BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

EDINBURG — For the last three years, Edinburg North fans knew who to expect under center: Cristian Espinoza.

But after Espinoza’s graduation in May, a new name will emerge this year — Francisco Zuniga.

Zuniga can’t contain his excitement at the chance to make his own mark on the program.

“I have been waiting for this moment since the first day of summer,” Zuniga said. “I have just been waiting to come out here with these boys, grind hard and win a district title.”

At 5-foot-7 and 140 pounds, Zuniga is not an overwhelming physical presence, but coach Rene Saenz thinks that’s what gives him the confidence he needs to succeed.

“He’s a competitor,” Saenz said. “He’s not a big kid, but he’s a competitor. I guess because of his size, he has always had to prove himself. He doesn’t shy away from that. He’s got a good arm, and he’s mobile.”

Last year, Espinoza missed two games, which allowed Zuniga some time in the backfield. Zuniga made an appearance in six games overall, completing 12 of 17 attempts for 184 yards and one touchdown. To Saenz’s point, he also scampered for 103 yards on 19 carries. His quickness is a skill that excites his teammates.

“He has some good accuracy,” sophomore wideout Izaiah Rangel said. “He can really run, too.”

Zuniga’s experience last year didn’t stop with those six games played. He said he learned a lot from Espinoza, either from watching him perform or from direct work in practice.

“He taught me well,” Zuniga said. “He taught me a lot of footwork, a lot of plays and a lot of routes. He had a big impact on this football team.”

Zuniga’s experience is a reason for optimism with the program. Another reason for optimism in the locker room revolves around the skill position players Zuniga will be working with.

The offense does not have a lot of seniors, so the ones who are there will be asked to play a big role in the team’s leadership. That starts with running back Ethan Vela.

North’s leading rusher last year, Vela missed only one game and posted 805 yards on 142 carries.

“(Vela) is a good leader,” Zuniga said. “He pumps us up in the huddle. He tells us what to do. If we are messing around, he tells us to stop.”

Saenz said Vela may be used some at slot receiver this year. That is due, in part, to a new addition in the backfield.

Junior running back Cristian Flores won the Offensive Newcomer of the Year award in District 31-6A last season, but he played for Edinburg Vela then. After the season, he transferred to North.

“I’ve known him since we were in sixth grade,” Zuniga said. “So, we already have good chemistry together.”

Zuniga said Flores is fitting into the offense well, and he is already turning heads in practice. Last year, Flores ran for 984 yards on 129 attempts in nine games. That total is even more impressive considering he shared a backfield with senior Robert Guerra, who ran for 1,179 yards in five games.

“We are excited about his potential,” Saenz said. “He will be a guy to look out for.”

Another guy to look out for is sophomore wide receiver Rangel.

Last season, as a freshman, Rangel put up 103 receiving yards and one touchdown in three games.

“He’s probably our best athlete on the team as far as size, speed and strength,” Saenz said of Rangel.

Rangel has so much potential that Saenz already has him taking reps at quarterback, calling him “the future” at the position.

With those players around him, Zuniga is confident about his first season at starting quarterback.

“Our goal is to win district this year and go at least three rounds deep,” Zuniga said. “I know we are capable of meeting those goals.”

NEW COACH

Over the summer, North hired former Roma head coach Max Habecker as the linebacker coach. Habecker brought in his 3-4 defense, and it is helping the Cougars already.

“He’s made a real big impact,” senior safety Joseph Muñoz said. “We are a lot faster, we are moving smoother and we are going full speed on the defensive side right now.”

Muñoz happens to be the only returning starter on the defense. North was expecting to have two.

“We would have had two starters coming back, but (Julius Jimenez) moved out,” Saenz said. “He was the newcomer (of the year) for the district, and we lost him. That was a big blow to us on the line, but all we can do is next guy up.”

That hasn’t stifled the positives surrounding the new-look defense, though.

“They are fast,” Rangel said. “Their pressing is crazy. Sometimes I get annoyed at how they get me.”

“They have good zone coverage. They have good man,” Zuniga added. “They have a lot of speed. They have a lot of strength. … The defense can do a lot of work for us this year.”

The linebackers are standing out to Saenz already.

“Our linebackers are young, but I like their aggressiveness,” Saenz said. “Habecker has taken a hold of that group, and he’s doing a tremendous job with them. I look for the linebackers to do some good work.”

