By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

The West Brownsville Little League Park on Cottonwood Drive has been around since the 1960s.

“Our park has been not up to par for quite a while,” said Dino X. Chavez, president of the WBLL. “It satisfied the basic needs of being a baseball park, and it had a couple of fields that served their purpose. But it needed attention to look better and to be on par with some of the other parks (throughout the Rio Grande Valley).”

The park is now in the finishing stages of a $1 million overhaul — Chavez says it is about “95 percent done” — spearheaded by WBLL baseball vice president Marc Lucio and Sergio Zarate, the vice president of the Challenger Division of the WBLL, the special needs division.

The league raised money through fundraisers, private vendors, grants and matching funds from the city of Brownsville.

The three fields will feature the same artificial turf surface, a new drainage system and several ADA-accessible features, including curb ramps for wheelchairs and other assistive devices, and bathrooms painted in neutral colors for those on the autism spectrum.

The third field was built out of a segment of the park’s rear parking lot, which used to be a temporary dumping site for the city’s caliche — limestone deposits and old construction materials — and was a parking lot for city vehicles.

“We said, first of all, it’s an eyesore that the city is using this as a staging area,” Chavez said. “So what if we just built something with that corner area? It’s not big enough for a full-size field, but it’s exactly the right size for a T-ball field.”

The WBLL president said he was inspired by a field at Oliveira Park, near Brownsville Pace High School, that some children used to use during their T-ball days.

The new field is specially designed both for T-ball and for the Challenger Division for special needs children, to provide them an opportunity to play on a field optimized for safety and with intimate dimensions for parents and fans.

“Our vision is not to have it as a one-time thing,” Chavez said. “We’re going to play baseball and have these kids entertained with some soccer or kickball, or any kind of activities all year long.”

In other youth baseball news, Laguna Madre Little League president Raul Loera Jr. announced Thursday that the Port Isabel-based league voted unanimously to cancel its 2020 baseball season.

Families will be refunded their registration fees, and Loera said he canceled the uniform orders for the league in time to be processed refunds for the gear, which is no longer necessary due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Other leagues are likely to follow suit.

The Brownsville Sports Park Little League, which has the benefit of having some of its costs covered by the city’s parks and recreation department, also is weighing the cancelation of its season, president Raul V. Martinez said.

“Mainly because our fields are run by Brownsville Sports Park,” Martinez said. “In speaking with (BSP director Ray Arellano), he does not even have a definitive date for which we would be able to use those fields. So we’ll have to weigh, is it worth being able to come in in August and use the fields?”

In the event that baseball could be played in the fall, it would be complicated by a confluence of factors — navigating field availability with men’s leagues, participation in middle school baseball, football and basketball, and the costs.

Martinez is an umpire who worked at the 2017 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. He is also the assistant to David Tobias, the District 24 Little League administrator who is relaying information from Little League International’s higher-ups to local coaches and officials.

Tobias will be holding an emergency meeting next week with all of the league presidents under his jurisdiction to determine what their next steps will be.

If and when play does resume, it could look different in several ways. Among the suggested safety measures for a return to play would be that batters and catchers would be required to wear masks covering their nose and mouth along with their usual helmets. The home plate umpire would stand behind the pitcher to call balls and strikes, and also wear a mask. First- and third-base coaches boxes would be moved back, and those coaches would be required to don masks.

“Little League is encouraging that we get our players back on the field some time in 2020,” Martinez said. “We just don’t know when, and that’s the big question mark.”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

Citing Little League International’s move to cancel its regional tournaments and the 2020 Little League World Series, Raul Loera Jr., president of the Laguna Madre Little League in Port Isabel, announced late Thursday that the league and its board voted unanimously to cancel its 2020 season in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

The news release from LLI on Thursday announced the cancellation of all 82 of its qualifying tournaments and seven World Series events, including Little League, Junior League and Senior League softball.

For Loera, the decision was a difficult but clear-eyed one. Once he saw Edinburg’s municipal Little League — with 1,200 registrants — cancel its season April 24, he felt compelled to take the next step.

“The kids’ safety is more important,” Loera said. “I have four grandkids, and they all play all of the sports (I’m) involved in.”

Families who have paid registration fees will be refunded, Loera said.

“Fortunately, we hadn’t processed the order for our uniforms, so we got lucky on that,” Loera said. “We were able to cancel that. We will be returning checks to our sponsors. Everything comes to a complete screeching halt.”

