Carlsbad High School baseball players to play at University of the Southwest in 2025
As Carlsbad High School baseball players Delmonico Granger-Moreno and Fabian Hernandez prepare for their final year in high school, the duo has already committed to play college baseball at the University of the Southwest in Hobbs in 2025.
Carlsbad Municipal Schools (CMS) Athletics Director Greg Haston said both signed national letters of intent Nov. 8 to play for head coach Steve Appel and the Mustangs.
“When we offer kids (scholarships) in the fall we feel those are kids that could have a high impact in our program right away,” Appel said.
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He said Granger-Moreno and Hernandez have an interest in the Mustangs and University of the Southwest has an interest in both Cavemen seniors.
“When these two things meet they can work well,” Appel said.
Last season Granger-Moreno and Hernandez played on a Cavemen baseball team that went 23-6 overall and 8-1 in District 5-4A.
Carlsbad lost to Las Cruces Centennial in the 5A playoffs in 2023.
Cavemen have connections with University of the Southwest
Appel and associate head coach TC Nusser said both players “fit the mold” of the Mustang baseball program.
“We want to recruit high character kids,” he said. “We don’t have to worry about them off the field.”
Appel said Granger-Moreno and Hernandez bring a hard work mentality to Hobbs. He said former Cavemen TJ Ruiz and Jeffrey Mathis played for the Mustangs last season.
He said Granger-Moreno is versatile with his bat and can play either catcher or first base.
Last year Granger-Moreno had a .299 batting average and one homerun and 20 runs batted in. He also had four stolen bases.
Granger-Moreno said he felt comfortable during his visit to the University of the Southwest in Hobbs.
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Appel said the Mustangs like to recruit student-athletes across southeast New Mexico.
“We want to lockup talent that is close by,” he said.
He added Hernandez could be utilized at third base or as a pitcher.
Last year Hernandez had a .308 batting average with one home run and 15 runs batted in.
As a pitcher he had one save in 2022 and an earned run average of 2.19.
Who is Steve Appel and University of the Southwest?
Appel prepares for his 10th season as the Mustangs head baseball coach. Last season University of the Southwest was 22-28, according to the school’s website.
The Mustangs compete in the Red River Athletic Conference of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Appel is a New Mexico native, born in Socorro and came to the University of the Southwest from Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU) in Goodwell, Oklahoma, the University of the Southwest website indicated.
Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Carlsbad baseball players sign to play at USW in Hobbs in 2025
