Jesus Sanchez | The Brownsville Herald

Trust and accountability were the main focuses for the Cowboys this week as they began football practice and their road to redemption from last year’s 0-10 season.

“ I think we just reached that throughout all summer and spring long, talking about trusting one another and holding each other accountable,” said Carlos Uresti, Porter’s head coach and athletic coordinator. “The kids have really followed that up to now.”

Uresti, who previously served as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator for four seasons, said he and team are excited and ready to start practicing again.

“ I think both the coaches and the kids are ready to come back to work,” he said. “We put a lot of time in the offseason and in the summer.”

This time around, during his second year at the helm, Uresti and the Cowboys will emphasize some of the same fundamentals as before.

“ I’m fortunate to have the same offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator coming back,” the coach said. “So, (we’re) really just retooling and adding a couple of wrinkles to both our offense and defense, but for the most part, are base defense and offense are already in.”

The Cowboys were ready to work hard once practice began on Monday. The young team is using last season’s results as motivation to better itself and prove it has what it takes to be a top contender.

“ Team’s looking good,” Cowboys tight end Manuel Sandoval said during Wednesday’s practice. “We’re all just hoping to make this season one to remember. For a lot of us, we’ve been through this program for three years; this is our third year on varsity, so we’re really hoping to go out and (prove) to everyone that we deserve to be here.”

Sandoval said he and some fellow players know they are looked up to by newcomers as veterans and act accordingly.

“ We try to help them out as much as we can,” the senior said. “There’s so many young guys that we got. Our quarterback, last year, he stepped up. We needed him to step up from freshmen to varsity and he did amazing for us. This year, we expect nothing but better things to come.”

Sophomore quarterback Kevin Garcia said, with a year of experience under his belt, he is ready to put last season’s winless record behind him.

“ The entire summer, I’ve been waiting for this season because this season is looking way better than any of our other seasons,” Garcia said. “Our skill players, our linemen, our defense is improving big time compared to last year. Yes, last year we went 0-10 but we want to come back for redemption. We want to come to prove that even though, yes, we’re from Porter, yes, we’re sophomores, that we could compete with the big dogs any day. That’s what we’re here to prove.”

To help improve each other’s game, the Cowboys have set a “brotherly” like atmosphere in each of their practices. That is the mentality they hope to carry out throughout the season as well.

“ Right now, practice is looking good,” Garcia said. “We’re all into it. We get excited every day. If there’s a good play, we all get hyped. If there’s a bad play, we cheer each other up. Right now, we’re trying to have a friendly atmosphere, very ‘good-teammate’ atmosphere to bring everyone up, especially freshmen, trying to motivate them.”

Sandoval said he hopes to make his last season as a Porter Cowboy one to remember.

“ The past couple of seasons haven’t been, what you can say, our best seasons where we can say, ‘We’ve shown all that we could do,’” he said. “I’m just really hoping that all my team, including myself, are able to prove that … those past two years, they didn’t reflect who we are and this year, we’re hoping to prove everybody who’s counted us out wrong.”

Sandoval said both coaches and players are ready to take on the challenges the upcoming season will throw at them and to showcase what the Cowboys can do.

“ Be ready for Porter this year,” Sandoval said. “We’re going to make some noise.”

By LAURA B. MARTINEZ | The Brownsville Herald

Former Port Isabel High School football coach Jaime Infante has been placed on three years probation, one year suspension and has been administered a public reprimand.

State officials report the probation, suspension and reprimand pertain to Infante violating the off-season school team practice code.

The State Executive Committee of the University Interscholastic League met Tuesday to discuss alleged rule violations by Infante and other coaches in the state, and to determine the eligibility of student athletes.

According to Section 1206 (f) of the UIL Constitution and Rules that pertains to violations of offseason school team practices, for which Infante was cited, “School teams shall not practice outside the specific allowable practice dates except during the one in-school day practice period. Offseason activities before or after the school day or during the lunch periods are specifically prohibited. This does not prevent students from using school issued shoes and/or clothing before or after school; however, participation before or after school shall be strictly voluntary and not required, and coaches shall not instruct students in any manner.”

It is not immediately clear when Infante violated the rules.

Infante resigned from his position as Port Isabel head coach in May after serving only one year as football coach/athletic director at Port Isabel.

Infante stated it was his decision to resign and that he would stay with the district until his contract ended in June.