Softball players across the Rio Grande Valley are being encouraged to find ways to stay active.

“I have a lot of young softball girls who are practicing at home with their parents,” Loera said. “They went out and bought equipment so they could do all this stuff at home.”

While softball is a sport that requires teams to own or utilize lots of equipment that can be expensive, there are several ways to stay in shape with games that simply require a partner to play catch or a wall and a tennis ball, said Raul V. Martinez, who runs the Brownsville Sports Park Little League.

Patty Silva, vice president of softball with the West Brownsville Little League, is cautiously optimistic in that the language in LLI’s statement allows for local discretion for resuming regular season activities beyond May 11, as well as local district, state or all-star tournament play if it is deemed safe to do so by local authorities.

She estimates that WBLL had enough girls registered to form between eight or nine teams, including an all-girls T-ball team, with team rosters holding no more than 13 players.

“We’ve been keeping a close eye on what Little League International tells us to do,” Silva said. “We’re probably not going to look into (starting the season) until maybe June or July.”

All of the Little League baseball and softball chapters from Roma to Brownville are governed by District 24 administrator David Tobias, who has been in virtual meetings this week with LLI officials from across the country.

In the interim, the finishing touches are being applied to the new West Brownsville Little League Park, featuring a mini diamond for the special needs/adaptive community in the Challenger Division, and fields that have been officially designated for separate baseball and softball use but can still be used for both sports.

“It was specifically made for softball,” Silva said. “And that’s the way we asked for it and voted on it from the beginning. It used to be that it was all baseball, and softball could be adapted to it. However, in this case, we wanted everybody to have a home of their own. … And that’s one of my things, to make it clear that girls have an equal opportunity to play.”

Silva has been fielding many texts and calls from parents with questions about when the pandemic will pass and when it will be safe to resume play.

“We just encourage (parents and their kids) to keep them practicing at home,” Silva said. “And stay safe and healthy and hydrated. They need to be in shape. Practice whatever you skills can with your parents or siblings, because nobody is getting together with coaches to practice or anything like that.”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

Youth soccer leagues across the East Valley are preparing for the possibility that the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic may force them to cancel their 2020 seasons entirely.

“It’s sad,” said George Green, who runs the Brownsville Futbol website alongside Eduardo Sanchez. “I have seen a lot of these student-athletes play since they were just out of diapers. We hated seeing the players — seniors especially — not be able to complete their seasons.

“(I) miss the grass, interaction, yelling moms and even the referees. We have relayed information from (the University Interscholastic League) and (Texas Gov. Greg Abbott) on our site, but have tried to stay as upbeat as possible by posting memes, player accolades and pictures of players and teams.”

An event that would have significant implications for the future of the sport in Brownsville if delayed or canceled is the Brownsville Futbol Senior Showcase, which made its debut in 2019.

If it is safe to do so, Green hopes to be able to hold the showcase games before the end of summer and stream the games for the benefit of the players seeking college scholarships. He said four players received scholarships due to last year’s games.

Manuel Obregon, a board member of the Brownsville United club, said girls teams at the 15-and-under and 19-and-under levels have lost out on an opportunity to impress college coaches and recruiters with their performance in a major tournament and a chance to potentially qualify for the U.S. Youth Soccer National Cup.

The South Texas Youth Soccer Association has canceled all four of its spring competitions — the State Cup, President’s Cup, Directors Cup and South Texas Cup. U.S. Youth Soccer, which is headquartered in Frisco, has postponed regional and national postseason play until at least May 15.

The Brownsville United 19-and-under squad featured four seniors, including The Brownsville Herald’s 2020 All-Metro Girls Soccer Defensive Player of the Year, Andrea Hurtado of Brownsville Veterans Memorial, along with Jocelyn Gaznares of Los Fresnos, Samantha Galvan of Brownsville Hanna and Samantha Valdez of Brownsville Lopez.

“Unfortunately, we don’t know when we’re going to start again,” Obregon, an assistant on the 19-and-under team, said. “Hopefully in the summer. We won’t have some of the (18U-19U players) because they’re going to graduate and go to college.”

Raul Loera Jr. runs Port Isabel’s Laguna Madre youth soccer league, which began last year.

The league, which typically follows the conclusion of the Laguna Madre Little League baseball season in the summer, also will hold out until it is given the go-ahead by local authorities.

