Hallmark signs eight standouts to NLIs for 2022Hallmark signs eight standouts to NLIs for 2022
Baseball

Hallmark signs eight standouts to NLIs for 2022

SAN ANTONIO – UTSA baseball head coach Pat Hallmark has signed a fall class of eight standouts from the Lone Star State to National Letters of Intent for the 2022 season, it was announced on Thursday afternoon. 
 
"We're so excited to welcome this class into the UTSA family," UTSA head coach Pat Hallmark said. "They each bring unique skill sets, personalities and experience and we are confident that they can have a positive impact on our club. I'm proud of my coaching staff, Ryan Aguayo and Scott Shepperd, for all they hard work they've put in, putting together an excellent class of future Roadrunners."
 
The Roadrunners signed eight high school stars and one junior college standout for the 2022 season, with each of the athletes coming from the Lone Star State. UTSA signed a pair from the greater San Antonio area, including Reagan High School right-handed pitcher Ryan Beaird, and left-handed hitting outfielder Garrett Brooks from Smithson Valley High School.
 
Hallmark also signed Austin Westlake two-way standout Braden Davis, Kingwood Park High School teammates Jonas Holloway and Matt King, and Corpus Christi southpaw Josh Salinas, who spent the last two years at Wharton Community College. Isaiah Walker, an infielder from Houston's Manvel High School, and Jose Banda, a right-handed hitting outfielder from Pace High School in Brownsville, Texas, round out the class from the fall signing period. 

Jose Banda, OF, R/R, 5-8, 195, Brownsville, Texas (Pace HS)
Standout at James Pace High School and coach Roy Rodriguez … also plays club for the South Texas Sliders … a star high school quarterback, who has nearly 3,000 career passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards … named newcomer of the year as a sophomore in football, and all-district and all-metro as a junior … earned first-team honors as a pitcher during his freshman and junior season and second-team shortstop honors as a sophomore. Personal: Born in Brownsville, Texas … son of Jose and Yadira Banda … has five siblings, including one brother and four younger sisters … interested in pursuing a career in real estate and property management. 
 
Hallmark on Banda … 
"Jose is a powerful right-handed hitter from South Texas. He can play multiple positions defensively, which gives him great versatility. He has power to all fields and a solid understanding of the strike zone."

Ryan Beaird, RHP, R/R, 5-9, 165, San Antonio, Texas (Reagan HS)
A Rawlings Perfect Game All-American in 2020 at San Antonio's Reagan High School … worked 29 innings during 2020 summer baseball season, going 5-1 with 45 strikeouts and a 1.86 ERA, allowing only 14 hits and tossing two no-hitters … In 2020 as a high school senior, went 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA, allowing only three hits in 15 innings … led Reagan to a 2018 state runner-up finish and a semifinalist spot in the 2019 state regional … plays for coach Chans Chapman … also played club for the South Texas Sliders …  … named academic all-district in 2020 … also played football for two years. Personal: Born in Indianapolis, Ind. … son of Damon and Brandy Beaird … has a younger brother, Ashton (15) … uncle Brad Beaird played baseball at UTSA from 1993-94, helping lead the Roadrunners to the 1994 conference title … grandfather, Rick Beaird, played basketball at Southern Illinois  … grandfather, Jacques Demors led Montreal to the 1993 Stanley Cup as their head coach, before having a political career as a Canadian senator until the age of 75 in August of 2019 … Demors served as a head coach in the NHL at stops at Quebec, St. Louis, Detroit and Tampa Bay, in addition to his history tenure in Montreal … father played baseball at Odeassa College, leading team to the conference championship before playing at USC Aiken. 
 
Hallmark on Beaird … 
"Ryan is a local talent from Reagan. He has a quick arm and a fastball that can reach 92mph. He comes from a great baseball family as his dad played college ball and his uncle won a conference title at UTSA in 1994."

Garrett Brooks, OF, L/L, 6-0, 195, Spring Branch, Texas (Smithson Valley HS)
Standout for coach Chad Koehl at Smithson Valley High School … plays club for the Lonestar Baseball Club … with his junior season in 2020 shortened, finished the year hitting .412 with a .647 slugging percentage, with 14 hits, five doubles, one homer and 12 RBI … hit .312 with a .506 slugging percentage, 27 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, one homer and 17 RBI as a sophomore in 2019 … four-year letterwinner in football and was tabbed as one of Dave Campbell Texas Football Magazine's Players to Watch in 2020 … named second-team all-district in football in 2019. Personal: Full name is Garrett Connor Brooks … son of Scott and Tiffany Brooks … born in Lubbock, Texas … has two brothers, Dillon (22) and Taylor (19) … father played tennis at Texas-Arlington … grandfather played football at Navarro College and baseball at West-Texas State.
 
Hallmark on Brooks … 
"Garrett is a local left-handed hitting corner outfielder with power. He comes into his senior year as one of the top hitters in San Antonio high school baseball. He has the ability to both hit for power and average." 

