News
Luna pitcher Austen King to continue playing in Nebraska
Robertson alumnus Austen King credits Luna for opportunity
By Dave Kavanaugh
Luna Community College
Austen King was hardly older than a toddler the first time he threw a baseball.
Now the Las Vegas, N.M., native is preparing to do so as part of an NCAA Division III college baseball program at Nebraska Wesleyan.
King graduated this past spring from Luna Community College with an associate of applied science in Allied Health Sciences, also finishing up a two-year stint pitching for the Rough Riders. He’s looking forward to the move to Lincoln, Neb., where he’ll continue to pursue a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a possible career in either athletic training or physical therapy. But he’s also looking back on a rewarding time at Luna, which he credits with opening doors of opportunity.
“It’s probably been the best two years of my life,” he said. “Luna’s given me a chance to get an education and also play baseball.”
King, the son of Eddie King and Katherine Martinez-King, has been playing ball most of his life. He got his start around kindergarten, playing tee-ball on hardscrabble dirt fields in the Meadow City. One of his earlier memories was of practicing with his minors baseball team in a small dirt lot across from Paul D. Henry Elementary.
“Coach (Julian) Rains was one of the first to make me enjoy the game,” he recalled. “He would always get mad at us for not paying attention in practice. He’d make us run.”
Some Little Leaguers stay together a while, progressing up through the age divisions together. But little by little, most eventually leave the sport for various reasons. But King’s enjoyment of the game only grew while most of his teammates were hanging up their gloves and cleats for other pursuits.
“I was pretty serious about it in my late years of Little League,” he said. “But it clicked more in seventh or eighth grade, traveling to tournaments. I knew it was what I wanted to do, playing in high school and things like that.”
The dream of playing at the college level somewhere took a while to germinate: “For the longest time I didn’t recognize it. I was always told by others. Sophomore and junior year (at Robertson High School), I had good numbers.”
Watching former teammate Richard Armijo, who also pitched for the Cardinals, continue his education and baseball career at Seward County Community College, helped motivate King to open his eyes to the possibility of reaching that next level.
Luna coaches T.C. Nusser and Harry Estep offered King the chance he was looking for.
“I’m probably most proud of choosing Luna to be my (alma mater) as of now,” he said. “If it wasn’t for coaches Estep and Nusser, going on to play anywhere wouldn’t even be a possibility. My time at Luna has allowed me to be a better ballplayer and a better person. Now I’m going farther than I would have ever expected.”
One of the particular lessons King said he’s learned from the Luna coaches is the importance of attention to detail.
“(It’s about) never being satisfied with what you have. Right now I’m not totally set with my numbers velocity wise. I could always have a better command. I could always develop another pitch to help me make it easier on myself and my team. .. I’m going to keep staying consistent with the little things. Coach Nusser always said if you don’t put in the work on those little things, you won’t see the improvement. The goal at the end of the day is to be the best version of yourself.”
Desire to keep getting better is what continues to drive King.
“Being the best version of yourself – some people can live with not being that. I don’t think I’d be able to. I don’t think I’ve gotten where I want to be. I still have two years (of college baseball) to put in consistent work.”
King admitted that there’s been times he thought of quitting his favorite sport: “I think it enters everyone’s mind. Baseball is a game of failure. If you’re not able to overcome failing half the time, the game is not for you. Only the greats are the ones who are able to persevere through everything.”
Persevering through the shutdowns from COVID-19 was an additional challenge. But as his sophomore year rolled on and graduation day got closer, King continued to look for the next opportunity, inquiring about transfer possibilities to four-year schools in neighboring states so he could keep playing and learning. His Luna coaches, he noted, helped him find suitable schools, and eventually he made contact with Nebraska Wesleyan’s coaching staff.
King said he made a campus visit and was impressed by both his interactions with NWU staff and the small-school-in-a-big-town feel of NWU in Lincoln, also known as home to the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
“That’ll allow me to finish (my bachelor’s program),” he said, “and I want to start a master’s program. Academics has always been something my parents have pushed on me. It’s a D-3 school, so the academics part is a big focus for them. That’s also what helped me make this decision.”
King said he’s grateful to a number of people for helping him along the way. “My family have traveled with me countless miles and hours on the road. Then there’s coaches from the beginning of times. Coaches at Luna, especially. They have allowed me to come to the program. Allowed me to find these other schools and talked about how I would be a good fit, what would be a good fit for me. If you told me two years ago I’d be playing college baseball, I’d be saying you’re lying.”
He does have some guidance to offer young people in particular.
“My advice would probably be to stick to who you are. Don’t be somebody you’re not. As long as you stay true to your roots, you’ll go far in life. … And have fun. They say time goes by when you’re having fun. So have fun and enjoy the ride.”