By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
Harlingen High’s season came to an end Friday night at the hands of District 29-6A champion Laredo United South, dropping the first game 4-2 and the second game of a best-of-three series 10-0 in five innings in the area round of the Class 6A playoffs.
Thursday’s game in Laredo was postponed by lightning in the area and resumed in the top of the fourth inning with the Cardinals (19-20, 10-5 32-6A) trailing 3-2.
On Thursday, Panthers right fielder Manny Navarro walked and scored on a throwing error by third baseman Abel Flores to start the Laredo United South rally. Second baseman Devin Benavides singled to left, following a single to right from catcher Alex Cerda. Cerda scored on an overthrown pickoff attempt at third and shortstop Bernard Pedraza singled home Benavides to put Panthers up 3-0.
Shortstop Thomas Lyssy plated center fielder Frank Rodriguez and pitcher John Ortega hit an RBI double during the third to bring the Cardinals within one run.
Starting pitcher Hector Alva continued right where he left off for the Panthers (29-8-1, 10-2 29-6A), throwing 55 pitches through his first three innings of work Thursday and tossing four shutout innings Friday.
“I think our strong point has been our pitching,” Laredo United South coach Rudy Saldivar said. “Our pitchers have been able to get a lot of outs, and today was no exception.”
The Cardinals started Jaime Galvan on the mound during the second game. Harlingen High coach Armando Rangel said Galvan struggled, and the pitcher was lifted in the first inning for Jacob Marroquin down 2-0 with the bases loaded.
“We gave them five runs in the first inning,” Rangel said. “So it was an uphill battle from there. They’re a good ballclub, they make routine plays. We hit the ball well, but they won the district for a reason over there. They’re a good ballclub, and I wish them luck.
“We gave it a run, we gave it a fight, but they were the better team today.”
Laredo United South advances to face Los Fresnos in the regional quarterfinal.