DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Valley baseball’s meat-grinder resides in District 31-5A, and that was again on display Tuesday night.

Edinburg Vela — which now stands with Mission Vets and Sharyland High with just a loss each in district play — got to Vela for three hits and two walks amongst the first six batters the lefty faced in building a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

“It was huge for us,” SaberCats coach Jaime Perez said of the quick start. “They’re not ranked No. 6 in state for nothing. And we’re the babies; we’re trying to crawl out of that cellar and be that team to reckon with.”

Noel Vela entered the game 5-0 with a 0.72 ERA. But he struggled against a SaberCats lineup that was patient and prepared.

Vela struck out 10, but he surrendered 10 hits and walked four.

“We were ready,” said SaberCats infielder Ryan Rodriguez, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. “We kept the barrel out in front, stayed back on the curveball. He’s supposed to have the best curveball in the Valley and we read it.”

SaberCats senior ace Arnie Salinas, meanwhile, looked like the phenom in a complete-game shutout.

Salinas struck out seven and held the Patriots to five hits. Mission Vets only threatened to score in the first inning, when it stranded two runners in scoring position.

After that, Salinas had his way.

“I’ve never faced them, so the first couple of innings I got into trouble,” Salinas said. “I had to adjust. I couldn’t just lob it in there. I put a bit more extra effort into the fastballs.”

His coach could not have been prouder. Perez said he has heard college coaches grouse about Salinas’ arm slot and “unclean mechanics.”

But that’s “outside the fence” talk, Perez said. What Salinas does inside the fence is “second to none.”

“I’ll put him against anybody,” Perez said. “He has that bulldog mentality. He flat-out competes.”

Prior to the game, Mission Vets coach Casey Smith mentioned how tough 31-5A is. How anybody can beat anyone else on any day.

Much to his chagrin, he was proven right. The Patriots (14-5, 5-1 31-5A) fell for just the fifth time in 19 games and for the first time in district.

“They hit the ball early and we made mistakes,” Smith said. “We put the ball in play and we just had too many pop-ups and strikeouts. In a close game like that, sometimes it comes back to bite you in the butt.

“It’s going to be tough to go unscathed in this district. But baseball is baseball. We didn’t make the plays and they did.”

While Salinas said the game was just another piece to the puzzle for what the team hopes is a district championship season, his coach spoke of a signature contest.

The SaberCats (9-6, 5-1 31-5A) finished fifth and sixth, respectively, in district the last two years. In Perez’s first year at the helm this season, he has wiped the slate clean, rebuilding with discipline and accountability.

That, along with “mental fortitude,” produced a landmark win, Perez said.

“This game was going to set the standard for what we’re about,” Perez said. “We told them the biggest game in school history was this one right here.

“This is the pinnacle of what we do, and this is the product we’ve tried to put out on the baseball field.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

First-year PSJA North baseball coach Rene Soza knows the struggles his team is enduring won’t last.

Still, that thought doesn’t make the team’s current state (3-11 overall, 1-3 District 31-6A) any easier to deal with.

“They’re still having problems adjusting as far as picking up signals, fundamentals,” Soza said. “Giving up too many runs. We’re losing games in one inning.

“We’re not finishing games and we’re not playing the way we should be playing.”

Soza is a no-nonsense coach who prioritizes the basics of the game. “I’m a foundation man,” he said.

He’s also a winner. He spent the last two seasons as an assistant at Hidalgo, lending a big hand in the Pirates’ deep trips into the playoffs. The previous seven years, Soza built Valley View from an afterthought into a district champion.

Soza has a career 102-56 record. Now he attempts to turn around a ballclub that went 9-18 last year.

“We’re still figuring out who can play and who can’t,” he said.

The highlights include sophomore centerfielder Brandon Romo and freshman utilityman Andy Gonzalez. Soza has a good freshman class, but has elected to keep them at the lower levels. He’s willing to shortchange short-term goals for long-term success.

If his players are willing to learn, Soza said, they will be fine. It’s the little things, like understanding that pitch count in an at-bat will determine pitches, or getting kids to stop sitting on ground balls.

“It’s about breaking losing habits,” Soza said. “It’s about knowing how to play baseball.”

DEFENSIVE ‘DOGS

Through 14 games, McAllen High has relied upon pitching to establish itself as a district title contender once again.

