Tuesday, April 14

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial 8, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 4

La Joya Palmview 8, La Joya High 6

McAllen Rowe at McAllen High, ppd.

District 31-6A

Weslaco East 5, PSJA Memorial 2

Edinburg High 1, Weslaco High 0

PSJA North at Edinburg North,ppd

District 32-6A

Brownsville Veterans Memorial 9, Brownsville Hanna 0

San Benito 5, Harlingen High 0

Harlingen South at Los Fresnos, 7 p.m.

District 31-5A

Mission Veterans at Sharyland Pioneer, ppd.

Sharyland High at Roma, ppd.

Edinburg Vela at Valley View, ppd.

District 32-5A

Mercedes 3, Donna North 2

PSJA High 11, PSJA Southwest 0

Brownsville Pace at Donna High, ppd.

District 32-4A

Raymondville at Hidalgo, ppd.

Port Isabel at Progreso, not reported

Zapata at La Feria, not reported

Grulla at Rio Hondo, not reported

Wednesday, April 15

District 30-6A

McAllen High at La Joya High, 6 p.m.

McAllen Memorial at McAllen Rowe 5:30 p.m.

District 31-6A

PSJA Memorial at Edinburg Economedes, 6 p.m.

PSJA North at Edinburg North, 7:30 p.m.

District 31-5A

Edinburg Vela at Sharyland Pioneer, 7 p.m.

District 31-5A

Donna High at Brownsville Pace, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 16

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe at McAllen High, 6 p.m.

District 32-6A

Brownsville Rivera at Brownsville Lopez, 7 p.m.

Friday, April 17

District 30-6A

McAllen High at La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, 7 p.m.

La Joya Palmview at McAllen Rowe, 7 p.m.

Mission High at La Joya High, 7 p.m.

District 31-6A

PSJA Memorial at PSJA North, 7:30 p.m.

Edinburg Economedes at Weslaco East, 7:30 p.m.

Edinburg North at Edinburg High, 7:30 p.m.

District 32-6A

Harlingen South at Brownsville Rivera, 7 p.m.

Los Fresnos at Harlingen High, 7 p.m.

Brownsville Lopez at Brownsville Hanna, 7 p.m.

Brownsville Veterans Memorial at San Benito, 7 p.m.

District 31-5A

Rio Grande City at Edinburg Vela, 7 p.m.

District 32-5A

Donna North at Edcouch-Elsa, 7 p.m.

PSJA High at Brownsville Pace, 7 p.m.

Brownsville Porter at PSJA Southwest, 7 p.m.

Donna High at Mercedes, 7 p.m.

District 32-4A

Zapata at Grulla, 7:30 p.m.

Progreso at Rio Hondo, 7:30 p.m.

La Feria at Hidalgo, 7:30 p.m.

Port Isabel at Raymondville, 7:30 p.m.

District 32-3A

Edinburg Quest at Monte Alto, 4:30 p.m.

District 32-2A

Bruni at La Sara, 4:30 p.m.

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Rio Grande Valley golf teams and players came up short Tuesday in their bid to send anyone to the Class 6A or 5A boys state tournaments later this month.

At the Class 6A tournament at Cedar Creek Golf Course in San Antonio, McAllen Memorial placed fifth, 38 strokes behind third-place San Antonio Reagan.

The top three teams and top three individuals not on a top-three team qualified for the state tournament.

“We gave it our best effort and I was proud of the kids,” McAllen Memorial coach Celso Gonzales said. “We were trying a little bit too hard. Putts weren’t going in, we were getting frustrated and they were getting mad at themselves. We just weren’t having fun and they kind of felt the heat today.”

Weslaco East senior Paul Meints was the highest Valley individual finisher with a 15th-place standing and 156 two-day total. McAllen Memorial’s Carlos Reyes was a stroke behind, finishing tied for 16th with a 157 score.

Edinburg North’s Phillip Garza finished tied for 21st with a 159 total.

San Antonio Johnson, San Antonio Reagan and San Antonio Brandeis finished as the three team state qualifiers. Those three teams were playing on their home course.

“We just couldn’t read our putts,” Gonzales said. “They looked like they were going to push a certain way and they wouldn’t. The San Antonio teams in the lead, that’s their home course. They play this every day and they know all the breaks and that was a disadvantage for us.”

Johnson’s Sean Meehan won the individual title with a score of 141. He will be joined at state by Brandeis’ Mason Weld and Reagan’s Ben Getman.

The Mustangs graduate two key seniors in Taylor Kucia and Reyes, but sophomore Trevor Kucia will return and Gonzales has some key freshmen looming as well.

“Nobody expected us to be in this position, except us,” Gonzales said. “The kids are talking about next year already, so that’s good.”

At the Class 5A tournament at Republic Golf Club, Edinburg Vela, Mission Veterans Memorial and Edcouch-Elsa all finished in the top 10. Vela finished sixth, 18 strokes behind third-place Boerne Champion with a score of 636. Mission Vets finished in seventh and Edcouch-Elsa finished ninth.

