BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
The Edcouch-Elsa Yellow Jackets have had a year full of highs and lows.
They have almost seemed like two different teams at times. Sometimes they can outscore anyone and hit any pitcher. Other games they self-destruct, committing errors and going quiet at the plate. They have also been in between the two extremes at times.
“Sometimes it feels like when we struggle at the plate, our defense shuts down, too,” Edcouch-Elsa coach Ryan Garza said. “Other times, one or the other will go well, but we will still look good. We are just trying to put all three aspects of the game together, to give us the best chance to win some ballgames.”
The pitching of senior Joseph Gonzalez and junior Ben Rangel has been stellar. The Jackets have also received good contributions from freshman Manny Silva, the third man in the rotation, and senior Jarren Garcia with spot relief.
When the Yellow Jackets clinched a playoff berth against Brownsville Pace last Tuesday, the team was slightly reserved.
“I guess we felt more like it was expected,” Garza said. “The boys didn’t seem to get so crazy pumped up.”
The focus now is on finding that consistency necessary to succeed in the playoffs.
“We need to get that offense hitting a little bit more consistently,” Garza said. “If we can get going in the playoffs, I think we are a tough team to beat. We have a lot of kids who don’t want the season to end, so we are just going to keep fighting.”
Edcouch-Elsa closes out its season at 7 tonight against Brownsville Porter.
“We are going to continue to scout all of our possible (playoff) opponents,” Garza said. “We have a little bit of an advantage, in that we finish a game earlier.”