Outfielder from Cortez, Colorado commits to Lions
New Coach Sam Blackmon inks outfielder Tallon Ralstin
WAXAHACHIE, Texas — Head Coach Sam Blackmon has added a new baseball recruit to the 2013-14 class. He is a multi-sport star from Colorado and he will enroll at Southwestern Assemblies of God University this fall.
Tallon Ralstin , a 6’1 outfielder and catcher, wrapped up his career for Montezuma-Cortez High School in southwest Colorado.
He also was a regular at quarterback and guard for the football and basketball Panthers, who compete in Class 4A.
He was born and raised in Cortez (pop. 8,482), which is just forty-five miles west of resort-town, Durango.
Ralstin was a standout performer as a senior for Head Baseball Coach Matt Betts .
While receiving honors as the Panthers’ Best Offensive and Best Defensive Player, he had a robust .486 batting average. He also swatted a pair of home runs.
Ralstin racked up 35 hits in 72 at bats and concluded the year by setting the Montezuma-Cortez record for career hits. Playing for a young team that finished 7-12, he was chosen Second Team All-Conference.
The Honor Roll student ranked 24th in his graduating class. 
Outside of high school, Ralstin also played club ball for two teams; the D.C. Mossy Oak Boys – coached by his dad, Troy Ralstin , and for 4Corners Baseball and Coach Brett Anderson .
A highlight on the hardwood for Ralstin will be long-held, sweet memory. Trailing Fruita Monument HS in the fourth quarter, 58-47, the Panthers rallied to knot the score at 59.
After running the clock down for a last second shot, Point Guard Alex Lopez sent a pass to Ralstin on the wing. He launched it and ripped the nets for the winning margin in a 62-59 thriller.
He plans to major in Church Ministry and Education at SAGU.
Tallon has enjoyed plenty of Christian involvement as a teenager. It included serving as a pastoral intern, a leader at Youth Camp and Children’s Church, a speaker at Power Lunches at school and other service projects at church.
His parents are Troy and Lauren Ralstin . His siblings are Keegan (17) and Kelcie (14).
The Lions finished 14-34 in the spring. They are expecting between 15 and 17 players back from the 2013 team. Under Coach 
Blackmon the team will workout this fall for six or seven weeks in their annual fall camp.
Following a break for the holidays the team will resume preparation for the 2014 season in January.
SAGU has joined the Sooner Athletic Conference this year. Facing what is expected to be even tougher competition in one of the NAIA’s premier leagues, the Lions have their work cut out for them.
The Purple Pride hopes to qualify for a berth in the SAC tournament or enter the Central Regional of the National Christian College Athletic Association .
The NCCAA has about 120 members who range from the NAIA through the NCAA’s Division II and III.
SAGU will release the 2014 schedule sometime during the fall. They are expected to play over 40 games.
Contact : Mark “Link” Warde , SAGU Sports Information Director, at [email protected] or at 469-658-2847.