“We’ve been playing pretty good defense,” coach Eliseo Pompa said. “Our hitting has not been up to par. Fortunately, we’re taking advantage of things other teams have given us.”

The Bulldogs, while hitting .277, have kept the errors low and made the most of opponents’ miscues. They move guys on the bases and capitalize on wild pitches and passed balls.

The bats will come around, Pompa said, for a team mostly of seniors and sophomores. For now, he’ll keep going to a deep arms corps, led by emerging junior lefty Eli Rodriguez and including freshman Roy Quintanilla and sophomores Victor Valdez, Kike Rodriguez and Rigo Sanchez.

The Bulldogs boast a 1.97 ERA with just 37 walks and 35 hits given up in 60.1 innings. Once the hitting comes around, look out.

“Right now, it’s just mental at the plate,” Pompa said. “Some of the kids are trying too hard. But we still have guys who can hit. The talent is there.”

ROUGH GO

It’s been a trying start to the season for Mission High.

The Eagles have just two seniors and are inexperienced despite returning eight players from last year’s lineup. The result? A buffet of heartbreak.

Mission is 2-10, but has lost five of those games in extra innings. Pitching has kept the team competitive.

“It hurts when you lose like this,” coach Rick Lozano said.

Take Tuesday’s 6-5 loss in 10 innings to La Joya. The Eagles were ahead 5-1 at one point before collapsing. They left 15 runners on base.

“We just can’t hit the ball,” Lozano said. “We don’t take good at-bats. We swing at bad pitches, can’t put a bunt down. Nobody can get a hit when we need it.”

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RGVSPORTS.COM H.S. BASEBALL TOP 10 POLL 3.26.15

Rank, Team Record Previous

1, Brownsville Veterans Memorial 10-0-2 5

2, Mission Veterans Memorial 13-4 4

3, Sharyland High 12-2 3

4, Edinburg North 10-2-2 7

5, Edinburg High 9-2-1 6

6, McAllen High 12-2 NR

7, Hidalgo 9-4-1 1

8, La Joya Palmview 8-2 2

9, Weslaco High 7-4 8

10, Los Fresnos 10-4 NR

District 30-6A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
*La Joya Palmview 8 2 3 0 —
McAllen Rowe 9 3 3 1 ½
McAllen High 12 2 3 1 ½
McAllen Memorial 4 7 2 1 1
La Joya High 7 7 1 3 2½
Mission High 2 10 0 3 3
LJ Juarez-Lincoln 2 10 0 3 3
*Palmview has tied once

District 31-6A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
*Edinburg North 10 2 3 1 —
Weslaco High 7 4 2 1 ½
*Edinburg High 9 2 2 1 ½
PSJA Memorial 8 7 2 2 1
Weslaco East 3 9 1 2 1½
*Economedes 6 5 1 2 1½
PSJA North 3 11 1 3 2
*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 10 0 4 0 —
Los Fresnos 10 4 3 1 1
Brownsville Hanna 7 5 3 1 1
Harlingen South 8 3 3 1 1
San Benito 6 5 1 3 3
Harlingen High 5 8 1 3 3
Brownsville Rivera** — — — —
Brownsville Lopez** — — — —
*Brownsville Vets has tied twice

District 31-5A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
Mission Veterans 13 4 4 0 —
Edinburg Vela 8 6 4 1 ½
Sharyland High 12 2 3 1 1
Rio Grande City 6 9 2 2 2
Valley View — — 1 3 3
Roma 7 8 1 3 3
Shary Pioneer 3 12 0 5 4

District 32-5A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
*PSJA High 7 2 3 0 —
Mercedes 7 4 3 0 —
Brownsville Porter — — 2 1 1
Donna High 4 8 1 2 2
Edcouch-Elsa 3 8 1 2 2
*PSJA Southwest 4 8 1 2 2
Donna North 3 10 1 2 2
Brownsville Pace 3 7 0 3 3
*PSJA High has tied twice
*PSJA Southwest has tied once

District 32-4A
Overall District
Team W L W L GB
Hidalgo 9 4 4 0 —
Zapata — — 3 1 1
Port Isabel 9 3 3 1 1
La Feria 8 5 2 2 2
Rio Hondo — — 2 2 2
Progreso 5 8 2 2 2
Raymondville 0 5 0 4 4
Grulla 1 7 0 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

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

While senior Andre “Nico” Mercado remains the central figure of Edinburg Vela’s tennis program, he has more help this season as the SaberCats push for regionals.

