VALLEY HS BASEBALL SCHEDULE

Friday, April 20

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe 6, La Joya High 2

McAllen High 10, La Joya Palmview 0

McAllen Memorial 8, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 1

District 31-6A

Edinburg North 6, Edinburg High 4

Edinburg Vela 10, PSJA North 5

PSJA High 10, PSJA Memorial 2

Edinburg Economedes 8, PSJA Southwest 6

District 32-6A

Weslaco High 12, San Benito 2, 5 innings

Los Fresnos 8, Brownsville Rivera 4

Harlingen High 7, Brownsville Hanna 3

Weslaco East 7, Harlingen South 2

District 31-5A

Mission Veterans 6, Rio Grande City 3

Laredo Cigarroa 2, Laredo Martin 0

Sharyland High 10, Laredo Nixon 3

Valley View 5, Sharyland Pioneer 3

District 32-5A

Brownsville Pace 4, Donna High 2

Brownsville Lopez 10, Edcouch-Elsa 7

Mercedes 11, Brownsville Porter 1

Brownsville Veterans 5, Donna North 1

District 32-4A

Progreso 9, La Feria 4

Rio Hondo 3, Hidalgo 2

Raymondville 7, Grulla 6, 9 innings

Zapata 4, Port Isabel 3

Saturday, April 21

Non-District

Laredo United South at Zapata, noon

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — The Valley View Tigers have a lot of stars. Junior forward Mario De Los Santos will tell you they have 11.

But the key for Valley View this year was moving away from the idea of 11 individual players and toward the theory of one combined unit.

“When we had (Jose) ‘Torito’ (Soto), or even when Mario was younger, we relied on them heavily,” Valley View coach Damian Magallan said. “Now, we don’t have to do that. We have other guys who can carry the ball, control the ball, score and defend. We are a unit now.”

That philosophy has paid off this year, lifting the Tigers to an undefeated 31-0 season. Valley View is getting ready to face the defending state champion Frisco Wakeland Wolverines at 7:30 tonight at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown in the UIL Class 5A state semifinals.

“We are very excited,” sophomore winger Rogelio Saldivar said. “We are glad to be headed to state. We have worked very hard to get to this point. We believe in ourselves right now. We believe that we can make it to the final, and win it, to bring home the state title.”

The team-first approach has worked thanks to players like Saldivar. He and sophomore teammates Carlos Medina and Joaquin Ramirez grew up playing together in Reynosa, Mexico.

When the weight of the world was on Medina’s shoulders during a penalty shootout against Brownsville Lopez in the regional quarterfinals, Medina and Saldivar got together immediately.

“As soon as we knew it was PKs, I told (Medina) to get some practice shots in with me,” Saldivar said. “We studied the other goalie’s tendencies. I told Carlos, ‘Be confident, stay calm, and if you get the kick, we will win.’”

Medina delivered, and the Tigers’ season was saved.

“I can’t even put into words what I was feeling in that moment,” Saldivar said. “I first ran to congratulate (senior goalie) Elian (Chavez), and then to Carlos. We were all excited and jumping around. It was crazy.”

That bond, forged on the neighborhood fields in Reynosa, has strengthened as the Tigers have played together. The circle grew, and the entire team has become close.

“They are like a second family,” Saldivar said. “They are my brothers, and I love each of them.”

Sophomore midfielder Christopher Flores is another player who has relieved De Los Santos, Valley View’s leading scorer, of some of the sky-high expectations. Recognized for his scarlet locks, Flores is known to his teammates simply as “Rojo.”

When someone asked a few of the players where Christo was, they responded, “in church.” They only know Flores as “Rojo.”

“He’s a tremendous, complete player,” Magallan said. “Whatever position I put him at, whether he’s up top, in the middle or in the back, he is able to do everything we need him to do at each of those positions. Apart from Mario, I would make Christopher Flores the MVP of the team. He has been working very hard.”

De Los Santos said he appreciates Flores’ efforts.

“Christopher is a great player and a great teammate,” De Los Santos said. “He is unlike any other player we have. He is a star. … He plays great balls. He is a very hardworking, he is very strong, and he can run up and down the field. He has great touch with his passes.”

“Christopher looks like he runs with the ball at his feet, not like he is kicking the ball,” Chavez said. “He plays great passes. I think that he is the reason for a lot of our success this year.”

