'We just all blend in together:' Alabama State baseball embraces diverse roster
One of Alabama State baseball's most important players won't be with the Hornets for the NCAA Tournament. But Angel Jimenez's presence will be felt regardless.
Jimenez's mother suffered a stroke two months ago. Since April, the junior outfielder has been in his native Dominican Republic taking care of her.
Sunday, as Alabama State took on Southern in the SWAC Tournament championship game, two flags hung next to each other in the dugout: Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. After the Hornets finished off the win, clinching their NCAA berth, they brought the flags onto the field for the celebration.
"That's why the guys got the DR flag out, we're playing for (Jimenez)," said coach Jose Vasquez. "... We've got everybody here. We've got a melting pot, and that's the beauty of this team. How everybody has come together, how everybody is a family environment and they fight for each other."
Diversity is one of the defining features of the Hornets (34-23), who will take on No. 1 national seed Tennessee (53-7) on Friday (5 p.m. CT, SEC Network) at 5 p.m. in the double-elimination Knoxville Regional.
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Vasquez, who's from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, has built a program with widespread roots, both geographically and culturally. Alabama State has players from Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Indiana, Nebraska and California. From ASU's status and history as an HBCU to its Puerto Rican pipeline, the team has embraced its many individual backgrounds.
"We just all blend in together because we know our situations and different cultures," said outfielder Ian Matos, one of 10 Puerto Ricans on ASU's roster.
Added designated hitter Corey King: "Baseball is baseball. Players come from all over the world to play at any school. We're glad that all these players are here with us because they made the team what it is today."
Vasquez has made sure to learn about every one of his players' cultures — Black, White, Hispanic, Midwestern or Southern. He believes that understanding where someone comes from can get them to open up and foster communication and respect.
To Vasquez, everything starts from these relationships. He sees the Hornets' conference title and tournament berth as a reward for doing everything "the right way."
"I know every player has been treated with respect, and they give me that respect back," Vasquez said. "They work hard for us, they respect our institution, they represent Alabama State the best way possible every time they go out. Not only on the field, but this team just completed a 3.2 GPA. We help out in the community."
Vasquez has coached the Hornets to a winning record in each of his six seasons and a 1160-119 record overall. But the way ASU has established itself as one of the SWAC's baseball powers is just as meaningful to him.
"It's one of the things I'm the most proud of," Vasquez said. "Our university has allowed us to put together a team that resembles the real world."
Jacob Shames can be reached by email at jshames@gannett.com, by phone at 334-201-9117 and on Twitter @Jacob_Shames.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama State baseball brings diverse roster to NCAA Tournament