Mercado, who has won all the tournaments he has competed in this season, is a returning district champ in boys singles and has placed at regionals every year of his high school career so far.

“He’s a hard worker,” Vela coach Monica Gonzalez said. “He’s focused. He’s been playing for a long time now, so he has the experience. He just has a passion for the game.”

But Gonzalez has seen depth become a strength for her program. Aside from Mercado, there are seniors Eric Carlson and Clarissa Castaneda in mixed doubles, senior brothers Andy and Rollie Rodriguez in boys doubles, and sophomores Victoria Villanueva and Mikayla Perkins in girls singles.

Gonzalez has six seniors, including Aaron Lumbreras, and said that has made the difference.

“They’re all hungry,” she said. “They all want to go out fighting and leave it all their senior year.”

Only Mercado has been a regional participant in the SaberCats’ three years. But Gonzalez said there is a strong chance he won’t be the lone qualifier once next month’s district meet is wrapped up in Roma.

“When I came in, I saw the talent right off the bat,” Gonzalez said. “I wasn’t expecting it this quickly, I guess, but now the pressure is to keep it going.”

31-6A GOLF MEET LOOMS

The District 31-6A golf meet is scheduled to be played Tuesday and Thursday at Los Lagos Golf Course in Edinburg.

It’s expected to be a heated competition, with the Weslaco High, Edinburg North and Weslaco East boys teams all shooting for the district championship.

“It will come down to the wire,” Weslaco East coach Paul Aguilar said. “It will come down to the No. 3 and No. 4 players on each team. If those kids can score well and handle their own, that will make the difference.”

Aguilar’s star player, senior Paul Meints, is a favorite to repeat as district champion.

“I’ve seen a different Paul this year,” Aguilar said. “I’ve seen a very mature Paul, more serious. He’s taken every tournament very focused, and you can see that. We’re confident he can shoot in the low 70s both days.”

On the girls side, Weslaco High is considered a strong favorite to take the district team title, thanks to star player Anika Hovda. Edinburg North is also considered a threat.

BEST OF THE BEST

This weekend will feature pre-district golf invitationals for 30-6A, 31-6A, 31-5A and 32-5A.

District 31-6A will have its tournament next week. Districts 30-6A, 31-5A and 32-5A will have theirs the following week.

By average, the top three boys teams in each district this season are as follows:

30-6A: McAllen Memorial (346), McAllen High (357.9), La Joya Palmview (392.4).

31-6A: Weslaco High (341.5), Edinburg North (345.1), Weslaco East (362).

31-5A: Edinburg Vela (323.7), Sharyland High (335.4), Mission Veterans Memorial (343.4).

32-5A: Edcouch-Elsa (330.3), Roma (392.0), Mercedes (396.8).

The top three girls teams in each district are as follows:

30-6A: La Joya Palmview (402.4), McAllen Memorial (453.5), Mission High (457.4).

31-6A: Weslaco High (395.1), Edinburg North (405), Edinburg Economedes (456.4).

31-5A: Sharyland High (322.8), Edinburg Vela (364.1), Sharyland Pioneer (391).

32-5A: Mercedes (422.3), Edcouch-Elsa (424.1), Donna North (447.5).

By average, the top 10 boys in the Valley are: Edinburg Vela’s John Torres (75.5), Weslaco East’s Paul Meints (76.8), Weslaco High’s Austin Lackey (77.8), Brownsville Porter’s Adrian Saenz (77.8), Brownsville Hanna’s Santiago Garcia (78.1), Brownsville Hanna’s Ruben Samaniego (79.1), Edinburg Vela’s Albert Uriegas (79.8), Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Ivan Gonzalez (80.3), McAllen Memorial’s Taylor Kucia (80.5) and Brownsville Veterans Memorial’s Rich Tarpey (80.8).

The top 10 girls in the Valley are: Sharyland High’s Ana Erana (73.6), Brownsville Hanna’s Julie Lucio (74.5), Harlingen High’s Morgan McClaugherty (74.6), Weslaco High’s Anika Hovda (76.4), Los Fresnos’ Briana Garza (78.3), Harlingen High’s Anna Greer (78.8), Sharyland Pioneer’s Carina Hernandez (79.4), Brownsville Hanna’s Alejandra Rodriguez (80), Sharyland High’s Mariana Flores (80.1) and Mission High’s Leah Lerma (83.4).