Bonding on and off the field has been key to Valley View’s unbeaten run.

“It’s not even just about soccer,” Saldivar said. “In school, we help each other with classes, and we support each other. Even at home, we look out for each other, because if there are problems at home, that player won’t do as well in his classes. We all need to pass, so we can play together.”

When the team travels for tournaments, one item is must-have for the long nights spent in hotels: a video game console. The soccer video game FIFA is a necessity among the Tigers. The matches get heated, and the team is ultracompetitive — just as they are about the real game.

For the two friends from Reynosa, Saldivar and Medina, every faceoff is a “Clasico.” Saldivar uses Leonardo Messi to lead Barcelona into battle against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid, helmed by Medina.

Just like in the video game, the Tigers are hoping for a classic at state to bring home the title for one of their brothers.

“Elian is a great keeper,” Saldivar said. “It is very sad that this is his last year. But, that just means we have to go out there and play the way we are capable of, so we can bring home that title for Elian.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

PHARR — After every game, Valley View senior goalkeeper Elian Chavez and junior forward Mario De Los Santos say the same phrase to each other: “With Elian in the back and Mario in the front, we win.”

That has certainly been true this year, as the Valley View Tigers are undefeated (31-0) and on the way to the state tournament.

The Tigers will face Frisco Wakeland at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Birkelbach Field in Georgetown in the UIL Class 5A state semifinals.

But that phrase has also been true ever since the two were little. They started playing together when they were 4 years old. The two grew up in Reynosa, Mexico. Chavez remembers De Los Santos’ father was the coach on one of their teams. That time period is when they developed their saying.

By now, most people know De Los Santos for his performance on the pitch this year. The junior forward has scored 69 goals, putting him three shy of the school record set by Jose “Torito” Soto, who played for the Tigers from 2011-14.

“The record is great,” De Los Santos said. “But I don’t care about those things that much. I would give up all of my goals to get the one that brings home the state title.”

Chavez has made his mark for the Tigers this year, too. In the Class 5A regional quarterfinals, Brownsville Lopez came back after Valley View built a 2-0 lead to force the game into penalty kicks. Chavez stopped two of the three penalties he faced to help the Tigers advance to the regional tournament.

“It was difficult, because we were in danger of losing and having our season end. Everything we worked for,” Chavez said. “We were up 2-0 for much of the game, and then in five minutes, it was tied. Thank God we got the win.”

Chavez and De Los Santos played together for many years in Reynosa before Chavez left for the United States. The two were separated for five years.

“We were always in contact,” Chavez said. “We would give each other support and talk to each other about our future.”

They were reunited when De Los Santos came to Valley View. Back on the pitch together again, they brought back their catchphrase, and they picked up right where they left off in their friendship.

“He is like a brother,” De Los Santos said. “We are both very down-to-earth. We are both very good people. We have a lot of trust in each other.”

Chavez can make every save he is asked to, whether it is high or low, left or right. He also excels with the ball at his feet. His ability to play the ball after a save allows the team to push up quickly.

“Elian has the talent to play out in the field, but he’s such a good goalie that it demands that he play back there,” Valley View coach Damian Magallan said. “He could play as a winger for this team, but we have two very talented players on the wings that play that role already.

“He does every part of the job of goalie well. … He has so many talents, which is why he is in the position he is in. I believe him to be the best goalie of this year, because he has all of the talent. And when he leaves, he will be going to a great college.”

Magallan assumes Chavez could play in the field. De Los Santos has already seen it.

“He was always the goalie,” De Los Santos said of Chavez. “But I remember one season, he played up front, and of course, he played very well up there, also.”

Magallan spoke highly of the middle of his formation, calling it the “backbone of the team.” That group begins and ends with the duo from Reynosa, but other skilled players factor in the middle, as well.

“I’m not at all effective without a good defense, just like Mario is no good without the players behind him,” Chavez said. “All of those players are great. We have a great team.”

“Everyone likes to call me a ‘star,’” De Los Santos added. “But I believe we have 11 stars.”

Chavez and De Los Santos were dominant even when they were younger, playing together in Mexico.

Sophomore teammates Carlos Medina and Rogelio Saldivar grew up in a different part of Reynosa. They never really knew De Los Santos, but they always knew of him, because his talents were so well renowned.

De Los Santos’ ability has only become more recognizable since he arrived at Valley View.

