By ROY HESS, Staff Writer
Two Brownsville teams with ambitions of making it back to the state playoffs opened the 2019 baseball season Monday night at Hanna’s Pye Memorial Field.
The non-district opener played under overcast skies with cool temperatures, breezy conditions and eventually rain at the end was won 4-0 by the Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers over the Hanna Golden Eagles.
The Chargers, defending District 32-5A champions, were just more productive both offensively and defensively than the Eagles on this night that wasn’t exactly ideal for prime-time baseball.
Uncomfortable weather aside, there was plenty to be happy about for the Chargers.
“This win motivates us to get better and to keep going,” said Brownsville Veterans’ Heriberto Maldonado, who smashed a two-run double down the right-field line to give his team a 3-0 advantage during the top of the fifth inning. “It’s a win that gives us better hopes for the season.
“We should be fine for the season,” the Chargers catcher added.
Before Maldonado’s well-placed hit down the line that broke open the game, teammate Cristian Holloway made it 1-0 with an RBI single to left field during the third inning.
The fourth run for the Chargers came in the sixth inning, when Rafael Capistran hit into a fielder’s choice that saw him put out at first base on the play. While Capistran was being thrown out at first, teammate Jesus Kaar dashed home from third to make it 4-0.
“We came out right off the bat with a lot of energy,” Chargers coach Albert Rodriguez said. “Coming out of the dugout (to start a game), the No. 1 thing for us is to bring energy to the field. We had solid defense and great pitching tonight.
“This win gives us momentum going into the Laredo Tournament later this week,” he added. “It starts Thursday. Hanna’s playing in the tournament, too.”
Brownsville Veterans outhit Hanna 4-1, with Holloway going 2-for-2 with a pair of singles for the Chargers. Hanna’s only hit was a single in the third inning by No. 9 batter Derek Alvarado.
Hanna’s best scoring chance came during the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Eagles had runners at second and third with only one out. But Chargers reliever Jorge Lozano fanned back-to-back Hanna batters to end the threat.
The Eagles committed four errors, and the Chargers had none.
Hanna used four pitchers. Brownsville Veterans used three, with starter Javier Hinojosa taking the win. Starter Marco Martinez took the loss for Hanna.