'Simple Man': Cleveland's Vasquez commits to EAC Baseball

RIO RANCHO — “It’s always just been a dream of mine, as a kid, just grinding for this moment.”

Dreams became reality for Xavier “Jacob” Vasquez when the Cleveland High School baseball standout announced his commitment to play for Eastern Arizona College.

“The opportunity to be able to play at the next level, and the motivation from everyone else and from myself,” Vasquez said. “I think it’s just a great thing for me to do after high school.”

Vasquez is coming off quite the junior campaign. Cleveland’s left-handed pitcher was a second-team all-district selection in 5A-1, making 11 appearances for the Storm.

While the college recruitment process can often be tricky to navigate, Vasquez says it truly came down to two things: Being a southpaw with a big-game resume.

“I feel like I was kind of at an advantage, because being a left-handed pitcher, it’s more rare,” Vasquez said. “So, I already got the advantage of getting looked at by colleges. But also just pitching in big games, pitching in the state championship sophomore year, and going to pitch in different states during the summer.”

Vasquez’s work on the mound has landed him with the Gila Monsters of Eastern Arizona, a college program looking to get over the hump in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference, finishing this past season with a 27-26 record.

Vasquez has been playing baseball for as long as he can remember, and while his commitment is a big achievement, it is just another step in a continued journey on the diamond.

“I feel like it is definitely a milestone, because not everyone else gets this opportunity that I get to have, which I’m very grateful for,” Vasquez said. “But the easy part is over, and I’m looking to do bigger things for sure.”

Cleveland baseball is known for sending players to the collegiate level. Vasquez is the next name on a long list of college baseball-bound Storm, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have big plans for his final season in electric blue.

“We’re looking to go all the way, but we really have to just focus on the little things and just do stuff right that other schools aren’t,” Vasquez said. “It is the little things, like winning the district and having a good record overall, just getting to the end.”

Simplicity, little things, details. It is the vocal point of Vasquez’s baseball mindset, and according to the senior lefty, it may be the blueprint for finding a way to the next level.

“Just keep loving the game and keep grinding,” Vasquez bestowed as advice to younger players. “I mean, that’s all there’s really to it.”