Alamo Heights, Austin Vandegrift and Boerne Champion were the three team state qualifiers. Kerrville Tivy’s Colin Uecker won the individual title with a 140. Uvalde’s Clayton King and San Antonio Edison’s Angelo Leyvani also qualified for state.

Mission Veterans sophomore Diego Hernandez finished tied for eighth with a score of 146, a stroke back of King and Leyvani. Brownsville Porter’s Adrian Saenz finished tied for 18th with a 154. Edinburg Vela’s Alberto Uriegas was the next highest Valley finisher, tied for 22nd with a score of 156.

“Diego’s short game is great. He spends a lot of time on it and that’s what makes a difference with the low scores,” Mission Vets coach Jorge Longoria said. “He was the hitting the ball on the fairways, hitting the greens. He just missed a few there, and it caught up to him at the end.”

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Region IV-6A Golf Tournament

Final Day

Cedar Creek Golf Course, San Antonio

Boys

Team: 1. S.A. Johnson, 604; 2. S.A. Reagan, 607; 3. S.A. Brandeis, 612; 4. New Braunfels (1), 637; 5. McAllen Memorial, 650; 6. Brownsville Hanna, 660; 7. Corpus Christi Ray, 661; 8. S.A. Clark, 662; 9. Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 667; 10. Weslaco High, 673; 11. New Braunfels (2), 674; 12. Laredo Alexander, 686; 13. Laredo United, 691; 14. Edinburg North, 705; 15. Corpus Christi Carroll, 738; 16. McAllen High, 771.

Individuals: 1. Sean Meehan, S.A. Johnson, 141; 2. Mason Weld, S.A. Brandeis, 143; 3. Ben Getman, S.A. Reagan, 143; 4. Christopner Kane, S.A. Warren, 148; T-5. Michael Lebahn, S.A Reagan, 149; T-5. Nick Duggan, Helotes O’Connor, 149; T-7. Andres Acevedo, S.A. Brandeis, 150; T-7. Cole Donielson, S.A. Churchill, 150; T-7. Gerardo Daniel, S.A. Johnson, 150; 10. Marshall Martin, S.A. Johnson, 153; 11. Seger Howell, Converse Judson, 154; T-12. Jonathan Koeppe, S.A. Reagan. 155; T-12. Bailey Burgett, S.A. Brandeis, 155; T-12. John Luhrman, Spring Branch Smithson Valley, 155; 15. Paul Meints, Weslaco East, 156; T-16. Carlos Reyes, McAllen Memorial, 157; T-16. Kevin Pourasef, S.A. Churchill, 157; T-16. Buck Parker, New Braunfels (1), 157; T-19. Matthew McCarthu, New Braunfels (2), 158; T-19. Charles Gambrel, Del Rio, 158; T-21.Phillip Garza, Edinburg North, 159; T-21. Trenton L., New Braunfels (1), 159; T-21. Jason Lopez, New Braunfels (1), 159; T-21. Ruben Samaniego, Brownsville Hanna, 159.

Region IV-5A Golf Tournament

Final Day

Republic Golf Club, San Antonio

Boys

Team: 1. Alamo Heights, 581; 2. Austin Vandegrift (Black), 583; 3. Boerne Champion, 618; 4. Austin Vandegrift (Silver), 621; 5. S.A. Southside, 633; 6. Edinburg Vela, 636; 7. Mission Veterans Memorial, 649; 8. Victoria East, 656; 9. Edcouch-Elsa, 662; 10. Victoria West, 672; 11. Uvalde, 680; 12. Bastrop (1), 703; 13. Bastrop (2), 752; 14. Mercedes, 780; 15. S.A. Highlands, 842; 16. S.A. Edison, 851.

Individuals: 1. Colin Uecker, Kerrville Tivy, 140; T-2. Cooper Dossey, Austin Vandegrift (Black), 141; T-2. Mac Meissner, Alamo Heights, 141; 4. Levi Valdez, Alamo Heights, 142; T-5. Clayton King, Uvalde, 145; T-5. Angelo Leyvani, S.A. Edison, 145; T-5. Tobin Niblett, Austin Vandegrift (Black), 145; T-8. Diego Hernandez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 146; T-8. Charles Kim, Leander Cedar Park, 146; T-8. John Kellum, Alamo Heights, 146; T-11. Brandon Hoff, Austin Vandegrift (Black), 149; T-11. Skyler Young, Austin Vandegrift (Black), 149; 13. Foster Givens, Austin Vandegrift, 150; T-14. Jake Stevenson, Boerne Champion, 152; T-14. Parker Ray, Alamo Heights, 152; T-16. Obed Alvarado, S.A. Southside, 153; T-16. Thomas Winters, Marble Falls, 153; T-18. Harrison Hineline, Boerne Champion, 154; T-18. Adrian Saenz, Brownsville Porter, 154; T-20. Jakob Miller, Austin Vandegrift (Silver), 155; T-20. Daniel Martinez, Austin Vandegrift (Black), 155.; T-22. Chan Pham, Boerne Champion, 156; T-22. Jake Wittschiebe, Boerne Champion, 156; T-22. Anthony Perez, S.A. Southside, 156; T-22. Alberto Uriegas, Edinburg Vela, 156.