Another factor is driving De Los Santos nowadays. Each of his 69 goals this year had added meaning. De Los Santos dedicates every goal to his late grandmother, Paola Castillo. Castillo died in 2005.

“My grandma has a special meaning for me,” De Los Santos said. “When she was here, she came to every game. She always wished me luck before my games. So every time I play, I think about her.”

He carries her in his heart every time he steps onto the pitch. After each game, he thanks her for his health and for his goals.

He hopes to be thanking her a lot on Thursday. De Los Santos is coming off back-to-back games with a hat trick.

“I believe that you can expect another three goals,” De Los Santos said. “Nothing is impossible. I am working very hard, and I will be ready when we get to state.”

The whole team appears very amped up for the opportunity. Valley View has not been to state since before any of the current players made the varsity roster. The Tigers last appearance at the state tournament was in 2014.

“I feel like we had to get some experience as a team in order to get back to the state tournament,” Magallan said. “We were so young, but now, we have that experience. We have been there before, so we know how to prepare for it. We know how hard we have to work. This team, right now, is ready to bring home the state title.

“Before, we were a very individual team. Now, we are a team united. We work together. Everybody touches the ball, and everybody has a chance to help with a goal, or contribute in the way that suits them best.”

“We are very excited,” Chavez said. “We can’t wait to get onto the field and play this game. We want to be able to stay in Georgetown and put our school’s name in the history books.”

No matter what happens this weekend, the Tigers’ outlook is bright. Especially because they will have De Los Santos returning for his senior year.

“We have huge expectations for Mario’s senior year,” Magallan said. “Now, as a junior, he is chasing the record for goals in a year. He is a few goals away from breaking the national record. I don’t know who has it, but I believe it is a player from California. Imagine if he is doing this right now, as a junior, what could he possibly do in his senior year.”

That time will come soon enough. For right now, the focus of the team is undeniable.

“We are very united,” Chavez said. “When we go on the bus, we are all singing, having fun together. When we are in the hotel, it’s like nothing else exists. We leave our phones behind, and we are just with each other. We are a united family, and we are working well together. I believe that is a big reason why we are in the position we are in now.”

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VALLEY HS BASEBALL SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 17

District 30-6A

La Joya High 16, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 3, 6 innings

Mission High 13, La Joya Palmview 2

McAllen High 19, McAllen Rowe 0

District 31-6A

Edinburg North 4, Edinburg Economedes 10

PSJA High 7, Edinburg High 6, 8 innings

Edinburg Vela 12, PSJA Memorial 0, 5 innings

PSJA North 13, PSJA Southwest 5

District 32-6A

Weslaco High 16, San Benito 2

Los Fresnos 2, Brownsville Rivera 0

Brownsville Hanna at Harlingen High, not reported

Harlingen South at Weslaco East, not reported

District 31-5A

Laredo Martin 9, Roma 2

Rio Grande City 6, Laredo Nixon 2

Sharyland High 6, Sharyland Pioneer 4

Valley View 7, Laredo Cigarroa 3

District 32-5A

Donna North 6, Donna High 0

Edcouch-Elsa 11, Brownsville Pace 5

Brownsville Lopez 10, Mercedes 8

Brownsville Veterans 8, Brownsville Porter 4

District 32-4A

La Feria 5, Raymondville 3

Port Isabel 2, Hidalgo 0

Grulla 11, Rio Hondo 5

Progreso 10, Zapata 8

Friday, April 20

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe at La Joya High, 7 p.m.

La Joya Palmview at McAllen High, 7 p.m.

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at McAllen Memorial, 7 p.m.

District 31-6A

Edinburg North at Edinburg High, 7 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at PSJA North, 7 p.m.

PSJA High at PSJA Memorial, 7 p.m.

PSJA Southwest at Edinburg Economedes, 7 p.m.

District 32-6A

San Benito at Weslaco High, 6:30 p.m.

Brownsville Rivera at Los Fresnos, 6:30 p.m.

Brownsville Hanna at Harlingen High, 6:30 p.m.

District 31-5A

Rio Grande City at Mission Veterans, 7 p.m.

Laredo Martin at Laredo Cigarroa, 7 p.m.

Laredo Nixon at Sharyland High, 6 p.m.

Valley View at Sharyland Pioneer, 7 p.m.

District 32-5A

Donna High at Brownsville Pace, 7 p.m.

