The Return of Nacho

            Nick “Nacho” Ochoa made his highly anticipated return to the Alpine Cowboys last night as he was in the starting lineup at DH and batted fifth for the Cowboys against the Trinidad Triggers. 

Nacho is no stranger to the Cowboys or Kokernot Field as he spent the 2011 season with the team and hit .394 with five home runs and 24 RBI’s while spending much of the season as the team’s first baseman. 

 Ochoa spent the beginning of the 2012 season with the Abilene Prairie Dogs of the North American Independent League before deciding he wanted to return to the Cowboys for one last championship run.

Cowboys manager Ryan Stevens knows just how important Ochoa can be to a lineup and immediately jumped at the opportunity to bring him back to the place where his professional career first began.

“Nacho has always been a fan favorite, he is an original Cowboy, a power hitter.  He brings a swagger to the game and is definitely a force to be reckoned with,” said Cowboys manger Ryan Stevens.

Ochoa could prove to be an important pickup for the Cowboys, who have yet to have someone grab ahold of the starting first base job.  While the team as a whole rarely lacks the ability to score runs or hit for power, adding depth this late in the season can only have a positive impact on the team. 

As for Nacho himself, he is looking for his career to come full circle as he is planning his retirement following the season.

“Honestly I just came back here to retire,” said Ochoa.  “I played my first three years of professional ball here so this is home to me.  I came back to play my last year here and hopefully win us a championship.”

Since the news broke about Nacho coming back to the Cowboys, there has been a lot of positive reaction in the community and Nacho couldn’t be more thrilled to hear that the city of Alpine and the surrounding area is taking him back with open arms.

“The community has always been behind me since I first got here, it means the world to me,” said Ochoa.  “They have watched me grow up from a 21 year old kid to where I am at now and I couldn’t be happier to be back.”