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

After the opening round of the Region IV-6A and Region IV-5A boys golf tournaments Monday, two Valley teams and one individual are in contention to qualify for state.

The top three teams and top three individuals not on the top three teams will qualify for the state tournament later this month.

At the Region IV-6A tournament, McAllen Memorial stood in fourth place after the first day at Cedar Creek Golf Course in San Antonio. The Mustangs scored a 314, nine strokes behind third-place San Antonio Johnson.

“We left a lot out there today,” McAllen Memorial coach Celso Gonzales said. “But we didn’t get riled up, we didn’t let mistakes bother us. We overcame mistakes and just moved on to the next hole. The kids weren’t frustrated and they were having fun.”

The Mustangs’ Trevor Kucia was the top Valley finisher after the first day. He shot a 76 to tie for 12th. Teammate Carlos Reyes shot a 77 to tie for 17th.

No other Valley golfer finished in the top 20 at the Class 6A tournament, which was delayed an hour because of bad thunderstorms the previous night.

“The balls were all muddy,” Gonzales said. “It’s hard as it is when it’s dry, but when it’s wet you don’t get the rolls, or things you think might happen don’t because of the mud.”

At the Region IV-5A tournament at Republic Golf Club in San Antonio, Edinburg Vela stood in fifth after the first day with a team score of 311, five back of third-place Austin Vandegrift.

“We’re hanging in there, five strokes out of qualifying for a spot at state,” Vela coach Miguel De Los Santos said. “We’re proud of the way the team did. You can’t win the tournament on the first day, but you sure can lose it. We put ourselves in striking distance.”

Mission Veterans Memorial’s Diego Hernandez is tied for fifth place individually with a score of 72 after the first day. He is three strokes back of first-place Colin Uecker of Kerrville Tivy.

The next highest Valley finisher was Vela’s Alberto Uriegas, who is tied for 18th with a 76.

“These boys have worked hard,” De Los Santos said. “We’ve psyched each other out as far as stepping up when it matters most, and that’s right now. They need to do their best playing and I need to do my best coaching. We just gelled today.”

The Republic Golf Course fairways were slow, De Los Santos said, because of the previous night’s weather. But distances were able to be controlled because the ball stayed where it landed.

“That was good for us today,” De Los Santos said.

The Region IV-6A and 5A boys tournaments conclude Tuesday. The girls start play Wednesday.

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Region IV-6A Golf Tournament

First Day

Cedar Creek Golf Course, San Antonio

Boys

Team: 1. S.A. Reagan, 301; 2. S.A. Brandeis, 302; 3. S.A. Johnson, 305; 4. McAllen Memorial, 314; T-5. New Braunfels (1), 316; T-5. S.A. Clark, 316; T-7. New Braunfels (2), 329); T-7. Brownsville Hanna, 329; 9. Corpus Christi Ray, 330;10. Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 333; 11. Laredo United, 338; 12. Weslaco High, 339; 13. Laredo Alexander, 343; 14. Edinburg North, 354; 15. Corpus Christi Carroll, 368; 16. McAllen High, 396.

Individuals: 1. Mason Weld, S.A. Brandeis, 68; 2. Ben Getman, S.A. Reagan, 69; 3. Nick Duggan, Helotes O’Connor, 72; 4. Gerardo Daniel, S.A. Johnson; T-5. Christopher Kane, S.A. Warren, 74; T-5. Sean Meehan, S.A. Johnson, 74; T-7. Andres Acevedo, S.A. Brandeis, 75; T-7. Cole Donielson, S.A. Churchill, 75; T-7. Seger Howell, Converse Judson, 75; T-7. Buck Parker, New Braunfels (1), 75; T-7. John Luhrman, Spring Branch Smithson Valley, 75; T-12. Michael Lebahn, S.A. Reagan, 76; T-12. Charles Gambrel, Del Rio, 76; T-12. Kevin Purasef, S.A. Churchill, 76; T-12. Trevor Kucia, McAllen Memorial, 76; T-12. Marshall Martin, S.A. Johnson, 76; T-17. Bailey Burgett, S.A. Brandeis, 77; T-17. Jonathan Koeppe, S.A. Reagan, 77; T-17. Carlos Reyes, McAllen Memorial, 77; T-17. Clayton O’Reilly, New Braunfels (2), 77; T-17. Hunter Fox, S.A. Clark, 77; T-17. Arman Mehrafza, S.A. Clark, 77.