Sergio Lozano of Brownsville’s Brasa youth soccer league said if his league will open at all in 2020, it will do so very slowly and later in the year.

Brasa suspended all of its activities as soon as the coronavirus took hold in Texas.

“It’s very important for us to handle this as cautiously as possible,” Lozano said. “To follow the best guidelines and to make sure that this community, our soccer community, is going to be OK.”

Lozano said he was unsure of the timeline in which Brasa would need to start to be able to complete its season before the end of the year.

“Some of the coaches are providing videos for the kids to be able to train at home with their parents,” Lozano said. “And still maintain the soccer rhythm, and some kind of soccer activity at home. … They’re all trying to stay in touch with their kids, depending on the academy.”

Lozano declined to address specifically how the pandemic would affect any of the league’s sponsors or whether or not dues would be refunded to families of participants.

“There hasn’t been a single parent asking for anything,” Lozano said. “Not even online. … In this case, everybody’s been great. Everyone is staying hopeful and positive, wanting to do good. We all want to stay alive so we can come back and play the sport we love. … We have a very open communication with everyone involved with the league.”

Now more than ever, Lozano believes patience is a virtue. He, along with Green and Loera, intend to follow the instructions of Abbott and local officials to the letter.

“We’re waiting,” Lozano said. “We’re waiting just to see if maybe this goes away. Safety is first, so that’s what we’re looking at. … Everybody wants to play, but unfortunately, we can’t right now until further notice.”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

PORT ISABEL — Few people are more involved in youth sports in the East Valley than Port Isabel’s Raul Loera Jr.

He is on the city’s parks and recreation board and has been involved with youth football in Port Isabel for 19 years, and during that time he has never seen a challenge like the one facing his community.

The Texas Youth Football & Cheer Association has two teams each in Port Isabel and in Brownsville. None of them, including the TYFA-member Port Isabel Tarpons youth team, will be seeing the field anytime soon.

“These are uncharted waters,” Loera said. “It’s a hard decision to make, not to have sports in our area. I know there are a lot of kids in our area who want to play, but the risk is just too high.”

Loera said that TYFA will allow for groups of no more than four to practice together, which makes even flag football or 7-on-7 impossible. But he fully supports and understands the limitations, and will continue to follow the guidelines of local and state officials.

“It’s really hard to take the liability of putting kids on the field,” Loera said. “It’s too much of a risk that some kids will get sick out there.”

The majority of the children participating in youth sports in Port Isabel come from single-parent homes, Loera said, which can add a layer of difficulty to ensuring that homebound youth are able to exercise or stay active without the structure of organized sports.

The Tarpons typically have about 100 players across five divisions, ranging from 4 to 13 years old.

“It’s hard for those kids,” Loera said. “And in football, there’s a lot of sweat, people are hitting each other and tackling each other. There’s probably more germs being exchanged (than in any other sport).”

Ultimately, Loera is content to absorb the frustration of anyone who may complain about the lack of youth sports in the short term if doing so is best for the long term health and safety of the league’s participants, coaches and other volunteers.

“I’d rather they be mad at me for not doing it,” Loera said. “Because that’s what they’re going to say. ‘Why did you do it? You knew (the risk).’”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

The relationship between a coach and its best player can help set the tone for a team, especially when they are on the same page.

In the case of Adam Vera, who just completed his first season — albeit a truncated one — as the baseball coach at Brownsville Veterans Memorial, his knowledge of the Chargers’ roster and history with star shortstop Cristian Holloway was one of several factors that helped him emerge as the top candidate for the job late in 2019.

The Chargers ended their season at 7-5-1, and Holloway said he felt that this year’s team was more focused.

“I think we came together as a unit in a way that we hadn’t really done before,” Holloway said. “We felt the losses a lot harder than we had before, in my opinion.”

Holloway noted he appreciated Vera’s modern approach and, in turn, changed his leadership style to be more accommodating, a move that helped him gain the trust of his new teammates.

“In the previous year I was tough on the guys, and I would get frustrated extremely easily,” Holloway said. “So would our coach, because there was a little bit too much lollygagging around. But I realized that’s part of the game, and you need to have fun. So this year came along, and I kind of took a step back. I let the guys just be themselves. And that’s what created the team chemistry that we needed.”

Brownsville Veterans’ first district game against Brownsville Pace was, Holloway said, an example of that improved connection in action.

