia. The pair shined at Odessa College last season, leading the Wranglers to a 38-17 record and an NJCAA Div. I Super Regional appearance.
 
Both Delgadillo and Garcia earned All-Western Junior College Athletic Conference honors as freshmen last season. In 53 games played last season, Garcia led the Wranglers in hits (80) with 40 extra-base hits. Meanwhile, Delgadillo brought home 50 runners and hit 15 home runs while also maintaining a .365 batting average.
 
The pair carried that success into fall camp, as Garcia emerged as one of the Vaqueros' most consistent offensive threats, showcasing his ability to hit for average and power. Delgadillo also made his presence felt in the batter's box, driving in runs and demonstrating patience at the plate, while serving as Team Orange's primary catcher throughout the fall.
 
While the newcomers made their presence felt, the Vaqueros also received consistent production from El Paso natives graduate student Armani Raygoza, the reigning two-time Southland Conference (SLC) Player of the Year, and senior Easton Moomau, a two-time All-SLC selection.
 
Raygoza, the program's career home run leader, is coming off his second consecutive 17-home run season. He continued to showcase his power throughout fall camp, leading the Vaqueros in home runs and going deep in both games of the Orange & Gray World Series.
 
Meanwhile, Moomau, who is approaching the program's top 10 in several career statistical categories, continued to demonstrate patience at the plate while showing flashes of increased power throughout fall camp.
 
Alongside their production on the field, the two experienced returners led their respective teams as captains of the Orange and Gray through fall camp.
 
On the mound, the Vaqueros saw contributions from a combination of experienced returners and newcomers throughout the extended intrasquad competition.
 
Fifth year returning pitchers Calen Graham and JC Gutierrez both led the Vaqueros with 14 innings pitched. Graham, a consistent game one starter for Orange this season, ended the fall with 14 strikeouts and only five walks allowed. In at least two separate innings, Graham tossed a perfect inning with less than 10 pitches thrown, showcasing his ability to throw strikes and induce soft contact from the batter's box.
 
Meanwhile, Gutierrez emerged as one of the Vaqueros' most effective pitchers throughout fall camp, often limiting baserunners through strong command of the strike zone. The lefty strike-thrower recorded 17 strikeouts throughout fall camp and issued just four walks, the best strikeout-to-walk ratio for pitchers with at least 10 innings pitched.
 
Gutierrez, the La Joya alum, showcased his ability in the Orange & Gray World Series, pitching a perfect 2.0 innings with four strikeouts in relief, earning the win for Orange in game one.
 
Among the newcomers that stood out on the mound were sophomore Alvin Community College transfer Cole Fenton and graduate student West Texas A&M transfer Davis Luikart.
 
Across eight innings of work this fall, Fenton recorded eight strikeouts and issued just three walks. Fenton earned the start for Orange in game two, setting the tone for a perfect-game bid that lasted into the sixth and final inning. He struck out four batters across two perfect innings, including a nine-pitch first inning and three strikeouts in the second.
 
Luikart also impressed throughout fall camp, showcasing strong command of the strike zone while limiting opposing hitters to just one walk and striking out five batters in nine innings. In game two of the Orange & Gray World Series, Luikart entered in the sixth inning and recorded two strikeouts while allowing Gray's lone hit, a hard comebacker that deflected off his leg and rolled through the right side of the infield.
 
A successful, yet divided fall leaves only one question for the coaching staff: What happens when everyone is playing for the same team?
 
"We had a really great fall," Matlock said. "We talk about this guy and that guy and how they are doing for Orange or Gray. I just can't wait until we see them all together, playing for the same team and the same goal."
 
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