It’s not very often that a baseball player can say they received an opportunity to play at their home field during their high school, college and professional seasons.
Ely Gallego is one of those select few.
On Wednesday, Gallego was officially named head baseball coach at Sul Ross State.
Gallego spent the previous four seasons as a full-time assistant under former head coach Bobby Mesker, who is now the head baseball coach at Midland Christian after 14 years at the helm of the Lobos.
“It’s a privilege to be able to step in and be the new head coach. I’ve been here for a quite a while. So, to be able to start running the program is a huge honor,” Gallego stated in the press release.
“Ely has been a great asset to our staff for several years and I am very excited for him to become our next head coach. He loves the game of baseball,” Sul Ross Athletic Director Amanda Workman stated in the press release. “We had a very competitive field of applicants, but Ely led the pack with his passion for Sul Ross and knowledge of the game of baseball. I am honored for him to serve in this new capacity.”
Gallego hit .352 during his senior season at Sul Ross in 2016, with 56 hits, 16 doubles, seven homeruns and 49 RBIs. On the mound he went 6-5 throwing five complete games in 80.1 innings with 60 strikeouts.
He led the team in homers and RBI.
That same year, the Lobos qualified for the American Southwest Conference tournament.
Gallego’s performance earned him third-team All-Conference honors.
Gallego was recognized on Feb. 9, 2016, as the ASC Pitcher of the Week after he struck out 11 batters in a three-hitter that resulted in a 2-0 win over Schreiner.
During his junior season, he hit .339 with 43 hits and five home runs.
The Lobos also made the conference tournament during his sophomore season in 2014. He then became a student assistant in the fall of 2018, a position he held for one season before becoming a graduate assistant.
After his collegiate career, Gallego spent four seasons with the Alpine Cowboys of the independent Pecos League from 2016-2019. He hit a career .344 with 13 homeruns, 97 RBIs and 124 hits, while as a pitcher he finished 20-6 with a career 5.71 ERA.
Gallego was a member of the 2019 Pecos League championship squad.
Ever since he played at Alpine High School from 2009-2012, Gallego has always been a competitor.
“Alpine is a great town for baseball. The community loves watching baseball,” Gallego stated in the press release. “It’s an honor to be able to do it being from Alpine. I hope to continue the success and try to keep growing on it.”
Whether it be high school, college or the Alpine Cowboys, the community has always had a rich baseball tradition.
Encompassing that tradition is Kokernot Field with its 75-year history.
“Baseball is alive at this stadium,” Gallego stated in the press release. “I just want to keep the success of baseball alive, but ultimately win a conference championship here. We’re in a situation where we can win it. When players leave this program, I want them to be successful in their lives.”
The start of a new season is not far away.
Right now, the sky seems to be the limit for Sul Ross with a ton of junior college transfers and fifth-year seniors bolstering up the roster.
This year’s recruiting class is already being considered one of the best.
“It looks pretty promising to be honest. We have a great returning class of guys,” Gallego stated in the press release.