RGVSports.com

Athletes who shined with state berths and standout performances in multiple sports are among the nominees for Class 6A Female Athlete of the Year and Sub-6A Female Athlete of the Year.

The winners will be announced at the 2018 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet on June 19 at Mario’s Banquet & Conference Center in Mission. Lone Star National Bank returns as the presenting sponsor of the event for the second consecutive year.

Sean Elliott, a former NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs who now works with the team as a broadcaster, will be the keynote speaker at the banquet.

The nominees for Class 6A Female Athlete of the Year:

>> Serena Cervantes, McAllen High: Cervantes played hoops and soccer and dominated on the wrestling mat. The three-sport athlete excelled due to her physicality. She was used as a defensive specialist on the basketball team and played a similar role on the pitch. She was late to join the soccer team because of her run to the 6A state semifinals in wrestling. She entered her semifinal match with a perfect record but lost to another undefeated 128-pound competitor. She was also a part of McHi’s historic run to state in soccer, as the program became the first Valley girls team to advance to that level.

>> Andrea de la Rosa, Brownsville Rivera: De la Rosa won gold in the 3,200 and 1,600 runs at the district and area meets. At regionals, she finished fourth in both events. The junior also went to state in cross country.

>> Kristi Gomez, PSJA Memorial: Gomez was a four-year starter on the Wolverines volleyball team and helped PSJA Memorial clinch the program’s first-ever district title in volleyball. She made The Monitor’s volleyball All-Area First Team for the third consecutive season. Gomez also played goalie for the girls soccer team, winning District 31-6A Goalkeeper of the Year and helping lead the Wolverines to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

The nominees for Sub-6A Female Athlete of the Year:

>> Jackie Howell, Mission Veterans: During the fall, Howell’s 515 kills, 345 digs and 77 aces aided the Patriots volleyball team to an undefeated 16-0 regular season in District 31-5A. During the spring, Howell’s 16.5 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.3 assists propelled the Patriots girls basketball team to a second-place finish in the district and an area playoff berth. Howell made The Monitor’s All-Area First Team lists for volleyball and basketball.

>> Valery Tobias, Edinburg IDEA Quest: Tobias won her third straight 800-meter gold medal at the state meet in Austin, surging late for the victory. She is the first RGV runner to win three consecutive state titles. At the Meet of Champions in Weslaco this season, she won gold in the 400 and narrowly pulled out an improbable come-from-behind finish in the 800 after falling on the first lap around the track. She’ll continue her track and education career at the University of Texas at Austin this fall.

>> Cassie Valdez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial: The senior led her softball squad to an unbeaten District 32-5A title and to the regional quarterfinals while earning district offensive player of the year honors. At the plate, Valdez finished with a .611 average, 11 home runs and 60 RBIs. As a pitcher, she had a 12-4 record with a 0.93 ERA, including a 0.16 ERA and an 8-0 record in district play. For the year, she allowed just 11 runs on 35 hits while striking out 162 batters. In volleyball, she earned the District 32-5A MVP while leading the Lady Chargers to an unbeaten district crown for the second straight season. She was the All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year after posting 147 kills, 211 digs, 313 assists and 37 aces.

The banquet, hosted by RGVSports.com and AIM Media Texas in conjunction with the RGV Sports Hall of Fame, will see 33 awards presented to athletes, coaches and teams across all 12 UIL sports. The prestigious Tom Landry Award of Excellence will honor a student-athlete for outstanding achievements on and off the field.

The Monitor, Valley Morning Star, The Brownsville Herald, Mid-Valley Town Crier and RGV Sports Hall of Fame will vote to determine the winners in the sports categories. While The Monitor, the Star and the Herald have previously named their All-Area teams in certain sports, the All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet will recognize the very best across all three coverage areas.

The banquet, which will run approximately 6 to 8 p.m., returns to Mario’s for a second consecutive year. The venue has a seating capacity of more than 500 people. Tickets are on sale through TheMonitor.com, BrownsvilleHerald.com and ValleyMorningStar.com at a cost of $40 per person. For sponsorship opportunities, call Marcia Kitten at 956-683-4463 or email [email protected].

BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR

Softball coaches and recruiters never really set down a path to find Victoria De Leon. The Edinburg High third baseman was a first-team all-district performer after batting .415 in 2012, and she helped the Bobcats get to the fourth round of the playoffs and post a sterling 28-5 mark.

