DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — After tearing his ACL in October 2014, Cesar Rosales’ 2015 baseball season was limited to eight postseason games.

“In the offseason, I just lifted weights,” said Rosales, now a senior. “I lifted and gained weight and just got bigger and stronger.”

Rosales returned to the playoffs in dominant fashion during last weekend’s Class 6A bi-district tussle against Eagle Pass, slugging four home runs in Palmview’s three-game series win.

And he did it while dealing with a sciatic nerve injury in his lower back.

“I tried going for the fence every at-bat,” Rosales said. “If I would’ve hit a groundball, there’s no way I would’ve made it to first base. So I was going for the outfield the whole time.”

Having graduated seven starters from last season, Palmview has surprised by three-peating as a district champion. Pitching, as expected, has been a strength, but the Lobos’ power has come out of nowhere.

The Lobos have 18 home runs and a .526 slugging percentage to accompany a .386 hitting average and .475 on-base percentage heading into their area playoff series against Brownsville Hanna beginning with Game 1 tonight in Brownsville.

“Our mentality is not to hit home runs, it’s just to put the ball in play,” said junior Leo Perez, the team’s ace on the mound who’s also hitting .488 with 31 RBIs and nine homers. “The home runs will come. But when you have guys who can hit, the confidence is through the roof.”

Coach Rick Garcia has changed his team’s approach at the plate. The Lobos (18-10-1) will sit on a fastball to take a breaking ball to the opposite field. They don’t jump on anything, unless the count has two strikes.

“I knew the top of our lineup would be great hitters,” Garcia said. “I just needed the rest of the lineup to come through and work on getting base hits. They’ve done that. That bottom of the lineup, every guy can hit the fastball and we’ve played a lot of small ball that turns out to be base hits and that’s what’s really helped us out.”

Aside from Perez, who is drawing interest from NCAA Division I schools, Palmview’s top hitters saw little time on the field last season. Rosales, hitting .487 with 37 RBIs and five homers, was rusty. Mario Hinojosa, hitting .472 with 19 RBIs and a homer, was a backup who played six games after being moved up from junior varsity midseason.

All have provided power and efficiency in the middle of the order, something that was supposed to be absent with the graduation of Edgar Salinas, Carlos Puente, Jesus Hinojosa and Jose Chapa, all of whom hit .452 or better.

How they’ve done it is because of a lot of time and hard work during the offseason — the Lobos are relentless about conditioning, specifically in the weight room — and practices.

“For the first hour and a half of practice, we’re on the hitting machine,” Hinojosa said. “We’re doing drills, going through stations, coaches are throwing to us. Hitting off tees, soft toss … everything. The whole time, our whole focus is keeping our hands back.”

The Lobos lost almost 60 percent of a starting lineup that hit .418 last season with nine home runs. But they’ve already doubled that home-run total with mostly fresh faces, resulting in third consecutive bi-district and district championships for the eight-year program.

“There was only one word we used all throughout the offseason: tradition,” Garcia said. “That’s what will keep us going. Teams had written us off. All we had was pitching coming back. But these kids don’t want to be that first team to start from the bottom and build up again. You want to surprise people and play as well as you know you can.

“Our kids believed in the tradition.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — Mission Veterans Memorial coach Casey Smith was surprised to see Mercedes junior pitcher Oliver Closner back on the mound for the decisive Game 3 of their Class 5A bi-district playoff series on Saturday.

Closner threw 90 pitches over seven innings during Mercedes’ 3-1 win less than 24 hours earlier. Alas, here was again taking the ball for the Tigers.

“So our strategy was to work him, make him throw and get the pitch count up again,” Smith said. “It started happening there in the fourth (inning). We knew once we got past No. 33 (Closner), who’s a heck of a ballplayer, things would get easier.”

They did. The Patriots chased Closner, holding a one-run lead when he was relieved in the fourth inning, and scored four runs on no hits against two more Tiger throwers that frame, eventually advancing to next week’s area round versus Flour Bluff with a 12-8 Game 3 win at Mission Veterans Memorial High.

