BY BRYAN RAMOS | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Friday night’s matchup between the Edinburg Vela SaberCats and Weslaco High Panthers was like watching an unstoppable force against an immovable object. But in the game of baseball, something’s gotta give.
Edinburg Vela’s Nico Rodriguez and Weslaco High’s Jon Castillo carried a scoreless tie into the bottom of the fifth inning, but Ramsey Amador changed that with a bases-loaded single that drove in two runs, leading the SaberCats to a 4-0 win over the Panthers at Edinburg Vela High School.
Amador battled an illness during the game, but that didn’t stop the senior from reaching base in every plate appearance, going 2 for 2 with a walk, one run and two RBIs.
“We just wanted to come out with chemistry because Weslaco is a good team with good coaching. Our bats weren’t hot early, but later in the game they woke up,” Amador said. “I just threw out my hands and put it to the other side of the field. I really wanted that one. I wanted to bring all the guys in and put the team on me.”
This one had district title implications all over it as the SaberCats entered the game a perfect 8-0 in 31-6A with the Panthers right on their tail at 6-1. Vela’s win gives the SaberCats a three-game lead in district play and a path to a second consecutive district championship.
Edinburg Vela coach Jaime Perez said he thought the game was like a heavyweight fight with the SaberCats weathering the storm late.
“I thought the performance was very gutsy. They brought it to us, we weathered the storm like a heavyweight fight and got the big hit when we needed it,” Perez said. “What a way to end a fight, with a decision like this.”
Rodriguez pitched a complete game shutout for the SaberCats, striking out 14 batters while improving his record to 2-0 against the Panthers and 7-1 on the season. In Edinburg Vela’s two games against Weslaco, Rodriguez allowed zero earned runs and racked up 27 strikeouts.
“Weslaco is a good team and it was very important to me (to have the ball in my hand). It just meant a lot to me that coach trusted me with the ball against them,” Rodriguez said. “The coaches were calling great pitches and I just trusted in their plan to get me where I am.”
Vela’s No. 2 pitcher, senior Marc Esquivel, pitched a no-hitter Tuesday and stepped in to pinch hit Friday, delivering a 2-run double for the SaberCats’ other two runs.
Weslaco High’s Axel Camarena and Jaden Cavazos combined for five hits off Rodriguez, but the rest of the Panthers lineup couldn’t get it done against the SaberCats ace.
Edinburg Vela (20-4-2, 9-0) can clinch the district championship by winning one of its last three games to close the regular season.
“We all just need to get on each other and not slack off. Every day, just go hard and see where we can go,” Rodriguez said.