When coach James Dillard needed a first baseman for his new team, the Baton Rouge Rougarou, he didn’t have to look very far.
Dillard, who spent several seasons as a high school coach, including a stint at Bryan High School in Bryan, Texas, invited his own former high school first baseman, Mason Ruiz, to come along on his new Louisiana adventure.
Ruiz jumped at the chance. He wanted to play for Dillard last year with the Brazos Valley Bombers, but his father was diagnosed with cancer. He sat out the summer to be with his dad, who is now, thankfully, “perfect.”
“This year Coach texted me and asked me to go along and I just thought it would be another place to go.” he said.
And he loves everything about it.
“I love all the people. The host families are amazing. I love how they treat us. I honestly thought it would be a little weird coming in and meeting a whole new group of guys, but everyone came in with open arms and I love everybody. I love going to the park every day with my boys and it’s fun.”
Ruiz also loves his coach – but he says everybody does.
“He understands the game and he loves to win,” Ruiz said. “But he also cares a lot about you as a person.”
Ruiz was a pitcher and first baseman for Dillard’s Vikings, making the varsity squad as a freshman on a team that was in a rebuilding phase. Admittedly, he had some growing up to do.
By his senior season, he was named the Pitcher of the Year and was an early commitment to Texas A&M University – a dream come true for the kid who grew up in Texas. But after a coaching change, he later transferred to Grayson College, where he hit .270 with 38 RBIs and three homeruns. He will join Northeastern State University in Oklahoma in the fall and continue to study sports management (or business).
“Mace is a special player,” Dillard said. “(He) was a part of a special season while at Bryan High. Mason and his teammates helped put Viking baseball back on the map during his time. (He) is a competitor and when you when you (say) something can’t be done or it will be hard to achieve, that is when Mason becomes special. He always will rise to the challenge and find a way to finish the job or complete the challenge.”
Reunited with his former coach in Baton Rouge, Ruiz is once again rising to the challenge – the grind of Texas Collegiate League baseball. He is no longer pitching, but earned his spot at first base and has not missed a game. He has15 hits, two doubles, a triple, one home run and 10 RBIs. He also has walked 13 times and scored eight runs. His best night was on June 16 against the Gumbeaux Gators when he went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run.
“I came here to get at-bats, I’m trusting Coach Dillard and putting all my trust in him and, so far, it’s everything I ever wanted,” Ruiz said. “I’m playing every day, I’m getting a bunch of ABs and I haven’t missed a game yet. I just wanted to come here and get better and also have some fun.”
By Lori Lyons, Rougarou Writer
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