From WTAMU to D1: Local Pitchers Chase Big League Dreams
The Amarillo area has produced a few big time athletes who have achieved success at the highest level, the most recent being Randall High School alum Heston Kjerstad who has patrolled the outfield at Camden Yards for the Baltimore Orioles recently.
Every athletes story starts as a dream when they're a kid. I see it with my boys. They're at different stages of their young careers though.
My oldest is off to high school in the fall, and will be getting ready to tryout for what he hopes is his first season as a West Plains High School baseball player. My youngest boy is still three years from that point.
However, both of them have their dreams. My youngest already has college baseball on his radar. He's not thinking about the pros, but he knows he wants to attend Vanderbilt to play college ball.
A couple of Amarillo area baseball players who were recently playing for WTAMU have officially taken a huge step in their baseball careers, and maybe one day we'll get to hear their name during the MLB draft.
Read More: Heston Kjerstad One Step Away From Major League Baseball
Pitcher Julius Carpio, AKA Juice, is from Dimmitt and has spent the last couple of years with WTAMU. Starting next season though, his D1 dreams will become reality as he entered the transfer portal and officially signed with Lamar University in Beaumont.
Carpio also spent some time at Odessa College and Amarillo College prior to making the jump to D2 ball with the Buffs.
A teammate of his also joined him in the transfer portal, and had similar results.
Former Tascosa standout Tai Phetluangsy announced that he would be making the jump to D1 a few weeks prior. He has committed to Tarleton State University and will toe the rubber for them next spring.
Two local boys to keep on your radar. The Buffs are going to miss them, but there it no doubt they're going to do big things at their new schools.
LOOK: MLB history from the year you were born
Gallery Credit: Seth Berkman