St. Mary's University Athletics

YEARS:
1999-2001

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
NCAA Division II National Champion in 2001
ABCA All-American (2001)
NCAA All-National Tournament Team (2001)
NCAA South Central Region Tournament MVP (2001)
Two-time All-Heartland Conference 

CAREER STATS:
.397 batting average
22 home runs
134 RBI
126 runs scored
41 doubles
176 hits

BIO:
A fortuitous injury sidelined Oracio J. “O.J.” Garza for what was supposed to be his senior season in 2000. It ended up paving the way for the greatest season in St. Mary’s Baseball history a year later. The emotional spark plug of the 2001 squad, Garza helped lead the Rattlers to the NCAA Division II National Championship that season. He earned All-American honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association that season, in addition to being named to the All-National Tournament Team and the Most Valuable Player of the South Central Region Tournament. A two-time All-Heartland Conference selection, Garza ranks fourth all-time in program history in batting average (.397), second in slugging percentage (.674) and holds the record for most games played in a season (63). He also set the school’s single-season hits record with 100 in 2001. Garza went on to play independent professional baseball for six years with the Edinburg Road Runners, Evansville Otters, Richmond Roosters and Laredo Broncos. 

POST-GRADUATION:
Garza has worked for the United Independent School District for the past 11 years, currently serving as a physical education teacher at J.B.J. Muller Elementary. He also owns a baseball academy in Laredo called First Class Hitting Academy. 

QUOTE:
“My experience at St. Mary’s contributed greatly to the person that I am both professionally and personally. The remarkable people I met from all walks of life broadened my perspectives immensely. I was exposed to so many different cultures at St. Mary’s, yet shared a commonality of core goals and education with such remarkable coaches and people.”