BIT OF FOOTY

The Monitor’s All-Area boys soccer Defensive Player of the Year Azael De Leon was also a strong force on the football team last year. He converted all 16 of his extra-point attempts. He also made the lone field goal he was asked to take.

Kickers aren’t often thought about at the varsity level, but as Saenz said of getting a kicker with that much consistency: “We don’t that get very often. We were just lucky to have him.”

With De Leon graduating, his teammate, Frank Cantu, will fill that role. Cantu also played soccer last season.

“(Cantu) was a starter with that team that went up to the regional finals,” Saenz said. “I like him being tested in the fire of competition.”

That trip to the playoffs captivated the whole school. Several players on the football team watched intently as their classmates represented North at that level of competition.

“I wasn’t a true soccer fan before that,” Saenz said. “Now, I find myself watching soccer sometimes on the weekends. It’s crazy, because I developed a newfound respect, and I learned the game a little bit.”

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EDINBURG NORTH’S PROGNOSIS

New linebackers coach Max Habecker will have his hands full with a young defense. If he can get that group to help a potent offense, the Cougars could get coach Rene Saenz his first playoff win.

2016 record: 4-7

Returning starters O/D: 6/1

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Rene Saenz

Year at school: Fourth

Record at school: 12-20

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

ALAMO — When PSJA Memorial senior right tackle Jordan Muller first started playing football, he could barely squat 135 pounds, and his form was terrible.

Today he squats 450 pounds.

Muller didn’t want to play football during his freshman year.

“I first started playing when coach (Michael) Uribe got here, my sophomore year,” Muller said. “In my freshman year, there were a bunch of people who didn’t really care about football (on and around the team). But now that (Uribe) is here, they want us to be good. You can just feel a spark in the air. They want us to be good.”

Muller is part of an offensive line for the Wolverines that could be one of the team’s most valuable weapons.

“To be honest, we are looking much better than last year,” junior quarterback Orlando Muñoz said. “This year, the line hustles to the ball. Last year, we just kind of walked through it.”

Muller remembers those first few days of practice. The conditioning in 110-degree heat drove him to the edge, he said. There were moments that made him want to quit. But he stuck it out and kept working.

“During practice, when you are doing it and you are tired, you are like ‘Oh, I can’t. Why I am I doing this?’” Muller said. “And then, when you are done and you are thinking about it, you are like, ‘Oh, it wasn’t that bad.’”

Beyond a lack of strength or conditioning, what hampered Muller the most was his lack of flexibility.

“When we did pass pro, I struggled,” Muller said. “We are going pass set protection against our D-line, and they are coming at us. When I first started my feet were — like I couldn’t — I just had bad feet.”

Muller said part of why he could barely squat any weight was because his knees couldn’t bend that much.

He got help in that department from a fresh face.

“Coach (Patrick) Boutwell is a new addition to our staff,” Uribe said of the new offensive line coach. “He was a coordinator at Brownsville Pace last year. He worked at Los Fresnos before that. I’m excited about him.”

Boutwell has helped the line already, and that’s only going to continue throughout his first regular season with Memorial.

“Basically, he has brought in a lot of good things, a lot of new good things,” junior right guard Jose Tovar said. “We have been going over a lot of plays, new workouts, new drills. It’s pretty good. He’s a really good coach.”

Muller saw the benefits of the new addition right away. Over the offseason, Boutwell’s workouts helped Muller improve his foot speed, he said. Now, Muller feels very confident in his abilities, and his teammates do, too.

“Jordan has developed really well. He’s been improving a lot on the field,” Tovar said. “That gives me motivation, too. That gives the other guys motivation to get better just like him.”

Another motivating factor along the offensive line is the leadership of junior center Guadalupe Abrego.

“He gives all the calls, and he’s always making sure everything is set,” Tovar said. “I have a lot of trust in him.”

Abrego is a student who takes just as much pride in executing in the classroom as he does on the field. Last year, the first year he was eligible, Abrego made the National Honor Society. The strict guidelines demand he have a GPA above a 3.0, volunteer to do community service and provide to the foundation proof of his leadership and character, according to the foundation’s website.

“Academics has to be a priority,” Abrego said. “If you don’t pass your classes, you don’t play football. So I take that as a priority. I want to be an A student, all A student. I take a lot of pride in it.”

He volunteers at his church. He plays the bass trombone in the band. Abrego inspires his teammates with his character away from the gridiron as much as he does with his achievements on it.

Abrego and his teammates on the line have been gelling in practices this fall, according to Uribe. That has given the rest of the team confidence in the offensive line and the offense as a whole.

