BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Edinburg North’s Giancarlo Servin is predictable in the best way.
Edinburg North plated five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning of Friday’s Game 1 in a Class 6A bi-district series against Harlingen High to make the score 5-1.
In the following half inning, the senior pitcher came out and started dealing. He struck out the first two Cardinals, walked a batter and then got another punch out to end the frame.
After that, Edinburg North coach Damian Gonzalez was feeling confident.
“He got going,” Gonzalez said. “That’s what I told my assistant coach. I said, ‘Hey man, we are good. He’s locked in now.’”
Servin felt like he could do no wrong in that inning. He had been struggling with his changeup early in the game, but in the top of the fifth, it was unhittable.
“I was trying to get the changeup over,” Servin said. “I was kind of gripping it too tight and throwing it straight into the dirt. I got it to work that inning and I got my curve over for a strike also. I was letting the guys work. The defense, the eight guys behind me, they did a great job.”
With the freedom to throw strikes, Servin shut the game down and the Cougars cruised to a 9-2 victory.
Servin went the distance, striking out nine, while allowing three hits, two runs and three walks.
He was also the catalyst on offense. In the first with a man on, he hit a shallow fly ball to right. Just as the ball was going to drop, the right fielder for Harlingen made a diving catch to end the inning.
In the fourth, Servin got the party going with a single. Junior Jose Salinas, senior Willy Oyervides and junior Junior Almeida all followed with singles. Almeida’s single scored Servin, and the other three eventually came around to score, as well.
“I knew we were going to score a lot of runs,” Almeida said. “We just needed a little spark to get going, and the rest would come. It was a blast. It’s what’s good about baseball. That’s what makes it fun, when you are hitting and hitting after a deficit.”
Almeida was on fire all night, going 3-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. His hits were not the most beautiful, but they found the right gaps in the defense, and his speed helped him reach safely.
“We joke around about it a lot,” Gonzalez said. “His swing isn’t the best. It isn’t the greatest, but he puts the ball in play and it finds a hole all the time. He does a good job of making contact with the ball, and today it found the holes. He had a tremendous night for us, and it sparked us.”
Almeida said the big night was a respite for him because he had been struggling in the last few games.
The hits from Almeida fueled the team.
“He’s been really big in big situations for us this past year,” Servin said. “He’s been getting really productive at-bats for us, and it’s big for our team.”
Sophomore leadoff batter Argelio Guajardo went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Senior catcher Saul Garza went 0 for 2 but had two walks and a run scored. Oyervides went 3 for 4 with 2 runs.
Servin’s complete game was a huge bonus for the Cougars. Gonzalez will have his full pitching arsenal at his disposal for a potential doubleheader today in Harlingen. Game 2 starts at 4 p.m., with Game 3 following 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2, if it is needed.
“Servin is a beast,” Almeida said. “He did great, like he’s done all year. With him going all seven, we save the rest of the pitchers for tomorrow. Because they didn’t pitch today and get worn out, they will be fresh.”