The Chargers battled against Vikings starter Jose Banda, who tossed three scoreless innings before Brownsville Veterans pounced, scoring two runs in the fourth and eight in the fifth to wrap up the first and only District 32-5A game for either team in 2020.

“I don’t think we had a hit through those first three innings,” Holloway said. “But once we get rolling, it’s hard to stop us. That characterizes us for the years I’ve been on the team.”

Holloway missed part of the preseason due to a sinus operation and rolled his ankle just as he was recovering to return for the regular season. As he was gathering steam in his recovery and getting ready to play again, the season was suspended and ultimately canceled.

“It’s frustrating that that was the last game of my high school career,” Holloway said. “I know it was only going to go uphill from there.”

The 2019 Brownsville Herald All-Metro MVP finished his career in the top 10 of his graduating class, posting a .445 batting average, 89 hits and 55 RBIS in 69 games.

Vera was one of a select few to see Holloway’s potential in the earliest stages of his baseball career through to his maturation as a high school player. Vera worked as an umpire at Holloway’s Little League games, where he observed that his skill level made him stand out among his peers.

“I got to see (Holloway) grow up a little bit behind the scenes,” Vera said. “But being able to coach him … He’s a super respectful kid. (If) you tell him to do something or mention a little something that might make him a little better or he might be able to use on the field, he’s all for it, he’s all ears.”

As an alumnus of Brownsville Rivera, Vera knew Holloway’s parents — both counselors at the school — from his days as a student-athlete and an assistant of Raiders coach Travis Parker.

The Chargers coach also completed his student-teaching sessions at Vela Middle School.

“When I was in college (at the University of Texas at Brownsville), I remember him specifically,” Vera said. “Our (then) assistant coach Wade Pope was giving private lessons. And (Holloway) was the kid (Pope) was giving private lessons to. I think Cristian at the time was 10 or 11. And I was already impressed with his mechanics and the way he handled the bat. It was pretty impressive.”

Upon graduation, Holloway is headed to Trinity University, a small private school just north of downtown San Antonio, where the aspiring doctor/physician’s assistant will begin to study on a pre-med track.

The Tigers are an NCAA Division III program and compete in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

Holloway met Trinity coach Tim Scannell through his travel team, the South Texas Sliders, where he was teammates with Scannell’s son Matthew, a Princeton University-bound baseball commit.

The Chargers’ shortstop was nearly set on committing to St. Mary’s University in San Antonio before his mother convinced him to wait to visit Trinity the following weekend. What followed was a tour and lunch at a restaurant on campus overlooking the San Antonio skyline.

“I loved it as soon as I stepped on campus,” Holloway said. “The athletic training facility is gorgeous. … The thing that blew me away was the academics. Everything they did was amazing.”

Holloway said a presentation from an emergency medical technician inspired him to pursue an EMT program and a career in medicine, switching course from his previous plan to become an immigration attorney.

“That’s when I knew, I guess, when I stepped into that class,” Holloway said. “It kind of changed my whole view of things, in terms of my future.”

The premature end of the University Interscholastic League baseball season due to the COVID-19 coronavirus has given Holloway a chance to reflect. He is grateful for the healthcare and emergency workers on the front lines, knowing he hopes to join them someday.

“I got to do my clinical rotations at (Valley Baptist Medical Center in Brownsville),” Holloway said. “And it was not a busy night at all in the emergency room. But I was still overwhelmed. It was my first time being in the hospital, and I had to check (a patient’s) vitals, their weight and do an assessment of them. It’s scary, that aspect of it, having another person’s life in your hands. Adding on a virus, a deadly virus at that, I can imagine how much anxiety and stress they are going through right now, and I have the utmost respect for them.”

Another one of Holloway’s rotations helped solidify his choice to enter the medical field.

“I was working with a patient who had what we thought was a traumatic brain injury,” Holloway said. “It was an (automobile-pedestrian) accident. He came in, and his pupils were dilated. It turned out that he was my friend’s grandpa.”

When he returned to school the next day, the patient’s grandson spotted Holloway in the hallway.

“He shook my hand and told me thank you,” Holloway said. “I think that respect I got from him, that’s something I want (to earn) from a lot more people.”

The Chargers know it will be difficult to replace Holloway’s talent and character.