“I have a lot of trust in my line,” Muñoz said. “For me, knowing that they are going to give me time to make good things happen is amazing.”

NO DOUBT

After going winless last year, the Wolverines have heard the same refrain countless times: “You guys aren’t good,” or, “You won’t win any games.” This year, they are ready to prove they have learned from last season’s struggles and are ready to compete.

“I have a lot of friends telling me, ‘You guys aren’t going to win any games,’” Muñoz said. “But we know we are going to prove them wrong, win some games and hopefully make it to the playoffs.”

It’s not uncommon for the Wolverines to hear doubt, even in the hallways of their own school.

“The students here, some of them don’t believe in us,” Muller said. “They don’t think we can do it. But I know we can.”

With 23 of the 47 players on the varsity roster in their junior year, the core of the team is maturing. Muñoz, Tovar, Abrego, running back Joaquin Sanchez and Sam linebacker Sal Ramirez are juniors, and they all play pivotal roles on the team this year. If they can break through, they can prove their fellow students and all of the other doubters wrong.

“Not to be mean,” Muñoz said, “but (if we made the playoffs), we would shove it in everybody’s faces.”

DON’T FORGET THE D

Memorial only has 14 seniors on the varsity roster, but the vast majority of the returning starters in that group are on defense. Memorial’s 4-3 is poised to be more of a threat this year. Last year, Memorial’s 393.2 yards per game allowed was the worst mark in the District 31-6A. Uribe said that with the growth and development of his returning players, that group is trending up.

One big part of that is senior Anthony Escalante.

“Anthony Escalante is a three-year starter,” Uribe said. “Our linebackers are all returning starters. You look at linebackers to be leaders, regardless of experience or class. … As a three-year starter, and as a tremendous athlete, I’m looking to Anthony Escalante to take on that leadership role.”

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PSJA MEMORIAL’S PROGNOSIS

The Wolverines have 23 juniors on the 47-players roster, including the QB, RB and several offensive linemen. The growth and development of that group will determine the success of the team.

2016 record: 0-10

Returning starters O/D: 6/6

COACH’S TENURE

Coach: Michael Uribe

Year at school: 3rd

Record at school: 2-17

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

HIDALGO — For the fourth time in six years, a new man is in charge of the Hidalgo Pirates.

The Pirates’ new headman is Monty Stumbaugh, who coached the last 16 seasons at Port Isabel. During his tenure at PI, Stumbaugh only missed the playoffs twice.

That level of competition was palpable for the players as Hidalgo opened practice on Monday.

“He’s a strict coach,” senior running back Victor Alanis said in Spanish. “But he is a good teacher, and I believe under him, we will win.”

“He’s a fun guy, but he is very strict,” junior quarterback Marco Bella added. “He wants us to become a unit, and I think he is making us better.”

“It’s been a good change to the coaching staff,” senior safety Andre Busby said. “I like him. He knows what he is talking about. He knows what he is doing. He is a good guy, and he is easy to talk to.”

Monday was Stumbaugh’s first opportunity to address the squad as a whole before a team practice. His message was direct and honest.

“There are 22 spots,” Stumbaugh said. “They are going to have to show me and show our coaches what they have, and we will go from there. We are excited to get out here and get started.”

Several of the previous coaches at Hidalgo came in with momentum and a solid plan. Stumbaugh’s chance to stand out from his predecessors will depend on the performance of his players.

A large part of that will rely on the execution of his quarterback, Bella. This will be Bella’s first year starting at the position. Last year, he played mostly wide receiver and defensive back, and in his freshman campaign he was the backup quarterback.

“I’m glad that coach trusts me, and I am going to work hard to help this team,” Bella said.

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

ELSA — Edcouch Elsa’s Marco Aguinaga was named The Monitor’s 2016 All-Area Offensive Player of the Year.

Just the name “Marco” brought excitement to the YellowJackets’ faithful.

With Aguinaga gone, the task is simple: find a way to replicate that production.

For E-E coach Joe Marichalar, that starts with the new man under center, junior Albert Treviño.

“He is probably the fastest guy on the team,” Marichalar said. “He’s more of a quick guy, a speedster, a breakaway guy. But, if he needs to throw, he can throw. We are going to see how Albert does, and we are going to rally around him.”

Die-hard E-E fans will remember Treviño from his two completions on two attempts in mop-up duty last season.

