BY BRYAN RAMOS | STAFF WRITER
PROGRESO — Hidalgo pitcher Sammy Salazar was dealing Saturday morning and there was nothing Progreso could do to stop him.
Salazar pitched a complete game and struck out 11 as the Pirates shut out the Red Ants 3-0 in District 32-4A action at Progreso High School. After being on the other end of a shutout Tuesday, the junior pitcher said this one was for the team.
“I came in with the mentality of getting the win and doing it for the team. We haven’t really been doing well in district, so this one was for the team,” he said.
Salazar kept the Red Ants off balance with his breaking ball, and they couldn’t catch up with his fastball. He allowed one hit on an infield single, walked none and hit one batter across seven innings.
The Pirates offense was able to come through for Salazar with a run in the first inning, allowing him to work with the lead. Center fielder Canelo Diaz singled and was brought in by Mike Vela two batters later for a 1-0 edge.
“He pitched a great game for us today,” Hidalgo coach Karlos Carrasco said. “We did struggle there with the bat at the beginning. The good thing is we jumped on them right away to get that 1-0 lead, which took us into the sixth inning. He kept us in the game and he did a great job for us.”
Salazar wasn’t the only pitcher dealing, however. After allowing the run to open the game, Progreso’s Josh San Roman found his groove as he struck out nine consecutive batters during the third, fourth and fifth innings before being pulled during the sixth.
Hidalgo went on to add two runs with a homer from Kyle Perales and a sacrifice fly by Raul Robles during the top of the sixth, sealing the victory.
The win sends the Pirates to 6-3 in what Carrasco feels is the deepest 32-4A has been in his seven years as head coach. Meanwhile, Progreso falls to 5-4 in district play.
“The seven years I’ve been the head coach here, this is the toughest the district has ever been. The last team in the standings could beat the best team in the standings, and I think every team’s been through it,” Carrasco said. “Every win counts in this district and this win is big for us because we were tied (with Progreso) in second place, so that’s a big plus for us.”