“It’s rare to be that successful in school, ranked as one of the top 10 students, and be such a great all-around athlete,” Vera said. “I hope there are more like him coming.”

Holloway wants to be back out on the diamond soon, perhaps in the annual intersquad fall league organized by Trinity players. But he remains optimistic about what he can control, fielding ground balls and playing wiffle ball in the street outside his home with his father, and lifting weights in his garage to stay in shape.

“Of course, I’m frustrated and sad that I can’t finish my senior season with my fellow teammates,” Holloway said. “I’m sad that I can’t have a signing at school. But I get to have … other types of publicity, so that makes up for the fact that I won’t get to have a signing (in person).

“It’s been different. I have lots of time to just sit down and think, and become a better person in general.”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — San Benito forward Adrian Martinez may not have stuck around long enough to realize his true potential, were it not for the support of his uncles, former teammate Isidro Najera and his ability to summon the strength to play through grief after the loss of a loved one.

“I would look up to him because he was the MVP of the team (in 2019),” Martinez said. “On the bench, I used to think, ‘I’m going to quit.’ … But my uncles would always tell me to keep my head up and that I could do it.”

Martinez worked his way up from the Greyhounds’ JV dark team as sophomore, when he initially struggled to find playing time. He has steadily ascended to become the top scorer on one of District 32-6A’s most prolific offensive teams.

“During the summer after my junior year, I started playing (in a competitive league),” Martinez said. “And that gave me a lot of experience. … That made me realize what I could do and helped me become a better player.”

The senior scored 15 goals to lead his team to playoff qualification in his last season in purple and gold.

He is the Valley Morning Star’s 2020 All-STAR Boys Soccer Most Valuable Player.

“I was actually benched for the last few games of the (JV dark) season,” Martinez said. “That made me work harder (to earn my spot), and I did. And (the All-STAR award) was (my reward).”

Greyhounds coach William Huerta noticed Martinez’s desire to improve from Day 1.

Huerta observed before the season that Martinez could benefit from being more physical as a forward. The San Benito coach added that Martinez made significant strides toward improving his soccer IQ — where to be when playing without the ball and where he placed the ball when he was in scoring position.

“He asked me, ‘Coach, what do I need to do to get better?’” Huerta said. “We worked on it, he dedicated himself and it showed throughout the season. I think it’s a well-deserved (selection) for him, along with all the players who have been selected for the (All-STAR first team).

Martinez praised teammates Senovio Cerdan, a senior who played alongside him on the wing, and midfielder Cristian Castillo, a sophomore, for their ability to share the ball and spread the field for the Greyhounds when they went on the attack.

“The season spoke for itself with those three guys on the field,” Huerta said. “They (complemented) our offensive game really well.”

The trio of Martinez, Cerdan and Castillo worked together often in its summer league, perfecting its timing and chemistry on set pieces.

“I would run through the back of the defense, and Cristian would lob me the ball,” Martinez said. “I’m really proud of both (Cerdan and Castillo) and for their assists. They helped me score and helped the team a lot.”

Martinez was only motivated further by the deteriorating health of his grandmother, who passed away March 16. During a winter tournament, he left a game to go visit her in the hospital, where Martinez said she was sick with an infection that the doctors were unable to identify or cure.

“She would tell me, ‘What are you doing here?’” Martinez said. “‘Go out there and go play your game.’”

He followed her advice and pointed to the sky to celebrate each goal he scored in her memory.

“I decided, I’m going to set this goal and I’m going to do this for her,” Martinez said. “That made me work twice as hard.”

In a loss to Harlingen South, Martinez juked a defender and curled a ball into the bottom left corner of the net in what he said was his favorite goal of the year — one that made him feel like he was on his way toward becoming one of the professional players he grew up watching.

He scored twice in San Benito’s last district game against Los Fresnos, which proved to be the final game of his Greyhounds career. He dedicated the performance to his late grandmother.

“I scored those two goals for her,” Martinez said. “I just want to thank her for everything she told me, and my uncles, too. Up until now, I feel like I’ve improved (a lot) because of them.

“I was trying to be a role model to these sophomores and juniors, so they could see that they could (be successful), too.”

