By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

The San Benito Greyhounds have a pair of captains who have led the soccer team back to the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

They are senior midfielder Isidro Najera and junior forward Senovio Cerdan.

“These two guys are a big part of the team and a big reason why we’re at where we are right now,” Greyhounds coach William Huerta said. “Of course, it’s a team with other players, but these two guys have become the leaders and they’ve led the group well.

“Without these two, I think it would have been a little more difficult (to end our playoff dry spell),” added Huerta, who has been at San Benito for 12 years, including three seasons now as the head coach and seven before that as a soccer assistant. “These two guys have really stepped it up for us this year.”

The Greyhounds, fourth-place finishers in District 32-6A, open the Class 6A bi-district playoffs at home at 7 p.m. Thursday against District 31-6A champion Donna North.

Reaching the postseason has rejuvenated the team after what happened last year, the San Benito coach said.

“For this team to get back to the playoffs is a great accomplishment,” he said. “Last year (finishing one point out of fourth place with a loss in the final district game) left a bad taste in our players’ mouth. (As a result) they worked hard in the offseason. They wanted a strong preseason schedule, and they got it (to prepare them for district competition). They’ve improved throughout the season, and their unity as a team has really improved a lot.

“They’re excited (about the playoffs) and we’re excited as coaches,” Huerta added. “They’re going into the playoffs with great determination to keep pushing forward. They’re working as a team and guiding each other as a team by understanding their mistakes and correcting them. They help each other out at halftime (of games) by talking to each other and saying, ‘This is what we need to get done.’

“They understand the game as a unit, and I think that’s a big difference from the past. It’s a big step forward for these guys and the program. The younger guys see it, and I believe they’ll start bringing it forward, too.”

Added assistant coach Ricky Rodriguez, “The leadership of Isidro and Senovio inside and outside the field is why we decided on them (as captains). Isidro has been with the team four years, so he’s one of our athletes who is everything we look for in a captain. Senovio is a young athlete and he’s growing and getting that (valuable) experience, and at the same time he’s a good leader, especially for the ones coming in as freshmen and sophomores.”

During his four seasons on the varsity, Najera has started three of them. He’s seen the team get better in many ways. He wants to be a key part of that improvement process.

“It’s an honor to be a captain for this team,” he said. “When I was an eighth-grader, the team made the playoffs, and I looked up to them. When I got to the varsity, I wanted us to follow in that team’s footsteps.

“I think we’ve gotten back to the playoffs because we play with everything we’ve got, we work as a team and we want to win,” he added. “(As a captain) I try to encourage the guys and help them get better. I think we have a bright future for the coming years because there are only three seniors this season.”

Cerdan, a second-year member of the varsity, is glad to be one of the players helping the Greyhounds return to the postseason.

“It feels good because it’s been a long time since San Benito has been in the playoffs,” he said. “We’re just blessed to be in this position. We hope to go far.

“We have a lot of potential,” Cerdan added. “I think we can do well if we play up to our potential. We pass the ball well, and we have a very good counterattack. It’s been a really good season, and now I hope we can go far (in the postseason).”

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

Winning district championships in soccer is pretty much an annual event for the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons.

They’ve captured the District 32-6A title again this season with a 9-1 record and 26 points, edging out second-place Harlingen South (8-2, 25 points).

It’s the Lady Falcons’ seventh conference crown in 10 seasons and their third in a row. It’s the third time Patricia K. Hernandez and assistant Juan Diego Luna have won district as the team’s coaches.

In 2016, Hernandez’s first season as the main coach after two years as an assistant, the Los Fresnos girls finished in a tie for second place with South behind district champion Lopez. A district championship streak for Los Fresnos began the following season.

The Lady Falcons are 17-5-3 overall this season. They are riding a five-match winning streak going into the Class 6A state playoffs, which begin Thursday.

“It’s a good feeling to have these seniors go out with a three-peat (as district champions),” Hernandez said. “These seniors have worked hard, and not just them, but the whole team. We weren’t really considered the ones to do this again when the season began and the rankings came out. It took a full team effort to be where we’re at right now.”

The Lady Falcons came into the 2019 season with five returning starters.

“We have had obviously solid leadership (from the more experienced players), and the younger players have bought into it,” Hernandez said. “The younger players have been open to the leadership that the older players have provided. A lot of the younger players who came in from middle school have been watching these older girls play. They’ve been in the stands (watching the games), and now they get to play for Los Fresnos.