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — After graduating an All-Valley Player of the Year and with two sophomores in the rotation, La Joya Palmview baseball coach Rick Garcia had his eyes on his team’s arms coming into this season.

Just 11 games in, however, any questions he had seem to have been answered.

Sophomore right-hander Elias Ovalle shut down McAllen Rowe’s offense and the Lobos took advantage of a slew of Warrior errors in an 11-0 win in five innings Tuesday at La Joya Palmview in their District 30-6A affair.

Ovalle held the Warriors (9-3) to two hits while striking out six and walking five. His lineup returned the favor by scoring 11 runs on 10 hits, including a seven-run second inning in which Palmview scored three runs off three errors and another run off a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch.

“We know we have a young pitcher out there, so we want to back him up whenever we can,” said senior Ernesto Garza, the team’s ace and clean-up hitter who contributed a three-run triple. “They made some mistakes and we capitalized. We knew we’d have to do that tonight.”

The Lobos, a senior ballclub with young pitching, improved to 3-0 in district. The Warriors, boasting a lineup of three sophomores and two freshmen, fell to 3-1.

After a clean first inning, Warriors pitching faced 13 batters in the second. The frame saw the removal of senior starting pitcher Ethan Ramirez (1.2 innings, four runs (three earned), five hits, one walk). Ramirez struggled hitting his spots, but he wasn’t the only one. Relief pitchers R.J. Gamboa and Abbany Garcia also struggled with location.

The third inning wasn’t better. The Lobos added four more runs, all with two outs.

“Every time we got a hit, their pitcher would hang his head,” Garza said. “He looked discouraged. We saw that and we fed off that.”

Overall, Rowe pitchers hit three batters, walked three and struck out three. All the strikeouts came n the fourth inning, courtesy of Garcia.

“Our pitcher got kind of tight and we just fell behind early,” Rowe coach Angel Perez said. “We made a few mistakes and we got rattled. Hopefully these kids just learn and grow a little bit. We’ll bounce back.”

Ovalle, meanwhile, looked more like an ace than a club’s No. 3 pitcher. He had Warriors hitters befuddled with a nice mix of fastballs and changeups. He threw strikes and used the plate liberally in improving to 1-1 and earning his first shutout of the season.

“I was consistent and we got the bats helping out,” Ovalle said. “That just gave me more confidence. We were in control and we worked their batters.”

Garcia knew what he had in Garza, the team’s No. 1 thrower who is 3-1 with a 2.62 ERA this season. But he did not know what he had in Ovalle and fellow sophomore Leo Perez (3-0, 0.00 ERA). So far, so good.

The Lobos (8-2-1) have not skipped a beat when Garza is not on the bump, and that’s what the team was hoping for.

“These guys don’t give up,” Garza said of his rotation mates. “They have a short memory — if they give up a hit, they’ll get back out there and be ready for the next pitch. That’s big for young pitchers.

“You don’t replace an All-Valley guy like Chris Rocha. Now it’s on me, it’s on other guys. It’s got to be a team effort now. We’re coming around slowly but surely. We’re just taking things slow.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Edinburg North’s baseball team was the strained club, having played one five-inning game over the previous two days because of weather issues. Edinburg High was the well-rested one, having last played a week ago and having last practiced Monday, also because of weather issues.

The circumstance favored the Cougars on Friday when the two rivals met up for a District 31-6A affair. Edinburg North took the 3-2 win at home, improving to 10-1-2 overall and 3-0 in district.

Edinburg High, meanwhile, lost its 2015 31-6A debut and fell to 7-2-1.

“It’s big,” Edinburg North coach Damian Gonzalez said. “It’s always good to be 3-0. This district we’re in is tough. Every team is going to battle us, especially with how we’ve been playing the last couple of years (back-to-back district champs).

“But I’m impressed with the way we responded today.”

Neither team was in tip-top form.

Cougars senior ace Alex Canul got the win, but struggled with location and was either really on or really off. He struck out eight, walked four, and was removed two-thirds through the seventh inning after putting two runners on.

