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Rams' Lovato to play for team in Colorado

PORTALES — Continuing his path to the next level in baseball, Portales High's Emilio Lovato will join the Boulder Collegians this summer as a member of the team's pitching staff.

After leading Rams to the school's second state title, this one in Class 4A, the experience gained from pitching during the summer should be invaluable, especially for someone who has yet to start college.

While it is not unheard of for a high school graduate to play in a collegiate summer league, it is rare. Lovato was recruited by the Collegians at the insistence of another past Roosevelt County baseball player, former Eastern New Mexico University assistant coach Matthew Sena.

Lovato has signed a national letter of intent to play for the Greyhounds next season. Sena coached at ENMU from 2013-16.

Sena, who was the coach of the 2016 Rocky Mountain Baseball League champion Sterling X-Press, was hired as the Collegians' coach this season and said he's had his eye on Lovato for some time.

"It will be pretty cool to play for (Sena) because he had always talked to me throughout my career and (about) my future with Eastern, and now I get a chance to play for him," Lovato said.

Boulder general manager Matt Jensen said Lovato will be the only incoming freshman on the team.

"We are not accustomed to bringing in graduating seniors from high school normally," he said. "We normally bring in already collegiate level players.

"When one of your own coaches is so adamant about a player's ability though, it really adds to the trust level that they can be competitive and help us."

Lovato was recruited strictly as a pitcher, according to Jensen. While the learning curve can be harsh going from high school to collegiate baseball, he said pitchers often can have an easier road to success.

"That jump going from top dog (in high school) to low man on the totem poll can be a challenge, but pitchers are a little different as the physical talent is basically there with velocity and ability," Jensen said.

Lovato said he's looking forward to the challenge.

"Everybody else has already played in college and had some experience - some of these guys are going into their senior season or have already been picked up to play professionally," he said. "I think it will be a good experience for me going against these guys."

The Rocky Mountain Baseball League consists of 11 teams. The Collegians will play a 39-game slate, with their opener scheduled for May 31 against the Denver Pirates. The season ends on July 13.

Lovato is jumping right into the mix, taking off just two days after PHS graduation and heading to Boulder.

 
 
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