North Montgomery junior Aiden Ambriz-Cruz admits he has an addiction to baseball. That love for the game helped fuel him to be named the 2026 Journal Review Baseball Player of the Year.
“Honestly, from the moment I get up in the morning until I go to bed, baseball is always on my mind,” Ambriz-Cruz said. “The baseball diamond is where I want to be and it is my happy place.”
The Charger shortstop completed the season tops in most offensive categories this season for the second year in a row. He led his team with 30 stolen bases and 34 runs scored. He led the team with 38 hits. He was second with a .422 batting average and had an on-base percentage of .523. Even as the lead-off hitter, Ambriz-Cruz had a slugging percentage of .467 which ranked him second best on the Charger squad which helped him garner 19 RBI.
Stealing bases is something Ambriz-Cruz enjoys and appreciates Charger head coach Matt Voorhees giving him the green light when he is on base. His stolen base total ranked him fifth in the state at the end of the season.
“The coaches trust me to know when to steal a base,” Ambriz-Cruz said. “I credit our coaches for teaching me the basics and situations to help me steal bases. I know I am fast, but it takes more than that because the coaches have taught me to read the pitchers and defenders.”
It seems the art of stealing a base has caught on at North. The team set a season record with a total of 113 thefts, a fact Ambriz-Cruz is happy with.
“Our team put pressure on the defenses because we had good speed,” Ambriz-Cruz said. “Stealing bases is something we all take pride in.”
Many don’t know but the likable junior played with an injured shoulder for a lot of the season. But the pain couldn’t keep him off the field.
“I hurt my left shoulder but could still play,” Ambriz-Cruz said. “I think it brought my hitting percentage down a little, but my teammates picked up their averages, and we had a good season.”
Voorhees said he enjoys watching his shortstop play. He appreciates his player’s humility and love for the game.
“Aiden has been an amazing part of our team the last three years,” Voorhees said. “No matter what role his is assigned he will give it everything he has to compete for his team. He plays the game with optimum effort on every single play.”
“No one could ever deny Aiden is a competitor and strives to defeat his opponents, but he does so humbly. I have no doubt that this recognition in an area that is full of many talented players will be accepted humbly.”
North Montgomery won back-to-back county championships this season along with finishing runner-up in the 2A sectional. He credited team chemistry on both teams as a reason for success. He has had opportunities to play on upper-level travel ball teams but feels playing with his buddies is important.
“We had some good seasons at North, and I think it is because we have grown up playing together since eighth grade,” Ambriz-Cruz said. “We played on youth all-star teams and recreation ball and Indiana Thunder together. We have a closeness that has paid off.”
The Ambriz-Cruz family supports Aiden tremendously. His two brothers, Kevin and Irvin both played at North Montgomery. But the younger sibling knows Kevin has something over him when it comes to accomplishments and would like to change that his senior season.
“Kevin won a sectional at North, and this is something I don’t have,” Ambriz-Cruz said. “I really want to get a sectional next season, and I believe we will have a good team. We have a lot of young players who are capable of growing into good varsity players. We are going to have young players and players with experience, and I love helping all of them.”
Ambriz-Cruz thanked the North Montgomery coaches and school administrators. He held his last thank you for his family.
“Mom and dad and my brothers and sister are always there for me,” Ambriz-Cruz said. “I love them and am thankful they support me. It is good to be a part of the North baseball family, and more importantly I am fortunate to have a great family at home.”
