PhotoPete: 17 Years Capturing Texas State Softball

Texas State softball has had a tradition of success, especially in the last 25 years since head coach Ricci Woodard took over the program in 2001. With over 800 wins, seven regular season championships, six conference tournament championships and 11 NCAA tournament appearances, Texas State softball is a storied, prolific program, all coming under the direction of Coach Woodard.

Through 25 years with a program, a lot can change. In her tenure, Woodard has coached over 160 players, cultivating winning ways and great people along the way. Despite a lot of people going in and out of the program, there’s been another face that has become a mainstay in the ballpark: Peter Vives.

In the nearly 20 years since his first game, Vives has become a familiar face for anyone whose path crosses with the Bobcat softball program. While some know him as Photo Pete and most can’t pronounce his last name the correct way, nearly every player, coach and parent who has made their way through Bobcat Softball Stadium since 2007 knows Vives. 

Despite his now-longtime presence in the ballpark, he originally found the team almost by accident. 

Vives had spent most of his career in the US military service, followed by a stint as a bus driver prior to his formal retirement. He had been living in New York when the city fell on some hard times, and he had to make the difficult decision to leave.

After his grandmother who had raised him passed, he had no siblings to move to, he was looking for what was next. During his time in the service, he had been stationed at Fort Sam in San Antonio. Vives thought that seemed like as good of a place as any to move back to.

Upon moving to San Antonio, Vives started working as a bus driver and supervisor in 1994 which is when he was able to begin practicing his photography more freely. His photography is how he stumbled across Texas State softball.

Since his first game, Vives has seldom missed a home game for the Bobcats. He was there back in the day when there was barely a grandstand. He remembers the days when Coach Woodard and facility director Adam Alonzo would paint the lines themselves before every game. He has seen hundreds of games inside the ballpark. For nearly 20 years now, players can count on seeing Peter along the third base sideline at every game with his camera lens, a kind smile and a laugh to share.

“I needed some women’s athletics for my portfolio,” Vives said. “The only thing I found in the newspaper was a softball game. I came up [to San Marcos] and got hooked by the enthusiasm of the team.”

A fateful day in March of 2007 ultimately changed the way he’d spend his springs for the rest of his life. Vives first came out to the ballpark on March 11, 2007, when the Bobcats hosted Central Arkansas. The Bobcats swept the series 3-0 including two shutouts that weekend.

For Vives, that day ended up being one that would change the way he spent his weekends for the rest of his life. And it was one conversation in passing with Coach Woodard that helped him realize what a special spot he had found.

“I came back for a second game, that’s when I met Coach Woodard,” he said. “I was sitting under the bleachers behind the third base side after the game looking at the photos I’d gotten, just seeing if there was anything decent. That’s when Coach [Woodard] came out from the dugout, stopped, and asked, ‘you get any good ones?’” 

Vives remembers his first encounter with Woodard fondly. 

“I was tongue tied,” he said. “I said ‘yeah I think so.’”

“But that’s what struck me was if this was the head coach of a [Division-I] team who stopped and talked to someone that she had never seen before. That was pretty cool, because it was a welcoming thing.”

Vives never expected to fall in love with softball or Texas State the way he did. After that initial game out in the ballpark, he continued to come back and shoot games. 

“I got hooked because I think I missed that teamwork like I had when I was in the service,” Vives said. “You have this team work and these teams work so hard. I realized it’s not rec league softball; these kids play hard. I fell in love with it.”

In the early days of his time at the ballpark, he was still working. Vives would use his paid time off to come up for the Bobcats early season or post-season tournaments. Due to his early hours on the bus routes, he had to be smart about taking time off so he could shoot games but still be responsible with his professional obligations.

“Say we had a big opponent in town on a Wednesday,” Vives said. “I would put in paid time off for the next day. I would rush up after work, because I’d be off by four o’clock, then I’d shoot the game, and I wouldn’t have to rush to get back in the morning. The only time off I took outside of softball was in October for my birthday.”

Vives did this for a handful of years before he was able to retire. Once he did that, he rarely has missed a home game since.

“I remember when Coach Woodard won her 800th game [in 2024] she told me, ‘You’ve been here for at least 500 of them.’’ Vives said. “That’s when I realized I have been and it’s amazing and kind of crazy to look at the number.”

Throughout his time, that trust has been the biggest thing for Vives. 

Ever since the beginning, Vives has had season tickets for Texas State softball. Despite him spending his own money to fund the gear he needs to shoot games; he still finds it important to pay for his entry into the stadium. He doesn’t feel entitled to his time in the ballpark.

“It’s not my right to come in here and shoot games,” he says. “It’s a privilege and trust from Coach Woodard that allows me to do it.”

“People tell me I’m out of my mind,” Vives said. “Spending this much money on equipment and tickets just to give the photos away. But over the years, having gotten close with the team, being able to see all the things they do, to me, the least I can do is give them photos.”

In his eyes, he may not be able to donate the money for new facilities or a new uniform, but he can give enough for a seat in the ballpark, and he can use his time to give the players a memento of their time as Bobcats.

As Texas State gets ready for their 2025 season beginning on Feb. 6 against Arkansas, Vives will be getting ready too and you can catch him in the ballpark with his camera in hand.