La Joya High, the No. 7 team in the state according to the latest Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 6A Poll, completed its perfect run through the 2021 regular season by defeating Edinburg Economedes 13-2 on Tuesday.
The Coyotes (16-0, 16-0) are the last unbeaten team in the Rio Grande Valley after marching through District 31-6A to win the program’s first district title since 2017.
La Joya has dominated its competition thus far, holding 10 of its 16 opponents to one run or less while pitching four shutouts. The pitching combination of left-handed pitcher JC Gutierrez (Texas Tech commit) and right-handed pitchers Angel Solis and Hugo Cantu has allowed the Coyotes to put together a 1.61 team ERA. Offensively, they’ve also scored 10 or more runs in nine games.
With the regular season in the books, the Coyotes are set to play in a warm-up game against Rio Grande City before the playoffs begin in two weeks. La Joya High will meet the No. 4 seed from District 32-6A in the bi-district round of the postseason.
PORTER TOPS EAST IN 14 INNINGS
Brownsville Porter and Weslaco East delivered a 14-inning thriller Tuesday night that ended with the Cowboys winning 3-2 in walk-off fashion on their home field.
The two playoff teams showed why they’re still in the running for the District 32-5A championship, taking each other down to the wire.
Porter (17-4, 11-2) scored one run during the first inning before Weslaco East (13-4, 9-1) tied the game at 1 during the top of the sixth. It took eight more innings to determine a winner as the Wildcats pulled ahead 2-1 during the top of the 14th, only to see their lead vanish after an Alejandro Torres RBI single and a run scored on an error by Diego Rivera for the 3-2 Porter victory.
Porter’s Christopher Sauceda and Osir Medrano combined to throw 13 innings, while allowing six hits and six walks and striking out 20.
The Wildcats and Cowboys are set to clash in Game 2 at 6 p.m. Friday at Weslaco East High School.
BOBCATS, RAIDERS TO BATTLE FOR PLAYOFF BERTH
The final playoff spot up for grabs in District 31-6A will be settled Friday night as the Edinburg High Bobcats travel to face the PSJA North Raiders for a “win and you’re in” situation.
The Bobcats and Raiders split their season series, forcing both teams into a play-in game for District 31-6A’s No. 4 seed.
Edinburg High prevailed 7-2 in the first meeting March 9, while PSJA North returned the favor with a 4-3 victory against the Bobcats on April 6.
First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at PSJA North High School.