“Last year, when I got those reps, it really helped,” Treviño said. “I got to get a feel for how the offense runs and what to expect.”

While Treviño did say those snaps helped him, he also said that playing behind Aguinaga was a boon.

“Marco taught me a lot,” Treviño said. “Now, it’s my time to step up. ”

Treviño will not be going at it alone. The team graduated a lot of talent at the skill positions, but perhaps the biggest piece they get back is senior running back Jorge Gomez.

Gomez ran for 937 yards and 12 TDs last year.

“We are expecting him to do a lot of great things,” Marichalar said.

Another big target for the YellowJackets will be aptly named Mac Lara. His Mack Truck-like frame of 6-foot-2, 210 pounds makes him potent weapon at the tight end position.

“We are expecting him to have a breakout season this year,” Marichalar said.

For the first day of practice, the varsity players all had shirts with the slogan “Win your battle” emblazoned across the chest in E-E gold. Every year, Marichalar picks out a phrase to give his players that will carry throughout the season.

“That is our thing for this year,” Marichalar said. “Basically, what we are telling our guys is, ‘Don’t focus on anybody else, focus on your job, and focus on winning your battle. Whatever position you are, whatever play is called, do your job.’ If all 11 battles are won, the play will be successful.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

WESLACO — Last season, the Weslaco East Wildcats made it to the third round of the playoffs and were alone as the last 6A Upper Valley program standing.

But on Day 1 of practice this fall, coach Mike Burget doesn’t believe that result has any affect on this season’s team.

“It’s a whole new team,” Burget said. “It’s a whole new season. We have some guys coming back, but we also have some new guys at new positions.“

One thing that does carry over from last season’s team is the experience.

Weslaco East returns its starting quarterback, senior Richard LeFevre, its leading rusher, senior Roy Pedraza, and its do-everything athlete, senior J.C. Vargas.

“Normally I wouldn’t even do an interview during the offensive time,” Burget said. “But, as you can see, I trust the coaches and I trust the guys we have in place. They know what to do.”

LeFevre said his emphasis this year is on his leadership.

“Personally, I want to work on bringing the team closer together,” LeFevre said. “I want us to become even more of unit and develop that chemistry. … Being a leader, I feel like it’s starting to come a little bit more natural.”

Add in the team’s leading tackler, junior linebacker Freddy Cardenas, and it is easy to see why Burget is confident.

“We just want him to get better and lead the team,” Burget said. “He was an all-state player. He’s a target now. Last year the other linebacker, Adrian (Duran, who graduated) was a target, so he’s got to get to work. He’s a good football player. … The kid is in great shape right now. So, we are expecting him to lead the defense.”

With the experience of advancing in the playoffs came an abrupt end to the season. In the regional quarterfinals, East lost to Cibolo Steele, 56-0. That pain has been sharp in the minds of the players, but on Monday it started to dim just a bit.

“Last year, how we ended, it felt horrible,” LeFevre said. “We have all been waiting all offseason, even throughout the end of the school year. The next day, we were already ready to come back out. We are very excited to be back on the field.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

There will be no quarterback controversy in Mercedes this season.

Coach Roger Adame Jr. made sure of that by making a decision early.

“Right now, we have (senior) Marc Ledesma as our starting quarterback,” Adame said.

Last season, Ledesma and Zach Gomez split time at quarterback. Gomez, now a senior, completed 75 of his 113 pass attempts for 1,235 yards and 12 touchdowns. Ledesma connected on 69 of his 112 passes for 707 yards and 6 touchdowns.

The deciding factor, Adame said, was Ledesma’s performance since the end of last season.

“He went into our 7-on-7 season and did a good job,” Adame said. “In spring, (he) did a good job. Zach will have an opportunity to be on the field at some point. He’s a talented kid, so he will have an opportunity to be on the field at some point, playing different positions. We feel he can make an impact like that. But as of right now, going into our fall camp, our two-a-days, we are going to be going in with Marc Ledesma.”

Last year, when Ledesma didn’t play quarterback, he was primarily used as a receiver. Playing quarterback in the spring and summer allowed Ledesma to focus on the parts of the position he needed to refine.

“I’ve grown more into the position,” Ledesma said. “(I focused on) staying in the pocket. I’m a dual-threat quarterback. So I have been working on the pocket. Like my pocket presence.

“I’ve also been working on my passing so that I can get more precise and be more consistent on my routes.”

Gomez and Ledesma are both seniors and have played together for a while. Trading reps at quarterback last year brought them closer together, Ledesma said.

