Nolan Ryan to be special guest at UHV event

Throwing fastballs at over 100 miles per hour was the trademark for the hard-throwing Nolan Ryan during his 27-year baseball career in the major leagues.

That velocity mixed with a devastating 12-6 curveball helped propel Ryan to a Major League Baseball record seven no-hitters and an induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Baseball fans and Jaguar supporters will have an opportunity to experience a touch of that success on Wednesday, Aug. 28 when Ryan will be the special guest for the University of Houston-Victoria’s A Night for the Jaguars fund-raising event.

Ryan will be part of the festivities as he visits historic Riverside Stadium for a fire-side chat at home plate.

The night’s festivities start off at 5:30 p.m. when Riverside Stadium opens for a silent auction. Included in the festivities will be a live auction as well as an introduction of the 2013-14 UHV athletic teams (baseball, softball, golf and soccer).

Ryan will bring his baseball expertise to the field at 7:30 p.m. and the event will conclude with a couple of special live auction items, including an autographed UHV jersey which Ryan will wear during the event.

Tickets for the Aug. 28 event will be $20 for the grandstand stadium seats, $10 for grand stand bleacher seating and $5 general admission seating for the bleachers down the first and third base lines.

Tickets can be purchased online beginning Monday, July 22 at www.uhvjaguars.com, or by contacting the UHV athletic office at 3302 N. Ben Wilson St. in Victoria or by calling 361-485-4423. Tickets will also be available at the gate on the day of the event.

UHV Athletics Director Ashley Walyuchow said sponsorship packages are also available for the event beginning at $1,000 and will include a special meet and greet time with Ryan on the day of the event. For more information on the sponsorships contact Walyuchow at 361- 485-4424.

Ryan’s 27-year career in Major League Baseball included stints with the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. Currently the CEO of the Rangers, Ryan career was highlighted with eight All-Star appearances, seven no-hitters, a World Championship in 1969 and induction into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

Born in Refugio, Ryan holds the major league record for strikeouts with 5,714 in his career and no-hitters (7). He has a .526 winning percentage compiling a 324-292 record with a 3.19 earned run average in 807 games.

UHV is coming off one of its most productive athletic season in its six years of sponsoring collegiate athletics.

“The funds raised for this year’s event will go to help support over 140 student-athletes who participate on a yearly basis in the UHV athletic program,” Walyuchow said.

The UHV softball team earned its second straight trip to the NAIA National Championships and compiled a 30-plus win season for the sixth straight year. Marley Moehrig was named first team All-American by the NAIA and NFCA, while Brittany Arredondo was a first team NFCA All-American and Alex Holland a second team NAIA All-American.

The baseball team for the sixth-straight season finished with 20-plus wins.

The UHV men’s and women’s soccer teams, in just their third season, earned their first trip to the Association of Independent Institutions Conference Soccer Championships. Each team had five representatives on the all-conference teams.

The UHV women’s golf team also captured a team title for the second straight year winning the Houston St. Thomas Talamonti Invitational. They also finished second at the UT-Dallas Lady Comets Invitational and placed fourth at the conference tournament.

Sophomore Vance Edwards highlighted the men’s golf season becoming the first UHV golfer to earn a trip to the NAIA National Championships after claiming individual honors at the A.I.I. conference Championships. Edwards finished tied for 20th at the national championships posting a 72-hole score of 7-over 295.