Valley Morning Star’s 2020 All-STAR Boys Soccer Team

MVP

Adrian Martinez, San Benito

Offensive Player of the Year

Saul Garcia, Raymondville

Defensive Player of the Year

Axel Rivera, San Benito

Utility Player of the Year

Jacob Garza, Harlingen High

Newcomer of the Year

Alejandro Sanchez, Harlingen South

Coach of Year

William Huerta, San Benito

First Team

Forward: Edgar Cortez, Rio Hondo; Isaac Garza, Harlingen South

Midfielder: Senovio Cerdan, San Benito; Cristian Castillo, San Benito; Sky Perez, Harlingen High; Leo Torres, Harlingen South

Defender: Oscar Martinez, Harlingen High; Luis Aguilar, Harlingen South; Joaquin Ovalle, Harlingen South; Gustavo Solis, San Benito

Goalkeeper: Mariano Quesada, Rio Hondo

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

Brownsville Veterans Memorial appeared to be well on its way to defending its District 32-5A title in girls golf and was beginning to turn heads with its young team in the boys division when the University Interscholastic League first suspended all spring sports March 13.

Just before the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic brought upon sweeping shelter-in-place measures across the Rio Grande Valley, the Chargers’ boys team led the 32-5A field by at least 40 strokes through 13 rounds and the Lady Chargers were ahead of their opponents by 30 strokes in 11 rounds of pre-district play.

The Brownsville Veterans girls had a team average score of 365.7 in 11 rounds, good for third place behind only Sharyland High and Los Fresnos.

The Brownsville Veterans boys were ranked eighth, with a team stroke average of 349.3.

The top performer for the Chargers was Alex Ramirez, a freshman who recorded the 18th-best stroke average in the Valley at 81.8 through 13 rounds. He helped Brownsville Veterans capture the BISD Invitational championship Feb. 8 at River Bend Resort & Country Club.

Chargers junior Raul Silva posted an average score of 84.5 and is ranked 29th in the Valley.

“We were favored to win with both the boys and girls,” Brownsville Veterans coach Thomas Abete said. “Unfortunately we don’t know what would have happened. It’s always different when you’re out there on the course when it’s a big tournament like that. We are disappointed. My kids are a little disappointed that they can’t finish (the year.).”

Replacing Fahtima Avila, one of the top golfers in the Valley last season, and Daniel Yznaga, the top boys golfer in District 32-5A who won a playoff hole to bump the Chargers into second place in 2019, wasn’t going to be easy.

But senior captain Anisa Nieto, who on March 6 signed with Concordia University, a NCAA Division III program in Austin, proved she was up to the challenge.

Nieto maintained the fifth-best stroke average in the Valley at 79.6 through 13 rounds.

She shot a two-day total of 152 to finish second overall and guide the Lady Chargers to a runner-up finish to Los Fresnos in the BISD Invitational.

Not far behind Nieto was junior Fabiola Nino, whose 85.3 stroke average in 11 rounds had her ranked 10th among Valley golfers.

“(Nieto) was really excited to have her opportunity,” Abete said. “She came in second last year (behind Avila), so this year was her year to try to win it all outright. She was hoping to lead her team to a district championship as well.”

Nieto also had aspirations of advancing to the regional and state tournaments, which were canceled by the UIL after Texas schools were closed for the remainder of the school year under the order of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Reality had started to set in as contingency plans continued to be pushed further and further into an uncertain future before the ultimate call.

Abete said his athletes were doing interval training, staying in shape without the need for weights or other equipment, and using the Remind smartphone app to post workouts and motivational messages for his temporarily homebound golfers.

“It is what it is,” Abete said. “At the end of the day, you’ve got to look at it in a positive way and continue to live life. We’re all healthy, thank God, so we just need to continue to work hard, and wake up tomorrow and try your best at whatever life gives you.”

Abete also noted that Avila, a freshman at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and Julie Lucio, another Brownsville Veterans alumna and a sophomore at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, were disappointed to see their respective seasons cut short.

“They were both pretty sad about the situation,” Abete said. “I know they were pretty down about it as well, (especially) with it being Fahtima’s first year. It’s something everybody’s going through, and the impact it’s had worldwide is crazy.”

While students, families, coaches and educators alike have been forced to adapt in the midst of a crisis and adhere to social distancing regulations, the sudden halt of one of the year’s most active periods on the sports calendar has been perhaps the most difficult adjustment to what appears to be a new normal.