Despite the feats, she rarely heard from colleges, De Leon said.

However, in 2012, De Leon signed on with a then up-and-coming two-year program in Temple College, the 2018 JUCO national champs. She played for a year, then got hurt. She later transferred to Huston-Tillotson in Austin, a program that had been down for years but was beginning to show sings of life under new coach and Edinburg native Roxanne Rodriguez.

Fast forward three years, and the Red River Athletic Conference named De Leon the 2018 Player of the Year for her exploits on the diamond. She made the Red River’s first team for a third straight year. The NAIA conference includes Our Lady of the Lake and UH-Victoria, among others.

De Leon, who recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, said she was humbled by the honor, yet gratified because she put so much work into playing at a high level.

“In the beginning of the season, I was a little shaky and wasn’t off to a great start. But with repetitive tee work and front toss, my approach to getting back on top became a clearer picture,” the 5-foot De Leon said. “I adjusted to the pitcher in every series and worked the count a lot more than I usually would. Putting the ball into play and executing was my mentality throughout the season.”

She certainly did that. In 2018, De Leon batted .441, marking her third season at H-T hitting higher than .420, and she had the conference’s third-highest average. In 35 games, she had 45 hits, scored 28 runs and added 14 RBIs batting sixth in the lineup. She also had a .954 fielding percentage with just seven errors in 153 chances. For her H-T career, she hit .440 with 157 hits, 104 runs scored and struck out just 28 times in 357 at bats.

Despite her success, the H-T Rams fell short of postseason success, losing in the first round of the conference tournament after going 19-16 and 14-9 in conference games. However, 2018 marked the first time since H-T softball began play in the Red River Conference (2010) that the Rams have posted a winning record. The H-T roster has 10 players from the Valley.

“It’s a great accomplishment. H-T softball has finally put a mark on the map and has turned so many heads around Texas,” De Leon said. “Having been part of this program and helped turn it around has been such an amazing opportunity, and knowing that history and records have been made and broken. I believe this program will strive for greatness and accomplish so much more.”

SERVIN HELPING JAVELINAS REACH NEW HEIGHTS

Edinburg North product Giancarlo Servin has done his part to help the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas post the program’s best record in more than a decade and qualify for the NCAA Division II College World Series for the first time in school history. Servin, a freshman infielder and designated hitter, played in 38 games for the Javelinas (41-15) and started 20.

An all-area and all-state section for the Cougars, Servin was an ace on the mound. But with the Javelinas, he has not pitched at all. Still, Servin is earning his keep in Kingsville by batting .288 in 80 at-bats, converting 23 hits into 13 runs scored and 14 RBIs. He also picked up 16 walks and has been hit by a pitch four times against 14 strikeouts. The 6-foot-1 right-hander also played some at third base.

ROWE’S JACKSON A STEADY HAND FOR UTRGV

The UTRGV Vaqueros scuffled this season, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort. The team earned some hard-fought victories and benefitted from players like McAllen Rowe alum Ryan Jackson. The redshirt junior posted a 3-3 record and 3.13 ERA — the best in his collegiate career and second lowest on the team for 2018. The Vaqueros ended up 23-31 overall for the 2018 season.

Jackson, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound right-hander, was an all-Valley and all-state selection while suiting up for the Warriors. This year in Edinburg, he appeared in 27 games and pitched 46 innings, walking just five of the 169 batters he faced and throwing only two wild pitches all season. He limited opponents to a .225 batting average.

MCHI’S LIZOTTE MAKING HIS WAY AT UT-PERMIAN BASIN

McAllen High product Errol Lizzotte, a three-time state qualifier in swimming, is beginning to make his mark in the pool at the University of Texas-Permian Basin. The Division II school in Odessa has a strong swimming program, and Lizzotte flexed his muscle this spring. The sophomore who specializes in short distances took eighth place in the men’s 100-yard butterfly at the New South Intercollegiate Swimming Conference Swimming and Diving Championships.

Lizzotte posted a 49.55-second mark during the race’s prelims, ranking sixth fastest. He also swam the first leg of UTPB’s men’s 200 freestyle relay that took fourth place (12th overall) in the B final at the conference championships.

Know an RGV athlete doing well at the collegiate level in any sport? Send us a tip at gluca@ themonitor.com.