“I used to be receiver, and he used to be quarterback,” Ledesma said. “Now it’s the reverse. He’s been really supportive. He’s been accepting that I will be the quarterback. We have a pretty good relationship.”

That’s not unique to this relationship for Ledesma. He has a good relationship with most of his teammates. It helps that he has a couple relatives on offense.

“Marc and Matt are twins. They are brothers,” Adame said. “They are Fabian’s uncle. So, Fabian is their nephew.”

Matt and Marc Ledesma refer to their relationship on the field as “the twin connection.”

“It’s been great,” Marc said. “He is my go-to guy. I know where he will be at all times. I can hit him any time, (like) when I am in trouble. It makes it a lot easier on the field, because I have a closer connection with him than I do with most of my receivers. That doesn’t mean I’m going to favor him. I just know where he will be at all times.”

Add Fabian Ledesma, senior running back, to the mix, and it’s easy to see how the Tigers offense can run seamlessly.

“We are all very close,” Matt said. “(Fabian) is our neighbor, so we are super close. We have been close our whole life. He would just walk over (to our house) and we would just play football. From there, it turned into what it is today. When we have all three of us on the field — running back, quarterback, receiver — that’s a special connection.”

Last season, the trio combined for 661 rushing yards, 1,044 receiving yards and 26 TDs.

“Those guys are playmakers,” Adame said. “We are going to want to get them the ball as often as we can. They led the offense. They were at or near the top of the district, as well. … We are hoping for great things from them, as well. They have been working hard. They put in the time in the spring and in the summer, especially. They are excited about it, and we expect them to go out there and make some plays for us.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

When Mission Veterans opens its season on Tuesday, Diana Lerma will be back where she had been for so long: in the coach’s seat.

Her previous stint as the Patriots coach lasted 14 years. During that time, she won 11 district titles and made four trips to the regional tournament.

On Oct. 15, 2015, Lerma was reassigned to Alton Memorial Jr. High after a group of players’ parents alleged a long-standing pattern of player mistreatment, profanity and bullying.

“It was the saddest thing that ever happened to me,” Lerma said. “This is my hometown. This is where I was born and raised.”

Freer native and 25-year coaching veteran Martina Carrillo was brought in to take over the Patriots last year. Carrillo made an impact right away, leading the team to a district title.

Carrillo, who earned her master’s degree in coaching and athletic administration, was presented with a new opportunity at the beginning of 2017. After Leticia Ibarra, Lerma’s sister, was promoted from PE and Health Coordinator to Athletic Director, Ibarra’s former position was available to Carrillo.

“I got promoted,” Carrillo said. “It’s a career move, and it’s in the best interest of the district.”

Following Carrillo’s promotion, the Mission Veterans volleyball coaching position was vacant. Mission CISD superintendent Dr. Ricardo Lopez knew a fresh coaching search would take some time.

“Coach Lerma expressed interest,” Lopez said. “Our principal (Fidel Garza) evaluated it and made a recommendation on his own. His recommendation was that instead of opening up a pool, her return would best fit the needs of Veterans. He would ensure that it would be a smooth transition.”

Because Lerma was already working within the district, instituting her as the Mission Vets volleyball coach would be a reassignment rather than a hire. Therefore, the school district did not need to post the job, review other applicants or have a board vote. In January, Lopez reviewed Garza’s recommendation and decided to proceed with that plan of action.

“(Garza) is a person that we trust,” Lopez said. “So we said, ‘OK, we are going to honor that decision.’ And so, we went with the principal’s recommendation.”

Sonia Treviño, Lerma’s sister, was voted to the board on May 5, 2016.

Lopez said no special actions were taken in Lerma’s reassignment process because Lerma’s sisters had no influence in the decision.

“In every school district, you are going to have people that are related. It’s inevitable,” Lopez said. “We love the Valley, and we don’t want to leave.

“When we look at the candidates, we look at everything objectively. … Our board has been really good about staying out of personnel matters, and they have been good about not being intrusive on any personnel matters because they understand that those are situations where the district needs have to be met.”

Lerma said she earned the job on her own merits.

“I am one of the winningest coaches before she even came on the school board,” Lerma said. “I don’t need my sisters for anything. My record was set way before they even came into the picture.”

For Amanda Contreras, the mother of Mission Veterans senior Iliana Contreras, Lerma’s move caused some concern.

“It is all about politics,” Amanda Contreras said of Lerma’s rehiring.