“We took their No. 1 (pitcher) out and he was the only guy who gave us trouble,” said Vets junior Noel Vela, who went 0-for-1 with a strikeout against Closner but otherwise went 4-for-6 in Games 2 and 3. “We did what we had to do.”

The No. 6-state ranked Patriots (24-5) took Game 2 12-2 in a run-ruled six innings to set up Game 3. Mercedes coach Armando Reyes said bringing back Closner was a last-minute decision.

“It was not planned,” Reyes said. “I really only have a two-pitcher rotation and I had to go back to our No. 1. We just don’t have the pitching. I’m proud of the kids and the way they battled, but pitching is something we’ll develop.

“The kids that pitched today were sophomores and a junior. Next year, I expect a four-man rotation. This is good experience for our young kids.”

Closner said his arm still felt good when he was taken out after walking the first two batters in the fourth, but Reyes removed him because of a pitch count that was not disclosed. Closner allowed four runs on four hits in three innings after the complete-game, one-hit win on Friday.

The Tigers are young, and have little, especially in regard to pitching, outside of Closner. The UTRGV commit hit two home runs during the series, including a three-run bomb in the sixth inning of Game 3, and went 4-for-7 at the plate in Games 2 and 3.

Once he was relieved of his pitching duties, however, things went awry for Mercedes.

Isaac Zuniga, the first reliever for Closner, hit the first two batters he faced, one plunk with the bases loaded that led to a run. Mando Reyes came in and hit a batter with the bases loaded and walked two batters, each with the bases loaded.

By the time the fourth inning was done, Mission Veterans turned a one-run deficit into a three-run lead without putting the ball in play. The lead ballooned to seven runs before Mercedes scored five in the sixth inning to make it respectable.

Mission Vets had looked completely out of sorts in Game 1. That wasn’t the case in two games Saturday.

The offense was better — swinging at better pitches, working the count and having pitchers go deeper into counts — and the defense was stout (the Patriots did not commit an error while the Tigers had six).

There was also the mental factor. Last season, Mission Vets fell behind 1-0 in a best-of-three playoff series three times. Twice, it rallied to win those series.

“We’re used to having our backs against the wall,” said Eddie Galvan, the Game 3 winner who also had three RBIs in the finale. “That experience and knowledge that we can do it, it pushed us and motivated us. We were focused and we were ready to play. We just tried not to do too much. It’s a cliché, but we handled things one pitch at a time.”

Mission Vets had 16 hits in Game 2 and 10 in Game 3. It struck out twice in Game 2 and six times — four against Closner — in Game 3.

Ultimately, its experience and pitching depth prevailed. Mercedes’ No. 2 pitcher Payton White looked overwhelmed in Game 2, and the bullpen looked raw in Game 3.

The Patriots, meanwhile, turned in a glowing performance from Cristian Ramos as he improved to 10-1 in Game 2 and came on strong in relief in Game 3 following a steady start from Galvan.

“It’s a big advantage to have that many arms,” Ramos said. “Knowing we have 3-4 pitchers who can throw, and throw deep into games, that’s a benefit. It’s a luxury. Teams don’t have that.”

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Roundup of Upper and Mid-Valley bi-district playoff games from Saturday, May 7:

CLASS 6A

LA JOYA PALMVIEW 10, EAGLE PASS 0; LA JOYA PALMVIEW 9, EAGLE PASS 6: At Laredo, the Lobos rallied to sweep Games 2 and 3 on Saturday and take the best-of-3 bi-district playoff series as senior Cesar Rosales had a field day at the plate.

Rosales hit three home runs in Games 2 and 3 and finished with four in the series.

“He was real disciplined at the plate,” coach Rick Garcia said. “He’s a young man that was determined not to be ousted in the first round. He’s one of our senior leaders and he led us. He put the team on his shoulders and he pushed us.”

After the Eagles had taken Game 1 on Friday night in 10 innings, the Lobos dispatched Eagle Pass fairly easily, using a deliberate offense to push through.

“Our bats kept us alive,” Garcia said. “Our approach was to be more patient and get pitches they could hit. That’s what happened. They were patient and more disciplined.”

Palmview is 18-10 and advances to play Brownsville Hanna in next week’s area round playoffs.