STAFF REPORT

Valley golfers came through with top finishes at the district, regional and even state levels, but only one boy and one girl will be able to claim Boys Golfer of the Year and Girls Golfer of the Year.

The winners will be announced at the 2018 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet on June 19 at Mario’s Banquet & Conference Center in Mission.

Sean Elliott, a former NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs who now works with the team as a broadcaster, will be the keynote speaker at the event.

The nominees for Boys Golfer of the Year:

>> Santiago Garcia, Hanna: The senior was the District 32-6A individual champion for the fourth straight year and was the RGV Golf Coaches Association MVP for 2017-18 with a Valley-best 70.78 stroke average. He went to the regional tournament for the fourth straight year and barely missed qualifying for the state tournament. He signed to play at Texas A&M International in Laredo.

>> Jun Min Lee, Sharyland High: Lee dominated the District 31-5A tournament to earn a trip to regionals. Lee then won the regional tournament to advance to state, where he tied for third place.

>> CW Phillips, McAllen Memorial: Phillips dominated the District 30-6A tournament, winning by six strokes to advance to regionals. At the Region IV tournament, Phillips hit some tough shots on the backside to secure his trip to state by one stroke.

The nominees for Girls Golfer of the Year:

>> Raquel Flores, Sharyland High: Flores won the District 31-5A tournament by five strokes to help the Rattlers advance to regionals. Flores also won the regional tournament by seven strokes to lead her team to state. At state, the Rattlers captured second place in the team competition, and Flores finished 18th overall as an individual.

>>Micaela Leandro, Harlingen High: Leandro is quickly making a name for herself in Valley golf as she won the District 32-6A tournament championship to advance to regionals for the second year in a row. At regionals, she performed quite well, shooting a two-day total of 161 to finish in 29th place.

>> Julie Lucio, Brownsville Veterans Memorial: The senior was a district champion for the fourth straight year, this year in District 32-5A, and went to the regional tournament again, where she finished tied for third as the Brownsville Veterans team qualified for state with a second-place showing. At the state tournament, Lucio finished in a three-way tie for 12th with a 151. She was the RGV Golf Coaches Association MVP for 2017-18 with a Valley-best 71.38 stroke average for 18 holes. She signed to play at the University of Houston.

The banquet, hosted by RGVSports.com and AIM Media Texas in conjunction with the RGV Sports Hall of Fame, will see 33 awards presented to athletes, coaches and teams across all 12 UIL sports. The prestigious Tom Landry Award of Excellence will honor a student-athlete for outstanding achievements on and off the field.

The Monitor, Valley Morning Star, The Brownsville Herald, Mid-Valley Town Crier and RGV Sports Hall of Fame will vote to determine the winners in the sports categories. While The Monitor, the Star and the Herald have previously named their All-Area teams in certain sports, the All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet will recognize the very best across all three coverage areas.

The banquet, which will run approximately 6 to 8 p.m., returns to Mario’s for a second consecutive year. The venue has a seating capacity of more than 500 people. Tickets will be on sale soon at a cost of $40 per person. For sponsorship opportunities, call Marcia Kitten at 956-683-4463 or email [email protected].

BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR

McALLEN — As Temple College roommates, Daisy Gonzalez and Dalilah Barrera have shared a place all year. Now, the two have mutual stake in something bigger: a national championship.

On Saturday, the RGV pair helped lead the No. 3-ranked Temple College Leopards to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I softball championship with a 6-1 victory over No. 2 Chipola College of Florida.

Gonzalez, a McAllen Memorial product, notched a key hit and RBI to start the scoring for Temple in the fifth inning, and Barrera, of Mercedes, picked up the save with five strikeouts during the final two innings. The NJCAA title is the first for the Temple program.

“It was a very exciting moment for all of us,” Gonzalez said of winning the tournament title in St. George, Utah. “As soon as the last pitch was thrown, we all rushed to Dalilah, and everyone hugged each other in tears.”

Temple (47-8) was ranked in the top 10 much of the year. The Leopards qualified for the NJCAA Region V Tournament and won it to earn a berth in the national tournament. Gonzalez said winning the NJCAA title was the team’s goal from Day One.

Barrera, a sophomore pitcher and Texas State signee, has been impressive all year, going 21-3 with a 1.27 ERA and 248 strikeouts. Gonzalez, a freshman first baseman, played in 40 games while batting .375. She posted 30 hits, 10 of which were doubles, and she homered three times.

