DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
Mission Veterans Memorial recently encountered a couple of key injuries.
First, there was a ligament sprain suffered by Ruben Cavazos, who was hurt on his first swing April 7 against Sharyland High. He’s expected to be out another 10-14 days or so. And then there’s Edward Pena, who suffered a sprained thumb Monday against Roma and is out for at least the next two games.
Fortunately, Vets has rising sophomore Matthew de la Garza, who is hitting .404, tied for the team lead in runs scored, and has a .516 on-base percentage. De la Garza’s versatility (he plays all over the infield) and offensive prowess, coach Casey Smith said, allows flexibility in the lineup.
“He understands situations, counts, what we want at the plate,” Smith said of his underclassman that joined the varsity during last year’s playoffs. “He’s got baseball savvy. He just gets it.”
Without its two all-staters in the lineup, Mission Vets (15-6, 6-2 District 31-5A) has remained competitive. It fell to Sharyland, then bounced back with a big win against Roma.
“It is what it is,” Smith said. “You lose two of your best three hitters, and you’re going to have a hard time replacing them. But having someone like Matty gives me room to move people around.”
Smith said the team will get by with more of a small-ball approach. Until then, he won’t return Cavazos or Pena unless they’re at full health.
NOT QUITE THERE
Hidalgo coach Karlos Carrasco has not lost a district game during his three years at the helm. So far this season, he’s 9-0, all the more impressive since No. 2 pitcher Allan Wilburn has pitched just one game this season because of arm and hamstring injuries.
Still, it’s not all gravy for the Pirates.
“Right now, I feel like there’s something not clicking,” Carrasco said. “It happens every year, which is good because we usually peak at the right time.”
Aside from Wilburn, pitcher Adrian Ruiz has also been sidelined with arm injuries, so Carrasco has turned to Kike Mendoza, little-used as a pitcher, and Mike Alvarez, never used as a pitcher, on the mound.
The Pirates have not had a full, healthy rotation yet this season. But that’s OK, Carrasco said. His team is a perennial late-bloomer.
Last year, Hidalgo, which has relied heavily on pitching and defense because of offensive inconsistency, didn’t hit its stride until the playoffs versus Kingsville King. The year before, it wasn’t until a Game 3 third-round win against Robstown that the Pirates reached their peak.
“I’m happy because we’re winning,” Carrasco said. “But we’re not satisfied. We haven’t found a groove yet. We haven’t found ourselves.”
Good news, though. Wilburn is probable to return next week, just in time for the playoffs.
WANTED: A HOME
Edinburg Vela’s baseball field is not exactly ideal. Vela, coach Jaime Perez said, has the state’s smallest baseball field, while boasting the state’s largest softball field.
More than that, however, Perez’s field is uneven. Left field is at least a foot lower than right field, and the baseball field is on lower ground than the softball field. That makes this season, full of relentless rain, a trying one.
“Our bullpen is on flat ground,” Perez said. “We haven’t practiced the last three days; we had to rent out a facility. It’s ridiculous. It can’t stay like that.”
It has caught the district’s attention. Perez said the district is looking to either build a new baseball field for Vela, likely off campus “near old Bobcats Stadium near the football stadium,” or remodel the current one.
“It all comes down to money and winning games,” said Perez, whose team qualified for the playoffs for the first time in program history with Thursday’s win over Pioneer. “If we get to the third round (of the playoffs), then I think we can get what we want. But they’ve got to do something, because every time it rains we can’t get on for a week. I know they’re working to fix the problem.”
Inclement weather, which has forced a plethora of postponements and cancellations for baseball and softball teams this season, has made a long-term impact. Perez said Edcouch-Elsa is going to full turf on its field next season, and PSJA Memorial and PSJA North will likely have turf fields in the near future.
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RGVSPORTS.COM TOP 10 BASEBALL POLL
Rank, Team Record Previous
1, Sharyland High 16-2 1
2, Brownsville Veterans Memorial 15-1 2
3, Edinburg High 13-2-1 4
4, Harlingen South 14-3 5
5, La Joya Palmview 13-2-1 7
6, Hidalgo 14-4-1 6
7, Edinburg North 13-3-2 3
8, Brownsville Porter 12-5 10
9, Mission Veterans Memorial 15-6 9
10, PSJA High 12-3-2 NR