“We had a lot of preparation,” Abete said. “Our goals were high but attainable as well. Just for (the season) to be taken away in the blink of an eye left us kind of lost. It’s a surreal feeling, not knowing what’s next. … I feel bad for the kids more than anything, not being able to finish their years off.”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — Sometimes, the weight of the world rests on Raymondville senior Saul Garcia’s shoulders. But he makes it look easy.

On the gridiron, he booted field goals of 50 or more yards through the uprights with ease. On the soccer field, he scored 37 goals in 17 games during his last season as the leader of a young team.

He is the Valley Morning Star’s 2020 All-STAR Boys Soccer Offensive Player of the Year.

“Saul Garcia is a natural,” Bearkats coach Robert Howell said. “He is an extremely gifted athlete. … He’s just a great kid overall, and we are so proud of him and his accomplishments.

“He’s just amazing to watch work. He would sometimes take the team upon his shoulders, and he’d lead them.”

But his athletic achievements pale in comparison to the resolve he has displayed during his everyday life amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Garcia, who has held a job as a seasonal server and a runner at a Raymondville taqueria since May 2019 and worked in the fall throughout the football season, has seen a slight reduction in his hours due to the pandemic.

It was the coronavirus that enabled Garcia to resume work because of the suspension and eventual early termination of the soccer season and a shift from in-person school to virtual learning.

And yet, the virus has complicated life for the Garcia family. Saul’s younger brother, Gregory, who turned 5 years old last Thursday, was diagnosed with the rare Menkes disease at 2 months old.

He is homebound, requiring a ventilator to breathe, and is fed through a tube and sometimes experiences seizures similar to epileptics. His family, including his 13-year-old sister, needs to isolate themselves from him in order to reduce the risk of him contracting the coronavirus.

“We’ve been trying to stay safe as much as possible since my little brother’s immune system is pretty weak with his condition,” Garcia said. “I try to not get near him as much as I can since I work and, well, (I don’t know) what I bring home. So I usually shower and put my clothes in a plastic bag to avoid spreading anything in my house.”

The veteran forward has compartmentalized the adversity he has faced off of the field and was responsible for much of the offensive workload on this season’s young and inexperienced Bearkats squad, rotating to play midfield to help teach his peers the position.

“I put him in place and said, ‘Work your magic,’” Howell said. “And he worked his magic. … It’s been a very unique relationship I’ve had with Saul on the field.”

Garcia’s ability to pick a target in the goalbox and score at will astounded his teammates and coaches alike. But he didn’t need much external motivation to get going. In fact, Howell even likened him to “a coach on the run.”

“I had to lead the newer guys and get them to keep up,” Garcia said.

Howell said his top player was “sharp as a tack” and had a wit and unique sense of humor that helped him become a relatable role model for his teammates.

“He’s aggressive, and he’s extremely smart when it comes to field work,” Howell said. “And knowing where to put the ball.”

Garcia remains unsigned but said he hopes to play in college. No matter what path he takes after his academic career at Raymondville officially comes to a close, he has left a lasting impression.

“He’s just a great young man,” Howell said. “I will miss him, and the rest of our Bearkat family will miss him as we move forward after he graduates. … I don’t know that I’ll have another player that has his ability. I hope we do — we all hope we do — but he’s going to be a hard act to follow.”

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

Saint Joseph Academy coach Oscar Garza and the Bloodhounds were looking forward to defending their district title when the rapid spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus put every spring sport governed by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools on pause.

“We had a very good year,” Oscar said. “We were motivated and taking practices more seriously. And because of that, we had good results.”

Texas governor Greg Abbott announced April 17 all public and private schools and institutions of higher learning would be closed for the duration of the school year. Previously, Abbott had declared schools would be closed through May 4.

The latest development in a series of statewide and local measures taken to respond to the pandemic means the window of opportunity for seniors like SJA’s top player, Antonio Garza, to try to earn a spot in the state tournament has officially closed.

TAPPS and the University Interscholastic League decided a mere three hours after the governor’s news conference to cancel the remainder of the 2019-20 athletic year.

To make the most of their extended downtime, Oscar is assigning his players homework — requesting that they watch old tennis matches on YouTube and to study how they return serves or observe their footwork.

“We want them to stay focused and work on the mental side of the game,” Oscar said. “But it’s not the same. We still miss going to practice and going to exercise and all that.”

His coach says Antonio is one of the top five players in the Rio Grande Valley.

“(Since he got to SJA) he’s always been our best player,” Oscar said. “This year, last year and the year before that. … He’s the (centerpiece) of the team.”

