Austin Romero got the opportunity to represent the mountain west region and the Albuquerque Sticks Baseball Organization in Phoenix, AZ this past weekend at the 2024 18U Perfect Game West MLK Championship. The expectation for Austin in this event was to be a PO (Pitcher Only), but the Sticks Scout Team coaching staff had other plans for Austin.
PITCHING
Austin got the call to start against a really good offensive team in the Trosky Arizona 2026 Regional Squad. Austin Pitched 3 innings giving up 8 hits and 8 runs but only 4 were earned. While the numbers may seem like a lack luster performance, Austin has a strike percentage of 63% which ranked the highest amongst starting pitchers for the entire event. This means that Austin didn't shy away from a stacked offensive squad and competed in the zone with his best stuff. Nothing to hang his head about as the experience that he gained will mold him and have him primed for a great summer with the ABQ Sticks. Austin stated, "They were such good hitters."
Offense
Austin got a call up by the Sticks Baseball 18U Decker Scout Team on Saturday and got placed in the 5 hold vs. AZ643. Austin held his own in a solid lineup of hitters which included a couple of Division 1 baseball commits. Austin went 1 for 2 with a single and a walk on a route to a 10-0 win for the Sticks. Austin showed a lot of poise at the plate confidence at the plate by being aggressive in the zone when fastballs were thrown. Austin also got to see a future MLB pick and University of Texas Commit in Kaimi Kahalekai . Kaimi Kahalekai topped out at 94mph and averaged 88 with his fastball. It was an experience that Austin said he will remember and it instantly made him a better ball player.
When the smoke clears, this weekend will be an experience that last a life time. New friendships were made, plenty of lessons were learned and the new vision that Austin has for his career is more clear than its ever been.
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