LAREDO UNITED 13, McALLEN HIGH 1: At La Joya, the Bulldogs saw their season end as they were swept out of the best-of-three bi-district series with the Game 2 loss.

McAllen High finishes its season 16-9.

DEL RIO 5, LA JOYA 1: At Laredo, the Coyotes were swept in their best-of-three bi-district series.

La Joya High finishes the season 18-9.

LOS FRESNOS 8, WESLACO HIGH 4: At Weslaco, the Panthers were swept in their best-of-three bi-district series.

Weslaco High finishes its season 13-12.

CLASS 5A

PSJA HIGH 16, ROMA 1; PSJA HIGH 7, ROMA 6: At Pharr, the Bears rallied from a 1-0 series deficit to take the best-of-three bi-district series.

A RBI double by Marc Castillo proved to be the go-ahead run during the sixth inning as PSJA High won Game 2, and then dominated Game 3 behind Castillo’s pitching and Roma’s lack of it.

“If we won Game 2, I knew we’d win Game 3,” PSJA High coach Marco Guajardo said. “I knew they’d have no pitching left.”

Roma threw five pitchers in five innings in Game 3. PSJA High led 5-0 after the first inning, and then Josh Saldana’s grand slam in the second essentially closed matters.

“It’s going to be really big for these young guys,” Guajardo said of the comeback series win. “I saw the jitters and nervousness come out in Game 1 that I haven’t seen before. Being able to come back and win back-to-back, just the experience of a big series will help a lot.”

PSJA High plays Corpus Christi Moody in next week’s area round of the playoffs. The Bears improved to 21-8. Roma finishes its season 10-17.

EDINBURG VELA 14, DONNA NORTH 0; DONNA NORTH 8, EDINBURG VELA 7: At Edinburg, Vela survived a scare in its best-of-three bi-district playoffs to take down Donna North in Game 3.

Vela improves to 17-7 overall. Donna North captured the baseball program’s first playoff appearance and first postseason win and ends its year 15-13.

CLASS 4A

Orange Grove 14, Hidalgo 9: After three consecutive years of going to the regional tournament, the Pirates were upset in the first round of the playoffs as Orange Grove swept the best-of-three bi-district series.

Hidalgo finishes its year 18-10.

Sinton 2, Grulla 1: At Sinton, the Gators were swept in their best-of-three bi-district series.

Grulla finishes its season 10-16.

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — Progreso fell to No. 8-state ranked Robstown 15-0 in a run-rule Game 1 of their Class 4A bi-district playoff series on Friday at Sharyland Pioneer High. That wasn’t a surprise.

What is a surprise is that Progreso is still playing baseball. An irrelevant program of Rio Grande Valley baseball for decades, the Red Ants made significant and unexpected strides this season by going 13-11, 8-6 in an intense District 32-4A, and making the postseason for the first time in 25 years.

The Red Ants had not won at least 10 games in a season for 15 years before snapping that skid this season.

“Our goal was to make the playoffs,” coach Isaac Hernandez said. “We did that. We’re trying to change the mindset and this is the first step. Anything from here on was a reward.

“I think we were a little nervous. Robstown’s a great team and they can hit, obviously. But I will never be disappointed in what these kids do. No one expected us to be here, and as long as they play their hearts out that’s all I can ask for. No one wants to lose. It’s tough. But we have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Robstown (23-5) will likely win the series unless the Red Ants produce a considerable upset by sweeping Games 2 and 3 on Saturday at Tuloso-Midway. The Cotton Pickers are making their 16th consecutive playoff appearance and are regulars in big games. It showed Friday night. Robstown amassed 14 hits and Progreso had more than three times as many errors (7) as hits (2).

In the big picture, however, the Red Ants have established something much more than a postseason loss or two.

“We know Robstown is a great team,” senior shortstop Jose Meza Jr. said. “They’re one of the best baseball teams in the entire state. They’ve won state championships (1991 and 1992). We just came in and tried to play our best. We made some mistakes, but we’ve still got to pick our heads up and get ready for tomorrow.

“We’ve still got to play as a team. That’s what’s got us here, and this is no time to stop now.”