Two years ago, Iliana Contreras made the decision to leave the volleyball team while Lerma was the coach. Last year, with Carrillo as the coach, Iliana Contreras returned to the team and shined, earning all-district honors.

When Lerma’s return to the team was announced, Iliana Contreras again gave up playing for the Patriots.

“She’s not playing because they brought back the coach,” Amanda Contreras said.

When asked about Iliana Conreras’ decision to forego her senior season, Lerma said: “As coaches, we are in a profession where you can not keep everybody happy.

“You as a coach, you always work with whatever shows up. Not to speak badly on why they did not come out or why they did. Me as a player, I look back to my high school years. My coach was very disciplined. I had the highest respect (for my coach). That’s who we become. We are in a profession that we hope that everybody would be coming out for your team. But there are young ladies who wish not to come out. It’s their decision, and it’s how they feel.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

McALLEN — McAllen Rowe participated in 7-on-7 for the first time last summer, and it didn’t go great.

“Last year, we didn’t do as well. We didn’t qualify for state,” rising senior quarterback Jesus Sanchez said. “But this year, we are doing better. Now that we are closer this year, I feel it’s helping us have better performance on the field.”

The Rowe offense has been clicking, averaging over 40 points per game during a state qualifying tournament at Sharyland Pioneer earlier this month.

The core of the offense is made up of rising seniors. Along with Sanchez at quarterback, Rowe returns its leading rusher Raudel Garcia and four of its top five receivers.

“We are all pretty close,” Garcia said. “I am confident in what we will be able to do this season. This 7-on-7 season is helping us with our timing, our routes, getting closer with each other and our teammates, and having that chemistry for the season.”

Rowe advanced to the state tournament by beating Edcouch-Elsa in the final of the SQT at Pioneer. The Warriors routed the Yellowjackets, 49-19.

That defensive dominance was also a trend throughout the SQT, even though the status of the defense is the opposite of the offense. Rowe returns just two of its top eight tacklers from last season. However, the two who are coming back are vital parts of the defense. Linebacker Erik Puente and linebacker/defensive back Alex Lopez have stepped up to lead the defense in 7-on-7.

“Since I’m like the only senior coming back with all-district mentions, I have to step it up,” Lopez said. “Our defense, we were super proud of each other. We got eight picks in four games at the SQT. Each one of our defensive players got a pick. It was a pretty good experience.”

The 7-on-7 format focuses on the passing game. For Garcia, a running back, the games present an opportunity to catch a lot of passes.

“Raudel is just an athlete overall, so he can catch the ball and do whatever we need him to do,” Sanchez said. “It helps him a lot catching the ball, and getting that feeling of catching the ball, since the running backs usually don’t catch the ball. It’s great for him, and it’s great for all of us.”

Garcia knows the importance of having good hands out of the backfield.

“It is very important for me to be able to catch passes,” Garcia said. “I’m more of a checkdown. I’m the quarterback’s last option. If he doesn’t have anyone to throw to, he just throws it to me.”

Rowe is in Pool A of Division I of the state tournament. The team’s first matchup is against Austin Lake Travis at 1 p.m. today. After that, Rowe faces Coppell at 3 p.m. and Clear Brook at 5 p.m. Lake Travis won the state championship in varsity football last season.

“It’s a great matchup,” Sanchez said. “It’s always a great challenge to go up against them, to see where we are at and where we need to be. But, I think it will be a great experience. It will be a tough game, but we will be ready.”

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BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

PSJA High senior Marc Castillo only hit two home runs this year, but they came at huge moments in the season.

The first was April 4, when PSJA hosted Edinburg North. North was ahead by a run in the third inning when Castillo came up with two men on and two outs against North’s Ace, senior Giancarlo Servin. Castillo hit the ball to left-center and it cleared the fence by less than a foot, giving the Bears a lead they would retain for the win to move into a tie for first place in District 31-6A.

The second home run was May 5 in the bi-district round of the playoffs. PSJA and Weslaco High were tied at 3. Castillo came up with one man on and one out.

“I already knew what the pitcher was going to throw at me, because the first two at-bats there was a pattern that he was throwing,” Castillo said. “So I figured it out, and I waited until I got that one pitch. I sat back on one, and I hit. I ran to first base, and I looked over to left field and I saw the ball fly over the fence, and it got me really pumped up. I got super excited.”

For good measure, Castillo drove in two runs in the next inning to give the Bears a 7-3 lead that would end up being the final score.

