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Office (956) 487-6544 • E-Mail: sctc78582@aol.com • issuu.com/starrcountytowncrier Vol. 40, No. 29
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WEEKLY - WEDNESDAY • JULY 16, 2025
Following in His Father’s Footsteps:
Ricardo Perez Carries on a Legacy of Baseball Excellence The love of baseball runs deep in the Perez family, and this summer, that legacy is on full display as Ricardo Perez, a rising senior at Sharyland Pioneer High School, takes the mound at some of the most prestigious high school baseball showcases in the nation.
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Dr. Raymond Cruz Best
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Standing at 6’2” and 195 lbs., Ricardo has carved out his own path in the sport while following in the remarkable footsteps of his father, Cesar Perez. This week, Ricardo is pitching in Cape Cod
at the elite 17U National Pro Showcase — a proving ground for future stars of the game. The invitation came from a New York Yankees minor league pitcher who recognized Ricardo’s potential.
Next week, he’ll take the field at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington for the Junior Day Baseball National Showcase —an event widely regarded as the crown jewel of summer high school baseball. Ricardo also plays travel ball with the Lone Star Baseball Club out of San Antonio, where he continues to develop as a top-tier pitcher competing against some of the best talent in the country. For Ricardo, the game has always been more than a sport; it’s a bond shared with his father. Cesar Perez made his mark on the diamond decades earlier, pit ching in two College World Series — first with Texas Southmost College and later with Sam Houston State University. At TSC, Cesar helped lead the 1977 Scorpions to the most successful season in school history. Under the direction of Coach Jimmy Dodd, the Scorpions advanced all the way to the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado, finishing with an impressive 29–6 record. The team was sparked by
their workhorse right-hander from Rio Grande City — Cesar Perez — who threw a blazing 93-mph fastball and pitched nearly every inning of the 1977 postseason. In a legendary display of endurance and grit, Cesar pitched 27 innings over five days to push his team through the playoffs, including a critical win over San Jacinto College — the #1-ranked team in the nation that year out of 486 programs. His contributions earned him induction into the RGV Baseball
Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2019, he was also honored as an individual in the Rio Grande Valley Sports Hall of Fame, and again in 2025 as a member of the Scorpions. Though Cesar was drafted by both the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cincinnati Reds in back-to-back years, he chose to pursue academics, ultimately earning his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas and building a successful legal career. Yet, baseball has remained close to his heart. Now, as he watches his son shine on the national stage, Cesar and his wife Ofelia beam with pride. Their daughter Rebekah, a student at Texas A&M University, joins them in cheering on Ricardo as he embraces both the sport and the values his father exemplified — perseverance, humility, and excellence. For Ricardo, the dream is just beginning. But for the Perez family, it’s already a beautiful continuation of a story written across generations, rooted in South Texas soil and fueled by a love for the game.
South Texas College officially launched the 1st Starr County Police Academy A proud milestone for Starr County! On July 7, 2025, STC has officially launched its firstever Police Academy cohort at the Starr County campus, expanding access to life-changing training. Each cadet received a $1,000 scholarship from the STC Foundation, an investment in their future and in the safety of our communities. STC are proud to support these driven men and women as they begin their journey to serve and protect. This is more than just a first step—it’s the beginning of a legacy. Here’s to shaping the future of public safety in Starr County!
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