Region IV-5A Golf Tournament

First Day

Republic Golf Club, San Antonio

Boys

Team: 1. Austin Vandegrift (Black), 292; 2. Alamo Heights, 293; 3. Austin Vandegrift (Silver), 306; 4. Boerne Champion, 308; 5. Edinburg Vela, 311; 6. S.A. Southside, 315; 7. Mission Vets Memorial, 321; 8. Edcouch-Elsa, 331; 9. Victoria East, 333; 10. Victoria West, 338; 11. Uvalde, 340; 12. Bastrop (1), 354; 13. Bastrop (2), 379; 14. Mercedes, 402; 15. S.A. Edison, 428; 16. S.A. Highlands, 439.

Individuals: 1. Colin Uecker, Kerrville Tivy, 69; 2. Mac Meissner, Alamo Heights, 70; T-3. Clayton King, Uvalde, 71; T-3. Tobin Niblett, Austin Vandegrift (Black), 71; T-5. Diego Hernandez, Mission Veterans Memorial, 72; T-5. Cooper Dossey, Austin Vandegrift (Black), 72; T-7 Angelo Leyvani, S.A. Edison, 73; T-7. Levi Valadez, Alamo Heights, 73; T-7. Charles Kim, Leander Cedar Park, 73; T-10. Parker Ray, Alamo Heights, 74; T-10. Obed Alvarado, S.A. Southside, 74; T-10. Daniel Martinez, Austin Vandegrift (Black), 74; T-13. Brandon Hoff, Austin Vandegrift (Black), 75; T-13. Skyler Young, Austin Vandegrift (Black), 75; T-13. Foster Givens, Austin Vandegrift (Silver), 75; T-13. Thomas Winters, Marble Falls, 75; T-13. Jake Wittschiebe, Boerne Champion, 75. T-18. Ryan Meija, Austin Crockett, 76; T-18. Lucas Mylet, Austin Vandegrift (Silver), 76; T-18. Jake Stevenson, Boerne Champion, 76; T-18. Alberto Uriegas, Edinburg Vela, 76; T-18. John Kellum, Alamo Heights, 76.

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Ryann Gonzalez always has a big-picture perspective.

Last summer, the Edcouch-Elsa senior golfer decided to change her swing. To have a real chance to play collegiately, she knew her yardage would have to improve. Still, it was a risky short-term decision.

As Gonzalez tees up regional play at the Class 5A tournament in San Antonio on Wednesday after winning the District 32-5A girls individual title last week, she’s not exactly in full form. But the 4-foot-10 player knew from experience that if she wants to beat out the taller girls who can hit longer at regionals, she had to change her swing.

“I haven’t seen its full potential,” said Gonzalez, who is “trying to lean in and hold the angle more” instead of “getting up on the ball and hitting it straight up.” “I’ve seen little changes here and there. But if a coach decides to pick me up for college, it’ll pay off in the end. It means I’m hitting the ball like I’ve should.”

Gonzalez has qualified for regionals all four years of her high school career. And her big-picture thinking started three years ago.

While it took a lot of persuasion from her mother to try golf when coach Bobby Hernandez wanted Gonzalez to play in seventh grade, once she got the feel for it, she never put down the clubs.

“I knew nothing about golf. I thought it was just for old people,” Gonzalez said. “But I went out and practiced and I liked it. I saw myself continuing to improve. I knew that if I practiced, I would get better, and I liked seeing that improvement.”

After her freshman year for the Yellowjackets, Gonzalez turned in her softball cleats and volleyball kneepads for good. She often thinks about what would have happened if Hernandez, now Edcouch-Elsa’s golf coach, had never approached her mom about playing golf in middle school.

“I wouldn’t even be thinking about playing college sports, for one,” Gonzalez said. “I was good in other sports, sure, but everybody is. You’re going to find many people who are good at them, and Valley kids don’t compare to kids in San Antonio and the north in those sports. But in golf, you’ll find fewer kids who are good.

“When you’re good in golf, people want you.”

Hernandez saw in Gonzalez a hard worker and athletic talent.

“I coached her in volleyball in the seventh grade,” he said. “I remember asking her to practice on a Saturday and she went even though she was really, really sick. Her parents didn’t want her to go, but she wanted to because she didn’t want to do anything to risk losing her spot on the team.

“From then on, I knew what I was dealing with and I wanted her for golf.”

Adjusting to the change in her swing is still a process for Gonzalez. Her long game used to be her strength, and right now it’s not. But she does see a difference in yardage with her drivers and woods.

The positive signs are there.

“I’m feeling more comfortable than when I started with the change,” Gonzalez said. “When I started, I’d walk up and just pray I could hit it straight. That’s how tough it was. Now I can work with it a little more. Whatever helps me get it to the green.”

Gonzalez will be bringing a different swing to Republic Golf Club, and she will have a different make-up as well.

She had always been nervous before and during tournaments. But this year, she feels confident going into the regional tournament, having played against most of these girls throughout her high school career.

Gonzalez has also learned how to work through adversity. Hernandez said it’s common for Gonzalez to play well the first day of a tournament and then concern herself with doing even better the second day.

