Does Anybody Have Information on New Mexico Military Institute

My info is four years old, and a son of a friend went there and played.

 

Wood bat JC league. Feeds directly into the U.S. Merchant Marine academy - one of the five service academies. I know much more about that program, however. USMMA is a job factory - their graduates earn, right out of the gate, about 100k a year with full employment upon graduation.

They would travel to play us when I played JUCO ball in 01 and 02. Being honest but putting things nicely, they weren't that competitive. We threw two long relievers and a number 4 starter at them and they struggled. I think most solid high school programs would have probably take a best of 3 series from them.

 

For one of the games I was up in the stands charting and putting the radar gun on our pitchers and they had one of their guys up there. I was asking about life on campus for them it is sounded like a LOT of work. Now things may change, but it sounded like it was school obligations, baseball, military obligations, homework, sleep. He made it sound like they only get 30-60 minutes at most a day to be college kids and enjoy things like video games, TV, hanging with friends, etc. He was a really nice guy though and it seemed like a team full of good kids. I remember we all felt bad for them though. Getting beat that badly that often cannot be fun at all.

 

I just took a look at their schedule and it looks like they still play a schedule full of some solid JUCO teams (or teams that were solid when I played). Looking at the results, they look a lot more competitive now than when I played. Goosegg obviously can provide more insight, but I was under the impression they were guys who loved baseball and wanted to play with the long term goal being something other than baseball and within the military

 

There actually is a kid at my gym who I believe just completed his freshman year there. From what I know of him, he was a decent local player. If there is anything you want me to ask him let me know, I have no problem introducing myself to him and picking his brain for you. I see him infrequently, but I probably don't go a few weeks without seeing him at least once.

 

Did you just graduate HS? Have you or your coach reached out to their head coach for more information, or are they already looking at you?

That is a tough break, the injury and the situation at the D2 (that one I cannot believe, pretty ridiculous). And I know what it is like to be a HS senior and have offers/coaches disappear after an injury.

 

Have you guys reached out to other junior colleges? I know most junior colleges aren't known for their academics, but is biting the bullet and getting some gen eds out of the way for a year an option? The school I played for was at somewhat of a geographical disadvantage and typically lost most of the best Tucson/Phoenix guys to the Tucson JC and the many Phoenix JC's, plus you had Central Arizona and Yavapai gobbling up studs and now Cochise is a powerhouse. Our coach fielded a competitive team by taking on a lot of transfers. D1, D2, and JUCO transfers that didn't work out at other schools for whatever reason. If you can play, you will have no problems moving on to bigger and better things in that league no matter what school you go to. College coaches know it is a premier league. It was rare when didn't have major league scouts in the stands and depending on the time of the year and where we played, sometimes there were 15 plus.

 

At any rate, I will ask the kid I mentioned earlier about his experiences there and report back when I see him. Hopefully he is there this weekend.

I talked with the kid this morning. Basically, you wake up at 530 to line up to march at 6. After doing some military stuff there is class. Immediately after there is baseball practice, you eat, then 2.5 hours of study hall. He said you basically have 30 minutes to shower and unwind after study hall and its time to hit the hay.

Everything is scheduled and structured. Being a baseball player, you get out of some things because of games and practice and travel, but there is always something they have you doing, even saturdays in the fall. He said sundays are the only real day you have to relax or do anything "fun." You are basically a machine and days fly.

He said he liked his time there but I could kind of tell he was just happy to have a place to play ball. He had good things to say about the coaching staff. He said he heard that a lot of people (students players and parents) have been complaining that things are too rigorous and they are going to start easing up a bit.

RGDeuce,

 

Thank you so much for the information!  I really do appreciate it!  Did the guy that you talked with move on to another four year school?  If you are comfortable, I am curious about the JC that you attended. 

Sent you a dialog message 2014Prospect.

2014Prospect Little late on my part, hope you found the info you wanted. If your son is there now I guess you will see how it has gotten much better than previous posters have said. The program has really turned around with the new coaching staff. Still have Q's let me know, my son is a Sophmore there this year.

Too Tall Ball,

 

I agree with you completely about the baseball program!  It seems like a program on the rise.  We are really impressed with the coaching staff!