By Jonathan Clark
OJ Favela has had some memorable victories as head baseball coach at Nogales High School, including wins in back-to-back state championship games in 2017 and 2018.
Now he’s added another milestone to the list: his 400th career win at NHS, which came March 19 when the Apaches defeated Casa Grande 6-1.
The school recognized Favela’s latest achievement with a ceremony following last Thursday’s victory over Cienega,
“For two decades, Coach Favela has steered our team with an unwavering hand, molding young talent into formidable athletes, instilling in them not just the skills to excel on the baseball field, but the values to succeed in the game of life,” NHS Athletic Director Eric Sowle told the fans, friends and family on hand for the occasion.
“Under his guidance, the Nogales Apaches have not only become a powerhouse in the state in high school baseball, but also a beacon of discipline, teamwork and integrity,” Sowle said.
During the event, Favela was presented with a commemorative bat and trophy, and also given a congratulatory water bucket dousing by his players.