“It’s good to want that, but all it does is put pressure on yourself,” Hernandez said. “It can mess with your nerves. But that’s who she is. She always wants to improve, always wants to be better.”

“All the other years, I would always get frustrated,” added Gonzalez, who shot a two-day score of 176 at last year’s regionals. “When I was doing bad, it’d just get worse. I mean, for us who compete at this level your bad days are supposed to be low 80s, not 90s, 100s, which is a good day for someone else. Now if I’m doing bad, I just work with it. It doesn’t even bother me anymore.”

Gonzalez is in the top 10 percent of her class academically, participates in National Honor Society and Future Farmers of America (FFA), takes college courses, and is involved with her church and a Big Brother program.

Hernandez can’t help but think how far his star player has come considering how much time is spent off the course.

“She’s worked her tail off for whatever she’s earned,” Hernandez said. “And she’s earned a lot.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

McALLEN — When McAllen Memorial golf coach Celso Gonzalez watches Carlos Reyes hit the ball, one name comes to mind.

“He’s got a Freddy Couples swing,” Gonzalez said, referring to the famous professional golfer. “So fluid.”

The ball rockets off the diminutive junior’s club.

“He gets his body and the torque … He knows all the right moves,” Gonzalez said.

That swing has Reyes competing in next week’s Class 6A regional tournament that starts Monday in San Antonio. And then he’ll turn in his clubs for his racket to play in the regional tennis tournament a week later.

“I’ve always had the upper hand on those two sports,” Reyes said. “I thought about what I wanted for my future. I knew I wasn’t going to get a scholarship to play basketball or baseball. So I headed over to tennis and golf because I actually have a chance in those.”

Reyes got involved with tennis when he was 9 years old. That’s when he stepdad, Tom Mangelschots, came to the States from Belgium to play for UTPA.

Mangelschots was the No. 1 player for the Broncs from 2001-2004.

“I picked it up from there and I learned from him,” Reyes said. “I grew up around the game and would follow him to the courts whenever he played for Pan Am.”

Reyes’ golf career, however, got off to a more impressive start.

Reyes just picked up the game last season, caddying for his grandpa during tournaments and then eventually playing on his own. In no time, he was playing like a veteran. And now, it’s golf he is looking toward playing in college, not tennis.

“It was a lot of practice, but golf just felt right,” Reyes said. “Right off the bat, I always had something for it. I can’t even explain it. It just came so naturally.”

Every day, Reyes is on the golf course. During weekdays, he practices for five hours after school. On weekends, he’s honing his game on his own time.

“Natural talent, only a few have that,” Gonzalez said. “He’s always around the game, whether playing it or studying it. What I’ve seen so far is a perfectionist. His desire and his drive is something else. He’s just someone who wants to get better.”

Reyes has come a long way from the first tournament he played last season at Palmview, when he shot a 114 and 109 for a two-day score of 223. At this week’s District 30-6A tournament, he won the boys individual championship with a total score of 148.

“I knew after that first tournament that I had to work on everything,” Reyes said. “I had to start from scratch. I’ve just kept working at it, practicing literally every single day. And now I’m here.”

Two days after winning his golf title this week, Reyes finished second in the boys singles division to qualify for tennis regionals, despite not playing tennis in six months because of his focus on golf.

Reyes said the most important similarity between the two sports is the mental aspect. Both sports require being positive and staying calm. How a player thinks can mean a win or defeat.

“You don’t have to rely on your team doing good or bad. It always falls on you,” Reyes said. “Whether you play well or bad, you’re the one responsible.”

Reyes qualified for regionals in golf last season, but did not participate in regionals for tennis because the two tournaments fell during the same week. This year, that is no longer the case. He can play both.

“I was definitely thrilled,” Reyes said when he learned the UIL separated the two tournaments by a week. “I just want to get back on the courts and see what I can do. Give myself another chance to have all this hard work pay off.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

Just three weeks before the baseball season started, Mercedes named Armando Reyes as its third coach in three years.

Reyes did not expect to put his name in the hat to become head coach. Yes, he led offseason workouts and was a familiar face for the kids. But he was comfortable as an assistant.

Tiger players, however, felt differently.

“It was the kids who had me apply,” Reyes said. “It was a position that wasn’t open, but I threw my name in for them. They were convinced that we had come too far.”

Players embraced Reyes’ style, which was similar to the head coaches before him. Reyes believes in building character, surviving adversity due to a “short memory.”

It helps that he already has kids with a lot of character. Mercedes is 8-7 overall, 4-3 in District 32-5A, and a big reason is the togetherness of the team.

“Chemistry was going to be the key to this season, and it’s holding true,” Reyes said. “This is a team that plays real well together. We have different kids at different times stepping up to make plays.”

The Tigers have a mix of experience and youth, boasting a lineup that starts three seniors with a couple of sophomores.