Castillo will be the Bears’ only representative on Saturday at the RGV East-West All-Star Game, which is only open to seniors.

“It means a lot,” Castillo said. “It feels good that I got chosen out of a lot of players. I got chosen to come out and represent my school.”

Castillo was one of only seven seniors on the Bears roster this season, and he led the bunch with 31 games played.

“It was a little bit different,” Castillo said. “I was so used to being one of the younger guys, and now in my senior year, I said, ‘OK, now I am one of the oldest guys here. I have to take charge. I have to show the young guys the ropes and show them how we do it.’”

Castillo has always taken a lot of pride in representing the Bears. He owes his love of baseball to the school. His father played at PSJA, and his dad’s love for the game propelled Castillo into the sport.

“It was awesome,” Castillo said. “To have spent my career playing for the same school my dad did was just something that I look at and say I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.”

Castillo said he learned the game from his father. He started playing when he was 3, and his dad was often his coach throughout his early years.

This year, the All-Star game has added a second baseball game to the festivities to help players from Class 4A and smaller schools get more playing time.

The 4A and lower all-star game begins at 4 p.m. Saturday at the La Joya ISD Sports Complex. The 5A and 6A game will follow 30 minutes after the first game is finished, and the softball all-star game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

A tradition at the yearly event is the presentation of an honoree. Each year, one person is recognized for their accomplishments around the Valley. This year’s honoree is Jose “Fito” Salinas, the Mayor of La Joya.

Salinas attended La Joya High School. When he graduated in 1957, he received a scholarship to play baseball for UTPA. After his college career with the Broncs, he was signed by the Houston Colt 45s (now the Astros).

Salinas was a big piece of the athletics history of Zapata High School. He was a part of opening the football program in 1965. He coached basketball for nine seasons, winning seven district titles. In 1967, Salinas won a state title in basketball, defeating Archer City in the final.

He spent 17 years working for San Antonio ISD before retiring in 1995. When he moved back to the Valley, he became a member of the La Joya school board and was part of the decision to split the district into three schools.

Salinas said one of his focuses since moving has been to work with the youth in the community to give them the opportunity to play sports and get involved at school.

“When I was in high school, we didn’t have anything except the athletics in the high schools,” Salinas said. “One of the main reasons we want to get them involved in activities is to keep them off the streets. To prevent them from going into drugs and the other things that would not be beneficial to the youth. I have kids of my own, and I really believe in our youth that we need to work with them at an early age.”

Salinas said hosting the all-star game is a big honor for La Joya.

“It is very exciting,” he said. “We have probably the best facilities in the county and maybe even in the whole Rio Grande Valley. The community in La Joya and the surrounding high schools: Juarez-Lincoln and Palmview, they play all their big games here. So it is very beneficial to all of our communities.”

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5A/6A West baseball team

Edgar Garza, Mission High; Chezarre Gonzalez, Valley View; Miguel Cera, Sharyland; Nando Sepulveda, Rio Grande City; John Roberson, Roma; William Pena, Mission Veterans; Eddie Galvan, Mission Veterans; Cristian Ramos, Mission Veterans; Roman de Leon, Mission Veterans; Jacob Guerrero, Mission Veterans; Giancarlo Servin, Edinburg North; Saul Garza, Edinburg North; Jaime Cansino, Edinburg High; R.J. Ochoa, Edinburg Vela; Ryan Rodriguez, Edinburg Vela; Marc Castillo, PSJA High; Ismael Lopez, Edinburg Economedes; Gerardo de Leon, Edinburg Economedes; Ramiro Maldonado, McAllen High; Victor Valdez, McAllen High; Elias Ovalle, La Joya Palmview; Ismael Martinez, La Joya Palmview; Andrew Ogletree, Sharyland Pioneer; Alex Guajardo, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln; Alexis Solis, PSJA North; Jose Delgado, La Joya High

5A/6A East baseball team

Santos Rodriguez, Brownsville Pace; Hector Serna, Brownsville Lopez; Nate Campos, Weslaco High; Efrain Martinez, Brownsville Hanna; Jordan Janskowski, Brownsville Rivera; Abel Rodriguez, Los Fresnos; Cesar Saldana, Brownsville Hanna; Steve Perez, Edcouch-Elsa; Kenneth Rininger, Harlingen High; Julio Hernandez, Donna North; Joey Villalpando, Edcouch-Elsa; Chad Roberts, Harlingen South; Manny Ramirez, Donna North; Hector Covarrubias, Weslaco East; Tony Gonzales, San Benito; Adrian “AJ” Gonzalez, Weslaco High; Conner Pace, Brownsville St. Joseph; Oliver Closner, Mercedes; Andy Rodriguez, Edcouch-Elsa; Hayes Duffy, Harlingen High; Jeremy Ramirez, Donna High; Miguel Gonzalez, Los Fresnos; Alfonso Mireles, San Benito, AJ Rodriguez, Edcouch Elsa

