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100% healthy, Isaac Ponce is leading the Wildcats on historic run

Posted at 5:48 PM, May 10, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-10 18:53:19-04

 

Isaac Ponce is having a dominant 2019 campaign. The senior pitcher is 8-0 this season and recently threw a shutout gem to defeat Moody in the first round of the playoffs.

However, all of the success and the eventual commitment to play baseball for Texas State, was a pipe dream just last season.

During Ponce’s junior year, his head coach, Lance Standley, noticed Ponce struggling with fatigue and low energy.

“I was very, very observant,” Standley said. “Isaac was slumping.”

Standley had seen these signs before; in himself, right before being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Rather than waiting around, allowing Ponce’s condition to grow worse, Standley and his staff took action.

“We tested his sugar that day.  That answered the questions,” Standley said.

Ponce was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, leaving the then junior with questions about his health and his game.

“It affected my baseball last season,” Ponce said. “I didn’t know I had it, so I was playing and feeling really weak.”

With the help of his coach, Ponce began a regimen to treat his condition and take care of his body, resulting in the season he is currently having.

“I feel 100% better than I did last year,” Ponce says.

Ponce has led the Wildcats to one of their best seasons in school history. He will start game one of the area round series against Rio Grande City.