Two LCC Ballplayers Make the Majors

Maltos-Garcia

Tim Zufall

Two Lamar Community College sophomores were taken in the 2011 Major League Baseball Amateur draft this week.

2009 Brush High School graduate Arturo Maltos-Garcia was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 30th round.  Maltos-Garcia was also selected as a First Team NJCAA All-American as well as a First Team All-Region.  Arturo finished the year 11-1 with a 2.11 ERA.  His 139 strike outs led the country and placed him fifth in the nation in strike outs per inning at 1.48.  He broke three LCC season records with innings pitched (94), strike outs (139), and games started (17).  The 139 strike outs passes current Oakland A’s pitcher and 2002 LCC alum Brandon McCarthy’s mark of 130, set in 2002.  Maltos-Garcia  also established two career records:  strike outs (202), and games started (28).  Maltos-Garcia graduated with an Associate of Arts degree this spring and has signed with the University of New Mexico to play this fall.

A 2009 graduate from Pueblo South,Tim Zufall was taken in the 45th round as an outfielder by the Florida Marlins.  Tim was also a First Team All-Region selection with a .351 batting average, 45 RBIs, 19 doubles, and 12 home runs.  His 12 home runs earned him 23rd in the national NJCAA stats.  Zufall was also 12-1 on the mound with a 2.91 ERA.  Tim was selected NJCAA Pitcher of the Week (4/27/11) after firing a no-hitter against McCook Community College on 4/23/11.  Zufall leaves LCC with a 3.42 GPA and is currently being recruited by numerous Division I schools.

While at LCC, Maltos-Garcia and Zufall helped the Lopes to back-to-back Empire Conference and Region IX Championships.  The Lopes finished 47-17 in 2011 and 48-12 in 2010.  Since 1999, 30 Runnin’ Lopes alums have been drafted.