The offense has been steady, making up for so-so pitching. The Tigers have gotten crucial hits at crucial times, thrive running the bases and generally do a sound job putting pressure on defenses. Three Tigers hit .357 or better (Jaime Rodriguez, Daniel Saenz and Matthew Mendoza) and the team has a collective .385 on-base percentage.

On the mound, they enlist a four-man rotation: Matthew Mendoza, Henry Luna, Mathew Peynado and Oliver Closner.

“These kids have responded very well,” Reyes said. “Change can be difficult. But they’ve put in 100 percent and now we need to keep going.”

YOUNG AND READY

Roma has made the playoffs nine consecutive seasons. With four games left in the District 31-5A season, the Gladiators are in line to make it 10 in a row thanks to strong pitching.

Led by sophomore John Michael Roberson, the Gladiators are 4-4 in district, two games ahead of Valley View for the fourth playoff spot. The righty sports a 1-4 record, but has a 0.75 ERA, with every game he’s thrown a complete one.

“He’s kept us in it,” Roma coach Roque Cortinas said. “He’s a great kid who has a great work ethic. He’ll throw slow-to-mid-80s with great secondary pitches. He just mixes things up very well.”

Roberson’s fastball tops out at 86 and is a consistent 83. And don’t let the win-loss record fool you. Two of his defeats include a 2-0 loss to Edinburg Vela and a 3-0 loss to state-ranked Mission Veterans Memorial.

It would help if he had help.

Roma’s offense has struggled all season. The Gladiators start four sophomores and two freshmen, and Cortinas said it has been a process for his young players to get fully comfortable with varsity pitching, especially in 31-5A.

“The pitching is great in this district,” Cortinas said. “It’s a matter of growing up faster. We need confidence. We’re swinging at poor pitches and being overly aggressive.”

Two of the Gladiators’ offensive stars have been sophomore Alex Garza and freshman Andrew Barrera.

Cortinas is in his 11th year at Roma, seventh as head coach. His team isn’t necessarily supposed to be in position to make the playoffs; then again, it wasn’t supposed to win the district title last season with today’s sophomores starting as freshmen last season.

He said the key is chemistry.

“We pride ourselves a lot on being a close team,” Cortinas said “We dress out 12 kids this year. Last year it was 13. We’re a true family, and I think that motivates us. These guys want to do it for each other. It’s corny or whatever, but for us it really means a lot.”

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RGVSPORTS.COM BASEBALL TOP 10 POLL

Rank, Team Record Previous
1, Sharyland High 16-2 2
2, Brownsville Veterans Memorial 13-1-2 1
3, Edinburg North 12-2-2 3
4, Edinburg High 12-2-1 5
5, Harlingen South 12-3 9
6, Hidalgo 12-4-1 6
7, La Joya Palmview 11-2-1 7
8, Weslaco High 10-4 8
9, Mission Veterans Memorial 14-6 4
10, Brownsville Porter 10-5 10

District 30-6A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
*La Joya Palmview 11 2 6 0 —
McAllen Rowe 11 4 5 2 1½
McAllen High 12 4 4 3 2½
La Joya High 10 7 4 3 2½
McAllen Memorial 5 10 3 4 3½
Mission High 4 12 2 5 4½
LJ Juarez-Lincoln 2 14 0 7 6
*Palmview has tied once

District 31-6A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
*Edinburg North 12 2 5 1 —
Weslaco High 10 4 5 1 —
*Edinburg High 12 2 5 1 —
PSJA Memorial 8 9 2 4 3
PSJA North 4 12 2 4 3
Weslaco East 3 12 1 5 4
*Economedes 6 8 1 5 4
*Edinburg North has tied twice
*Edinburg High has tied once
*Economedes has tied once

District 32-6A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
Harlingen South 12 3 7 1 —
*Brownsville Vets 13 1 7 1 —
Brownsville Hanna 9 7 5 3 2
San Benito 9 6 4 4 3
Los Fresnos 10 8 3 5 4
Brownsville Lopez 9 7 3 5 4
Harlingen High 6 11 2 6 5
Brownsville Rivera 4 10 1 7 6
*Brownsville Vets has tied twice

District 31-5A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
Sharyland High 16 2 7 1 —
Edinburg Vela 10 7 6 2 1
Mission Veterans 14 6 5 2 1½
Roma 8 10 4 4 3
Valley View 3 6 2 5 4½
Rio Grande City 6 13 2 6 5
Shary Pioneer 4 14 1 7 6
*Valley View tied once

District 32-5A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
Brownsville Porter 10 5 6 1 —
*PSJA High 10 3 6 1 —
Edcouch-Elsa 7 8 5 2 1
Mercedes 8 7 4 3 2
Donna High 5 11 2 5 4
Donna North 4 13 2 5 4
Brownsville Pace 5 9 2 5 4
*PSJA Southwest 4 12 1 6 5
*PSJA High has tied twice
*PSJA Southwest has tied once

District 32-4A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
Hidalgo 12 4 7 0 —
Zapata 9 6 6 1 1
Port Isabel 9 5 4 3 3
La Feria 10 6 4 3 3
Rio Hondo 10 7 3 4 4
Progreso 6 10 3 4 4
Grulla 2 10 1 6 6
Raymondville 0 10 0 7 7
*Hidalgo has tied once
*La Feria has tied once
** Not Reported

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Since the start of the season in February, Valley baseball coaches have spoken admirably of Edinburg High’s wealth of pitching. For good reason, too, as the Bobcats (12-2-1, 5-1 District 31-6A) have been spurred by a four-man rotation that has a combined 1.80 ERA.