“For a lot of these freshmen and sophomores, it’s a dream come true (to play on the varsity). They’ve watched the Lady Falcons as middle schoolers, and now they’re part of a championship team. It means a lot to them.”

One of the team’s top players providing strong leadership is Allison Spier, a senior central defender and team captain who has started all four years for the Lady Falcons.

She was the 32-6A MVP last season as a junior. Last month she signed to play soccer next school year at NCAA Division II Adelphi University in Adelphi, New York.

Spier is happy to complete her senior season as a district champion again.

“For me, this (district championship) is amazing because I’ve been working hard these four years, and to have an end like this (to the regular season) is just a real blessing,” Spier said. “As for the team, we’ve been working real hard all season, and we’ve built up momentum throughout every single game. I’m happy to see where this takes us in the playoffs.

“I think everybody on this team has a very good mentality,” she added. “We don’t give up. Every second of the game we’re pushing to get the ball and to better ourselves and our teammates. You see that in our practices, too. We help each other, we teach each other and we’re not afraid to speak our minds to help one another out to learn (to play better). I believe sharing our experiences ultimately makes us a better team.”

The Lady Falcons open the bi-district playoffs at 6 p.m. Friday at Edinburg High against the District 31-6A fourth-place Lady Bobcats.

“It’s great to see our girls just get better and better every year,” said Jocelyn Gaznares, a junior forward for the Lady Falcons. “Winning district is something we work for every day, and now to pick up the district trophy is just an indescribable feeling.

“One of the things that makes us successful is our bond, for sure,” Gaznares added. “We’re always there for each other. We play for one another. When someone is down, the others push them back up. It’s a combination of skill, motivation and drive for us. It just all comes together.”

It was a rare occurrence for the Lady Falcons one year ago when they were eliminated during the first round of the playoffs. They hope to do a lot better this time around.

“I believe with the heart on this team we can go to the Sweet 16 (of the regional tournament) again,” Gaznares said. “It takes hard work, but we can do it.”

Spier said as the team pushes forward, it greatly appreciates all the support it is receiving.

“I would like to say thank you to our coaches, our parents and all of our supporters,” she said. “We wouldn’t be here without you guys. I’m very proud of my teammates for all their hard work, and I’m excited to see where we go next (in the playoffs).”

Valley soccer
Boys bi-district playoffs
Class 6A
Thursday, March 28
Donna North at San Benito, 7 p.m.
Brownsville Hanna at Edinburg High, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 29
Brownsville Rivera vs. Edinburg North at Richard Flores Stadium, 7 p.m.
Edinburg Economedes at Harlingen South, 7 p.m.
Class 5A
Thursday, March 28
La Joya Palmview at Brownsville Porter, 7 p.m.
Brownsville Veterans vs. Sharyland Pioneer at Mercedes, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 29
Brownsville Pace vs. Sharyland High at Brownsville’s Sams Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
TBA
Valley View vs. Roma

Girls bi-district playoffs
Class 6A
Thursday, March 28
Edinburg North at Harlingen High, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 29
Los Fresnos at Edinburg High, 6 p.m.
Harlingen South at Donna North, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 30
Edinburg Vela at Brownsville Hanna, 6 p.m.
Class 5A
Thursday, March 28
Brownsville Pace at PSJA Memorial, 7 p.m.
Brownsville Porter vs. Sharyland Pioneer at Weslaco’s Bobby Lackey Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 29
Sharyland High at Brownsville Lopez, 6 p.m.
TBA
Edcouch-Elsa vs. Roma

Wednesday, March 27
Texas Charter Schools
Academic & Athletic League
Regional semifinals
Jubilee Brownsville vs. IDEA Weslaco or IDEA Edinburg at Brownsville Sports Park, 5:30 p.m.

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

The Brownsville IDEA Frontier Chargers are headed to the state playoffs in soccer on a positive note.

The District 32-4A finale for IDEA Frontier and Port Isabel on Friday night at Brownsville Sport Park ended with the Chargers prevailing over the Tarpons 2-1 (4-2) in penalty kicks.

Chargers coach Steven Martinez said it secured fourth place in 32-4A for his team. IDEA Frontier (7-5, 20 points) will go up against District 31-4A champion Progreso next week in the bi-district playoffs.

