If anybody had told me three years ago that I would have concluded my career as a junior college baseball player after three years at Los Medanos College, I probably would’ve laughed or said you’re talking to the wrong guy.

I came to LMC in the fall of 2015 looking to get my general education out of the way, be with family and begin a new chapter of my life. To be honest, baseball was the last thing on my mind at the time. However, taking the opportunity to play baseball, and to play the game I love again was the best decision in my college career.

There is so much I want to say about being a junior college athlete — and thank everyone who helped me along the way, share the memories and relive every moment — but I don’t have the space to do so. However, I can give you a glimpse of what it’s been like as an LMC athlete and having the chance to follow my dreams.

Our team’s motto — Loyalty, Merit, Champion — is a phrase our Coach Anthony D’Albora says represents the growth of each player as a student, an athlete and human being. It’s a motto I tried to base my time at LMC around. I strived to get good grades, and to keep following my dreams.

     Through the three years I have been at Los Medanos College, there have been some ups and there have been some downs. As a college student, the ups and downs are what we as students deal with on a daily basis. We have to enjoy the good times and continue to work through the stressful times. Playing baseball gave me a structure to work through every situation college threw at me, and I had people willing to help in the classroom and on the field.

   Now I am transferring to Benedictine University of Mesa on an academic and athletic scholarship, so the dream of playing professional baseball and getting a degree has never felt so close to being achieved. I learned from D’Albora how to keep working for success and to never let my guard down, because it’s easy for someone to take a role away and take everything one person has worked for. D’Albora also taught me to not get content with your work. It’s those lessons that help me believe this dream is possible, and if it wasn’t for the coaches and the teammates I now call brothers, I’m sure my life would be different.

This spring was the best baseball season I have ever been a part of. The players are a great group, all chasing after one goal and all coming together as a family. And yes, we didn’t reach our team goal or end the season the way we wanted to, but the memories we created are what made the experience great and helped close my career at LMC on a high note.

    There was a point during my second year when I was going through a rough patch mentally, and if it weren’t for the team, I’d probably still be in the hole I was in a year ago. It goes to show what kind of an impact a sport can have on an individual — it can be baseball, or it can be any sport, but when you have a family of teammates it can help you get through the tough times and cherish the great times.

     So, if you’re an incoming student or a current student, don’t think twice about being a part of a college sports team. And if you’re already on a college sports team, enjoy your time with teammates, create unforgettable memories and most of all have fun.