Diamonds are forever

PORTALES — Ever meet someone that just gets you? Somebody who always seems to be on the same page as you, thinking the same thing as you, perhaps even reading your thoughts?

Eastern New Mexico's Alex DeLaCruz and Endy Villalona suspect each other of just that, particularly when patrolling the middle infield for the Greyhounds.

Those thoughts, those instincts, anticipating what the other will do, has its advantages. Thus far, the duo from Freeport, New York, who previously transferred together from Monroe College and have played together since their youth days, have made a big impact at Eastern.

And maybe genetics have something to do with it. They're cousins.

"I just gotta give him that stare, he gives me that stare back, and it's game time," Villalona said.

The duo have played together since age 12, as Endy was inspired by Alex playing the game and decided that he also wanted play. After playing together at Freeport High School in Long Island, they wound up at Monroe College, a junior college in the Bronx.

In 2016, as sophomores, Villalona led the Mustangs in hits (61) RBIs (53), triples (seven) and stolen bases (28), while also finishing third in batting with a .332 average. DeLaCruz, meanwhile, batted .331 and came up with many key hits and individual game performances, such as going 10-for-16 in the Eastern District Championship Series with a home run and six runs scored for the Mustangs.

A coaching change happened, though, and Villalona and DeLaCruz were suddenly on their own finding somewhere to transfer for their remaining two years. Luckily, Gomez knew the Mustangs' new head coach through mutual friends, and he was one of few coaches who could take the two as a package deal.

For DeLaCruz, he couldn't have imagined playing anywhere that didn't include his cousin.

"I don't know how to play without him, since we've been together all this time," DeLaCruz said. "So it was like 'Yeah, we'll play together, stay together. Our families can come and it would be easier for our family to travel.'"

Despite moving up from a junior college to an NCAA Division II program, neither that step up in competition, nor the improved weather, has affected the duo. In fact, both of them have thrived to this point, after a strong 2017 campaign which saw the Greyhounds not only have an enormous 22-game turnaround, but also, saw both DeLaCruz and Villalona receive many accolades.

DeLaCruz, a second baseman, became the first Greyhound to be named a First Team All-American, after being named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-American First Team. He set the program record for runs scored in a season (65), while also placing in the top 10 in the Lone Star Conference in categories such as on-base percentage, hits, doubles, steals, and total bases.

Villalona also tore it up as a junior, winning the LSC's Gold Glove award after an exceptional year at shortstop. Endy had a .980 fielding percentage, after committing just three errors in 46 games, while hitting .383 with 39 RBIs.

However, one area that stands out most is base stealing. DeLaCruz stole 20 out of 24 in '17, while Villalona went 12 out of 15. This year, however, those two have gone above and beyond.

Villalona leads the nation with 29 steals in just 31 attempts through only 24 games, while DeLaCruz isn't too far behind at a stout 18-for-19. Not surprisingly, knowing each other so well has benefited them in yet another area.

"It's funny watching them on the bases, because one of them will be on first base and one of them will be on second, and they'll call the steal on their own," Gomez said, laughing. "They'll just steal the two bases and I'm like, 'What did you guys see?

"They're monsters right now. I think they never had really been unleashed that much before, and what we kinda do is give a green light to most of our faster runners, and they're obviously two of those guys. I think them adjusting to our philosophy, and the fact that I'm not gonna give them a true steal sign, I'm just gonna give them the green light. Last year was a growing pain for that, but this year, they're going at will."

DeLaCruz and Villalona are already getting some Major League attention, as Houston Astros scouts have been visible at Greyhound games. For both, playing at the next level would be a lifelong goal realized, but until that day comes, they're going to contain their excitement.

"The draft, that's a dream come true," DeLaCruz explained. "Now that I have scouts coming after me, it just motivates me. Seeing my friends get drafted motivates me, my family motivates me and just being better everyday. (But) it's still early, I don't really play mind to that, I just try to play my game."

As for Villalona, he added, "It's a dream come true. It's something me and Alex have always been looking forward to. Obviously, (we'd want to) make our family proud. I'm just waiting for the moment, I'm not trying to get too excited, I'm just a humble person. I haven't (let my family) know what's going on now, because they'll get overexcited, and I don't want that happening, if it doesn't happen."