Unfortunately for Lucero, who was named to the Class 5A All-State first team in 2012, not much of that fun has come on the field.

Lucero is 6-28 (.214) with six RBIs in just nine games as he has shared time behind the plate with two other players.

“It’s tough but you just have to give it your all when you do get a chance to play,” Lucero said. “When you get in you have to give it your all.”

Despite his lack of playing time, Lucero has made an impression on coach Nick Garritano.

“He’s just been really solid,” Garritano said. “He’s been put in a situation where he’s splitting time with a couple other catchers — a lot of these kids in high school are everyday guys – but he’s pretty much catching one out of every four games and whenever he’s in there he works his tail off.”

The College of Southern Nevada had another player who worked his tail off a few years ago: Bryce Harper.

Harper hit .443, 31 home runs, stole 20 bases, had 98 RBIs and scored 98 runs in 66 games while leading the Coyotes to a third-place finish at the National Junior College World Series in 2010, his only season at CSN before being drafted by the Washington Nationals with the first overall pick of the MLB draft.

“We hear a lot about him out here,” Lucero said. “He actually came by the field a couple of times, he’s a really cool guy. He’s a big part of the program.”

Adapting to a new level of competition and learning to be a part-time player is tough enough without the lure of Las Vegas being just a short drive away from campus, but Lucero said he’s had no problems with that distraction.

“I like Las Vegas, this area,” Lucero said. “There’s a lot to do, you just have to keep your head on straight. There’s not really time for that, though. I’m too busy with school and baseball. I’m just focused on school and baseball and lifting weights. That’s what I came out here to do.”

Lucero, who was born and raised in Albuquerque, hopes his two-year stint near Sin City eventually leads to his return to the Duke City.

“I want to play Division I baseball,” Lucero said. “Hopefully I can come back and play for the Lobos and represent my home town, wear New Mexico on my jersey. That’s the goal.”

Garritano, who took over at CSN after the 2010 season when Tim Chambers was hired by UNLV, says that goal is well within the reach of the 5-9, 185-pound Lucero.

“He’s like the little engine that could,” Garritano said. “He’s not the biggest kid in the world but he plays as hard as he can. He’s got great work ethic and we’re just really happy to have him.

It’s not easy for a kid when he’s only getting four at-bats in a weekend, they feel a little pressure because they know they have to perform. It’s tough situation for a kid but he’s going to be a heck of a player for us, he already is a heck of a player for us. I think he can get to the D-1 level.”
— This article appeared on page B6 of the Albuquerque Journal