BY BRYAN RAMOS | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — La Joya Palmview made its District 31-5A debut Tuesday by beating the Sharyland High Rattlers 6-4 in their own house.
The Rattlers returned the favor Thursday.
Sharyland High responded with an 8-1 road win over the Lobos at Palmview High School to even the series at 1-1 with District 31-5A’s back-to-back scheduling.
“The first game was close, so we knew they were a good team, but we came in this game with the right attitude and ready to play,” Sharyland pitcher Andy Lozano said.
Lozano started and pitched all seven innings for the Rattlers, striking out seven, but it was his bat that produced Sharyland’s biggest hit.
Already up 2-0 off a Chase Gerlach RBI and a Juan Lopez steal of home, Abraham Alvarez led off the top of the fourth with a double deep to center field for Sharyland. Two outs and two hit batters later, Lozano stepped up to the plate and ripped a bases-clearing triple into right field to put the Rattlers ahead, 5-0.
Just a few weeks ago, Lozano wasn’t doing so hot at the plate. The junior shortstop and Sharyland’s number-two pitcher was struggling hitting out of the nine spot. As of late, however, Rattlers coach Barton Bickerton said he’s been on a tear, increasing his average to almost .500, and was in control on the mound Thursday, throwing four pitches consistently for strikes.
“He was unbelievable today; he did what we couldn’t do on Tuesday,” Bickerton said. “He’s a guy that really struggled at the beginning of the year and we were wondering if we were going to be able to hit him anymore, because we had him in the nine-hole, and he was on his way out of the lineup. Since that time, he’s just on a tear. He’s one of those kids that just works hard, and he never gave up on himself and he did an amazing job.”
Alvarez knocked in another run for the Rattlers, who were also aided by four Palmview errors, which added three unearned runs to Sharyland’s lead. The win improves Sharyland High to 16-3 and 1-1 in 31-5A play.
Palmview coach Manuel Garcia Jr. said you can’t give anything to a good team like Sharyland because they’ll take full advantage.
“I told the kids before the game that the team that had less errors was going to win the game, and we made some big errors with runners in scoring position and they took advantage,” Garcia said. “When you make errors, a solid team is going to take advantage.”
Palmview’s Jonathan Martinez drove in the Lobos’ lone run in the bottom of the sixth with a double, allowing Albino Villarreal to cross the plate.
Even after the loss, the Lobos split with one of the top teams in 31-5A and are now 13-6 on the season, far surpassing last year’s 7-18-1 record. Garcia said the experience of last year’s down season has helped this team come together in 2019.
“That was last year. We got experience, now let’s go and play,” Garcia said. “They got to play together and when they do, it’s evident they can play well. We just have to trust in each other and have faith in each other. It’s a long season; we still have to keep on playing.”