Antonio has won his past six competitions and was the runner-up in two other tournaments.

He captured the top spot at tournaments at Harlingen High on Jan. 17-18, the Brownsville Invitational on Jan. 24-25, the Los Fresnos tournament on March 6-7 and the La Feria tournament on March 14-15.

He also took home first place with his doubles partner, junior Sergio Puig, at the San Benito tournament held Jan. 10-11 and won the singles and doubles titles at the Hanna tournament held Jan 31.-Feb. 1.

The Bloodhounds’ coach said Antonio’s mental preparation is among the most improved aspects of his game, augmenting his already sound net game and aggressive play along the baseline.

“(Antonio) has good ground strokes, good serve and good volleys,” Oscar said. “He’s turned into a more mentally tough player. When he makes mistakes, he doesn’t let them affect him. He moves on to the next point. He’s turned into a tough fighter. … It’s like when a dog bites you and doesn’t want to let you go.”

Other notable players for SJA include senior Ana Villalobos, who earned second-place finishes with different doubles partners — sophomore Natalia Montemayor at the Los Fresnos tournament and junior Paulina Gonzalez at the Brownsville Invitational.

Villalobos and Montemayor, the Lady Bloodhounds’ top player, were district champions in doubles last season.

“(Montemayor) is more of an all-around player,” Oscar said. “She has quick feet. She also plays volleyball and basketball, so that’s helped her. She’s also a good fighter and doesn’t choke (under pressure), which happens to a lot of tennis player.”

Alex Garza, a senior, was the runner-up in the boys singles division at the Los Fresnos tournament.

The duo of sophomore Alvaro Garza and junior Max Lawler came in second at the Brownsville Invitational, and the two are expected to compete for the No. 1 spot, along with a host of other returners in 2021.

By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer

HARLINGEN — San Benito’s Axel Rivera is known among his coaches and peers for his diligence and discipline.

Running, shooting and dogged pursuit of the ball and his marks helped the junior elevate his game this season, scoring six goals while becoming one of District 32-6A’s fiercest defenders.

The three-year varsity letterman is the Valley Morning Star’s 2020 All-STAR Defensive Player of the Year.

“It was an amazing feeling (to earn the All-STAR award),” Rivera said. “It’s an honor, it’s been my goal since freshman year. Being able to accomplish this goal has really meant a lot to me.”

Rivera credited his teammates who manned the back line alongside him, including fellow junior Gustavo Solis and Ricardo Sanchez.

“Our defense had a really strong connection,” Rivera said. “Gustavo played in front of me, and he and I were a perfect combination. I had my full trust in him and he trusted me. For him to be in front of me, that made me feel safer.”

Sanchez is young, Rivera said, but the sophomore earned the faith of Rivera and his veteran teammates. As a result, the great season the Greyhounds and coach William Huerta envisioned materialized on the field in front of them.

“Axel is a hard-working athlete, he plays football, he plays soccer,” Huerta said. “It’s all the hard work he’s put in, and I think (the All-STAR award is well-deserved. He put in the work in the classroom and on the field.”

A late push from the Greyhounds helped them qualify for the playoffs, culminating in a 3-1 defeat of district champion Los Fresnos.

“We knew that playing together we could cause some real damage,” Rivera said.

Two of San Benito’s best defensive performances came against Brownsville Rivera in the form of a pair of 1-0 shutouts. The first win against the Raiders took place Feb. 12, as Axel Rivera scored on a pivotal free kick to seal a double overtime victory for the Greyhounds.

In those victories, and throughout the year, Axel Rivera stepped up his play and was an important mentor for San Benito’s younger players.

“He’s technically another coach on the field for us,” Huerta said. “He’ll relay from the midfield to the forwards as far as where they should be and what to expect. You could see him out there coaching the other kids, and they looked up to Axel because of his knowledge of the game and his skills.”

Huerta and Co. will be eager for Rivera to get his chance to be one of the senior leaders who will carry the torch forward in 2021 — they plan to clinch a playoff berth to honor this year’s squad, which didn’t have the chance to play out their postseason due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

“I really am looking forward to next year with these guys,” Huerta said. “We have to replace this year’s seniors that are leaving. But it’s something we look forward to doing, just as long as they continue to believe in what they do and believing in themselves. They can be a good team that will come out and compete with anybody that they face.”