2003 Baseball Roster

Spring 2003 Season
	Ryan McKeller 6-5 220 lbs. RHP -Drafted by the Astros out of high school, McKeller transfers from McClennan Community College after struggling to throw strikes. With an adjustment in style, McKeller leaves the fall throwing 94 mph and lots of strikes. McKeller has big time written all over him. He is a sophomore.
	Buzz Vargas 6-6 215 lbs. RHP -Drafted by the Atlanta Braves, Vargas sat most of the fall with arm problems, but he has healed and has touched 90 mph with a plus curveball. He could be signed professionally by June. He is a freshman.
	Mitch Goins 6-3 225 lbs. RHP - Probably the best athlete on the field, Goins could pitch and play outfield. He has thrown 92 mph in the fall. Goins is a big-time player as a freshman.
	Kevin Smith 6-6 220 lbs. RHP - Kevin came to NMJC as a first baseman with a good arm. Now he is a submarine pitcher with tremendous potential. Smith pitched well in the fall after learning the submarine style and could become a top college and pro recruit after a year of pitching in the WJCAC. A freshman from Alamogordo, New Mexico, Smith will also hit.
	Drew Jackson 6-1 209 lbs. LHP-1B - Drew comes to NMJC from baseball heaven, Farmington, New Mexico. Drew played in the Connie Mack World Series. He will pitch for NMJC and hit. Drew has touched 88 mph in the fall and has hit for some good power. He could be a draft pick by June.
	Patrick McKeller 6-3 190 lbs. RHP - Patrick came to NMJC as a walk-on with cousin Ryan, but his strong arm has put him on the mound with a side arm delivery. Patrick was unhittable by fall's end and will see much time in relief. A freshman from Nome, Texas, Patrick will eventually move to the outfield by his sophomore year.
	Adam Fry 6-4 210 lbs. RHP - Adam comes from Mansfield High School in the Dallas area where he played first base and pitched. Adam pitched well for the Thunderbirds last spring and looks to be an important part of the mound core this year.
	Justin Ard 6-4 190 lbs. RHP - Justin comes to NMJC as a transfer from Tyler Community College where he was drafted by the Astros as an outfielder with a big league arm. He will play some outfield, but has touched 91 on the mound for NMJC. Ard will see some time on the mound also. Ard is a sophomore from Seabrook, Texas.
	Ryan Mulle 6-2 210 RHP - Right-handed pitcher with a good breaking ball. Mulle comes to NMJC from the greater Houston area where he was all-district. Mulle must improve on his command and fastball to break the rotation, but shows much promise.
	Robbie Cours 6-2 185 lbs. RHP - Robbie is from Freeport, Texas and has sat out of baseball for two years. Robbie was a walk-on in the fall but has developed the fastball to 88 mph and will eventually pitch for NMJC.
	Ricky Batten 6-0 190 lbs. Catcher - Ricky comes from Mansfield High School and has shown the best throwing arm in Texas JUCO baseball. After the fall Texas-NM All-Star game, Batten was approached by the majority of Big 12 teams because of his throwing. However, Batten can hit and receive well and will be a major part of the winning tradition at NMJC this spring.
	Luis Cruz 5-11 195 lbs. Catcher - Luis come to NMJC from Puerto Rico's top baseball school. A switch hitting catcher, Cruz shows much potential and could be a pro pick after some adjustments at the JUCO level.
	Luis Rodriguez 5-11 170 lbs. Shortstop - Luis is a slick fielding, 90 mph arm, playing shortshop. Rodriguez runs a 6.7 60-yd dash and is definitely a pro prospect. With him and Dejesus up the middle, NMJC will have the best double play combination in JUCO baseball. A freshman from Puerto Rico, Rodriguez' ability moved Dejesus back to second.
	Luis Dejesus 5-9 160 lbs. Second base - Luis is the best second baseman in NMJC history with a tremendous arm (90 mph), good glove, 6.6 60-yd speed and great hitting ability. Dejesus was All-Conference and Texas All-Star. He was drafted by the Mariners and the Indians in the last two drafts. There is All -American potential in this young man.
