By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
LA JOYA — As the lone player from Brownsville Lopez selected to compete in the RGV All-Star baseball game, Marky Ordoñez said he felt considerable pressure to do well by his school and community.
During the seventh inning of their game Saturday, the senior hit a two-run double up the middle, giving the East team the go-ahead runs in a 7-6 victory over the West at La Joya ISD Sports Complex.
“At the beginning, I was never because it was an all-star game,” Ordoñez said. “I was pretty pumped, nervous, excited. I just wanted to represent Brownsville good for us, and Lopez good. It was an awesome experience.
“All the good things that happened, thanks to God. It was amazing.”
Ordoñez’s hit helped break a 5-5 stalemate heading into the fifth inning. He came up with a double to center that scored two runs, and then he came up with a double play to preserve the lead, despite a late push from the West.
“Just to come up clutch feels awesome,” said Ordoñez, who was named the game’s MVP. “I heard it was the second win out of the 14 years. I’m glad I was a part of that.”
Ordoñez was one of six Brownsville-area players selected for the 24-player East roster. The East avenged a 12-3 loss at the hands of the West last year.
“He made an unbelievable play right there at the end,” East coach Barton Bickerton, a Port Isabel assistant, said. “And he’s a great kid, too. It’s kind of nice when guys like that win it.
“These are all-stars, so you just want to let them loose and let them have fun.”
EAST 5, WEST 4: Rheana Gomez drove in two runs to tie the game during the final inning, and teammate Sarah Sandoval proceeded to bat in the go-ahead run to help the East secure its comeback.
The Brownsville Veterans Memorial teammates came up big in helping the East overcome a 4-0 deficit after the third inning Saturday.
“It was exciting,” said Gomez, who was named the game’s MVP. “At first I thought, like, ‘Oh my goodness. They’re pretty good.’ But then when we started fighting back, I thought we could do this. The fight never got out of these girls. They stayed until the very end. I’m so happy.”
The East didn’t score until the fourth and fifth innings, narrowing the deficit 4-2 before a three-run seventh inning.
“We started relaxing, not putting so much pressure on ourselves, and our pitching was amazing,” Gomez said. “I’m so happy for all of us and east side. It’s competitive. There’s so much talent, it makes you want to step up.”