Steers Open Baseball Season With Young Team, New Coach

By Nicky Romero
For the Mountain Mail

Magdalena baseball coach Manuel Martinez is preparing the team for his inaugural season. He understands the commitment and discipline it takes to make a winning team. Martinez played on the Steers' baseball team in the late 80's and helped win a state championship in 1990 and took third place in 1991.
“Basically, we have to start the season teaching the kids the fundamentals of baseball,” Martinez said. “Going back to the basics, being that they haven't played in the past. But I'm looking forward to a positive season.”
The Steers' district competition this year will be East Mountain, Estancia, and Santa Rosa, who are all 2A teams. “We have a tough district,” he said.
Martinez talked about his starting lineup.
“Ryan Alguire, a returning starter and senior, is a kid who can play pretty much play any position on the field. But we're going to concentrate on him being our catcher this year and one of our pitchers. Another starter from last year is Bryce Milligan. He will be our pitcher.
“We have an eighth grader starting as our third baseman, Malachi Bain. We have a freshman starting at shortstop, Filimon Padilla and a freshman. At second base, we have Rico Romero, a senior and a returning starter. The first baseman is freshman Dylan Julian.”
“The left fielder is Estevan Pino. The first year he's ever played and he's a junior. Center fielder is sophomore Daniel Hand, a good all-around athlete. The first time he's ever played baseball, but he's picking up the game pretty good. Our right fielder is senior Robbie Zamora and also the first time he's played baseball.”
“Helping Milligan and Alguirre in pitching, will be Dylan Julian, who will bring a southpaw presence to the team. We also have Isaac Pino, Malachi Bain, and Daniel Hand.”
“So far, all of these kids are giving me 100 percent, they're doing a good job, and I'm proud of all of these kids. Everybody's excited about the new season, especially me.”
Martinez picked up his first career win on Saturday, March 27. The Steers traveled to Socorro to play their JV team and won 8-7 in the first game and lost the second game 7-6.
Magdalena will again play a double-header against the Socorro JV on April 1.

Steers Open Baseball Season With Young Team, New Coach