“I didn’t have my best stuff tonight,” said Canul, who nonetheless improved to 3-0. “It’s one of those things you feel warming up where you just know it might not be your night and you have to work through it. I tried to mix it up, throw them off balance. I just had to work harder.”

The Bobcats squandered opportunities, stranding seven runners in scoring position, and almost treated the game like a tournament contest. Coach Robert Valdez, who has had six games canceled this season because of weather, used four pitchers in an attempt to get guys reps and into a rhythm.

It’s not ideal for a district game, but it worked. Bobcats pitching allowed just two earned runs on six hits while striking out five and walking two.

“Our biggest downfall is we haven’t seen live competition in a week,” Valdez said. “It’s not an excuse, but we had mistakes and we didn’t execute. But, hey, our kids battled, gave us a chance at the end. That’s all we can ask for right now.”

Edinburg North led 3-1 heading into the seventh inning.

Canul started things with a strikeout and forced a groundout. But Matt Trevino singled, then John Gonzalez, Canul’s final batter, reached base. Pinch-runner Randy Torres followed up by scoring on a throwing error to cut the deficit to one run.

Sophomore Giancarlo Servin came on in relief and walked the first batter he faced before striking out Josh Aguirre to end the threat.

Edinburg High strung together quality at-bats all night, but never could get the clutch hitting it so desired.

“It’s been tough for all of us. I’ve never seen anything like it,” Gonzalez, whose team has had five games canceled this season, said of the weather situation that has littered the Valley’s baseball schedule with postponements and cancellations. “But they came ready to play, and we did as well. The effort was there, the intensity was there.”

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It took time for J.J. Avila.

Initially, it was time the former McAllen High boys basketball standout thought he didn’t have. It was a year away from the game he adored, a personal redshirt year. Two solid seasons at Navy birthed nothing but uncertainty.

Avila felt his basketball career was in jeopardy.

“There were down points,” Avila said. “I just tried to keep faith in God’s greater plan. I really think He has a plan for everybody, and sometimes you just have to wait. You have to be ready to seize the opportunity when it comes and make the most of it.”

By all accounts, the 6-foot-7, 250-pound Avila, now a senior forward at Colorado State, has. Avila is the leading scorer and rebounder for a Rams team that controversially missed out on making the NCAA Tournament, becoming the highest-ranked team in the RPI (29) to be left out in the history of the tournament’s 68-team field.

The Rams are the No. 1 seed in the NIT, hosting South Dakota State in the first round tonight.

But Avila’s impact is much more, particularly in the Valley. The former two-time All-Valley Player of the Year for McHi, where he finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer, has opened doors for Valley basketball.

“If you would’ve asked me 10 years ago what I thought about J.J., I wouldn’t have known we’d have a blueprint, a superstar, a Division I prospect,” said Arnold Martinez, Avila’s AAU coach for nine years with the South Texas Hoopsters. “I just thought we had a great player. What J.J. has done is he’s left a blueprint for any kid we have that’s 6-foot-6 and above.

“If you want to put the work in, we can find you a place.”

FINDING HOME

Avila left Navy because its lifestyle wasn’t for him.

He voluntarily resigned from the academy 21 games into his sophomore campaign, leading the team in points, rebounds and assists. This came after he had one of the top seasons by a Navy freshman, ranking second in scoring (11.5), rebounding (5.3), assists (74) and free throw percentage (.829), first in steals (54) and third in three-pointers made (53) and blocks (18).

“The military life was not for me,” Avila said. “I didn’t want to commit to joining the Navy, which asks for a contractual obligation.”

Avila attempted to go to Richmond, but some classes did not transfer. Instead, he spent the next year attending South Texas College in McAllen, working on his game and playing in city leagues.

Avila trained with Martinez, working on ballhandling, shooting and footwork.

He worked out in the mornings and played league games at night, breaking presses, working on his dribble-drive, learning how to use screens.

The versatile nature of his game came from his ability to adapt to coaching. Under Martinez, Avila was used on the perimeter to draw bigger defenders out of the lane, so his shooting and passing improved. At McHi, then-coach Roy Swift used Avila in the post, riding his talents twice to the state regional finals.

But while his skills continued developing, Avila’s prospects weren’t.

“We knew there was no room for error,” Martinez said. “I would ask him, ‘What do you want out of this?’ He’d say, ‘Coach, I want to go somewhere … I want to make the Dance. I want to make the field.’”