“Our boys played their best game this season,” Martinez said. “We missed a lot of (scoring) opportunities, but with another week of practice we should be good to go.”

Despite the loss, Port Isabel (9-3, 28 points) already had clinched the outright championship in 32-4A and is expected to play Grulla next week in bi-district.

The Tarpons were coming off Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Monte Alto.

“We look at these last two games as tuneups for the playoffs,” Tarpons coach Josh Kirton said. “We didn’t really want to finish (the regular season) with two losses, but I saw some good things from our guys tonight. They battled hard, and they played with heart and grit. We just have to get ready for the playoffs. We need to work on our PKs.”

It was obvious things weren’t going to be easy for Port Isabel after Chargers goalkeeper Jose Mendieta blocked the Tarpons’ penalty kick during the 25th minute, keeping the match scoreless.

Still, the Tarpons went up 1-0 with one minute left in the half when Erik Espindola sent a slow roller into the net.

IDEA Frontier evened the score at 1 during the 47th minute on a header by David del Bosque off a corner kick taken from the right side.

Neither team scored again during the remainder of regulation and overtime play, and after 100 minutes, the match went to PKs.

Port Isabel went first in the PKs and had its initial penalty attempt blocked. IDEA Frontier converted all four of its PKs to win the game, while only two of four Port Isabel attempts found the mark.

Making PKs for the Chargers were del Bosque, Roger Covarrubias, Juan Franco and Alexis Saldana.

Scoring in the PKs for the Tarpons were Angel Sarabia and Angel Fernandez.

The Tarpons defeated IDEA Frontier 4-1 in Port Isabel during the first round of district on Feb. 19.

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

The soccer season hasn’t ended exactly the way the Harlingen High Cardinals originally envisioned.

Still, they finished the regular season on a high note Tuesday with a win at Brownsville Rivera, the District 32-6A champion.

The Cardinals prevailed 1-0 (4-2) in penalty kicks on a rainy night in Brownsville.

After having qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 10 years last season, there were expectations of making a return trip to the postseason in 2019. But multiple injuries early in the season were a factor working against the Cardinals.

Still, there were some highlights in district action. The Cardinals won 1-0 at Brownsville Hanna on Feb. 5. Another highlight was Tuesday’s victory against the Raiders.

Scoring goals for the Cardinals in the penalty kicks on Tuesday were Jacob Garza, Jesus Berlanga, Lorenzo Rodriguez and Ruben Contreras.

It was a scoreless match through 100 minutes of regulation and overtime play until the game went to PKs to determine a winner.

“It was a good way to finish the year,” Cardinals coach Johnny Guillen said. “The guys played hard every game. They found a way to finish strong the last game.”

32-6A UPDATE

Here are the final District 32-6A boys standings: Brownsville Rivera (7-3, 22 points), Harlingen South (6-4, 18 points), Brownsville Hanna (5-5, 16 points), San Benito (5-5, 14 points), Los Fresnos (4-6, 11 points) and Harlingen High (3-7, nine points).

Boys playoff qualifiers: Rivera, South, Hanna and San Benito.

Here are the final 32-6A girls standings: Los Fresnos (9-1, 26 points), Harlingen South (8-2, 25 points), Hanna (6-4, 17 points), Harlingen High (4-6, 12 points), Rivera (3-7, 10 points) and San Benito (0-10, no points).

Girls playoff qualifiers: Los Fresnos, South, Hanna and Harlingen High.

BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

Playoff matchups are being finalized as the postseason draws closer and starts March 28.

One of the first bi-district matchups to be determined is a boys game. The San Benito Greyhounds, fourth-place finishers in 32-6A, will play host to the District 31-6A champion Donna North Chiefs at 7 p.m. March 28, which is a Thursday.

Besides San Benito vs. Donna North, other bi-district pairings between the boys from 32-6A and 31-6A are expected to be South vs. Edinburg Economedes and Hanna vs. Edinburg High. Rivera’s opponent is Edinburg North. South will play host to Economedes at 7 p.m. March 29.

For the girls from 32-6A and 31-6A, the bi-district pairings are expected to be Los Fresnos vs. Edinburg High, South vs. Donna North, Harlingen High vs. Edinburg North and Hanna vs. Edinburg Vela.

32-4A OUTLOOK

Playoff qualifiers are also being determined in District 32-4A, which has one date left for conference competition on Friday.

