Mother's advice pays off for Lopez

Emma Lopez C / 3B / Alliance, OH / 2019

ALLIANCE - When Emma Lopez came to the states in 2015, his mother in Puerto Rico gave him advice he follows to this day.

“No excuses. If you want it … you have to work hard,” Lopez reflected about what his mom, Irma, said to him at the time.

That is what the Alliance senior has done in his quest to play college baseball. After all, that was his reason for coming north from his homeland.

“In Puerto Rico, you either get drafted (after high school) or you don’t play baseball anymore,” explained Lopez, who arrived in Ohio 11 days before turning the age of 15. “I came here wanting to play college baseball. It was rough at first, but when I started getting interest it was great.”

The second week of June, interest became serious when Lake Erie reached out to the 6-2 220-pound catcher.

“I got a text from coach (Cameron) Castro and how he saw me play at the Top Prospect Games and in some summer tournaments (with the Brownlee Lookouts),” Lopez said. “He wanted to see if I would go there on a visit. I went a week later. Their offer was good compared to some of the others. It was just the right fit.”

Now the 79th-rated senior in Ohio, who had nine offers to consider, has found a college home with the Storm, members of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.