Brownsville Lopez at Edcouch-Elsa, 7 p.m.

Brownsville Porter at Mercedes, 7 p.m.

Donna North at Brownsville Veterans, 7 p.m.

District 32-4A

Rio Hondo at Hidalgo, 7:30 p.m.

Raymondville at Grulla, 7:30 p.m.

Port Isabel at Zapata, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 21

Non-District

Laredo United South at Zapata, noon

VALLEY HS BASEBALL BOX SCORES

Tuesday’s Games

District 31-6A

EDINBURG VELA 12, PSJA MEMORIAL 0

PSJA Memorial 000 00 — 0

Edinburg Vela 344 1X — 12

WP: Aaron Galvan 5 innings, 1 hit, 5 walks, 11 strikeouts.

EDINBURG VELA (12): Aaron Galvan 3 for 4, 6 RBIs, HR; Ramsey Amador 3 for 4, 3 runs, 3 RBIs, HR; Eric Martinez 2 for 3, 2 RBIs; Matt De La Cruz 2 for 2, 3 runs.

PSJA MEMORIAL (0): Orly Munoz 1 for 1.

RECORDS: Edinburg Vela 20-4, 10-1 in district.

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES 10, EDINBURG NORTH

Ed. Economedes 200 232 1 — 10

Edinburg North 002 001 1 — 4

WP: Pablo Juarez

EDINBURG NORTH (4): Argelio Guajardo 1 for 3, run, double; Jose Salinas 1 for 3, 2 RBIs.

District 32-5A

DONNA NORTH 6, DONNA HIGH 0

Donna High 000 000 0 — 0

Donna North 011 400 0 — 6

WP: Orlando Hernandez 7 innings, 12 strikeouts, 7 hits..

DONNA NORTH (6): Ryan Pequeno 2 for 3, 2 RBIs; Jose Rojas 1 for 3, RBI; Sergio Canales 1 for 4, RBI.

DONNA HIGH (0): J. Jonez 2 for 3; M. trejo 2 for 3

RECORDS: Donna North 9-14, 5-7; Donna High 4-8 in district.

District 30-6A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

*-McAllen High 22 1 9 0 —

**-Mission High 11 10 7 3 2.5

La Joya High 17 7 6 3 3

McAllen Rowe 12 11 5 4 4

McAllen Memorial 15 11 4 6 5.5

*-La Joya Palmview 7 15 2 7 7

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 4 19 0 10 9.5

District 31-6A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

Edinburg Vela 19 4 9 1 —

***-PSJA High 14 7 8 2 1

**-PSJA North 17 7 7 3 2

**-Edinburg North 12 11 7 3 2

*-Edinburg High 9 13 5 5 4

Edinburg Economedes 5 17 2 8 7

*-PSJA Southwest 9 15 2 8 7

PSJA Memorial 3 20 0 10 9

District 32-6A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

Weslaco High 21 3 8 2 —

Brownsville Rivera 17 6 8 2 —

Los Fresnos 18 7 7 3 1

Brownsville Hanna 14 4 6 4 2

*-San Benito 8 15 4 6 4

*-Harlingen High 9 10 4 6 4

Harlingen South 6 11 2 8 6

Weslaco East 7 17 1 9 7

District 31-5A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

Sharyland High 21 4 9 2 —

*-Valley View 15 8 9 2 —

*-Rio Grande City 14 7 9 2 —

*-Sharyland Pioneer 18 8 7 5 2.5

*-Laredo Cigarroa 10 15 6 6 3.5

Laredo Martin 12 11 5 6 4

Mission Veterans 7 17 4 8 5.5

**-Roma 4 15 3 9 6.5

*-Laredo Nixon 6 18 1 10 8

District 32-5A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

Brownsville Veterans 15 6 11 0 —

*-Brownsville Lopez 11 5 8 3 3

*-Edcouch-Elsa 11 9 7 4 4

Brownsville Pace — — 4 7 7

Donna North 8 13 4 7 7

Donna High 8 18 4 7 7

Mercedes 7 11 4 7 7

Brownsville Porter — — 1 10 10

District 32-4A

Overall District

Team W L W L GB

Zapata 14 5 10 0 —

Grulla 11 10 6 4 4

Rio Hondo 9 11 6 4 4

Raymondville 13 7 6 4 4

Progreso 9 10 5 5 5

Port Isabel 5 14 4 6 6

Hidalgo 5 15 2 8 8

*-La Feria 5 15 1 9 9

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — Edinburg Vela senior Aaron Galvan looks like a baseball player as soon as he walks onto the field.

