Cabral receives All-WAC honors, starts in first game of the season

Vaquero starting pitcher Angelo Cabral was named to the preseason All-WAC Team in a poll conducted of WAC baseball head coaches before the 2024 season, according to a news release from UTRGV Athletics.

Cabral, who has been with UTRGV since 2022, began his first season as a starting pitcher in 2023, during which he finished 10th in NCAA Baseball in wins (10-2) and posted a 3.22 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 72.2 innings pitched.

He said seeing his name on the All-WAC Team was “nice to see,” but he has not done anything yet this season.

“It’s the start of something, but it’s where I finish that’s the biggest thing,” Cabral said.

He also said he was glad to be able to represent the Rio Grande Valley with this award and show everyone on the team has “something to prove.”

“My motivation is definitely the people I’m playing for rather than just myself, my family,” Cabral said. “Everybody back home has grown to being able to play for the Valley and having something to stand for.”

UTRGV Baseball head coach Derek Matlock said although it is an “honor” Cabral was selected, he is looking to see what he does in the upcoming season.

“It’s not what you’ve done behind, it’s what you’re going to do ahead,” Matlock said. “If you get caught slapping yourself on the back for things and don’t get going in front, you won’t have any success going forward. [It is] definitely an honor but at the same time, [there’s a] ‘what-have-you-done-for-me-lately’ type of attitude.” 

Cabral was the starter for the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against the University of Rhode Island. The Vaqueros lost the first game, 4-3, and redeemed themselves with a 13-3 victory in Sunday’s second game and a 15-1 win Monday.

As the starter for the first game on Sunday, Cabral struck out eight in 5.0 scoreless innings.

Vaquero junior catcher and Cabral’s battery mate, Steven Lancia, said the team felt “pumped” for Cabral’s selection to the All-WAC Team.

“That was a big selection for him to get that,” Lancia said. “I mean, I don’t think there was another option after last year. What he did on the mound, really, just bringing that every single game, he never really took pitches off or anything. I mean, the team worked behind him and it was just easy to get behind him on the mound. He’s always filling up the zone and just bringing it for us.”

The following players in the Western Athletic Conference were also named to the preseason All-WAC Team at their position, according to a Feb. 6 WAC news release.

–Michael Carpentier, senior catcher from California Baptist University

–Zach Yorke, sophomore first baseman from Grand Canyon University

–Daniel Dickinson, sophomore second baseman from Utah Valley University

–Mitchel Simon, senior third baseman from California Baptist University

–Matthew Schwarz, senior shortstop from Utah Valley University

–Miller Ladusau, senior outfielder from Abilene Christian University

–Cade Verdusco, senior outfielder from Grand Canyon University

–Garrison Berkley, redshirt junior outfielder from the University of Texas Arlington

–Cesar Valero, senior designated hitter from California State University, Sacramento

–Daniel Avitia, junior starting right-handed pitcher from Grand Canyon University

–Zach Poe, senior relief right-handed pitcher from Tarleton State University

Cabral and the Vaqueros will be back in action at 6:30 p.m. Friday against the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Panthers at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium on the Edinburg campus.