Rijo Hobbs News-Sun Player-of-the-Week

The New Mexico Junior College baseball team played five games last week and won them all. While the bullpen played a big part, the offense Ryan Rijo provided was even more important.

Rijo hit five home runs in the T-Birds five wins.

Wednesday evening, Rijo and the Thunderbirds played a non-conference game at Midland College. The NMJC sophomore hit three home runs, drove in six runs, and scored four as the T-Birds won the game 26-14 in seven innings.

On Friday, Rijo had a double in the first game of a doubleheader against New Mexico Military Institute before leaving with an injury. NMJC won that game 8-4.

In the second game, Rijo was back on the field, though limited to designated hitter duties. Once again, he came through, hitting a home run and scoring twice as NMJC rallied to beat NMMI 9-6.

On Saturday, Rijo did not start the first game, but he came in as a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh. At that point, the T-Birds and Broncos were locked in a scoreless battle. But it didn't stay that way as Rijo launched a two-run homer to win the game for NMJC as the T-Birds beat the Broncos 2-0.