	Vicen Fantauzzi 5-11 160 lbs. Infielder - Vicen has the ability to backup three infield positions defensively. Defensively he is as good as the starters but lacks the ability to hit well, so far. He has shown hitting improvement in the fall.
	John Henry Marquardt 5-9 160 lbs. 3B - New Mexico high schools' best shortshop in 2002, John Henry was moved to third half way through the fall to provide NMJC with the best infield in JUCO baseball. A great defensive player, Marquardt can also switch-hit and run well. Marquardt will move to shorstop by his sophomore season in anticipation of Rodriquez' draft. All colleges look to have three great shortstops in the infield and NMJC has just that. An Alamogordo native, John Henry's dad was an All-American outfielder at South Carolina University.
	Mario Gallizi 5-9 230 lbs. DH - Built like a baby bull, Mario Gallizi is capable of being the country's top power hitter. His new-found ability to hit the ball deep to the opposite field has provided Gallizi with more confidence. A redshirt firstbase behind Brian Bowe last year, Gallizi is important to the Thunderbirds' hitting.
	Grant Alexander 6-0 220 lbs. 1B - Grant comes to NMJC as a transfer from the Naval Academy. Grant was an All-Metroplex athlete in Dallas H.S. in 2000. Grant has a plus arm and great glove. However, Grant can hit and hit for power and average. Grant will hit in the three or four hole for NMJC. A linebacker in high school, Grant could be a draft choice by June.
	Ryan Johnson 5-9 185 lbs. CF - From Flowermound Marquis High School in Dallas, Ryan is the new NMJC centerfielder where tradition is strong. NMJC has had a 6-year string of oustanding centerfielders, and Ryan is up to the call. A .400 hitter last year, Ryan is being recruited by Division One schools across the country. Ryan will hit in the one or two hole for NMJC.
	Kevin Noles 6-2 210 lbs. LF - Noles was a third-baseman in high school at Levelland High School but has used great speed for a big man to move to the outfield. Kevin has the potential to be awesome with raw power, 6.7 60-yd speed and a good arm. NMJC needs Noles to produce to his ability in the spring.
	Josh Bowen 5-11 175 lbs. RF - Bowen was one of the top hitters in Houston last year as a senior. He played third base for his high school team but has moved to the outfield for the spring. Bowen has the ability to hit with anyone in the country and has adjusted to outfield play. Bowen could be NMJC's top hitter this next year as a freshman.
	Adam Baranj 6-0 185 lbs. RF - A walk-on from Vancouver, Canada, Adam bats left and has learned how to hit. A smooth outfielder, Adam will see much time in the outfield depending upon his bat which showed much improvement in the fall.
	Matt Croker 6-1 190 lbs. LF - Matt is another outstanding athlete with raw baseball ability. He has shown he can hit, hit for power, run, and throw. If Matt continues to imporve, he will eventually be a draft pick and have a chance to play pro baseball. A walk-on from Alamogordo, New Mexico, Matt is a strong, chiseled athlete with a bright future in baseball.
	Dane Griffin 6-2 180 lbs. CF - Grand Junction, Colorado, walk-on. Dane Griffin has a chance to be a good college baseball player. Griffin has shown good defense, but the bat has been inconsistent. He has the ability to hit and hit for power once he learns the correct swing.
	Gilberto Garcia 6-0 180 lbs. OF - A solid left-handed hitting outfielder from Puerto Rico, Garcia transfers to NMJC from Miami Dade College in Florida. Garcia provides solid defense and a chance to be a very good left-handed hitter after a semester in the NMJC baseball program.
	Ryan Corn 5-11 180 lbs. Catcher - Corn is a walk-on from Perry, Oklahoma and has shown the ability to catch and throw, and hit a little. Corn will continue to work to improve so that college baseball is a strong possibility on the next level.
	Mark Pederson 5-11 210 lbs. RHP - Mark is a plus for NMJC. Mark transfers from North Central College and Duncanville High School, Texas. Mark has a great slider and 90 mph potential. If his arm recovers from surgery completely, Mark will be a big pitcher for NMJC and may see the draft.