'Coolest nights of my coaching career': Rockport-Fulton manager suits up for first game

ROCKPORT — During Tuesday night’s District 30-4A baseball game against Rockport-Fulton head baseball coach Arturo Elizondo inserted a new player in the lineup who had not played before.

The player, Carson Bhakta, had been a part of the program for four years as a team manager, but on Tuesday, Elizondo gave him the opportunity to play in a game.

Bhakta will graduate later this spring as the senior class valedictorian. On the baseball field on Tuesday, Bhakta garnered a base hit and also drove in a run.

“(Tuesday) night was probably one of the coolest nights of my coaching career,” Elizondo stated in a text to the Caller-Times on Wednesday. “Last night was his first game ever!!”

Elizondo said Bhakta worked with the team during winter games, running bases but Bhakta had told Elizondo he wanted to participate in a game. Bhakta had been working with Rockport-Fulton senior Isaiah Elizondo, who is also coach Elizondo’s son, on hitting and other baseball aspects prior to his appearance on Tuesday.

The Pirates won the game 21-0 against West Oso.