From the way he wears his uniform, to the way he swings the bat. He even eats sunflower seeds like a pro.

That aura was earned through years of hard work, perfecting his swing just as he perfected the way he wears his cap.

Galvan has all of the physical tools, but his focus on the mental side of the game is what sets him apart.

As he describes slumping at the plate, his baseball mind breaks down the game with an ease acquired only after countless hours of study and practice.

“Sometimes I go in a little slump, but I just try too hard sometimes,” Galvan said. “I just load up and then miss the ball by an inch. Against Edinburg North, I had a few balls that should have gone out. But that’s just the name of the game. You are going to miss some, no matter how good you are.”

Vela coach Jaime Perez described Galvan as the heart of the team. He impacts all of his teammates, and specifically junior Ramsey Amador.
Amador and Galvan became close quickly. They bonded over their love of the game and their desire to be better players.

“We are always trying to push each other,” Amador said. “We can tell each other ‘You’re horrible,’ this and that, but we take it as competition. We just want to see who is going to do best.”

Their social life often involves baseball.

“We like going to the cages late at night, like 9:30, even 11:30,” Amador said. “Sometimes we don’t get home till 12, and it’s not even because we were out with friends. It’s just because we were at the cages hitting.”

Insults are often the language of intimacy in the locker room.

So when Amador and Galvan both committed to UTRGV, the intimacy began.

“Even this year, we were talking about competing head to head (at UTRGV),” Amador said. “He tells me, ‘You are not going to start,’ and I tell him, ‘No, you are not going to start.’ I’m just looking forward to seeing both of us on the field together.”

“We just joke around like that,” Galvan added. “When we play with UTRGV, he’ll be cleaning my shoes while I’m playing. … We just joke about stuff like that to get a little laugh. That’s what this game is all about, just having fun and competing.”

The way the two push each other has shown in their play on the field. Coming into the season, many expected Galvan to be a Player of the Year candidate. He still is, but the race may be closer to home than many expected, because Amador is putting pressure on his candidacy.

Galvan missed seven games with an injury earlier this year, but he and Amador’s numbers are still surprisingly similar. Amador is batting .527, and Galvan is hitting .463. Galvan has 24 RBIs, and Amador has 22. Amador has six home runs. Galvan has two. Amador has walked 15 times. Galvan has 11 walks.

“We try to beat each other all the time,” Amador said. “He has been my best friend since I was little. Now, we look at our numbers after every game. Right now, he’s batting .500, and I’m batting .529, so next game, he’s going to try to get back on top.”

Their competition has made each of them better.

Amador was pleased to hit a home run to the opposite field during Vela’s game against PSJA North on March 27, because going that direction is something he has been working on recently.

“What Aaron has taught me … when I see him drive the ball, he is able to hit the inside of the ball to drive it the other way,” Amador said. “He’s taught me that. I think that PSJA North home run is more because of him teaching me that.”

“That bond you see with Aaron and Ramsey, it carries over to our whole ball club,” Perez said.

Even seniors such as Adam Alviso and Matthew de la Cruz have been boosted by that bond.

Alviso, a sidearm pitcher, has had a breakout year in his first opportunity to pitch on varsity. He was on the mound when the SaberCats beat the PSJA High Bears on March 29, a win that put Vela in position to capture the program’s first ever district crown.

“It’s funny, because (Alviso) wasn’t really in the game plan at the beginning of the season, as far as on the mound,” de la Cruz said. “And then, finally, he got his opportunity, and he has just been showing out ever since.”

For de la Cruz, the success has been less of a surprise. He has had a standout career, and next year he will be playing for the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.

“(Incarnate Word) got a new coaching staff this year, and they are the main reason that I decided to go there,” de la Cruz said. “They come from good schools, Rice and Missouri. I just like the culture that they have there.”

The success this year for de la Cruz was more about adjusting on the fly. He had to jump from infield to outfield quickly, and he handled it with ease. He has earned more playing time in the outfield with each strong outing.