For the boys, Port Isabel and Raymondville are definitely in the postseason with La Feria, Brownsville IDEA Frontier and Monte Alto in the hunt for the district’s other two playoff berths. Port Isabel has clinched the outright 32-4A title.

For the girls, La Feria, Lyford, Port Isabel and possibly Rio Hondo figure to be the playoff qualifiers. La Feria and Lyford are the top two finishers in 32-4A for the girls with Port Isabel taking third place.

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

The Porter Cowgirls waited nearly 20 years before they secured their first postseason berth in soccer in 2016.

Now it’s become hard to keep them out of the playoffs.

The Porter girls earned their fourth straight trip to the postseason with a 2-0 victory at Pace on Tuesday on the final night of District 32-5A competition. The Cowgirls will be the No. 4 seed out of 32-5A behind Pace, Lopez and Edcouch-Elsa.

The Lady Vikings are 32-5A champions for the second straight year.

The playoffs start March 28. The Porter girls are expected to go against District 31-5A champion Sharyland Pioneer in bi-district. The Pace girls are expected to face PSJA Memorial in bi-district.

Abraham Gracia is in his 12th year as the Cowgirls’ coach. His seniors this season now have qualified for the playoffs during each of their four years.

“Even though we’ve been in the playoffs four years, we still get excited,” said Kassandra Demetrio, a senior forward/midfielder for the Cowgirls.

It means a lot to the Porter seniors to see the team return to the postseason.

“We knew it would be a tough game (against Pace), but we put our hearts on the field and gave it our all,” said Roxanna Miranda, Porter’s senior right-side defender. “I’m happy that we’ve been able to advance to the playoffs all four of my years. I’m proud of my team.

“I’m sad that I’ll be leaving (upon graduation), but I know it’s a team with girls who have a big future ahead of them,” Miranda added. “I love this team.”

Added Sofia Contreras, a senior forward, “In each of our games we are always together and we motivate each other and help each other on the field. I feel super good to know these girls as my teammates. We communicate with each other, we pray and ask for God’s help before games, and we’re letting the freshmen know what to do. It’s a great team.”

PLAYOFF STREAK CONTINUES

FOR LADY TARPONS

The Port Isabel Lady Tarpons haven’t missed the playoffs since they started playing soccer in 2014.

Jesus Cardenas has been the Lady Tarpons’ coach since the beginning of the program.

The Port Isabel girls have qualified for the postseason again this year. They are advancing as the third-place team from District 32-4A. The other teams qualifying for the playoffs in 32-4A figure to be La Feria, Lyford and Rio Hondo.

The Lady Tarpons have a 9-4 district record going into their final 32-4A match at 6 p.m. Friday at home against Brownsville IDEA Frontier.

“We were inconsistent for the first part of the season,” Cardenas said. “We would play well and then look terrible. We have been playing pretty well the last four games despite injuries and other unforeseen mishaps.

“We have managed to step up and work well as a team, which has helped build our team chemistry,” Cardenas added. “I am feeling good about our team. We should have split games with Lyford and La Feria, but we did not finish some of our (scoring) chances to take those wins.”

32-6A UPDATE

Here are the final District 32-6A boys standings: Rivera (7-3, 22 points), Harlingen South (6-4, 18 points), Hanna (5-5, 16 points), San Benito (5-5, 14 points), Los Fresnos (4-6, 11 points) and Harlingen High (3-7, nine points).

Boys playoff qualifiers: Rivera, South, Hanna and San Benito.

Here are the final 32-6A girls standings: Los Fresnos (9-1, 26 points), Harlingen South (8-2, 25 points), Hanna (6-4, 17 points), Harlingen High (4-6, 12 points), Rivera (3-7, 10 points) and San Benito (0-10, no points).

Girls playoff qualifiers: Los Fresnos, South, Hanna and Harlingen High.

32-5A UPDATE

Here are the final District 32-5A boys standings: Valley View (13-1, 39 points), Brownsville Veterans Memorial (11-3, 33 points), Porter (10-4, 31 points), Pace (8-6, 24 points), Lopez (8-6, 23 points), Donna High (2-12, six points), Edcouch-Elsa (2-12, six points) and Mercedes (2-12, six points).

Boys playoff qualifiers: Valley View, Brownsville Veterans, Porter and Pace.