But it’s the youngest of the bunch, junior right-hander John Gonzalez, who really gives opposing coaches nightmares.

Gonzalez is 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA in seven appearances, already with one no-hitter under his belt this season and two outs from adding another one Tuesday against PSJA North.

The Texas Tech verbal commit has struck out 46 and walked 13 in 24 innings, boasting a fastball that consistently reaches the low 90s.

And he will tell you his success has nothing to do with any of that.

“I depend on my team a lot,” Gonzalez said. “I think when you know your team can make plays behind you, you feel like you have nothing to lose. So I’m pitching with all I’ve got instead of worrying about making a mistake.”

Gonzalez has made his name during his high school career because of his heat. But he is making more of a name as a pitcher because of his developing arsenal.

“John is one of those kids blessed with a great arm,” seventh-year Bobcats coach Robert Valdez said. “But to see him evolve and really become a pitcher, to where he understands why we’re calling certain pitches … it’s great to see. He’s always been the type to just want to rear back and let it go.

“But it’s about learning how to pitch, and he’s learning the finer things it takes to become a true pitcher.”

Gonzalez introduced a changeup this season, and his curveball has become almost as deadly as his fastball. His maturity as a pitcher is evident in the way he talks.

No longer does he talk only about how hard he throws. He talks about controlling his off-speed stuff and location. Location, location, location.

“For us, it’s more about being able to hit locations and spots so that we can put together a game plan and have an idea of how we’re going to attack our hitters and set our defense,” said Valdez, whose team has allowed just 17 earned runs in 93 innings this season. “It’s paid dividends.”

Gonzalez is in his first year as a starter since spending most of his innings as a closer the last two years. That was done on purpose.

Valdez and pitching coach David Kaz, former teammates playing baseball for Pan American in the 80s, have brought him along slowly, refining everything from arm angles to arm speed, to get him to this point, a key starter expected to be the main guy next season.

“I’ve been playing baseball since I was 4,” Gonzalez said. “Outside of high school baseball, I’ve always been a starter or the main pitcher. I think if anything’s changed, it’s my view. I’ve slowed the game down instead of just throwing all out from the first pitch. I’m more willing to pitch to my defense.”

Gonzalez is far from a finished product. While he has committed to a full ride from Texas Tech, where he plans to follow Sharyland High alum Eric Gutierrez as the next Valley Red Raider great, he still has goals. He wants to slim down, get his core stronger. He wants his velocity to reach 95 by next season.

With the strides made so far, anything is possible for the 5-foot-10, 190-pounder.

“His velocity is better than most,” Valdez said. “The only other guy I think can match is the (Freddy) Villarreal kid from Brownsville Vets. It’s just hard to get your timing and get comfortable knowing he has that curveball and changeup.

“It becomes a guessing game against him.”

[email protected]

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

In his first year as head coach at McAllen Memorial, Octavio Oyervides’ first initiative was establishing order.

“There was no consistency,” said Oyervides, an assistant coach the previous six years. “It was about guys doing what they needed to do every day in practice. There needs to be a purpose every day. We want hustle. We want accountability.

“If I can’t trust kids to do something simple like being here on time, how can I trust them during a game?”

The Mustangs (5-9, 3-3 District 30-6A) had a rough start to the season, losing seven of their first 11 games, but they had an epiphany of sorts last Friday. Memorial rallied from a four-run deficit to beat rival and district title contender McAllen High 5-4 at home.

“They’re starting to get more confidence in themselves,” Oyervides said. “Any given day, they now believe they can compete with anybody.”

The Mustangs’ mantra is “Embrace the grind.” With only one returning starter, Juan Carreon, Oyervides has been able to install his program around a core of young players.

He directed an offseason structure that emphasized weight-lifting and skill development. The result has been a “scrappy ballclub, a team that doesn’t go away.”

Carreon has led the charge. On the mound, Carreon has added velocity. And off it, it’s his leadership that has made Oyervides’ job easier.

“He thrives on being the guy,” Oyervides said. “He’s a leader. He’s a guy who gives us a chance to win every time he’s on the mound.”

WOLVERINES’ BELIEF SYSTEM

PSJA Memorial has made the playoffs twice in 18 years, the last time coming in 2008. The Wolverines have never been a district champion. They have never won a playoff series.

Marcus Galaviz has made it his duty to change all that. And with the Wolverines 8-9 overall, 2-4 in District 31-6A, things are certainly headed in the right direction for the first-year head coach.

