Félix Castillo left an undeniable impression on the record books while playing baseball at Wayland Baptist University. The impression Wayland left on Castillo, however, is undeniable as well, and it started not long after the all-American pitcher from Rio Grande, Puerto Rico – still sharpening his English skills – walked onto campus.

“I remember meeting Coach (Brad) Bass for the first time. I saw a man riding a tractor outside the baseball field and I said, ‘Excuse me, I’m looking for Coach Bass.’ He said, ‘You’re looking at him. Who’s looking for me?’ I said, ‘Nice to meet you. I’m Félix Castillo.’ Coach Bass said, ‘Nice to meet you, son. You need to shave and take your earrings off.’ I knew he meant business.”

Over the next three years, from 2000-03, Castillo set multiple school records, including most complete games in a season (12) and lowest single-season ERA (2.51). Not only did he leave Wayland having earned a college degree, Castillo took with him valuable lessons learned from coaches, professors, teammates and others that he puts to use today as a high school baseball coach and, more importantly, a husband and new father.

“Wayland is a special place that helped me so much. When I got there I wasn’t sure what to expect. Coming from a different country, speaking a different language, it was very intimidating, but I ended up being very successful because of the guys who were behind me and because of people like Coach Bass who took time to help me.”

Before arriving at Wayland, Castillo – who started playing baseball at age 6 – attended the University of Puerto Rico and also played one season of all-conference ball at Frank Phillips College in Borger. He chose to transfer to Wayland over another NAIA school, Indiana Tech.

“I think it all happened for a reason,” he said.

The burly 6-foot-2, 240-pound Castillo said he was a power pitcher when he arrived in Plainview. “But it changed a lot when I got to Wayland. (Assistant) Coach (Brad) Hill and Coach Bass helped me grow and develop a mentality of getting people out, and I became more mindful of the pitch count.”

Castillo hated to give batters a free pass. “My big pet peeve was walking people. That was the one stat I looked at every game. I didn’t like to throw with people on base; I wanted to throw from the wind-up. I learned that I had eight guys on the field with me, and if you take advantage of them being there you have a better chance of getting an out.”

Castillo’s averseness to walk batters is confirmed by the school record he holds for fewest walks allowed in a career: just 59 in 131 innings. He also was pretty good at not giving up home runs, allowing just two his senior season when he made 17 starts and threw 111 innings, both school records.

Castillo was never fortunate enough to record a no-hitter, but did get to witness one. “We took a trip to San Antonio and played the University of Incarnate Word. I think I gave up a few hits and didn’t allow any runs (in a 10-0 win). It was a good game. Daniel Franklin was on the mound for the second game of the series. I remember asking Dustin Sowders in the seventh inning how many hits Daniel had allowed, because I didn’t remember seeing anyone on base. Dustin looked at me and didn’t say a word. Daniel pitched a no-hitter that game. It was the first one I’ve been a part of. It was a great feeling.”

His last two seasons, Castillo served as first baseman or designated hitter when he wasn’t pitching. “My junior year our first baseman got hurt and the coaches came to me and said they needed someone. I hadn’t swung the bat since I was a freshman in high school, but that year I ended up leading the team in home runs (10) and RBIs (38)” while hitting .299.

Castillo recalled a game at New Mexico Highlands that featured “the longest at-bat of my life. It was 19 pitches or something like that. I remember hitting a ball down the line (for an apparent home run) that the umpire called foul. I had never seen Coach Bass get so upset. He threw bats on the field and everything. It was neat to see he had our backs like that.” (Castillo ended up homering to centerfield anyway.)

As a senior Castillo was named the Pioneers’ most outstanding pitcher and MVP, plus earned All-Sooner Athletic Conference First Team, All-Region, and NAIA Honorable Mention All-American honors.

“I played on great teams with great baseball players during my years at Wayland, but more importantly I played with great people. We all took care of each other. I didn’t have any family in Texas, but my first-year roommate, Melvin Colón, took care of me and showed me around. I used to go to George Rubio’s house and have breakfast with him and his dad. We all remember Brandon Wilson’s grandpa, may he rest in peace, coming from Dallas to watch games and spend time with us. I was very lucky to be able to spend time with those guys and be a part of a great family.”

Castillo admits he wasn’t always the model student-athlete.

“We had to go to Chapel every Wednesday, but I skipped plenty of them and got in trouble for it. After many times of not doing what I was supposed to be doing, Coach Bass took me to his son’s baseball game and asked what I wanted to do with my life. I couldn’t answer. Coach didn’t like what he was seeing and called my mom in Puerto Rico. She flew all the way to Texas to see me.”

After getting suspended from the baseball team for a time, Castillo wound up figuring things out. He even learned to enjoy Chapel. “I loved going every Wednesday.”

Coach Bass’s wife, Sally, was part of Castillo getting straightened out. “I think Coach Bass knew how close I was to my family, and he invited me a few times for dinner at his house. Mrs. Bass was very generous. That meant a lot.” Castillo also mentioned getting valuable help from WBU Student Accounts Coordinator Sheila Wood and professors Dr. Linda Hutcherson and Dr. Jim Todd. “Every time there was some work in his field or anywhere, Dr. Todd gave me a call and let me work. It helped tremendously.” In addition, Castillo mentioned Mike Manchee, then principal at Hillcrest Elementary where Castillo worked as a classroom aide. “He taught me many things, and to this day we are still in contact.”

After teaching Spanish and coaching football and baseball at Plainview High School for a year, Castillo moved to Garland High School where, after 13 seasons as an assistant, he is in his first year as head baseball coach. He tries to balance that with being a husband to wife Melissa and a father to their son, Alejandro James, who was born this year on Castillo’s birthday, Feb. 10.

It’s obvious family means a lot to Castillo. “My dad Alejandro taught me the value of hard work. He is the hardest-working person I know. My mom, Minerva Díaz, taught me how to sacrifice and keep moving forward. I used to call her my first year in Texas to tell her how cold it was, how different it was, and how much I missed all of them, even my sister! I will never forget her answer: ‘The human being is the most amazing creature in the world. It can adapt to anything, but you have to make that decision. If it doesn't work out, you always have a family here that loves you.’ So I adapted and I met the most wonderful woman in the world, who gave me the best gift I have ever received, my son.”

As much as he enjoys baseball, Castillo said he came to realize there was more to it than throwing strikes and hitting home runs. “I loved playing baseball. I thought it was my life, but I was wrong. I still spend a lot of hours at the field coaching, but it’s a part of my life. As a coach I try to have more of a relationship with my players. It’s not about making everybody happy and it’s not about winning games. A lot of kids actually need help, so I try to teach them how to be a good citizen, and they need to be ready because eventually baseball is going to end.

“Baseball was a tool I used to get me where I wanted. It was a road that led to meeting great people, people who cared about me as a person and not as a baseball player only. People who went out of their way to help me and gave me several chances to make things right. They didn’t have to do that, but they wanted to. That’s the kind of people at Wayland Baptist. Choosing Wayland was a great decision.”
 
Félix Castillo Records at WBU
 
MOST STARTS
Season: 17
 
MOST INNINGS PITCHED
Season: 111
 
MOST COMPLETE GAMES
Season: 12
Career: (2^nd) 18
 
SHUTOUTS
Career: (3^rd) 4
 
WINS
Career: (5^th) 20
 
LOWEST ERA
Season (min 60 IP): 2.51
Career (min 150 IP): (2^nd) 3.66
 
FEWEST WALKS ALLOWED (min. 100 IP)
Career: 59