JOHN JOE RIVERA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
MISSION — The Los Fresnos Falcons exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth inning to blow open Game 3 and claim their Class 6A area round playoff series against the Mission High Eagles with a 9-3 win on Saturday afternoon at Leo Najo Baseball Field.
“We came up big tonight. Late in the game, it was a close game,” Falcons coach Rene Morales said. “We fi-nally got our bats going, and they made a couple of mistakes here and there, and we took advantage of it.”
Both offenses started flat in the third game in as many days between the teams. Los Fresnos scored the first run for either side in the fifth inning, when Ian Danielson came home after reaching on a walk.
The Falcons put two more runners in scoring position later in the inning. J.J. Sanchez then belted a routine fly ball that the Eagles right fielder apparently lost in the sun, resulting in two runs scored for a 3-0 lead while Sanchez ended up at third.
In the sixth inning, the game started to get away from the Eagles. First, the Falcons’ Sammy De Leon, in to pinch run for George Villafranca, and Sebastian Ledezma were driven in by another triple, this time from Alex Salas for a 5-0 lead.
Following a pitching change, the Falcons put two more runners on base. Sanchez then connected on an-other triple, adding two RBIs while giving the Falcons a commanding 8-0 advantage. Sanchez scored later in the inning following a wild pitch.
“Our right fielder lost two balls,” Mission coach Rick Lozano said of the factors that led to the Eagles’ strug-gles in the sixth inning. “I guess it was hard to see, and they capitalized on it big time.”
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Falcons starting pitcher Victor Montemayor gave way to Carlos Perez, ending a stellar outing that included three strikeouts.
Mission claimed Game 1 of the series 12-2 on Thursday before Los Fresnos bounced back with a 12-5 win on Friday.
“We were all playing for each other, and I was just pitching my game,” Montemayor said.
With the game and their season slipping away, the Eagles rallied for three runs. Andy Martinez reached base on a walk and was batted in by Steve Villarreal’s screaming double to center field. Villarreal scored later in the inning to bring the Eagles within six runs, 9-3.
The Falcons once again put runners on base in the top of the seventh inning, but the Eagles defense held them scoreless, surviving the jam.
In a last-ditch effort, Eagles starting pitcher Ricky Elizondo reached base on a walk, and Jacob Salinas fol-lowed with a single to left field that advanced Elizondo to second base. But the Falcons turned a double play to win the game and advance in the postseason.
Despite the loss, the Mission baseball program is positioned for continued success going forward, Lozano said.
“We had a great year. It’s sad that it came to an end. My guys did a good job all year. We battled. We just came up short,” Lozano said. “I’ve got everybody coming back. Everybody’s coming back, so we’ll see what happens next year.”