Here are the final 32-5A girls standings: Pace (11-3, 34 points), Edcouch-Elsa (10-4, 30 points), Lopez (10-4, 29 points), Porter (10-4, 26 points), Brownsville Veterans (7-7, 22 points), Donna High (6-8, 21 points), Mercedes (2-12, six points) and Valley View (0-14, no points).

Girls playoff qualifiers: Pace, Lopez, E-E and Porter.

BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

Playoff matchups are being finalized as the postseason draws closer March 28. One of the first bi-district matchups to be determined is a boys game. The San Benito Greyhounds, fourth-place finishers in 32-6A, will play host to the District 31-6A champion Donna North Chiefs at 7 p.m. March 28, which is a Thursday.

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

The Porter Cowgirls took care of business.

On a wet, rainy Tuesday night at Pace, the Cowgirls assured themselves of a return to the state playoffs in soccer by defeating the Lady Vikings 2-0.

The Porter girls finished District 32-5A play with a 10-4 record and 26 points, which is good enough for fourth place.

Regardless of what happened, the Lady Vikings (11-3, 34 points) already had clinched their second straight 32-5A championship.

A pair of headers off corner kicks during the first half lifted the Cowgirls to victory.

“We had good communication and good passes tonight,” said Porter’s Kassandra Demetrio, a senior forward/midfielder. “We did what our coach (Abraham Gracia) asked us to do.

“Even though we’ve been in the playoffs four years, we still get excited,” Demetrio added.

Four minutes into the match, the Porter girls went ahead 1-0 when freshman Denisse Romero headed in a corner kick taken from the left side.

It was the same type of scoring play with a little less than two minutes remaining in the first half as Romero headed in a corner kick taken from the right side. It provided a 2-0 lead for the Cowgirls.

The Lady Vikings played their starters but couldn’t overcome the two goals that were scored off corner kicks.

“This was a good game for our girls to get some momentum (for the playoffs),” Gracia said. “Pace is a tough team and a tough competitor. Our girls came out to play today after the seniors spoke to them before the game (and gave them motivation).

“We’ll see what happens now (in the playoffs),” Gracia added.

Quetzali Cortez, a senior left defender for the Cowgirls, is happy to be returning to the playoffs.

“The difference tonight was we actually had more communication than in other games,” she said. “We played our game. We didn’t just kick it around.

“We have a lot of potential to make it far in the playoffs,” Cortez added.

The postseason starts March 28. The Cowgirls are expected to face Sharyland Pioneer in the bi-district round.

It was a sweep for the Porter teams Tuesday at Pace as the Cowboys took the nightcap of the 32-5A doubleheader 3-1 against the Vikings.

Both the Porter and Pace boys are headed to the playoffs, just like their girls teams.

The Cowboys ended their district schedule with a 10-4 record and 31 points. Pace winds up 8-6 with 24 points.

The playoffs start March 28 as well for the boys.

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

The Rivera Raiders have a tradition to live up to in soccer, and that’s just what they’re doing.

Qualifying for the state playoffs is something the Raiders have done 27 times out of 28 seasons, including this one. During that span, the only time Rivera missed out on the postseason was 2009.

With one District 32-6A game remaining at home Tuesday against Harlingen High, the Raiders already have clinched their third straight district championship. It’s Rivera’s fourth district title in five years, and it goes back to the team’s 2015 season, when the Raiders won Texas’ first Class 6A state championship in boys soccer with a 28-0 record.

This season, thanks to a new artificial turf field, the Raiders are playing home games on their campus for the first time in six seasons. Before, due to the poor condition of their natural grass field, they played home matches at Sams Memorial Stadium and Brownsville Sports Park.

The Raiders are 15-6-3 overall and leading 32-6A with a 7-2 record and 21 points.

“We want to keep improving and continue succeeding,” said Salvador De Leon Jr., a junior defensive midfielder for the Raiders. “Winning district is a good accomplishment, but we’re not satisfied with it. We want to do more. Our (ultimate) goal would be state, of course.

“At the beginning of the season a lot of other teams doubted us,” he added. “Now we want to prove a point in the playoffs and show who we really are. We want to show we’re a strong team and put fear into other teams.

“We’ve seen this team improve a lot since the beginning of the season. Most importantly, we’re believing in our coach (Salvador Garcia) and going into our games with the right mentality. We always want to keep our coach happy (by playing well).”