Eventually, the interest came. First, it was Pat Knight, son of Bobby, offering a full scholarship to Lamar. Then it was TCU. Tulane. And, finally, Colorado State.

Lamar was too small of a school. TCU didn’t call back after a visit. Tulane misled Avila with information about which players were returning and which weren’t.

Colorado State, however, felt like home. Avila felt wanted. He was.

“We had just come off our big year going to the NCAA Tournament and were losing five seniors,” said Colorado State first assistant coach Ross Hodge, who made the initial contact with Martinez and Avila after getting a heads up from Valley native and Abilene Christian coach Jaret von Rosenberg and former assistant Bryan Burton. “We knew we’d have to look for an immediate impact guy.”

READY FOR ANYTHING

Colorado State and Hodge were not concerned that Avila spent a year away from the game.

“He had a phenomenal feel for the game,” Hodge said. “He just knew how to play. His feel, his understanding, were things you can’t teach or lose. It was just a matter of getting him back in shape.”

The immediate impact the Rams yearned for, Avila provided. As a junior, he led the team in scoring and filled up the rebounding, assists and steals categories.

“I worked so hard when I was home, just to be ready for anything,” Avila said. “I had put in so much work that I thought success would come. I just never stopped working.”

Avila finished as an all-Mountain West Conference third teamer. This season, he could make a push for league MVP, averaging 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals.

“He just doesn’t stop,” Hodge said. “People talk about his size and versatility, but he has an unbelievable ability to play through fatigue and still play at a high level.”

Hodge said the biggest difference in Avila from last season has been his leadership.

“I don’t know if I’ve had a player grow more,” Colorado State head coach Larry Eustachy told ESPN.com earlier this season.

TAKING TIME

“It’s crazy,” Avila said. “These past two years have gone so fast. Ever since my freshman year, I feel like I’ve improved and I’m finally winning like I wanted to. Sometimes it takes time.”

The Rams are 27-6. It’s true neither Avila or the program accomplished the goal of playing in the NCAAs. While Colorado State’s RPI was impressive, the NCAA selection committee admitted Sunday it is now just a piece of the puzzle.

“We look at RPI really as an organizer in terms of top 50 and 100, but we spent a lot of time, more time than I remember, in comparing (RPI) in the swings to metrics such as the Sagarin, Ken Pom, BPI,” committee chair Scott Barnes told The Coloradoan. “We review those metrics each week, and that carried over to this week.”

According to The Coloradoan, CSU’s KenPom ranking is 68th. It is 57th in the Sagarin and ESPN’s BPI. The Rams, who scheduled this season in favor of the RPI, never really had a shot.

“It’s something you work so hard for,” said Avila, whose Rams lost in the Mountain West semifinal last week without him after he sprained his ankle in the previous day’s quarterfinal. “Not hearing your name is … I don’t know. I’ve never felt that way before. We were in the locker room during the selection and I just left. I just went home. You start wondering what you could have done differently. Maybe my ankle injury messed things up.

“But now we’re in the NIT, No. 1 seed, and we move on. Things happen for a reason.”

Avila, who said he will play tonight, has a big-picture mentality these days. He’s come a long way from when he was chopping wood for money two years ago, wondering if he’d ever play competitive basketball again.

“It makes you realize that this is not going to last forever,” Avila said. “Teams could’ve passed up on me while I was home and I could’ve never played basketball again. It really makes you appreciate the chances you have, and it’s given me a chip on my shoulder to keep getting better, keep growing, to show my appreciation.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

The weather this month has not been favorable for the Valley’s tennis teams, but Mercedes’ Brandon Cuellar and Crystal Werbiski have managed to keep their rhythm.

The Tigers’ sophomores have adhered to a weight-lifting program by coach Herman De La Cerda while the courts have been soaked. Cardio has been an emphasis as well.

“It’s not the same as being on the court, but it’ll keep you in check,” De La Cerda said.

Cuellar and Werbiski have been the core of Mercedes’ program this semester, each placing second and third, respectively, at the Los Fresnos and Brownsville tournaments recently.

Each is in the running for the individual district title next month.

“Their work ethic is top notch. Their practice habits are great,” De La Cerda said. “They’ll practice with us and then go on their own after hours. Brandon will hit with his brothers, and Crystal hits with a brother-in-law. They were in the mix last year, but that one year experience is huge. Now they’re the top players and they’re only maturing.”

