Being an athlete is difficult , have you ever imagined what they have to do to stay on the team?

The idea of being in a sport seems simple but the dedication that goes with it is something that baseball player Gabriel Catarino has experienced first-hand.

Catarino has to wake up at 6 a.m. to be ready at 6:30 to arrive to school on time, he crosses the bridge everyday and does tasks that not every athlete has to do on a daily basis.

“Unlike any athlete, I would like to stay even longer to train more but I can not since I have to be home before it gets dark, I live all the way in Juarez and it’s harder for me to do so,“ Catarino said.

Catarino misses family reunions and parties for baseball trainings. He does this because baseball is an important role in his life. Seeing his two brothers play at a professional level in Mexico helped him realize that baseball was the sport for him.

“Since I was 2 or 3 years old it started to catch my attention because I was going to my brothers’ games and then I would put on my gloves and start playing with the ball,” Catarino said.

Catarino has many goals to fufill as a baseball player, his coach is trying to help him get a scholarship for him to continue playing in college.

Being a baseball player has not only been a great experience for Catarino but it helped him learn how fight for the things that he wants.

“There are no words to describe how much appreciation and love I have towards baseball,” Catarino said.

Catarinos accomplishments were not only for the school but also for his family and God. Along with the good times there will also be the not so good times but Catarino is always looking forward to giving his best out there in every game.

“My family is always there with me in the good times and the bad always supporting me and helping me to be better every day, and on the other hand I also thank God for never leaving me alone,” Catarino said.

Although this is Catarino’s last year in baseball he has made it worthwhile be contributing to both this year’s and last years district winnings.

“The truth it’s a very nice experience and I do not have words to describe what I feel, I am grateful to God for allowing me the gift of playing this sport,” Catarino said.