BY JON R. LaFOLLETTE | STAFF WRITER
MISSION — Grulla Gators coach Angel Ortiz had better things to do Friday than stand around waiting on the rain. He intended to celebrate his 15th wedding anniversary.
Instead of celebrating, however, he and the Gators marked the end of their season after a 2-0 loss to the Liberty-Hill Panthers during a Region IV Class 4A regional semifinal at Richard Thompson Stadium.
On a playing field which could have doubled as a swamp, Grulla gave up two goals during the first half to Panthers senior forward Lucas Rizzotto. The first occurred with 11:53 remaining in the first half. The second followed five minutes later.
Making their defeat all the more bitter is the fact the Gators had to wait on Mother Nature and faulty electricity with their season in the balance. Bad weather postponed the match’s 6 p.m. start time to 9 p.m., while a 30-minute lightning delay and a 30-minute power outage caused the match to end near Midnight. The team spent much of the downtime warming up near their designated locker space, dribbling and attempting to remain focused and in game shape.
Play resumed with 30 minutes remaining in the second half, and the Gators proceeded with a sense of spirited desperation. Grulla attempted several shots on goal, including one from Gerardo Roldan with 7:59 remaining. But the Gators were unable to overcome the size and speed of Liberty-Hill, who were content at times to simply play keep away.
This year marks the first time Grulla made the postseason. The team finished 7-1 in District 32-4A and were district co-champions along with the Hidalgo Pirates.