The difference this season for Progreso is team chemistry and experience. The Red Ants have a strong senior presence, and there is no longer the sour body language and apathetic nature that plagued teams of the past.

“Our attitudes last year were bad,” senior second baseman Jose San Roman said of last year’s 9-16 team. “We were pointing fingers and blaming everyone but ourselves. We cut that out. We’ve been playing as a team and we’re playing together.”

Hernandez, in his ninth season at the helm of the Red Ants, has had to deal with adversity off the field. Progreso’s baseball facilities are not up to par. It can be difficult getting kids to try out for the team. For instance, the Red Ants dressed out 14 players for Game 1. Robstown dressed out 20.

Hernandez’s initiative is to change the perspective of the program. He wants the loser’s mindset gone.

“I went to the third round of the playoffs as a junior at Lyford,” Hernandez said, “and that’s not as rewarding as this. I couldn’t be prouder of these kids.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

DONNA — Something happened last week that eluded Donna North senior Axel Vazquez all season. He lost.

Heading into the eventual 13-2 defeat to PSJA High at home, Vazquez was 6-0 with a 1.11 ERA. But he was rocked for seven runs (four earned) on seven hits in four innings in a winner-take-all game for the District 32-5A title.

Vazquez walked off the field, however, conscientious of the moment. Far from frustrated or mad, he was humbled.

“I didn’t have my stuff. I wasn’t locating pitches,” Vazquez said. “I was just throwing down the middle and they got me. I knew the first loss was going to come. Nobody’s perfect. But that game was good for me. It’s more motivation.”

And that’s bad news for Edinburg Vela, the Chiefs’ Class 5A bi-district opponent this weekend beginning with Game 1 Friday night at Donna North (14-11). The last thing Vazquez needed was more motivation.

“Coming into this year, he was ready,” Chiefs coach Leroy Rodriguez said. “He told me, ‘Coach, I’ll do anything. Whatever you need from me, I’m ready to do it.’ It was his last year and he was ready to play through pain, ready to do anything we asked. He told me, ‘Coach, I really want to put the team on my back and I really want to make the playoffs.’”

After playing his freshman year at Donna High, Vazquez moved to Donna North a hindered player as a sophomore. He had shoulder surgery late during his freshman season. He suffered a tear when, after pitching the first four innings of a district game and moving to catcher, he tried to throw out down a baserunner attempting to steal second. The throw resulted in a tear of his right shoulder.

Vazquez was Donna North’s designated hitter during its inaugural year of varsity play in 2014 as he was unable to throw for 18 months. He pitched only a few innings last season as he struggled with conditioning and regaining any semblance of familiarity on the mound.

“The toughest thing to get back was my confidence,” Vazquez said. “It felt like everything was new to me. The speed, my pitches, throwing. Nothing felt normal. I felt like I was starting over. It was all in my head.

“I knew I would have to work harder than I’ve ever worked if I wanted to pitch again.”

Slowly, Vazquez trained his way back to where he felt comfortable again. While a lot of work needed to be done physically, his study of the game was never better.

Vazquez would sit with his father and brother and identify situations during games, what he should do and shouldn’t do. Vazquez’s gift, Rodriguez said, is his know-how.

“He knows how to pitch and he’s smart out there,” Rodriguez said. “He knows when to rear back and throw hard or when to spot it and get some outs. He thinks when he’s pitching.”

In 61 innings this season, Vazquez has a 1.30 ERA and 72 strikeouts to 21 walks. Rodriguez initially wanted him to be a guy who could throw a solid five or six innings.

Vazquez has topped that. In six of his seven starts, he has gone the distance.

“This is what he wanted to do,” Rodriguez said. “He wanted to make the playoffs, and going through what he went through he has something to prove. He feels this success is something that was supposed to happen two years ago. It just got off track.

“He’s only worked harder and he told me, ‘I got this. We’re going to do it.’ The other guys see that and it gets them going.”

As a result, Donna North is in the playoffs for the first time in program history. It wasn’t necessarily supposed to be here this soon. Even if Vazquez had not returned to form as a pitcher, he would’ve been fine — his .491 batting average, 11 RBIs and four triples lead the team.