Cuellar and Werbiskie have helped steady the tide while junior Michael Gomez recovers from a back injury. Gomez, who went to junior nationals in Florida as a seventh and eighth grader, is expected to be ready for district play, likely playing doubles with Payton White.

“He’s still one of the better players, just not where he wanted to be,” De La Cerda said.

GONZALEZ EMERGES

Edcouch-Elsa senior golfer Ryann Gonzalez has come on strong of late for the Yellowjackets. Within past weeks, Gonzalez won the Donna ISD Invitational (175 two-day score) and placed second at the Mercedes Invitational (182).

“She’s played a whole lot better than the first semester,” E-E coach Bobby Hernandez said. “She’s a kiddo who has a lot on her plate — three college courses, FFA, student council, NHS. She’s coming around. She told me she wanted to focus more on golf to finish off her senior year.”

Gonzalez won more tournaments last year, but she also wasn’t taking college courses at South Texas College. She wants to be a teacher and has already been accepted to attend UT-RGV.

This semester, Gonzalez has concentrated more on the links, spending more time practicing. Even in the rain.

Gonzalez and Miranda Moreno, a junior, are the heart of the girls program. On the boys side, sophomore Canaan Vasquez has stepped up as a leader.

“That kid has a heart,” Hernandez said. “He came out of nowhere. He was seventh on a team of five last year, but worked hard in the summer. He would call me asking for advice, for coaching. He has earned his spot.”

Hernandez said the difference between Vasquez and his peers is Vasquez willingly works on his short game.

“Most kids think that’s boring,” Hernandez said. “But he’ll play anybody close to the pin or near the hole.”

COMING UP

The La Feria tournament is the only local tennis tournament going on this weekend. Local teams will also be competing at a tournament in Kerrville.

In golf, this weekend is the 32-6A Pre-District Invitational at Laguna Vista at South Padre Island.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

McAllen Memorial’s boys golf team has persevered this semester without one of its key ingredients.

With star player Carlos Reyes ineligible since January because of personal reasons, coach Celso Gonzales has seen others step up. But he can only imagine what his Mustangs will look like once Reyes is back in the fold.

“You take a tournament like (last month’s) Border Olympics, where we were one of the top teams and it was close,” said Gonzales, whose Mustangs finished 11th at the 24-team tourney. “But I’m just missing that one player that’s going to be a big difference. The others have carried their weight, but when you throw in Carlos it’s about taking a 75 (average) instead of a 90 out there on the course.”

Gonzales said Reyes is the district’s best as far as average. He also said he expects Reyes to be eligible by the time district starts in early April.

“He’s just naturally talented, and a heck of a tennis player, too,” Gonzales said. “He just started playing serious golf about two years ago. It’s fun to watch him play.”

The Mustangs have been buoyed by the play of senior Taylor Kucia and his brother Trevor. Taylor is a late-comer to the sport who didn’t start playing until his freshman year, while Trevor started playing in middle school.

Trevor finished third at last weekend’s RGVGCA Class 6A Pre-Regionals tournament in San Antonio with a score of 157. Taylor finished four strokes behind, in sixth, with a 161.

They helped the Mustangs finish fourth overall as a team.

Senior Will Moore has also blossomed into a weapon for Memorial. The standout football player shot an 80 on the second day of the Border Olympics, a sign of his promising talent.

“I’m getting into his head how he hears about Trevor, Taylor, and Carlos, and I challenge him,” Gonzales said. “‘Why not Will Moore?’ He’s taken that to heart and he’s working hard. I knew he had the potential. He just had to believe in himself.”

YOUNG AND TALENTED

Sharyland High girls golf coach Yvette Vela said her team was affected significantly by the split with Sharyland Pioneer.

So much so that a freshman has emerged as a key contributor on a team loaded with stars, including the girls doubles team of Fernanda Garcia and Fernanda Armendariz, and mixed doubles talent Stephanie Falcon.

Jimena Guerra, a blossoming singles player, has turned heads as a rookie, and Vela is excited about her young player’s talent.

“My team got split pretty much right down the middle,” Vela said. “The freshmen coming are in are doing their best and getting that experience at the varsity level. We’re hoping to take a big qualifying team up to the regional tournament.”