It was a rough start to district for Rivera back in early February. The Raiders lost two of their first three matches and were 1-2. Since then, they’ve won six consecutive games in the six-team district.

“We’re playing as a team — that’s what matters most,” said Juan Pablo “J.P.” Garza, a senior forward/midfielder for the Raiders. “I think that’s our strong point.”

Added teammate Jorge Morales, a senior defensive midfielder, “This team has a lot of character. You’ll see us have a lack of confidence once in a while, and I think that’s what holds us back sometimes. But we have a good defense and we can score a lot of goals.

“Our objective is always state,” Morales added. “I believe that’s what we’re ready for this season.”

Along with De Leon, Garza and Morales, other members of the Raiders’ starting lineup are goalkeeper Danny Esquivel and defenders Michael Esquivel, Joaquin Hernandez, Alex Villanueva and Anthony Enriquez. Another midfielder is Ryan Macias, and the forwards are Alex Mendez and David Villarreal.

Contributing off the bench are Jorge Castillo, Roberto Garcia, Jamin Muniz and Kevin Zarrazagas, who was a starter and is now coming back from an injury.

Salvador Garcia is in his 22nd season as the Raiders’ coach after six years as the team’s assistant under Lorenzo Garza. Garcia has good things to say about this year’s squad.

“This is one of those teams that I’m so proud of,” he said. “Even though I’m disappointed at times with some things, I’m proud of these guys for winning the district title. We never had capturing the district title on our list of goals for this season. Our main objective was always to make it to the playoffs. We wanted to make it to the playoffs by peaking at the right moment. For the most part, we’ve been doing that.

“We’re blessed that we won the district and that we have everyone healthy now,” Garcia added. “I hope we can play to our potential (in the playoffs). It’s amazing how much these guys have improved. I tell them if we don’t play with discipline, anyone can beat us, and if we play with discipline, we can beat anyone. We need to be consistent, so I have to demand more from them because they have the potential to do it.

“Just like I say with every victory, all the credit goes to the players and all the glory goes to God.”

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

Retirement provides freedom to do whatever one wants.

For Arturo Hurtado, recently retired cross country and track coach at Rivera, it means he continues to adhere to a routine he’s followed for many years.

He still wakes up at 4:30 a.m. daily without an alarm clock, just as he did when coaching.

Hurtado used to go train his athletes prior to the start of the day’s classes during the school year. Now that he’s been retired since Dec. 31, 2018, he goes out and walks six miles.

“I’m a morning person, so I can’t help it,” said Hurtado of his early morning habit. “Now after I go walking, I come back home and lay down again.”

Hurtado, 61, retired after 39 years as a coach and teacher in Brownsville ISD. After two years at Victoria Heights Elementary (1980-82) and six at Porter (1982-88), Hurtado spent the next 30 years (1988-2018) at Rivera, where he coached a number of standout male and female runners.

Among his top state-qualifying runners throughout the years, mainly girls, are Letty Trevino (1984-87 at Porter), Jamie Revuelta (1991-94 at Rivera), Patricia Gonzalez (1998-2001 at Rivera) and Andrea de la Rosa (2015-18 at Rivera).

He has taken boys and girls cross country teams to state and won district championships with them as well.

“I’ve seen that athletes have to be dedicated to be successful,” Hurtado said. “You have to be willing to make sacrifices.

“I’ve always tried to stress God, family and getting an education,” he added. “Sacrificing, working hard and getting a good education is so important.”

The athletes are grateful for his influence.

“It’s been amazing to have Coach Hurtado as my coach,” de la Rosa said last December when she signed a cross country/track scholarship to run next school year for Bethel University in Tennessee. “Coach Hurtado is really understandable, and he’s the nicest person I have ever met. He’s always given me good advice.

“If I did something wrong (while running) at a meet, he would never get mad at me,” de la Rosa added. “He would always give me good advice about what to do the next time.

“I thank him, because without him, I wouldn’t be going to college on a (running) scholarship. Coach Hurtado is a truly amazing person who has helped me a lot.”

Hurtado was himself a standout runner before graduating from Hanna in 1977. He was a member of the Hanna mile relay team (now 1,600-meter relay) in 1977 that set a city record that still stands of 3 minutes, 20.76 seconds. Also at Hanna, he finished 12th at the cross country state meet in 1976.

