RGVSPORTS.COM
Less than 24 hours after his RBI single in the seventh inning won Game 1 of Edinburg High’s Class 6A regional quarterfinal against Laredo United, Daniel Solis struck again.
The junior infielder knocked in the game-tying hit in the seventh during Saturday’s Game 2 and Josh Aguirre followed with the go-ahead two-run single to win 3-1 and sweep the Longhorns at Roma.
The Bobcats advanced to next week’s regional semifinals against San Antonio Johnson.
“Daniel has been around this game long enough,” Bobcats coach Robert Valdez said. “He had some game-winning hits as a freshman and he’s played a key role in our lineup the last couple of years. He’s been in position the last few days to help this team and he’s taken advantage of it.”
Senior right-hander Luis Ortega allowed one run and earned the win in six innings. He struck out five, allowed nine hits and walked two. Jaime Alvarado shut the Longhorns down in the bottom of the seventh to close it out.
“This team has gotten to this point with resiliency and belief in each other,” said Valdez, who also credited his coaching staff of David Kaz, Mike Soto and Toby Gonzales. “The funny thing with this group is it’s been a different person each and every night. It’s a next-man-up mentality.”
Aguirre is a junior outfielder who made a key adjustment before his game-winning at-bat.
“Ironically, he’d struggled previously,” Valdez said. “But he was more patient, and he just waited for the pitch he wanted during that last at-bat. I think we as a team were just rushing early. We were anxious. We had to calm down.”
The Bobcats improved to 24-3-1.
LA JOYA PALMVIEW 8, LAREDO ALEXANDER 6; LAREDO ALEXANDER 9, LA JOYA PALMVIEW 3: At La Joya, Palmview held off state-ranked Alexander in Game 2 of their regional quarterfinal series to prevent a sweep but fell in Game 3.
The Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 in Class 6A in the state by Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association, scored two runs in the first inning of Game 3 and never looked back. In Game 2, Palmview rallied from a 5-0 deficit after four innings to force a decisive third game.
Alexander ended Palmview’s season in the third round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
The Lobos finished the season 22-6-1.
CLASS 4A
HIDALGO 9, ROCKPORT-FULTON 6: At Laredo, another playoff game meant another offensive explosion for the Pirates as they swept the best-of-three regional quarterfinals.
It was the fourth time in five playoff games Hidalgo scored at least seven runs.
“We’re finding ways to stay in the game, and our bats are coming alive,” Hidalgo coach Karlos Carrasco said. “Teams have tried to pitch around us, but we’ve been so disciplined, especially in these playoffs.
“Now teams have to pitch to us. The offense is something we haven’t seen all year.”
Oscar Noguera drilled a homer for the Pirates in the first inning. Hidalgo jumped out to a 3-0 lead, then trailed, then got back up in the fourth inning and never looked back.
Kike Mendoza started the game for Hidalgo and got the win, and sophomore Raul Ortiz came on in the fourth inning to keep Rockport-Fulton down.
“We’ve been very competitive,” Carrasco said. “A lot of kids are coming up with the big hit. The good thing is we’ve been putting the pressure on and bringing guys in.”
The Pirates are averaging 9.8 runs and are 5-0 through three playoff series’.
“The bats are peaking for us,” Carrasco said. “But the good thing is we have yet to peak as a team, and that’s scary.”
Hidalgo improved to 23-5-1.