4A and lower West baseball team

Edgar Garza, Grulla; Luis Martinez, Grulla; Jesse Solis, Grulla; Dylan Doughtery, Hidalgo; Jesus Lara, Hidalgo; Raul Ortiz, Hidalgo; Luis Rosales, Hidalgo; Austin De La Cruz, La Feria; Brandon Perez, La Feria; Juan Ayala, La Villa; Eduardo Davalos, Progreso; Reynaldo Garcia, Progreso; Javier Flores, Zapata; Carlos Gutierrez, Zapata; Kris Hinkel, Zapata; Mario Landa, Zapata; J. J. Vela, Zapata

4A and lower East baseball team

Trey Mock, Port Isabel; Mark Martinez, Port Isabel; Kaleb Martinez, Port Isabel; Juan Vasquez, Port Isabel; Andy Vasquez, Rio Hondo; Troy Zepeda, Rio Hondo; Justin Villarreal, Rio Hondo; Jesse Atkinson, Rio Hondo; Andre Ibarra, Lyford; Jaime Cortez, Lyford; Samuel Rocha, Lyford; Jarod Stroud, Lyford; Ricky Hernandez, Raymondville; Alex Villalpardo, Raymondville; Daniel Garza, San Perlita; Francisco Figueroa, Santa Rosa; Daniel Perez, Santa Rosa

BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

Mission Veterans’ Noel Vela and Edinburg North’s Saul Garza were both drafted in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.

Vela was taken with the third pick in Round 28 by the San Diego Padres. Garza went to the St. Louis Cardinals with the 19th pick in Round 31.

Garza’s projections coming into the draft had been much higher, but many clubs decided not to take him after he lasted beyond Day 2.

“Teams were worried about my signability after I fell to Day 3,” Garza said. “They were just asking me if they offered me a smaller financial investment, if I would be willing to sign. I had told them that since it was Day 3, I more than likely wouldn’t sign. So, that’s what pushed my draft stock down to Round 31.”

Garza said he received several calls earlier in the day, but teams weren’t willing to take a chance on losing a draft pick were they to select Garza and have him not sign. After the early calls, Garza said he wasn’t expecting to get drafted at all. He found out about being selected when he was tagged in a tweet.

Garza is committed to Howard junior college in Big Spring. He said he has several Division I programs who also have shown interest.

“My family and I will get together over the next couple of days and weigh our options,” Garza said. “After we consider all of our options, we will make a decision on going to the pros or going to college. And, if its college, we have to decide where the right fit is.”

Garza, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound catcher, hit .530 this season with 33 RBIs. He had a .645 OBP and a 1.060 slugging percentage for an OPS of 1.706.

This season, the Cougars went 19-6-1 overall and 12-2 in District 31-6A. Garza helped the Cougars reach the bi-district round, where they swept Harlingen High. In the area round, North was swept by McAllen High.

Taken with overall pick No. 934, Garza was glad to be selected by the Cardinals.

“As soon as I found out, I was pretty excited,” Garza said. “It was a great moment and a great feeling. They just felt like a great organization and an organization that is really willing to help develop young players like myself. For an organization like that to draft me, feels amazing. I took a picture with Jaime Garcia earlier this spring. I saw him at a Sunday league game before he left for spring training. To know that I got to meet a Valley player who spent so many years of his career with the Cardinals and then to be taken by that same team, it’s pretty cool.”

Vela had one pre-draft workout, and it was for the Padres.

This season, Vela went 8-1 with an 0.94 ERA. In 52 innings he amassed 87 strikeouts. The No. 828 overall pick hit .462 this year with 45 RBIs while spending most of the days he didn’t pitch at first base.

This season, the Patriots went 26-6 overall and 14-2 in District 31-5A. Vela led Mission Veterans to the bi-district round, where the team swept Donna High. In the area round, Veterans lost to Calallen in three games.

If Vela were to sign with the Padres, he would begin his professional baseball career in the Arizona Rookie League.

Vela could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.

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