“Matt is having a great year,” Galvan said. “He’s really increased this year, and impressed me with his arm strength, his bat strength, his hand speed and everything he’s doing right now for this team. We are grateful to have him. He is a wonderful athlete. He can jump a 36-inch vertical. An 8-foot leap vertical. He runs a 6.7 (second) 60 (yard dash). He can fly, and he is a great asset to this team.”

The SaberCats sit alone in first place in District 31-6A with a 9-1 record. They have four games left, but one of those is against PSJA High (8-2), which is in second.

The SaberCats are confident, and with good reason. They follow their heart.

“We talk a big game, because the numbers show,” Galvan said. “We are trying to prove it to our town and let them know that we are here. We want to be the best that we can be.”

De la Cruz knows the SaberCats can reach their goals if they can keep their wits about them and play the way they are capable of playing.

“We just need to attack every team as if they are the best team we have seen,” de la Cruz said. “We can’t take any innings off. We just have to expect the best every time.”

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VALLEY HS BASEBALL SCHEDULE

Friday, April 13

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial at La Joya High, not reported

McAllen Rowe 5, Mission High 4, 8 innings

McAllen High 13, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 0, 5 innings

District 31-6A

PSJA North 12, Edinburg North 2, 5 innings

Edinburg High 20, PSJA Memorial 1, 5 innings

Edinburg Vela 17, PSJA Southwest 2, 5 innings

PSJA High 19, Edinburg Economedes 3, 5 innings

District 32-6A

Weslaco High 15, Harlingen South 5

Brwonsville Rivera 12, Weslaco East 2

Harlingen High 8, Los Fresnos 7

Brownsville Hanna 16, San Benito 0

District 31-5A

Valley View 9, Roma 1

Rio Grande City 4, Sharyland Pioneer 2

Sharyland High 5, Laredo Cigarroa 4

Laredo Nixon 7, Mission Veterans 6

District 32-5A

Edcouch-Elsa 14, Mercedes 10

Donna North 5, Brownsville Pace 4

Brownsville Veterans 9, Brownsville Lopez 5

Brownsville Porter at Donna High, not reported

District 32-4A

Zapata 4, Hidalgo 0

Rio Hondo 7, La Feria 5, 8 innings

Grulla 5, Port Isabel 0

Raymondville 14, Progreso 7

Saturday, April 14

Non-District

Robstown at Zapata, 3 p.m.

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

MISSION — In a late season District 31-5A clash, Rio Grande City relied on its talented freshmen to get the win.

Freshman Mike Ramos threw a complete-game gem to freshman catcher Emmanuel Garza, who was 3 for 4 in the game. Emmanuel’s twin brother, Eddie Garza, drove in the winning run as the Rattlers (18-8-1, 9-4) beat the Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks (19-8-1, 7-5) 4-2 on Friday.

“This win is humungous,” Rio Grande City Roque Cortinas said. “It’s huge, because Cigarroa lost, so that means we move up. Right now, we are not thinking about a district title race. We are just trying to make sure we have a cushion from the fourth and fifth teams. This win is huge going into the end of the season.”

Rio Grande City sits in second place, but only two games separate the top four teams.

Ramos went all seven innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out five and allowed only four base runners.

“He’s a freshman, but he doesn’t act like it,” Cortinas said. “He wants the ball all the time. Every inning he tells me, ‘Coach, I am good.’ He doesn’t even want to talk about pulling him out. Very composed on the mound. And it’s his third start and third win.”

Ramos’ only real struggles came in the first. He walked the second hitter he faced. The third hitter, his counterpart on the mound, junior Jacob Rosales, blasted a two-run home run to put the Diamondbacks up 2-0.

After that half inning, Ramos hit another gear and looked unhittable for the next six frames.

“I knew I had to come through for my team. I had to play my part,” Ramos said. “I knew I had to do what I always do: hit my corners and don’t make any mistakes, because when I made a mistake, it ended up over the fence.”

Eddie Garza said Ramos’ start gave him the confidence to drive in the winning run in the top of the sixth.

Senior Jeremy Gorena knocked a double to set up Eddie Garza, who tattooed a ball right at the shortstop.

“I hit it really hard, but I wasn’t sure what was going to happen,” he said.

The ball went past the shortstop and zipped all the way to the wall.

“I just ran hard,” he said.

He never stopped out of the box and had plenty of time to pull into third and set up an insurance run.

With a 1-2 count, freshman Mark Perez roped a double to the wall that drove in Eddie Garza for the Rattlers’ fourth run of the game.