“It’s about getting the kids to believe in themselves,” Galaviz said. “We have to get them to believe they can compete with anybody. We’re proud of those guys.”

Galaviz has brought discipline and accountability. He has four seniors in the lineup, 5-6 guys who will return next season.

Galaviz said fundamentals and execution are keeping the team competitive. The Wolverines have strong pitching and a stronger defense.

Galaviz won’t single out individual standouts because “it’s been a team effort. Everybody is giving us a chance.” But it wasn’t always so easy.

“We’ve had ups and downs,” Galaviz assured. “We’ve had to bench kids, suspend kids. The thing we emphasize is playing for the name on the front of the jersey.”

HITTING A GROOVE

Weslaco High coach Eddie Serna’s Panthers are finally rounding into a rhythm.

And what a sound it is.

After enduring a stretch of 10 days where his team did not play a game because of the inclement weather last month, Serna has watched his team hit its stride. Dominant pitching. Timely defense. Fourteen runs against PSJA North. Eleven against PSJA Memorial. Nine against Edinburg North.

“We’re hitting our groove,” Serna said. “I think we have the balance we need.”

That’s for sure. With Freddy Barrera and Ulises Hernandez battering the strike zone with velocity and variety, the Panthers’ lineup has backed them up.

Catcher Matt Rosales and second baseman Undrae Galindo have been consistent at the plate. Tyler Lopez has emerged as a clutch hitter, always finding a way on base as the lead-off guy. Shortstop Andres Pompa and sophomore infielder Nate Campos have thrived with runners in scoring position.

And it’s needed in a tough District 31-6A.

“We’re always preparing for the best,” Serna said. “I always say, ‘Who’re we playing tomorrow? We’re playing the Yankees.’ Throw away records or whatever, everybody’s 0-0 when we see them. That’s our mental approach.”

[email protected]

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RGVSPORTS.COM H.S. BASEBALL TOP 10 POLL

Rank, Team Record Previous
1, Brownsville Veterans Memorial 13-0-2 1

2, Sharyland High 15-2 3

3, Edinburg North 11-2-2 4

4, Mission Veterans Memorial 14-5 2

5, Edinburg High 11-2-1 5

6, Hidalgo 11-4-1 7

7, La Joya Palmview 11-2-1 8

8, Weslaco High 9-4 9

9, Harlingen South 11-3 NR

10, Brownsville Porter 8-5 NR

District 30-6A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
*La Joya Palmview 11 2 6 0 —
McAllen Rowe 10 4 4 2 2
McAllen High 11 4 3 3 3
McAllen Memorial 5 9 3 3 3
La Joya High 9 7 3 3 3
Mission High 4 11 2 4 4
LJ Juarez-Lincoln 2 13 0 6 6
*Palmview has tied once

District 31-6A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
*Edinburg North 11 2 4 1 —
Weslaco High 9 4 4 1 —
*Edinburg High 11 2 4 1 —
PSJA Memorial 8 9 2 4 1½
PSJA North 4 11 2 3 2
Weslaco East 3 11 1 4 3
*Economedes 6 7 1 4 3
*Edinburg North has tied twice
*Edinburg High has tied once
*Economedes has tied once

District 32-6A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
*Brownsville Vets 13 0 7 0 —
Harlingen South 11 3 6 1 ½
Brownsville Hanna 9 6 5 2 2
Los Fresnos 10 7 3 4 4
San Benito 8 6 3 4 4
Brownsville Lopez 8 7 2 5 5
Harlingen High 5 11 1 6 6
Brownsville Rivera 4 9 1 6 6
*Brownsville Vets has tied twice

District 31-5A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
Sharyland High 15 2 6 1 —
Mission Veterans 14 5 5 1 ½
Edinburg Vela 9 7 5 2 1
Roma 7 9 3 3 3
Rio Grande City 6 11 2 4 4
Valley View 2 6 1 5 5
Shary Pioneer 3 13 0 6 6
*Valley View tied once

District 32-5A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
Brownsville Porter 8 5 5 1 —
*PSJA High 9 3 5 1 —
Mercedes 8 6 4 2 1
Edcouch-Elsa 6 8 3 3 2
Donna High 5 10 2 4 3
Donna North 4 12 2 4 2
Brownsville Pace 4 9 1 5 4
*PSJA Southwest 4 11 1 5 4
*PSJA High has tied twice
*PSJA Southwest has tied once

District 32-4A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
Hidalgo 11 4 6 0 —
Zapata 8 6 5 1 1
Port Isabel 10 5 4 2 1
La Feria 8 5 3 3 2
Rio Hondo* 9 6 2 3 2
Progreso 5 10 2 4 2
Raymondville 0 8 0 5 4
Grulla* 2 8 1 4 4
*Hidalgo has tied once
*La Feria has tied once

Others
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
La Villa 4 4 3 3
Monte Alto** — — — —
San Isidro** — — — —

** Not Reported