Braden Davis, RHP/IF, R/R, 6-3, 220, Austin, Texas (Austin-Westlake HS)
Standout two-way player at Austin Westlake High School, where he is coached by J.T. Blair … named a 2020 Under Armor All-American … played club for the Austin Wings and coach James Ellison … had a strong 2020 with the Wings, earning New Balance Player of the Game five times during the year for Premier 17U … was named to the 2020 All-Tournament Team at the Texas Premier 17U State Championship … played in the New Balance Future Star Series … earned GAPT Player of the Game and GAPT 3B defensive player of the game honors during 2020 … named the 2019 most outstanding hitter at the Texas Premier 16U State Tournament, also earning all-tournament team accolades … earned New Balance Player of the Game honors in Texas Premier 17U six times in 2019 … named 2018 MVP of his Texas Premier 15U State Championship as a pitcher and hitter … earned New Balance Player of the Game accolades five times in Texas Premier 15U … earned MVP award and the Coach's Award in football as a freshman … named to the Texas Premier 15U State Championship All-Tournament Team and earned four New Balance Player of the Game accolades … also played football for three years and ran track as a freshman. Personal: Son of Chris and Jen Davis … has a younger sister, Lily … born in Coppell, Texas … father competed in the Leadville Trail 100, a marathon mountain bike race in central Pennsylvania, also playing basketball and running track … mother played volleyball, track and was a softball catcher as a youth athlete … interested in a career as in real estate finance and development … grandfather is a retired firefighter. 
 
Hallmark on Davis … 
"Braden is physical two-way player. He has the strength to hit the long ball and can run his fastball into the 90s as well. He has the chance to both play the infield and pitch for us."

Jonas Holloway, C, L/R, 5-10, 195, Kingwood, Texas (Kingwood Park HS)
Standout for coach Bruce Cox at Kingwood Park High School … named honorable mention all-district … also played football as a freshman. Personal: Full name is Jonas Walker Holloway … son of Troy and Jennifer Holloway … has a younger brother and sister … Born in Fort Worth, Texas … father played baseball at Texas State and North East Texas CC … interested in a career in the medical field. 
 
Hallmark on Holloway … 
"Jonas is a left-handed hitting catcher with power. He's got a feel for the strike zone already and a plus arm behind the plate."

Matt King, IF, R/R, 6-0, 185, Kingwood, Texas (Kingwood Park HS)
Plays for coach Bruce Cox at Kingwood Park High School in the Greater Houston Area … named preseason All-Houston Area at shortstop for 2020 … tabbed second-team all-district in 2019 at shortstop … named second-team all-district at third base in 2018 … a 2018 UIL Texas State semifinalst … also played basketball as a sophomore. Personal: Born in Houston, Texas … son of Brian King and Eric Fernandez … has an older brother and a younger sister … interested in pursuing a career in criminal justice.  
 
Hallmark on King … 
"Matt is a talented shortstop that has some power at the plate. He's played elite prep baseball against the best players in the country and comes from a HS program that's won big so he should be ready to compete from day one."

Josh Salinas, LHP, L/L, 5-10, 195, Corpus Christi, Texas (Foy H. Moody HS/Wharton CC)
Pitched just 13 innings for Wharton CC in 2020, not allowing an earned run … played during the 2020 summer with the Texarkana Twins. High School: Played at Foy H. Moody in Corpus Christi, Texas, coached by Joe Curiel … played club with the Liras Baseball Academy … named first-team all-district … tabbed second-=team all-state … was chosen to play in the North/South Texas All-Star Baseball game. Personal: Born in Corpus Christi, Texas … son Tomas and Bonnie Salinas … has an older brother and a younger sister … interested in pursing a major in architecture. 
 
Hallmark on Salinas … 
"Josh is a lefty from Wharton Junior College that can keep the fastball at 88+ mph and pounds the strike zone. He is another south Texas ball player coming from a tradition rich high school program in Corpus Christi Moody."
 

Isaiah Walker, IF, R/R, 6-1, 175, Houston, Texas (Manvel HS)
Versatile standout at Manvel High School in Houston for coaches Kelly Kerlin and Brian Roberts … played club for the Canes Southwest-Houston … hit .345 with a .458 on-base percentage with two steals in 11 games as a junior … hit .400 with a .579 on-base percentage, with 11 stelas and 18 RBI as a sophomore in 2019, leading team to the bi-district championship … hit .268 with a .416 on-base percentage as a freshman, swiping 12 bases … named team VMP as a junior and to the All-Alvin ISD team in 2020 … tabbed team offensive MVP as a sophomore, earning first-team All-Houston honors and second-team All-District accolades … ran cross country for three seasons and is a four-year basketball player. Personal: Full name is Isaiah Dhani Walker … son of Mike and Tracy Walker … has a younger sister, Jayden (15) …born in Oak Harbor, Wash.
 
Hallmark on Walker … 
"Isaiah is an athletic versatile ballplayer with the tools to play anywhere on the diamond. He should walk in the door and be one of the most athletic players on our roster. He'll be an exciting player to watch and coach."
 
- UTSA -