With sophomore Garcia and Guerra, Vela has a nice foundation in re-establishing her team with different players while maintaining the same high standard.

“Jimena is doing very well, and we expect her to do very well at district,” Vela said. “She’s a strong player and she doesn’t give up easily. She fights for every point.”

RESULTS

The RGVGCA Pre-Regionals Class 6A golf tournaments were held last weekend.

San Antonio Churchill’s boys team (637) won the 17-team Pre-Regionals 6A tournament in San Antonio, followed by, in order, Brownsville Hanna (674), Brownsville Veterans Memorial (684), McAllen Memorial (701) and Mission Veterans Memorial (705). The Patriots’ Diego Hernandez was the highest Valley finisher with his second-place standing. He had a two-day score of 157. McAllen Memorial placed two individuals in the top 10 (Trevor Kucia, 3rd; Taylor Kucia, 6th) and Weslaco East’s Paul Meints finished ninth with a score of 164.

San Antonio Johnson’s girls team (693) won the 13-team girls tournament, followed by Brownsville Hanna (707), Brownsville Veterans Memorial (726), Los Fresnos (733) and Harlingen High (766). The highest upper or Mid Valley girls team finisher at the pre-regional tournament was Weslaco High (7th, 833). The Lady Panthers also had the highest upper or Mid-Valley individual finisher with Anika Hovda, who shot a 160 to finish tied for sixth. Mission High’s Leah Lerma finished ninth with a 168.

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — It was senior versus freshman, PSJA High right-hander Kike Rubio versus Edcouch-Elsa outfielder Joey Villalpando. It was the veteran-laden Bears against the upstart Yellowjackets, with their District 32-5A baseball opener on the line Tuesday night at PSJA High.

But with his team trailing by a run with two outs in the seventh inning, and the tying and winning runs on base, Villalpando bunted a dribbler to the right of Rubio, who raced to scoop it up and deliver the final out. PSJA High earned a 2-1 win, but Bears coach Marco Guajardo was left relieved while E-E coach Xavi Acosta was left wondering what might have been.

“I told the guys it’s not going to be easy in this district,” Guajardo said. “Everybody’s going to throw their best at us. But a ‘W’ is a ‘W’, and that’s all that matters to me. It got scary there, but we’ll be alright.”

The Bears (5-2-2), who received an RBI single from Rubio and RBI double from Christian Sanchez for their scoring, return six seniors from last year’s club, but all eyes are on the pitching. PSJA High graduated its top two pitchers and now the rotation is a four-man group between Troy Flores, Rubio, Andrew Castañeda and Christian Sanchez.

Flores started Tuesday’s game, but was relieved after walking the first two batters he faced in the seventh inning. Rubio came on, got Jarren Garcia to hit into a crucial double play and then fielded Villalpando’s bunt after Eddie Lopez reached base on an error and the Bears intentionally-walked Jacob Martinez.

“I want consistency,” said Guajardo, who added his four pitchers are “all about the same” and he is reluctant to name any as his No. 1 ace. “I don’t want to walk kids. I want them to hit their location. Troy was rattled today a bit, where he was falling behind, and he gave them a chance. If you give teams walks, that’s their opportunity.”

Flores pitched six innings, striking out seven, walking five and allowing four hits. He struggled with location early, hit a nice groove soon thereafter (striking out five of nine batters), but lost his control again late.

The win was a team effort, Flores said, and that’s how it will have to be for the Bears.

“We’re a confident group,” Flores said. “We have guys stepping up. We still have tough pitchers and I believe we still have the same amount of talent.”

The Yellowjackets were feisty and aggressive. Martinez, a junior, threw a strong game, allowing just five hits and not registering a walk. But they also missed opportunities.

Edcouch-Elsa stranded seven runners, five in scoring position.

“It’s part of us being young and part the other team’s pretty good,” Acosta said. “This time, you can say the experience won. We just weren’t able to execute, and that’s tough.”

Martinez took advantage of a Bears team that was anxious at the plate, swinging at almost anything at times and then striking out looking at others. But the clutch hitting didn’t come through, Acosta said, and the situational hitting was down.

Still, for a team that won all of nine games last season, Tuesday was a promising sign.

“Clutch hitting is tough to come by, but when you have good pitching and good defense you’ll be in the game,” Acosta said. “We had more runners in scoring position than they did, but they made great plays. We almost had it.”

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