BY BRYAN RAMOS | STAFF WRITER
The first pitch of the UIL baseball playoffs has been thrown as teams across the Rio Grande Valley begin the journey into the postseason. The 2019 playoffs offers plenty of intrigue in the bi-district round with rematches from tourney play between top teams, evenly matched opponents fighting it out in Round 1, and win-or-go home situations for eight Valley teams in one-game playoffs.
CLASS 6A-REGION IV
EDINBURG VELA VS. HARLINGEN SOUTH
The first-round battle between the District 31-6A champion Edinburg Vela SaberCats and 32-6A’s fourth seed, the Hawks, offers a rematch from tournament play earlier this season. Harlingen South’s Nick Muniz threw a no-hitter against the SaberCats on their home field for a 6-0 victory March 8.
Entering this week’s three-game series, the SaberCats are riding a 12-game winning streak as they finished unbeaten in district play, 10-run ruling eight opponents. Game 1 is set for 7 tonight at Edinburg Vela, Game 2 at 7 p.m. Friday at Harlingen South, with Game 3 (if necessary) scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Edinburg Vela.
WESLACO HIGH VS. LOS FRESNOS
The Panthers and Falcons deliver a bi-district meeting between two of the RGVSports.com’s Top 10 teams in a one-game playoff. Weslaco High (24-6, 9-3) earned the two-seed in 31-6A behind solid pitching from senior starter Jon Castillo and a deep, dangerous lineup.
The Panthers host the Falcons at 7 p.m. Friday at Weslaco High, with the winner moving on while the loser’s season comes to a close.
EDINBURG HIGH VS. HARLINGEN HIGH
The Bobcats are back in the playoffs for the first time in three seasons after putting together a 7-5 record in 31-6A. Edinburg High will square off against the Harlingen High Cardinals from 32-6A, who held onto first place up until the final week of district play.
The three-game series between the Bobcats and Cardinals began Wednesday with Harlingen winning 7-2. Game 2 is set for 7 Thursdayat Edinburg High and Game 3 (if necessary) scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Harlingen High.
EDINBURG NORTH VS. BROWNSVILLE RIVERA
District 31-6A’s fourth-seed Edinburg North has lost six of its last seven entering postseason play. Its reward? A first-round date against Brownsville Rivera, the district champs from 32-6A.
The Cougars and Raiders will clash in a three-game series starting at 7 tonight at Brownsville Rivera, Game 2 at 7 p.m. Friday at Edinburg North, with Game 3 (if necessary) to be played at 2 p.m. Saturday at Rivera.
PSJA HIGH VS. LAREDO UNITED
The District 30-6A champion PSJA High Bears are set to face a familiar foe in the opening round of the playoffs. Laredo United ended PSJA High’s season two years ago, when many of the now-Bears were just sophomores and freshmen.
PSJA High (23-6, 12-2) will look to knock off the Longhorns in a three-game series which gets underway at 7 tonight at PSJA High School. The Bears travel to Laredo for Game 2 at 7 p.m. Friday, with Game 3 (if necessary) slated for 2 p.m. Saturday at Roma High School.
McALLEN HIGH VS. EAGLE PASS
The Bulldogs and Eagles are set to clash in a rematch from tournament play earlier this season in which McHi walked away with a 6-3 win. This time around, the Bulldogs will have to take care of business away from home as all three games of their bi-district series will be played in Laredo with Game 1 at 7 p.m. Friday at the Student Activity Complex, while Games 2 and 3 are set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Krueger Field.
PSJA NORTH VS. LAREDO ALEXANDER
PSJA North will be looking to avenge a 6-2 loss from tournament play when they take the field for a three-game series against Laredo Alexander this weekend. The third-seed Raiders from 30-6A will meet the Bulldogs halfway as all three games will be played at Roma High School with Game 1 at 7 tonight, Game 2 at 7 p.m. Friday, and Game 3 (if necessary) at 5 p.m. Saturday.
LA JOYA HIGH VS. LAREDO UNITED SOUTH
The La Joya High Coyotes will be upset-minded entering the first-round against Laredo United South, the 29-6A district champions. The Coyotes must rally around each other to take two of three from the Panthers, and it starts at home. La Joya High will host United South at 7 p.m. Friday at La Joya High, with Games 2 and 3 set for 2 p.m. Saturday in Laredo.
CLASS 5A-REGION IV
SHARYLAND HIGH VS. EDCOUCH-ELSA
The district champion Sharyland High Rattlers (27-4, 12-2) from 31-5A will have to take their game on the road to open the 2019 playoffs in a win-or-go home situation against the Edcouch-Elsa Yellow Jackets, the fourth-seed from 32-5A.
The Rattlers have one of the most dangerous lineups in the RGV and the Yellow Jackets will have to keep them contained for seven innings in order to pull off the upset. The one-game playoff between Sharyland High and Edcouch-Elsa is set for 7 tonight at Edcouch-Elsa High School.
SHARYLAND PIONEER VS. BROWNSVILLE LOPEZ
The Diamondbacks have earned their second straight playoff berth and are looking to continue building a tradition of winning in May. Pioneer brings a deep pitching staff to the table with four guys capable of shutting an opponent down. The Diamondbacks (28-5, 11-3) will face the Brownsville Lopez Lobos in a one-game playoff at 7 p.m. Friday at Sharyland Pioneer.
RIO GRANDE CITY VS. VALLEY VIEW
The Rattlers and Tigers will duel in a three-game series between fairly evenly matched teams. Both were area finalists a season ago, but that will change as only one will move on to the second round. The series gets underway at 7 tonight at Valley View, Game 2 is set for 7 p.m. Friday, with Game 3 (if necessary) scheduled for Saturday in Rio with a time to be determined.
LA JOYA PALMVIEW VS. BROWNSVILLE VETERANS
One game. Winner take all. That’s the case for La Joya Palmview and Brownsville Veterans as the Lobos get set to host their first ever playoff game at Palmview High School. Brownsville Veterans, the 32-5A champs, has lost just once since March 11.
Palmview pitcher Jon Martinez is looking to deliver the Chargers another loss and he might be just the guy to get the job done as the junior holds wins over Sharyland High, Sharyland Pioneer and Rio Grande City on the season. The one-game playoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Palmview High School.
CLASS 4A-REGION IV
HIDALGO VS. INGLESIDE
The Pirates and Mustangs are taking over Hebbronville High School where all three of their first-round games set to take place. Hidalgo earned the two-seed in 32-4A, while Ingleside fell into third after losing a seeding game against Beeville Jones. Hidalgo fell 2-1 in eight innings in Game 1. Games 2 and 3 are set for Friday starting at 5 p.m.
PROGRESO VS. BEEVILLE JONES
The Progreso Red Ants (15-7, 10-4) enter the first round of the postseason as winners of five straight, including victories over the district champion Zapata Hawks and playoff-bound Rio Hondo. Expect Josh San Roman to carry on his standout season into the playoffs with the Red Ants looking to take down Beeville Jones.
The three-game series between Progreso and Beeville Jones is set for 7 tonight in Beeville, with Games 2 and (if necessary) 3 starting at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Edcouch-Elsa High School.