“It was a great moment,” Eddie Garza said. “It felt good to help Mikey out, since he did such a great job on the mound.”

The Garza twins, Ramos and Perez all began playing baseball when they were 4. They played together all the way through Pony League and junior high. Now on varsity together, the comfort of playing with each other has outweighed the anxiety of their debut season.

“We are very confident right now — more confident than ever,” Ramos said. “Every game makes us better and more prepared for the playoffs.”

Eddie Garza finished the game 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs. He almost didn’t get the chance for heroics. In the top of the fourth, he was running to first trying to leg out an infield single. He beat the throw but took an awkward tumble. Cortinas said that he “twisted his ankle,” but even that couldn’t keep the twin — affectionately known to Rattlers faithful as “Cuate” — from getting back in the batter’s box when his spot was up.

“He sat down for an inning or two, but he said he was good,” Cortinas said. “He was 2 for 2 at the time, so we were glad to have his bat back in the lineup. He’s a tough kid. He’s tough as nails. And he’s not going to sit out.”

For Pioneer, Rosales added to his home run with a quality outing on the mound. He went six innings, striking out seven and walking only one. Rosales came out for the top of the seventh, but he suffered an apparent leg injury and was unable to start the inning. Sophomore Evan Maldonado pitched a quick seventh, striking out the side.

Eddie Garza drove in senior Jesus Cantu to score the Rattlers’ first run in the second.

Emmanuel Garza scored the Rattlers’ other run in the top of the fifth. He led off with a double and came home on a throwing error. Emmanuel Garza’s 3 for 4 night extended his lead in the district batting title race. He entered Friday’s contest hitting .553

The youthful Rattlers seem poised to make a playoff run.

“We have played baseball all our lives,” Eddie Garza said. “We have been playing since we were small. It’s still the same game. … We are trying to stay humble and focus on helping the team.”

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This story has been edited to reflect that Emmanuel Garza led the district in batting average.

VALLEY HS BASEBALL SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 12

District 30-6A

McAllen Rowe 6, La Joya Palmview 5

McAllen High 8, McAllen Memorial 2

District 31-6A

Edinburg North 3, PSJA Southwest 2

Edinburg Vela 7, Edinburg High 4

PSJA High 9, PSJA North 2

Edinburg Economedes 6, PSJA Memorial 0

District 32-6A

Weslaco High 8, Harlingen South 3

District 32-5A

Donna North 15, Brownsville Porter 10

District 32-3A

Lyford 12, Monte Alto 2

Friday, April 13

District 30-6A

McAllen Memorial at La Joya High, 7 p.m.

McAllen Rowe at Mission High, 7 p.m.

La Joya Juarez-Lincoln at McAllen High, 7 p.m.

District 31-6A

Edinburg North at PSJA North, 7 p.m.

PSJA Memorial at Edinburg High, 7 p.m.

Edinburg Vela at PSJA Southwest, 7 p.m.

PSJA High at Edinburg Economedes, 7 p.m.

District 32-6A

Harlingen South at Weslaco High, 6:30 p.m.

Los Fresnos at Harlingen High, 6:30 p.m.

District 31-5A

Laredo Nixon at Mission Veterans, 6 p.m.

Valley View at Roma, 7 p.m.

Rio Grande City at Sharyland Pioneer, 7 p.m.

Sharyland High at Laredo Cigarroa, 6 p.m.

District 32-5A

Brownsville Porter at Donna High, 7 p.m.

Edcouch-Elsa at Mercedes, 7 p.m.

Brownsville Lopez at Brownsville Veterans, 7 p.m.

District 32-4A

Zapata at Hidalgo, 7:30 p.m.

Port Isabel at Grulla, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 14

Non-District

Robstown at Zapata, 3 p.m.

VALLEY HS BASEBALL BOX SCORES

Thursday’s Game

District 31-6A

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES 6, PSJA MEMORIAL 0

Edinburg Econ. 000 041 1 — 6

PSJA Memorial 000 000 0 — 0

WP: Asiel Salinas 7 innings, 3 hits, 2 strikeouts.

EDINBURG ECONOMEDES (6): Peter Molina 1 for 3, home run; Leroy Montano 1 for 3; Pablo Juarez 1 for 2; Manuel Benavides 1 for 3.

RECORDS: Edinburg Economedes 4-12, 2-7 in district.