After high school, Hurtado went to South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, to run on a full scholarship. The South Plains team went to nationals in cross country during Hurtado’s freshman year, and he earned academic All-American honors.

Unfortunately, an injury brought an end to his college running career after one year. He returned to his hometown and graduated from Pan American University at Brownsville in 1980 with a degree in history and physical education. His teaching/coaching career in BISD began soon afterward.

Hurtado learned the value of hard work early in life, and it’s something he has tried to pass on to his athletes and students.

“The several years of hard physical labor that being a migrant worker entailed was a definite motivator as to why I strived so intensely to pursue my education towards a college degree to find a better career for myself,” Hurtado said. “An inclination towards being an educator and a coach has (also) long stemmed from an admiration of my own coaches throughout my time in the public school system and into my college years.

“I was brought up by my maternal grandmother, Maria Galicia Sauceda,” he added. “She believed in a very strict set of ideals. Her manner of raising me was and continues to be a major influence that has shaped my career and personal life. She instilled in me a belief in the value of hard work and a proper education.”

Hurtado said he will always treasure his time in BISD.

“I’m very blessed and grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the kids,” he said. “That’s something I’ve always enjoyed doing.”

The retired coach has purposely kept his distance from the Rivera track program this semester during the current track season because he feels he should “let the coaches do their jobs.”

Still, he has helped out as a meet volunteer at the recent Sams Relays and Brownsville City Meet. He also plans to help out at the upcoming District 32-6A meet.

“I enjoy helping out like that,” he said. “I have other things to do (as a retiree) to keep me busy. I’m doing some improvements around the house. I also have time to watch a good movie or whatever.”

More than anything, Hurtado appreciates the support of his family, particularly his wife, Socorro Vera Hurtado, and the couple’s three sons Arturo Jr., Ruben and Joshua James Hurtado.

“My wife has been my rock for 35 years,” the retired coach said. “My family is my pride and joy.”

By ROY HESS | Staff Writer

HARLINGEN–The Harlingen High Cardinals scored at least one run during each of the first five innings en route to a 9-7 District 32-6A victory on their home diamond against the Los Fresnos Falcons on Thursday night.

The Cardinals improved to 2-0 in district action, while the Falcons slipped to 0-3.

Harlingen High led 3-0 after one inning and 4-0 after two. The Falcons put together a five-run outburst during the top of the third to lead 5-4 before the Cardinals rallied to go ahead again, 6-5, by the end of three frames.

The Cardinals added two runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth to make it 9-5. The Falcons pushed across two runs in the top of the sixth to pull within 9-7 of the lead, but could come no closer.

The first 32-6A win for the Cardinals was a 15-0 triumph over Brownsville Hanna on Tuesday. The Falcons were coming off district losses against Harlingen South (2-1) and Brownsville Rivera (5-0).

A couple passed balls and a fielding error by the Falcons allowed Harlingen High to score its first three runs in the bottom of the first. The Cardinals’ Abel Flores came home from third base on a squeeze play in the bottom of the second to make it 4-0.

Los Fresnos came alive to go ahead 5-4 in the top of the third thanks to one hit, three walks and an error by the Cardinals.

Highlighting the third kooinning for the Falcons was Victor Loa as he hit a two-run triple to right field to cut the lead to 4-2.

Later in the inning, another run came home on a passed ball to make it 4-3 and a sacrifice fly to center field by Alex Salas tied it 4-4. Los Fresnos’ fifth run came to the plate on a throwing error to first.

The Cardinals wasted little time in taking the lead again. In the bottom of the third, an RBI single to right field by Ashton Adams evened things at 5-5. Adams soon came home on a passed ball to put his team ahead for good, 6-5.

A throwing error by the Falcons saw a pair of Harlingen High runs come home during the bottom of the fourth to make it 8-5. It became 9-5 on a bases-loaded walk to Abraham Ibarra during the bottom of the fifth.

Los Fresnos tried to come back in the top of the sixth as Loa hit another triple to right field that eventually helped two runs make it to the plate for a 9-7 score that wound up as the final.

Loa batted 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

The Cardinals turned a double play in the top of the seventh to help their cause and relief pitcher Jacob Marroquin struck out the final batter to end the game after three-plus hours.

Harlingen High next plays at Harlingen South on Tuesday. Los Fresnos next plays host to Hanna the same night.