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By RAUL GARCIA JR | Weslaco World
WESLACO –Nick Solis knows his way around the baseball diamond, but he prefers being on the mound.
He has enjoyed America’s pastime, he’s been successful at it since an early age and it caught the attention of many coaches, players and colleges.
Solis is Weslaco East’s starting senior pitcher, he has dominated from the mound so well that the Univ. of Houston offered Solis a scholarship to play baseball for the Cougars.
And on Wednesday afternoon, Solis, surrounded by his family, coaches, teachers and baseball teammates signed his letter of intent to take his talent to the Univ. of Houston.
“Nick is the first major college signer in Wesalco East baseball program history,” Micheal Brown, Weslaco East Head Baseball Coach said.
Solis has been the starting pitcher for the Weslaco East Wildcats since his ninth grade year. He has earned all District honors his freshman and sophomore seasons.
“I’m very excited about today, but I’m going to keep my work ethic strong and get my arm stronger as I get ready for the next level,” said Nick Solis. “I dominate with the fastball, but I can go changeup and curveball when they are expecting a fastball coming in.”
University of Houston is ranked among the best colleges in America and has one of the most storied athletic programs in the nation.
The Cougar baseball team is a member of the American Athletic Conference as a Division I team.
“Nick is a well rounded student who is always successful not only on the baseball field but also in the classroom,” said Dr. David Gamboa, Wesalco East Principal. “We want to wish you nothing but good luck at the next level.”
Nick is also an honor roll student with over 20 college credit hours who currently ranked in the top 11 percent of his class, according to Gamboa.
Weslaco East Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Mike Burgett said he was skeptical about the stories he was hearing about Solis’ fastball Solis’ freshman year. It wasn’t until Burgett finally attended a baseball game Nick was pitching that he found out for himself that Nick pitched in the high 90s.
Burgett recalled walking up behind home plate that game where Nick’s pitches were being tracked for speed.
“Javi Banuelos turned the radar gun toward me, and I was like okay he sure does,” Burgett chuckled, as he addressed the audience at Solis’ signing.
As a sophomore Solis struck-out 18 batters to lead the Wildcats to victory against Edinburg North.
“He does throw hard, he’s got great control,” Burgett said.
For the last six years Solis has been the fastest left handed pitcher in the state of Texas.
According to his coaches, Solis’ blowtorch fastball sends fear to opposing batters and can quickly send them back to the dugout for having trouble facing his pitches.
“Every day he came to work, he was one of those young men who brings his lunch pail and says hey we’re going to go to work,” said Michael Brown, Weslaco East Head Baseball Coach. “His work ethic is second to none, this young man works hard and it’s proven because he works hard on the field, he works hard in the classroom and that is why you are at where your are today son. This is a tremendous honor.”
Nick’s brother, Alex Solis, sophomore pitcher for the Wildcats, has made a verbal commitment to play for the Univ. of Houston baseball team.