EDINBURG VELA 7, EDINBURG HIGH 4

Edinburg Vela 101 050 0 — 7

Edinburg High 000 002 2 — 4

WP: Adam Alviso 5.2 innings, 6 hits, 2 runs, 5 strikeouts.

EDINBURG VELA (7): Matt de la Cruz 2 for 3, 2 runs, triple; Adam Alviso 2 for 3, triple, Nico Rodriguez 1-3, 2 RBIs, double.

RECORDS: Edinburg Vela 18-4, 8-1.

EDINBURG NORTH 3, PSJA SOUTHWEST 2

PSJA Southwest 002 000 0 — 2

Edinburg North 021 000 x — 3

WP: Frankie Zuniga 7 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 8 strikeouts.

EDINBURG NORTH (3): Robert Flores 2 for 3, RBI, run, double; Alec Cavazos 2 for 3; Jonathan Almeida 1 for 2, sac fly, RBI.

RECORDS: Edinburg North 12-10-2, 7-2.

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

McALLEN — The McAllen High Bulldogs used three bombs to blast the McAllen Memorial Mustangs 8-2 on Thursday.

The game was a makeup for the rainout on Tuesday, and it was the second meeting between the rivals in the District 30-6A season. McHi won the first meeting 11-6.

Sophomore shortstop Aaron Nixon was the first Bulldog to homer. In the second at-bat of the game, Nixon drove a fastball out to left field.

Junior Rigo Moreno also homered. His came in the top of the fourth with a runner on, and it gave the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead.

“He just missed his spot,” Moreno said. “He was throwing good. He got me two times, but he wasn’t going to get me on the other two.”

Moreno finished the game 2 for 4 with a double, the home run and three RBIs.

“That man is killing it,” sophomore designated hitter Hector Garcia said. “He’s been working since summer. That guy puts in the hours, and he deserves it all.”

Moreno has been a dynamo for the Bulldogs this season. His .483 average is the best on the team, and he also leads the team with four home runs and 28 RBIs.

“Hard work always pays off,” Moreno said. “I work really hard, and I can see the results.”

Moreno has cemented his position as the leadoff man and center fielder for the Bulldogs.

“He is a great hitter,” Thursday’s starter, Abanny Garcia, said. “He has been big for us this year.”

Abanny Garcia said he didn’t feel like he had his best stuff when he first went to the mound.

“I tried to change it up a bit and throw more fastballs,” he said.

He powered through a callus on his throwing hand to finish off the complete game. He allowed two runs while scattering nine hits over seven innings. He struck out nine on the night.

“His curveball wasn’t working until about the fifth inning,” McHi coach Eliseo Pompa said.

Abanny Garcia said he knew he could get his curveball back on track.

“You try to just focus on your fastballs,” he said. “You don’t really think about throwing the curve for a strike. It comes around, just like it did in the last few innings.”

His teammates saw him battling, and they said they respected his efforts on the mound.

“He will give you everything he’s got,” Hector Garcia said. “His finger was hurting, but he didn’t complain. He just went out there and did what he had to do.”

The final McHi homer came in the top of the seventh. Memorial starter Garrett St. Clair hit his pitch limit after giving up a single to the first batter of the inning. Hector Garcia was the third Bulldog to face Memorial reliever Quaid Murray.

“I didn’t really know much (about Murray), but the guys told me he throws a lot of fastballs away. They said he was scared to come in,” Hector Garcia said. “I approached it looking to go the other way with it.”

When he saw a fastball high and outside, he did just that and delivered a mammoth blast. The home run was Hector Garcia’s first on the varsity team.

“You don’t even know, that one felt amazing,” he said. “I’ve been due. I hit the fence a couple times, but that just felt awesome.”

“It is a great feeling to see someone hit a home run that far,” Abanny Garcia said.

Hector Garcia’s home run was the Bulldogs’ 12th of the year. Pompa is glad to have the power surge, although he’s not sure exactly how it happened.

“We lifted weights this offseason, of course, but not enough to all become bodybuilders,” Pompa said. “We work a lot on speed and quickness, and a lot of home runs come from bat speed. Maybe that’s it, but we are just lucky to be hitting so many right now.”

The Bulldogs were fired up after Thursday’s win, and Moreno was leading the charge.

“We love to play Memorial,” Moreno said. “It’s a great rivalry.”

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