Baseball News

Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - New Mexico State baseball head coach Rocky Ward announced, Monday, July 28 that he has signed three players from around the state that have the opportunity to make an immediate impact on the team.

Tomas Gutierrez joins the Aggies next season and is from Albuquerque, while Justin Cooper heads to Las Cruces from Roswell, N.M. where he played for Goddard High School and Jonathan Rodriguez, who hails from Carlsbad, N.M. joins both Gutierrez and Cooper in 2009.

"We have worked hard past two or three years to look for best talent New Mexico has to offer, and last year that showed with the signing of Scott Kauffman and James Lilly, although both sustained an injury," Ward said. "These three student-athletes all have the opportunity to make an immediate impact on the team."

Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State University Athletics Director Dr. McKinley Boston announced Tuesday, June 17 that head baseball coach Rocky Ward has agreed to a three-year contract extension.

Boston felt that Ward has improved his team both on and off the field, which is why he has given Ward the extension that will take his contract through the 2011 season.

"The primary reason is the outstanding work Rocky (Ward) has done over the past three years improving the academic culture of the baseball program," Dr. Boston said. "He and his colleagues have worked hard toward an acceptable APR level."

The Aggie baseball team has made great improvements in the Academic Progress Report since 2004. The team has had a steady rise in its APR level from .792 in 2003-04, to .849 in 2004-05, to .859 in 2005-06 and finally reaching a .882 level in 2006-07. The goal NMSU would like its teams to be at is .925.

Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.

LUBBOCK, TX - The College Baseball Foundation announced New Mexico State assistant baseball coach Gary Ward was named to the 2008 class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Class, Wednesday, March 05.

Ward joins such names as Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson, infielder, Pasadena Junior College and UCLA; Steve Arlin, pitcher Ohio State; Eddie Bane, pitcher, Arizona State.

"The first feeling I have with this is total humility," Ward said. "You receive an honor like this at it really humbles a person, and of course I am honored for this."

Ward came out of retirement to coach at his alma mater, New Mexico State, and led the Aggies to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship and an NCAA tournament appearance in 2002. He is currently the hitting coach for his son, Rocky Ward.

Written by: Teddy Feinberg/Sun-News Reporter

Also See: bleedCrimson.net Weekly Coach Ward Interview :: 02/20/08

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - For New Mexico State baseball coach Rocky Ward, opening day never gets old.

"It's always great," Ward said. "Especially this year. Guys are antsy to get out there and play ball."

The wait is over, as the Aggies will take Presley Askew Field Friday against The University of New Orleans. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

The college baseball season was pushed back three weeks this year in order to accommodate teams playing in the northeast sector of the United States who would have been competing in sub-freezing temperatures.

The result is a condensed schedule, which will see clubs play the same amount of regular-season games in a shorter period of time. Ward said that will cause him to monitor his players closely as the season unfolds.

Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Senior baseball player Joseph Scaperotta was named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Watch list that was released by the College Baseball Foundation, Friday, Dec. 7.

Scaperotta (San Diego, Calif.), one of four players on the list out of the Western Athletic Conference, led the Aggies in batting average (.341) doubles (19), triples (3), home runs (10) and slugging percentage (.594) in 2007. He helped the team win 22 games last season and was a defensive leader as he played centerfield.

The Wallace Award is presented to the nation’s top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s annual induction ceremonies. The 2008 award banquet will be held Thursday, July 3, in the United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech University.

Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - New Mexico State head baseball coach Rocky Ward announced the rest of his early signing class which includes 17 players from around the country.

Including Justin Cooper, a New Mexico native who was signed on the very first day of the early signing period, a total of 17 players signed National Letters of Intent to attend school and play baseball at NMSU.

"It's probably the best recruiting class we've had in a long time and it's definitely the largest," Ward said. "It was really a full staff effort and assistant coaches Chase Tidwell and Gary Ward did an excellent job. It's a good young class and should add some depth."

Written by: NMSU Athletic Dept.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The New Mexico State baseball team announced that they have signed one player on the first day of the early signing period Wednesday, Nov. 14.

Justin Cooper (Roswell, N.M.) signed a national letter of intent to play and attend school for the Aggies, Nov. 14. Head coach Rocky Ward was very excited to bring this New Mexico player into his program and is excited to see what he can do for his team.

"We are very happy that Justin signed with us and know what he is capable of," Ward said. "He comes from a very good program in Roswell and we know that he’s ready to go when he shows up here at NMSU."

Cooper, a right-hander with an 88-90 mph fastball is an all-around player who can also play some short stop and hit the ball well. Coach Ward and his staff noticed Cooper in some of the camps the team puts on and realized what a talent he is and the kind of player they would be able to bring in.