Gonzalez said her first year in college was one big learning experience. She picked up things from her coaches and teammates. She improved her fitness with tough workouts, and even learned some different positions.

“I wouldn’t change anything about my freshman year of college,” she said about the Central Texas school. “I loved everything about it.”

Gonzalez said Barrera’s approach in the circle starts with a strong mental focus.

“She had an amazing year, and she’s a great teammate, as well,” Gonzalez said. “She was a leader on the field and would hold us accountable. As roommates, I was able to get to know her on a personal level, and I learned that she wants nothing more than to be the best at what she does.”

In recent years, Temple’s softball pipeline has included Edinburg North’s Melina Sanchez, Jacqueline Chapa and Carolina Flores and Mercedes’ Stephanie Flores.

SANCHEZ NAMED ALL-CONFERENCE AT TEXAS SOUTHERN

PSJA High alum Christian Sanchez was named to the All-Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball first team this season. Sanchez, a bruising 6-foot-1, 230-pound outfielder, was Texas Southern’s third-leading hitter with a .343 batting average on 69 hits, 48 runs scored and 60 RBIs. He was the team’s and the SWAC’s leading home-run hitter with 17.

Sanchez also led the SWAC in defense, as the junior notched 256 putouts and 15 assists in 273 chances. He had just two errors the entire season for a .993 fielding percentage.

Sanchez was named to the SWAC’s All-Tournament team last weekend as the Tigers (17-9, 27-26) claimed their third conference title in the last four years and second in a row. They won four straight games in the SWAC tourney, capped by an 18-3 win over Grambling.

MISSION’S LERMA LEADS UH-VICTORIA IN TOURNEY

Mission High’s Leah Lerma led the University of Houston-Victoria Jaguars to a seventh-place finish at the 32nd annual PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championships earlier this month in Florida. Lerma, a freshman, paced the Jaguars with a 256 to finish 23rd individually after posting scores of 88-83-85. Ten teams competed in the tournament, but only two were NAIA squads. NAIA is one of the smallest divisions in collegiate sports.

Lerma is a former four-year all-district performer for the Eagles. She was named the District 30-6A MVP during her sophomore and senior seasons and went to the regional tournament all four years in high school. In this year’s Red River Conference tournament, Lerma once again led the Jaguars with a two-day total of 167, helping UHV to a fifth-place finish.

ROWE’S BOSQUEZ FINDS SUCCESS IN KANSAS

McAllen Rowe product Hector Bosquez marked a personal best in the triple jump when he bounded 13.80 meters (45.35 feet) for McPherson College at the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Association meet earlier this month. The freshman who also competes in the long jump and 200-meter dash earned a third-place finish at the conference meet and was awarded a bronze medal.

Bosquez was an area and regional qualifier in several events while at Rowe. At the collegiate level, he has focused on the 200 and the jumps. Bosquez steadily improved his time and distances over the season, going from jumping 41 feet early in the year to 45 feet in May. McPherson is an NAIA university in McPherson, Kansas.

EDINBURG NORTH’S CANUL TAKES HOME BRONZE

Texas A&M-Kingsville junior Alyssa Canul earned a third-place finish at the Lone Star Conference Outdoor Championships with a mark of 176.07 feet on her final attempt of the women’s hammer throw. The UTRGV transfer saved her best for last. Her hammer throw of 53.82 meters was her best toss of the season’s eight meets.

Canul, an Edinburg North alum, also competed in the weight, discus and the javelin throws at meets throughout the year. At the Lone Star Conference meet in San Angelo, she threw the javelin 99.10 feet to place 11th. Her best javelin throw of the year was at the University of Incarnate Word meet in April, as she marked 106.0.

Know an RGV athlete doing well at the collegiate level in any sport? Send us a tip at gluca@ themonitor.com.

HENRY MILLER | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR

PHARR — Nate Quintanilla’s performance on Saturday would’ve made Babe Ruth proud. His afternoon will be talked about for years to come in McAllen High sports lore, and rightly so.

The senior catcher hit two home runs, made two stellar run-saving defensive plays and pitched the final two innings, shutting down the PSJA High Bears to earn the save as McHi defeated PSJA 3-1 in the third and deciding game of their Class 6A area round series. The Bears defeated the visiting Bulldogs 12-2 in six innings earlier in the day to force the tiebreaking game.

