By DAVE FAVILA
Staff Writer
Thanks to a 3-0 win over Brownsville Lopez and Harlingen High’s 3-0 loss to Brownsville Veterans, the San Benito Greyhounds on Tuesday clinched a playoff spot for the second year in a row.
This marks the first time in the baseball program’s history that the Greyhounds qualified for the postseason in consecutive seasons.
“It means a lot to go back to the playoffs two years in a row,” said Greyhounds head coach Ram Partida. “Hopefully, we can start a tradition here in San Benito. It was our goal all year to make the playoffs and our kids fought all year. Even when times were tough, they fought through it.”
With their win on Tuesday night, the ‘Hounds improved to 7-5 in District 32-6A play and, in the process, closed the playoff race for the rest of the league. This year’s 32-6A playoff-bound teams include San Benito, Brownsville Hanna (7-4), Los Fresnos (9-2) and Brownsville Veterans (11-1).
While San Benito and Veterans have two games left to play in the regular season, Los Fresnos and Hanna have three remaining because their regularly scheduled Tuesday matchups were postponed to Wednesday night due to the heavy rains the Valley received late Monday night.
PLAYOFF RACE ALMOST CLOSED: In District 32-4A, the postseason picture is almost fully developed.
With three games left to play in the regular season, the Hidalgo Pirates (10-1), Port Isabel Tarpons (9-2), Progreso Red Ants (7-4) and Grulla Gators (7-4) are in prime position to make the playoffs. However, the Rio Hondo Bobcats (4-7) and Zapata Hawks (4-7) are still mathematically in the hunt – but just barely. On Tuesday, both the Cats and Hawks lost their respective games. Rio Hondo fell to Raymondville 9-6 while Zapata dropped a 9-4 contest to Hidalgo. If the two teams hope to still make the playoffs, they’ll have to win all their remaining games and hope for a little help. Rio Hondo is at La Feria on Friday while Zapata hosts Pro-greso.
As far as the 32-4A title goes, Hidalgo is in the lead but the Pirates are at second-place Port Isabel on Friday in a huge contest.