By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
CORPUS CHRISTI — Mother Nature wasn’t kind to the Los Fresnos Falcons during the Region IV-6A final.
Just when the Falcons started to get a rally going in the bottom of the sixth inning Thursday, lightning struck and forced a weather delay.
Almost three hours later, the contest was officially postponed with the Smithson Valley Rangers leading 2-0. When the game resumes at 11 a.m. today at Cabaniss Field in Corpus Christi, weather permitting, the Falcons will have the bases loaded with one out.
Smithson Valley jumped out to its two-run advantage in the top of the first. A throwing error put Tim Arguello on, then he came around to score on a single by catcher Ethan Gonzalez. On the same play, Garrett Brooks, who was walked, raced home and beat the throw to the plate to score.
Los Fresnos senior ace Victor Loa got the start and went six innings before maxing out his pitch count. Loa and the Falcons’ defense sat the Rangers down in order during the second and third innings. Smithson Valley put runners on in the final three innings played Thursday, but the Falcons kept them off the board.
Two free bases on a walk and a hit batter sparked a scoring threat in the fifth as Smithson Valley’s runners advanced to third and second after a pitch in the dirt. Loa recovered to record a big strikeout to end the inning. The southpaw finished the night allowing two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
The Falcons put the ball in play consistently, but the Rangers’ defense cleaned up contact and kept Los Fresnos from moving runners around. Matthew Padilla, Loa and Jose Cervantes each hit singles but were ultimately left stranded.
Los Fresnos remained aggressive at the plate despite Smithson Valley’s solid defensive play, and the effort paid off in the sixth. Josh Munoz reached after being hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, then moved over to second on a sacrifice by Sidney Moore. Germain Castillo and Loa each knocked hard infield grounders that resulted in errors to load the bases with one away.
The Falcons and their large crowd were fired up by the budding rally, but they didn’t get a chance to ride the momentum. Los Fresnos will look to capitalize on its chance and secure a spot in the state tournament when action resumes today.