Three Wranglers Named to TX/NM JUCO All-Star Games

Three Wrangler Baseball players will represent Odessa College this coming weekend at the Texas/New Mexico Junior College Coaches Association All-Star Games at Dallas Baptist University. Sophomore Infielder Daniel Monti along with Freshman Pitchers Brady Loving and Marshall Wales will join other players from across the Western Junior College Athletic Conference as they represent NJCAA Region 5 West.

The All-Star Weekend will feature four teams comprised of two NJCAA Regions from across Texas and New Mexico, two teams from Region 5 North and West and two teams from Region 14 South and East.

Players are selected to the games by the conference coaches based off of the previous season's accomplishments.

Monti, hit .329 last season for the Wranglers, knocking in 29 runs, with four homeruns and four triples on the season. The Arese, Italy native has a career batting average of .330 over the two years he has played at Odessa. Monti has a .915 fielding percentage and has played all three infield positions during his time as a Wrangler, the majority of them coming at shortstop.

Loving, posted a 5.87 ERA compiling 47 strikeouts last season on the mound for the Wranglers. The Magnolia, TX native appeared in 19 games for Odessa all of them coming out of the bullpen. "I am looking forward to getting to throw this weekend" said Loving. "It's pretty exciting, I worked really hard last season to put myself in a position to make the All-Star Games.

Joining Monti and Loving, is left-hander Marshall Wales. Last year, the Waller, TX native made 14 appearances including six starts last season. He posted a 5.58 ERA over the 59.2 innings pitched recording 55 strikeouts. "It is a huge blessing to be selected to the games this weekend" said Wales. "I am excited that all three of us were selected based on last years accomplishments. I am looking forward to the opportunity to showcase our abilities over the weekend and getting to play with some of the guys I know from other schools in our conference."

The all-star games are a tremendous recruiting opportunity for the players who are selected to the games. College coaches from across the NCAA Division I, II and III levels will be in attendance along with scouts from Major League Baseball.

This year's event will be played at Horner Ballpark on the campus of Dallas Baptist University.