Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles Standout Captain Shortstop Heather Ruiz Signs National Letter of Intent to Play Collegiate Softball with Texas A&M International University Dustdevils

By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2018

Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles standout captain shortstop Heather Ruiz fulfilled her dream to play collegiate softball by signing a National Letter of Intent with the Texas A&M International University Dustdevils in Laredo, Texas on Sunday, April 15, 2018.

Heather Ruiz has been both the offensive firepower and defensive catalyst for the mighty Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles Softball Team during the past four years, earning Co-Most Valuable Player in District 29-6A during her junior season.

Ruiz has amassed an extraordinary record during her four year softball career with the Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles Program, including to date playing in 106 games, a Batting Average of .445, an On Base Percentage of .571, a total of 125 Hits, 94 RBIs, scored 121 Runs, and 10 Home Runs with one District 29-6A game, one Non-District game, and the 2018 State Playoffs remaining this season.

Ruiz is such a formidable Hitter on offense that opposing coaches prefer to give her an intentional base on balls instead of pitching to her. For example, this year she has 92 plate appearances, but only 61 At Bats because she has received 31 Base on Balls.  This season Ruiz has 23 Hits in 61 At Bats, including 9 doubles, 3 triples, 10 singles, and one Home Run, scored 32 Runs, 17 RBIs, an .587 On Base Percentage, and a .672 Slugging Percentage.

Eagle Pass High School Lady Eagles Softball Head Coach Oscar Ruiz stated that “Heather Ruiz is a very humble, dedicated, and an extraordinary leader with natural talent in the sport of Softball.  She has developed into one of the finest softball athletes in Texas and her best is yet to come as she leads the Lady Eagles in the 2018 State Playoffs and continues her career with Head Coach Scott Libby at Texas A&M International University Dustdevils Softball Program.”

Heather Ruiz was accompanied by her parents, Willie and Patricia Ruiz, sisters Kimberly, Celeste, and Kiceli, grandfather, aunts and uncles, Head Coach Oscar Ruiz and wife, Sonia Ruiz, teammates, and friends at the April 15th National Letter of Intent Signing Ceremony.  Although Ruiz turned down one or more Division I Offers to play in college, she chose Texas A&M International University to be able to play closer to home and she liked the coaching staff and players at TAMIU in Laredo. Ruiz thanked her parents, sisters, family, coaches, teachers, teammates, and friends for supporting her during her softball career.

Ruiz also led an Eagle Pass Little League 14 & Under Softball All-Star Team to the 2014 Little League Softball 14 & Under World Series in Kirkland, Washington, becoming only the second Eagle Pass softball team to accomplish this honor.

The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates Heather Ruiz and her lovely family on her National Letter of Intent Signing with Texas A&M International University Dustdevils Softball Program and wishes her the best in the 2018 State Playoffs and collegiate softball level.  Go Lady Eagles! Go Heather Ruiz!