McHi will now play Laredo Alexander in the Class 6A Region IV quarterfinals next week. Time and site are yet to be determined. The Bulldogs came into the playoffs ranked No. 1 by Texas High School baseball.

Quintanilla, who during his first at-bat flied out with a long fly ball to the center-field wall in the first inning, turned on a Gonzalez fastball and sent it out over the left-center field fence in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 1.

Prior to the blast, PSJA had dominated every aspect of Saturday’s opener and led 1-0 in the elimination game. Pitcher Elian Gonzalez had a no-hitter going for the Bears through 3 2/3 innings before Quintanilla’s first blast.

“That put us right back in it,” McHi coach Eliseo Pompa said. “He stepped it up a lot today. He caught pretty much all three games, and then we asked him to come out and pitch. That’s quite an ordeal.”

The bottom of the fourth inning featured another intense moment as the Bears tried to respond. With Joel Pecino on first, Cesar Cantu doubled into the gap in left-center, and the ball rolled to the wall. McHi left fielder Robbie Maldonado threw the ball into Jorge Garcia, who pivoted and fired it to Quintanilla at home. Pecino tried to slide around the catcher, but Quintanilla stretched out and made the tag to stop the go-ahead run from scoring.

McHi sophomore starting pitcher Aaron Nixon said the home run was a game-changing moment, but the play at the plate was even bigger.

“I was right there, about two feet away,” said Nixon, who pitched five innings to earn the win, giving up just one run on seven hits, no walks and a hit batsman with eight strikeouts. “I usually feel the same during games, but that was electrifying. It was powerful. In the past two weeks, we’ve had a lot of fire-up moments.”

Quintanilla also blocked a ball in the dirt with Cantu on third to prevent PSJA scoring on a passed ball or wild pitch.

But Quintanilla was far from finished putting his stamp on the game. In the sixth inning, he pulled a Gonzalez curveball down the left-field line. When the ball left his bat, nobody in the outfield moved. The homer gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead.

“I had been seeing where his fastball had been going,” said Quintanilla, who had five home runs entering the series. “I was just trying to keep my composure. Then, he threw that curveball, and I hit it well. It picked everybody up. We knew we could do this.”

To finish what he started, Quintanilla got the call to put the game away on the mound. He did just that, retiring all six batters he faced, with three groundouts, one strikeout, one popout and the final fly ball to center field.

“We played a real bad game that first game,” Pompa said. “But we kept our composure, and we had times where they could’ve scored some runs. But we threw a lot of strikes, and we just kept on playing.”

VALLEY HS BASEBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 10
Class 6A
Mission High 12, Los Fresnos 2, Mission leads series 1-0

Friday, May 11
Class 6A
Los Fresnos 12, Mission High 5, series tied 1-1
McAllen High 10, PSJA high 3, McHi leads series 1-0
Laredo Alexander 8, Brownsville Hanna 2, Alexander leads series 1-0
Edinburg Vela 5, Eagle Pass 3, Vela leads series 1-0
Class 5A
Corpus Christi Carroll 7, Rio Grande City 2, Carroll leads series 1-0
Corpus Christi King 2, Valley View 1, King leads series 1-0
Corpus Christi Calallen 7, Sharyland High 2, Calallen leads series 1-0
Sharyland Pioneer 2, Corpus Christi Veterans 0, Pioneer leads series 1-0

Saturday, May 12
Class 6A
Edinburg Vela 8, Eagle Pass 4, Vela wins series 2-0
Los Fresnos 9, Mission High 3, Los Fresnos wins series 2-1
PSJA High 12, McAllen High 2
McAllen High 3, PSJA High 1, McAllen High wins series 2-1
Laredo Alexander 6, Brownsville Hanna 1, Alexander wins series 2-0
Class 5A
Corpus Christi Veterans 17, Sharyland Pioneer 0
Corpus Christi Veterans 5, Sharyland Pioneer 2, CC Vets wins series 2-1
Valley View 10, Corpus Christi King 0
Corpus Christi King 10, Valley View 0, Corpus Christi King wins series 2-1
Corpus Christi Calallen 9, Sharyland High 3, Calallen wins series 2-0
Corpus Christi Carroll 6, Rio Grande City 3, Carroll wins series 2-0

RGVSports.com

Six dominant scoring threats comprise the group of nominees for Boys Basketball Player of the Year and Girls Basketball Player of the Year.

