DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
With only two seniors on its roster, Edcouch-Elsa has been wildly up and down this season. The Yellowjackets are responsible for the lone blemish on District 32-5A power PSJA High’s district record, but also have underwhelming defeats to Donna High and Donna North.
“It doesn’t matter how young you are, it matters how good you are,” E-E coach Xavy Acosta said. “Sometimes young or inexperience doesn’t mean bad. We just haven’t been able to put all three phases of our game together.”
It would behoove Edcouch-Elsa (7-7, 4-3) to remedy that sooner than later. Five teams are vying for two playoff spots in the district, assuming that PSJA High and Donna North don’t suffer collapses with seven games left in the regular season.
The Yellowjackets are one of those teams. Senior right-hander Jacob Martinez has been solid on the mound, going 5-2 with 48 strikeouts. Junior Josh Garcia is batting .500.
But it will take more, Acosta said. A lot more.
“They’re fighting and they’re keeping afloat, but we’re not playing to the level I thought we’d be at right now,” Acosta said. “The biggest thing we hope for is great pitching. It’s at the point where we may need a shutout from Jacob every night. But what we are trying to do is keep them together and keep them motivated and having a positive outlook.”
CORTINAS RETURNS TO ROMA
Rio Grande City coach Rock Cortinas returns to the place he spent the last 12 years when the Rattlers visit neighbor Roma on Friday for a big District 31-5A game.
With a win, the Rattlers can force a tie with Roma for the fourth and final playoff spot in district with five games left.
“That’s the team we’re trailing right now,” Cortinas said. “It’s a big game and a big rivalry and it’s more important for us to get back into it.”
Cortinas also returns to his former home, where he spent 12 years and rebuilt Roma’s baseball program into a playoff participant and district threat following a thrilling postseason run last year.
“It’s a place I spent 12 years and had a lot of success,” Cortinas said. “Twelve good years. Now I’m here in Rio and this is where I have my full attention.”
Cortinas is in a similar situation at Rio Grande City as when he started at Roma. He’s trying to establish his culture. He’s trying to find leaders.
The Rattlers missed the playoffs last season and made it as a fourth-place team in 2014.
“The hard part is trying to get some consistency going,” Cortinas said. “We’ve shown good signs of playing good ball and then we lose it. It’s a confidence thing. It’s like every close game we’ve played has gone the other direction.
“It’s not because of a lack of commitment and effort. The kids are buying in. It’s breaking them out of the mold.”
Cortinas has some help. Junior left-hander Ruben Sepulveda has been the team’s anchor on the mound and at the plate. He missed the first game against Roma with an ankle injury during the first round of district play, but will pitch today.
“He’s just even-keel, one of those cool guys,” Cortinas said. “Nothing seems to faze him. He’s smooth in everything he does and the game looks easy for him.”
Robert Briseño is another key piece. Cortinas said the three-year JV player has been a humble professional and the team’s second-best hitter.
CLOSE, BUT NOT ENOUGH
Of Mission High’s 10 losses this season, six have been by one run.
“We just haven’t been able to hit with guys in scoring position,” coach Rick Lozano said. “Our pitching has kept us in the games.”
The Eagles are 7-10, 3-4 in District 30-6A. They have been a feisty and competitive bunch and are one game out of a playoff spot.
The pitching has been fine. Senior Brian Cantu has been the Eagles’ rock. Boasting experience, Cantu has a good knuckleball, a decent slider and gets ahead in counts and throws strikes.
Offense, however, has been an issue. The Eagles, Lozano said, don’t work the count and swing at bad pitches.
“We haven’t had timely hitting,” Lozano said. “And then some nights we get timely hitting, but have six errors.”
Mission High is both young and inexperienced, not an ideal recipe. The Eagles have started two freshmen and play three juniors.