But the fact that he has is important. He has awarded the Chiefs a point of contention.

“I just wanted to play ball and make history,” Vazquez said. “I wanted to get back to myself. Looking back to my freshman year, what I loved to do was pitching. To me, I liked being in control. I felt like the game was in my hand. And to get back from the surgery, I was just motivated to do what I love.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — The last time his team made the playoffs, Mission High senior Brian Cantu was a freshman. And he wasn’t the ace of the Eagles, he was the right-fielder.

But after a two-year hiatus, the Eagles are back in the postseason, thanks to Cantu’s emergence as a lights-out pitcher and an offense that has woken up at the right time.

The Eagles (11-11) play regional power Laredo Alexander at 7 on Friday night in Zapata for a one-game Class 6A bi-district play-off. They enter as a heavy underdog, but Cantu gives them a chance.

“I just want to make the best of it,” said Cantu, 6-3 with a 1.97 ERA and 49 strikeouts to 16 walks in 42.6 innings. “I feel like the last two years, this team hasn’t had things go the way we wanted them to. But that’s just made us better, and it’s because of that that we’re where we’re at.”

Mission High almost didn’t get here. The Eagles needed a finishing flourish in District 30-6A to overcome McAllen Rowe and McAllen Memorial for the fourth and final playoff spot. The baseball team is the only Mission High boys program to make the playoffs in 2015-16.

“We figured we were going to compete,” coach Rick Lozano said. “Our goal was to make the playoffs, and it’s been disappointing the last two years. It comes down to pitching, and Brian came through big time.”

Mission High won five of its last seven district games after starting 2-3, when they struggled to win games at home and struggled worse producing quality at-bats. But they could make hitters miss, and that kept the Eagles competitive.

“Brian carried us through it all,” Lozano said. “He pitched some great games during district and he was our rock. He carried the team.”

Cantu relies on brilliant breaking ball stuff. He doesn’t overpower hitters as much as he outsmarts them. His go-to pitch is the knuckleball.

“I started practicing it in the summer of my eighth grade year, and ever since then I’ve been throwing it,” Cantu said. “Not a lot of pitchers have it. It throws a lot of hitters off. It’s unpredictable. You don’t know where it’s going. It moves like crazy.”

While other kids were honing their fastball, Cantu admitted it took some time believing in the knuckleball. But it has made him dangerous, allowing him to get ahead in the count and set up his slider and fastball.

“I had my doubts,” Cantu said. “It’s not a popular pitch. But I also know I should do whatever makes me better, and there’s no doubt it’s helped me out a lot.”

Cantu kept the Eagles afloat for most of the season. He had little support until late, and that’s when Mission High took off. No one really knows what the epiphany was. All of a sudden, however, Eagles hitters stopped swinging at bad pitches and started working the count.

“We took it more serious,” shortstop Andy Martinez said. “We would stay longer after practices to work on our hitting. We weren’t doing that in the first round (of district play). Something clicked for us.”

Martinez, hitting .432 with 25 RBIs, led the way. Cris Salinas came through with quality at-bats. Seniors Adan Canizalez and Israel Perez started hitting like Lozano knew they could.

“Our pitching and defense was always there, but the last few years the batting wasn’t,” said Perez, hitting .348 with 10 RBIs. “But the bats showed up. We started getting lots of timely hits.”

Lozano has seen his team come together. Chemistry has never been better, something Lozano said can be credited to the offseason, when a strong freshmen class of nine players “pushed and put pressure on the upperclassmen for playing time.”

The payoff has been realized. For the five seniors on the team, it came in the nick of time. The Eagles are playing their best baseball at the best time of the season.

“We wanted this badly,” Cantu said. “There are a lot of seniors on the team and this is our last year. We wanted to get back in the top four and make it. We did, and there’s a lot more smiles around here.”

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The 2016 Rio Grande Valley high school baseball playoff schedule.

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Friday, May 6

Class 6A bi-district

Mission High vs. Laredo Alexander, at Zapata High, 7:30 p.m.

Game 1: Brownsville Hanna at Edinburg North, 7 p.m.