The winning individuals will be announced at the 2018 All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet on June 19 at Mario’s Banquet & Conference Center in Mission.

Sean Elliott, a former NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs who now works with the team as a broadcaster, will be the keynote speaker at the event.

The nominees for Boys Basketball Player of the Year:

>> Andrew Carrizales, Los Fresnos: Carrizales had a breakout season for the Falcons, leading them in scoring with an average of 14.2 points per game along with 8.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals. He was named the District 32-6A MVP and earned an All-Star nod.

>>Daunte Galvan, PSJA North: The versatile junior guard scored more points per game than anyone from the Valley has since 1997. He averaged 28.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3 steals. Galvan made 277 free throws this year, which ranked fourth in the nation, according to Maxpreps.

>> AB Lozoya, Santa Rosa: The senior point guard helped guide the Warriors to a second straight state tournament appearance. He scored a career-high 40 points in a playoff win over Corpus Christi London and dropped 34 points in a regional final win against San Antonio Cole.

The nominees for Girls Basketball Player of the Year:

>>Jocy Amaya, Rio Grande City: Amaya was a tour de force who carried the Rattlers into the second round of the playoffs this year. She led the Valley in scoring with 24.1 points per game but did a lot more than put the ball in the basket. Because of her 9.7 rebounds, 3.4 blocks and 3.0 steals per game, Amaya was tabbed as The Monitor’s All-Area Defensive Player of the Year.

>> Mia Paz, Brownsville Hanna: The junior guard continued to be a dynamic scorer and accomplished a couple milestones this season. She had a 50-point game and reached 2,000 career points within a span of a few weeks during the middle of the season. Paz was one of the top scorers in the Rio Grande Valley and finished with 23.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 3.0 assists per game for the year. She earned first-team honors in District 32-6A and earned The Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season.

>>Jayla Santa Maria, Edinburg High: The senior scored a career-high 747 points for the Bobcats, who spent much of the season ranked as the No. 1 team in the RGVSports.com girls basketball Top 10 poll. Santa Maria also earned The Monitor’s All-Area Player of the Year honors in April.

The banquet, hosted by RGVSports.com and AIM Media Texas in conjunction with the RGV Sports Hall of Fame, will see 33 awards presented to athletes, coaches and teams across all 12 UIL sports. The prestigious Tom Landry Award of Excellence will honor a student-athlete for outstanding achievements on and off the field.

The Monitor, Valley Morning Star, The Brownsville Herald, Mid-Valley Town Crier and RGV Sports Hall of Fame will vote to determine the winners in the sports categories. While The Monitor, the Star and the Herald have previously named their All-Area teams in certain sports, the All-Valley Sports Awards Banquet will recognize the very best across all three coverage areas.

The banquet, which will run approximately 6 to 8 p.m., returns to Mario’s for a second consecutive year. The venue has a seating capacity of more than 500 people. Tickets will be on sale soon at a cost of $40 per person. For sponsorship opportunities, call Marcia Kitten at 956-683-4463 or email [email protected].

BY TJ GARCIA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR

McALLEN — Anngie Salinas is a testament to hard work and persistence, as well as the benefits that follow.

The former Edinburg High all-area and all-district softball star wasn’t on the radar of many recruiters. That’s not too far of a departure from heaps of RGV athletes who aspire to compete collegiately.

Salinas had to work to put her name and talents in front of coaches. The catcher played on travel teams like ABC Force Gold and Texas Bombers Futures, and she also attended several camps, she said.

One day last year, a coach at a camp who liked the way she played sent her videos to Butler County (Kansas) College head softball coach Doug Chance. He liked what he saw in Salinas, and seemingly just like that she signed on with Butler. The freshman started 28 games this season as part of a powerful 48-4 Grizzlies squad that is the No. 4-ranked Division I JUCO in the nation.

Salinas is surrounded by serious talent at Butler, which won the NJCAA national championship in 2016, and this postseason is a series win away from returning to the national championship tournament. Salinas said she misses the RGV living just outside of Wichita, Kansas, but teammates and coaches have accepted her into their ranks, and she feels right at home.

Her challenge is on the field, said Salinas, who is batting .288 with one home run, eight doubles and 13 RBIs. She’s struck out just three times in 70 plate appearances.

