By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
Before the UIL athletics suspension begins Monday, Brownsville Pace and Brownsville Hanna got one last game in Saturday.
The Hanna Golden Eagles came out on top in an 8-4 ballgame that was played tighter than the score shows. A five-run seventh was the difference Hanna needed to come from behind and get the win.
“It was pretty important (to get this win) because it’ll build their confidence for the rest of the season, if we have a season,” Hanna coach Orlando Crenshaw said. “I want these boys to feel comfortable and confident that they can play with anybody, and come from behind and fight through adversity.”
Shortstop Anthony Ambriz started things off with a blooper that fell into no-man’s land in shallow left field off Pace starter John Moody. The Golden Eagles hit four singles during the first three innings, but failure to hit behind runners and a base-running error kept them off the board.
The Vikings went through the lineup once before Brandon Narvaez got a hit off Hanna starting pitcher Mark Alonzo the second time he faced him in the third. Narvaez came around to score on a throwing error by Hanna catcher Kevin Zamuclio to put Pace on top 1-0.
Zamuclio made up for the mistake with a perfectly executed sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth to tie the game off Narvaez, who took the mound in relief to start the frame. In the fifth, Hanna took its first lead as center fielder Roman Arredondo ripped a two-run double to deep center.
Pace answered in the bottom half with a three-spot to regain the lead at 4-3. Shortstop Jose Banda sent a two-run double to center field and took third base on a throw home. Banda earned the hit after a solid at-bat, working the count full after falling behind early. He came around to score on a wild pitch before the inning ended on a Pace base-running error.
Both teams made pitching changes in the sixth, as Pace sent John Garcia to the mound and Hanna countered with Derek Alvarado. Garcia put the first two batters he faced on base, but two strikeouts and a highlight-reel diving catch by left fielder Andres Garcia kept the runners from scoring. Alvarado made quick work of the Vikings, striking out three of four batters faced.
In a do-or-die situation, the Golden Eagles responded exactly how Crenshaw wanted.
John Garcia issued three free bases after a leadoff fly out, forcing Pace skipper Roy Rodriguez to put Agustine Garcia on the mound in a bases-loaded, one-out jam.
“We had the lead going to the seventh, but we just couldn’t close the inning. That’s been our biggest issue this year,” Rodriguez said. “If we eliminate the mistakes it’s a different outcome, but (Hanna) took advantage of our mistakes.”
Ryan Trinidad took advantage of the new arm, driving in two runs on a double to right field that hugged the foul line. Three batters later, Alonzo dropped a two-out, two-run single in shallow right field.
“This is what we work on at practice. I put them in tough situations at practice, because if you can come through there you should be able to do it in a game. Now, that remained to be seen until today. They showed me they can come through in big moments today,” Crenshaw said.
Agustine Garcia notched his only strikeout to end the half-inning after Hanna took a four-run lead. Pace had a chance to cut into that as three singles loaded the bases with two down in the bottom of the seventh, but Alvarado ended the game with a hard-earned strikeout of Andrew Banda.
Alonzo led the Golden Eagles on the mound and at the plate. The senior gave up four runs on three hits and four walks while striking out eight. He also recorded three hits and two RBIs. Crenshaw said Alonzo is one of the guys he can depend on in big moments and was happy with his efforts.
“I can’t do anything without the team having my back. It’s a pretty good feeling getting a hit and making everything change, but we’re just going to get back to work,” Alonzo said.