Five East Mountain High School Baseball Players Sign Collegiate Commitments

SANDIA PARK — A historic high school baseball season culminated in an unprecedented college signing showcase Wednesday, as five seniors from state champion East Mountain High School officially committed to playing at the collegiate level.

Seniors Ty Rector and Dalton Springall finalized their plans during a joint signing ceremony at the Vista Grande Community Center, raising the total number of college-bound players from this year’s roster to five—the largest single-season contingent in the program’s history.

Rector signed with Ottawa University Arizona (OUAZ), an NAIA program in Surprise, Arizona, while Springall committed to Justice University in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The duo shared the stage with three teammates who had previously announced their destinations: ace Luke Stoerner (Lubbock Christian University), Chris Moya II (Lassen Community College), and Cole Darnell (Lassen Community College).

Together, the five standouts anchored a dominant season that saw the Timberwolves capture the Class 3A state championship, finishing with a 28-1 overall record and a microscopic 1.96 team ERA.

Rector, a versatile leader for East Mountain, put up massive numbers at the plate. Across 29 games, he batted .478 with 44 hits, 15 doubles, five home runs, and 41 RBIs, while scoring 52 runs. On the mound, Rector made three appearances, recording two saves and a 1-0 record without allowing an earned run over his primary frames, finishing with a 1.17 ERA.

Springall served as a dual threat for the Timberwolves’ high-powered rotation and lineup. He batted .349 on the year with 27 runs scored and seven RBIs, while also anchoring the pitching depth chart with a 1-0 record across five appearances.

The signing day event caps a remarkable spring of recruitment for the small-school New Mexico powerhouse.

Stoerner, who is headed to NCAA Division II powerhouse Lubbock Christian in Texas, led the team’s offensive charge with a .541 batting average and 48 RBIs. On the mound, the right-hander served as the team’s primary starter, pitching his way to a perfect 6-0 record and a 0.84 ERA.

The California junior college ranks will receive the remaining pieces of East Mountain’s pitching staff. Moya, who balanced a .309 batting average with a 6-0 record and a 2.03 ERA on the bump, will join Darnell at Lassen Community College. Darnell hit .429 for the Timberwolves while matching Moya with a 6-1 record, a 2.03 ERA, and a team-high four saves out of the bullpen.

Wednesday afternoon’s ceremony honored the five players together one final time as they officially traded their Timberwolf uniforms for the college ranks.