“College ball is just a faster pace than I was used to. You have to work 10 times harder for what you want now. Nothing is given to you,” Salinas said. “For example, we are in season and still working out and lifting. Honestly, it’s so worth it, because you see the results, and there’s no better feeling.”

Even at JUCO, getting into the lineup on a national championship caliber team can be difficult. But Salinas has started more than two dozen games, and behind the plate, she’s been nearly flawless. The 5-foot-3, right-handed catcher has committed just one error in 106 chances.

“I had to really adjust to these pitchers. So many different spins and speeds. I’ve had to adjust to my outfield, and to my teammates in general,” Salinas said. “I make sure everyone knows what’s going on, when and where. You always have to be alert at this level.”

Salinas added that she has been motivated by the Grizzlies’ unselfishness and commitment to team play. That will keep her going this summer, as well, as she expects to be back at Butler next year. Butler coaches expect players to periodically send in videos of their summer workouts.

EDINBURG NORTH’S GARZA SHINES AT HOWARD COLLEGE

Saul Garza continues to impress at Big Spring’s Howard College. The former all-state and all-area Offensive MVP is batting .400 and ranks first on the Hawks and fifth nationally in home runs with 19, according to the National Junior College Athletic Association. In 40 games played, Garza, a catcher, has notched 51 hits and 61 RBIs — second best at 35-19 Howard College. His slugging average is .900, OBP is .506, and he’s struck out 38 times in 161 plate appearance. The freshman also has six stolen bases.

Those are the kind of eye-popping numbers that get the notice of the major leagues and NCAA powerhouses. Garza has committed to play at Louisiana State University. The Tigers have a renowned baseball program that is a fixture at the College World Series. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Garza and the Hawks have finished the season and are competing in the NJCAA Region V tournament in Grand Prairie this week.

MERCEDES’ BARRERA TOPS AT TEMPLE, HEADS TO TEXAS STATE

Former Mercedes standout and Temple College pitcher Dalilah Barrera is mowing down the competition. The right-handed sophomore sports a 19-1 record for the Leopards, and her 201 strikeouts on the season are good enough to rank eighth nationally. Barrera, an all-State and all-Valley performer for the Tigers, has a 0.79 ERA, which is fifth-best in the country for DI JUCOs.

In November 2017, Barrera signed to play softball for coach Ricci Woodard at Texas State University in San Marcos. The Bobcats are a team on the rise, with a 38-13 record this season and ranked as high as No. 21 in NCAA Division I. The 5-foot-8 Barrera had a terrific season as freshman, going 16-4 with 1.44 ERA and striking out 218 batters.

E-E’s RODRIGUEZ LEADS RANGER AS FRESHMAN SLUGGER

Edcouch-Elsa’s four-year all-district starter Allyson Rodriguez quickly silenced anyone who doubted whether she could play college ball. Rodriguez has burst onto the scene at Ranger College as a one-woman wrecking crew. The freshman is the team leader from the plate, batting .372 with 35 RBIs, 17 doubles and 11 home runs. She has started 52 games for the Rangers and stolen nine bases.

Ranger has scuffled this year, going a bleak 12-41, but Rodriguez has been a highlight for the team as it looks to load up on more talent for next season. The Rangers compete in the very tough NJCAA Region V with JUCOs such powers as Midland, Odessa, Temple, Howard, and Cisco, among others. But even with that, Rodriguez held her own, putting up gaudy numbers at the plate (.429 OBP).

HIDALGO’s DOUGHERTY FINDS SUCCESS AT ALVIN CC

Former all-state and all-district selection Dylan Dougherty of Hidalgo is beginning to make his mark at Alvin Community College in southeast Texas. The freshman infielder, who has also played in the outfield, is apparently seeing the ball very well, batting .372 with 23 RBIs and 40 runs scored on 45 hits. Dougherty has seen action in 35 games for the JUCO Dolphins.

The 5-foot-8, 160-pound Dougherty, who throws left and bats right, has also done well in the field. He’s made an out or an assist on 78 of 89 chances for an .876 fielding percentage. He’s listed as a shortstop but has played multiple positions for the 27-22 Dolphins. One of Dougherty’s teammates is sophomore infielder J.C. Correa, little brother to the Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa. J.C. is batting .391.

Know an RGV athlete doing well at the collegiate level in any sport? Send us a tip at gluca@ themonitor.com.