Game 1: Edinburg High at San Benito, 7 p.m.

Game 1: PSJA North at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, 7 p.m.

Game 1: McAllen High at Laredo United, at Laredo Unitrade Stadium, 5 p.m.

Game 1: Weslaco High at Los Fresnos, 7 p.m.

Game 1: La Joya Palmview vs. Eagle Pass, at Laredo SAC, 7:30 p.m.

Game 1: La Joya High vs, Del Rio, at Laredo Krueger Field, 7:30 p.m.

Class 5A bi-district

Edcouch-Elsa at Valley View, 7 p.m.

Game 1: Mission Veterans Memorial at Mercedes, 7 p.m.

Game 1: Edinburg Vela at Donna North, 7 p.m.

Game 1: PSJA High at Roma, 7 p.m.

Class 4A bi-district

Game 1: Sinton at Grulla, 7 p.m.

Game 1: Orange Grove at Hidalgo, 7 p.m.

Game 1: Port Isabel vs. Kingsville King, at Sharyland High, 7 p.m.

Class 3A bi-district

Edinburg IDEA Quest vs. San Diego, at Raymondville, 7:30 p.m.

Falfurrias vs. San Diego, 7:30 p.m.

Santa Rosa at Santa Gertrudis, 7:30 p.m.

Lyford at Banquete, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 7

Class 6A bi-district

Game 2: San Benito at Edinburg High, 11 a.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins.)

Game 2: Brownsville Veterans Memorial at PSJA North, 2 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins.)

Game 2: Edinburg North at Brownsville Hanna, noon (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins.)

Game 2: McAllen High vs. Laredo United, at La Joya ISD Complex, 5 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 40 mins.)

Game 2: Los Fresnos at Weslaco High, 1 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins.)

Game 2: La Joya Palmview vs. Eagle Pass, at Laredo SAC, 1 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins.)

Game 2: La Joya High vs, Del Rio, at Laredo Krueger Field, 2 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins.)

Class 5A bi-district

Game 2: Roma at PSJA High, 11 a.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins).

Game 2: Mercedes at Mission Veterans Memorial, 1 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins.)

Game 2: Donna North at Edinburg Vela, 4 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins.)

Class 4A bi-district

Game 2: Hidalgo vs. Orange Grove, at Calallen High, 4 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins.)

Game 2: Grulla at Sinton, 1 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins.).

Game 2: Port Isabel vs. Kingsville King, at Sharyland High, 1 p.m. (Game 3, if necessary, will follow after 30 mins).

DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

DONNA — Neither PSJA High nor Donna North was supposed to be in this position, fighting for a District 32-5A championship on the final day of the regular season. And while the Bears were alone in first place for most of the first half of the district campaign, leaving the door open for the Chiefs with some curious losses late in the season, they resiliently shut it Friday night.

The Bears, in what was supposed to be a rebuilding season for coach Marco Guajardo, looked like a veteran ballclub that had been there before, jumping on the Chiefs early and often for a 13-2 win over the Chiefs at Donna North High. With three freshmen and a sophomore starting, the Bears were confident, poised and dominant in winning the program’s first district title since 2013.

“We really wanted a district championship,” Guajardo said. “The last two years, we were one game away. It left a sour taste in our mouths. This year, I didn’t even think I’d be here. I have five freshmen and I knew I was going to have growing pains. But these starting three freshmen really stepped up. They did it all year long.”

One of those freshmen was starting pitcher Cheke Marroquin, who threw a complete game and allowed two runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking none, painting the outside corner with ease and setting up his curveball well.

“I was ready for this game,” said Marroquin, who improved to 4-0. “There were no nerves or anything. I was ready for it, so it was good for me, it was good for the team. I was hitting my spots, throwing strikes and my defense was big.”

Another freshman was lead-off hitter Trey Guajardo, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk. The third rookie starter was second baseman Ariben Gutierrez, a defensive dynamo who steadied the infield.

“There are people doubting out there that we can’t do what we’ve been doing,” Trey Guajardo said. “Our mentality is to prove them wrong. We’ve been showing that and we’re going to keep on doing what we’ve been doing.”

