ERNIE BARRUETA

Inducted in 2003 Hall of Fame Brother/Brother duo honoree Played in his first All Star game at the age of 8 in 1956 Culminated his Little League career by leading his “Big 8” team to a Hueco League championship as a undefeated pitcher and hitting .432 As a 14 year old, he led his Houston Tigers team to a championship with a 10-0 record including 5 no-hitters and four one-hitter In 1963 and 1964, he was the # 1 starter for the Babe Ruth League and Colt League traveling All Star teams In a three year varsity career at El Paso High School he finished with a 23-5 record including multiple shut outs and a no-hitter He was twice named to the All District team for the Tigers Struck out 18 batters in a game and averaged 13 strikeouts a game for high school career with a 1.32 ERA Selected to the El Paso High School “All Decade” team and “Outstanding Pitcher of the 60’s” Along with pitchers Bob Arnold and Ronnie Mulvihill, he helped lead the El Paso Downtown Optimist Connie Mack team coached by El Paso Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Barrueta to a fourth place finish at the World Series in 1965 In 1966, he led his Connie Mack team with a 10-0 pitching record and led them to the sectional championship with a 16 strikeout effort and going 3X3 at the plate Turned down full scholarship offers from University of New Mexico and Oklahoma State to play for Texas Western and Coach Andy Cohen Believed his fast ball exceeded 90 miles per hour and with his great slider was destined for success until his injury in the summer of 1966 Compiled a cumulative pitching record of 102 wins and only 21 losses in a ten year career shortened by a shoulder injury which ended a promising college and expected professional career