The Bears (18-7, 10-3 32-5A) wasted no time putting their imprint on the game. By the second inning, PSJA High had a 2-0 lead and by the fourth it held a 7-0 advantage as it got to Chiefs ace Axel Vazquez early. Vazquez entered 6-0 with a 1.11 ERA, but he was no match for PSJA High hitters.

PSJA High tagged Vazquez for seven runs (four earned) on seven hits before he was relieved after the fourth inning. It didn’t help that the Chiefs committed four errors, three leading to runs.

“It might have been nerves,” Donna North coach Leroy Rodriguez said. “I can’t speak for the kids, but that start took the wind out of our sails. But we fought. I’m proud of these guys.”

In all, the Bears had 12 hits and struck out just four times in 44 plate appearances.

“We may be a young team, but we’re determined to work together,” Trey Guajardo said. “We had to find a way to get along, the upperclassmen and the young guys. There were people who left, people who quit, but those who stayed found a way. We know big things lie ahead.”

The loss did not deter from a festive atmosphere for the Chiefs after the game. Donna North is making its first playoff appearance in program history after going 4-20 last season. The Chiefs won 10 of 14 district games.

Friday’s game, Rodriguez said, was simply a learning experience.

“We have to adjust quicker,” Rodriguez said. “From here on out, we’re going to face great pitching every night. We didn’t start getting (Marroquin’s) timing down until the fourth inning. No doubt, this was a big game. Tuesday’s win against Donna, too, was like a playoff game. I think we’re ready.

“These kids haven’t been in this situation before, but I’m hoping after this week they can not be nervous, get used to the crowds and come back ready to play playoff baseball.”

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DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER

McAllen Rowe did not make the playoffs this season, but there is optimism for the future.

The Warriors had eight sophomores see significant playing time this year. Their best player, Abanny Garcia, was a sophomore. All four of their pitchers were sophomores.

Outfielder Jake Weaver was the only Warriors starter with two years of varsity experience.

Though Rowe went 4-8 in District 30-6A, coach Angel Perez is encouraged. Five of those defeats came by a combined eight runs.

“Our expectations were to get to the playoffs, but I knew we were young,” Perez said. “We moved people around and tried getting guys as much experience as possible. We knew we’d be in a tough district. We had to grow fast.”

Garcia, the All-Valley Newcomer of the Year in 2015, is the anchor of the Warriors. The sophomore developed a changeup and improved his velocity to 86 miles per hour.

“He’s a lot better,” Perez said. “He was our ace this year and he pitched great. The losses he had were two runs or fewer. He had all of our wins in district and really played well. He’s been outstanding.”

Catcher Adrian Bernal and sophomore left-handed pitchers Aaron Gill and Richard Polanco also showed substantial promise.

“They’re going to be even better next year,” Perez said. “They’re a year wiser and they’ll all be juniors. They have potential to make noise.”

ON THE BRINK

Roma is a game up on Rio Grande City for the fourth and final playoff spot in District 31-5A heading into each team’s regular season finale Friday night.

If Roma beats Valley View and Rio Grande City beats Sharyland High, Roma is in. If Roma and Rio Grande City both lose, Roma is in.

If Roma loses and Rio Grande City wins, the two will be tied for fourth and have to play a play-in game.

It’s quite the scenario for first-year Roma coach Juan Narvaez.

“Playoffs are the goal,” Narvaez said. “That’s the expectation around this program now. The bar is high, especially after a season like last year. I don’t try and put too much pressure on the kids. I’m just trying to help them relax and be themselves.”

It’s been a trying year for the Gladiators. Sophomore ace John Michael Roberson, the district’s MVP last season, has been hampered by wrist and shoulder injuries and has only pitched in seven games (only two complete-game outings). Narvaez said the team’s shortstop has gone through personal issues.

Catcher Andre Barrera has battled inflammation in his shoulder.

“It’s been a big, big challenge,” Narvaez said.

Narvaez was an assistant under coach Rock Cortinas, coincidentally Rio Grande City’s coach, the last six years. He is a certified hitting instructor.

While his inaugural season may not have gone as expected, there have been positives. A big one is Alex Mascorro. The junior is hitting .407 with 16 RBIs and two homers and has helped ease the absence of Roberson on the mound, going 2-5 but with a 3.57 ERA and 34 strikeouts to 13 walks in 35 1/3 innings.

STRONG GATOR

After missing the playoffs last season, Grulla is back in. A key is the continued development of junior right-handed pitcher/infielder Luis Martinez.

Martinez has 117 strikeouts through 13 District 32-4A games and is also batting .400. He’s been the rock for first-year coach Chapo Ozuna.

“He did well last year, but he’s coming around,” Ozuna said. “He throws in the mid-80s and has good location and good control. He lasts the game. He does real well.”

Ozuna said Martinez might even be a better infielder than a pitcher. That’s saying something for a power guy who struck out 20 batters in a game against Rio Hondo earlier this season.

“I didn’t know much about the team, but I had heard about him,” Ozuna said. “I was at (La Joya) Juarez-Lincoln, so I didn’t keep up with them. But when I saw him in person during the fall league, you could see the talent. He’s very dedicated to his work and he doesn’t have to be told what to do. He’s very committed and he takes care of himself.”

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The following are standings for Rio Grande Valley high school baseball districts as of Thursday, April 28.

District 30-6A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

xy-McAllen High 16 7 9 3 —

xy-La Joya High 18 7 9 3 —

xy-LJ Palmview 16 9 9 3 —

x-Mission High 11 11 7 5 2

McAllen Memorial 11 12 4 8 5

McAllen Rowe 6 13 4 8 5

LJ Juarez-Lincoln 1 18 0 12 9

x- clinched playoff berth

y-shared district title

District 31-6A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

xy-Edinburg North 19 7 10 1 —

x-Edinburg High 15 8 9 2 1

x-Weslaco High 13 9 7 4 3

PSJA North 13 12 6 5 4

Economedes 10 13 5 6 5

PSJA Memorial 6 18 2 10 8 ½

Weslaco East 2 19 0 11 10

x-clinched playoff berth

y-clinched district title

Edinburg High has tied twice

Economedes has tied once

Weslaco East has tied once

District 32-6A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

xy-Brownsville Vets 22 3 12 2 —

x-Los Fresnos 17 5 11 3 2

x-Bro. Hanna 15 9 9 5 4

x-San Benito 13 7 9 5 4

Harlingen High 13 13 5 9 8

Harlingen South 10 13 4 10 9

Brownsville Lopez 10 13 4 10 9

Brownsville Rivera 4 19 2 12 11

x-clinched playoff berth

y-clinched district title

Brownsville Lopez has tied twice

Brownsville Veterans has tied once

District 31-5A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

xy-Mission Vets 21 4 10 1 —

x-Valley View 15 8 9 2 1

x-Edinburg Vela 15 5 8 3 2

Roma 8 14 5 6 5

Rio Grande City 9 13 4 7 6

Sharyland High 9 15 2 9 8

Sharyland Pioneer 8 15 1 11 9½

x-clinched playoff berth

x-clinched share of district title

Edinburg Vela tied once

Mission Veterans Memorial tied once

Valley View tied twice

District 32-5A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

x-PSJA High 18 7 10 3 —

x-Donna North 14 10 10 3 —

x-Edcouch-Elsa 11 9 8 5 2

Mercedes 10 10 7 6 3

Brownsville Porter 11 11 7 6 3

Donna High 10 11 5 8 5

Brownsville Pace 7 13 5 8 5

PSJA Southwest 1 21 0 13 10

x-clinched playoff berth

Donna High has tied once

PSJA Southwest has tied once

District 32-4A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

x-Hidalgo 17 8 11 2 —

x-Port Isabel 16 4 11 2 —

x-Grulla 10 13 8 5 3

x-Progreso 13 10 8 5 3

Rio Hondo 10 14 5 8 6

Zapata 9 12 5 8 6

Raymondville 6 18 2 11 9

La Feria 5 16 2 11 9

x-clinched playoff berth

Port Isabel has tied once

Zapata has tied once