DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
Just three weeks before the baseball season started, Mercedes named Armando Reyes as its third coach in three years.
Reyes did not expect to put his name in the hat to become head coach. Yes, he led offseason workouts and was a familiar face for the kids. But he was comfortable as an assistant.
Tiger players, however, felt differently.
“It was the kids who had me apply,” Reyes said. “It was a position that wasn’t open, but I threw my name in for them. They were convinced that we had come too far.”
Players embraced Reyes’ style, which was similar to the head coaches before him. Reyes believes in building character, surviving adversity due to a “short memory.”
It helps that he already has kids with a lot of character. Mercedes is 8-7 overall, 4-3 in District 32-5A, and a big reason is the togetherness of the team.
“Chemistry was going to be the key to this season, and it’s holding true,” Reyes said. “This is a team that plays real well together. We have different kids at different times stepping up to make plays.”
The Tigers have a mix of experience and youth, boasting a lineup that starts three seniors with a couple of sophomores.
The offense has been steady, making up for so-so pitching. The Tigers have gotten crucial hits at crucial times, thrive running the bases and generally do a sound job putting pressure on defenses. Three Tigers hit .357 or better (Jaime Rodriguez, Daniel Saenz and Matthew Mendoza) and the team has a collective .385 on-base percentage.
On the mound, they enlist a four-man rotation: Matthew Mendoza, Henry Luna, Mathew Peynado and Oliver Closner.
“These kids have responded very well,” Reyes said. “Change can be difficult. But they’ve put in 100 percent and now we need to keep going.”
YOUNG AND READY
Roma has made the playoffs nine consecutive seasons. With four games left in the District 31-5A season, the Gladiators are in line to make it 10 in a row thanks to strong pitching.
Led by sophomore John Michael Roberson, the Gladiators are 4-4 in district, two games ahead of Valley View for the fourth playoff spot. The righty sports a 1-4 record, but has a 0.75 ERA, with every game he’s thrown a complete one.
“He’s kept us in it,” Roma coach Roque Cortinas said. “He’s a great kid who has a great work ethic. He’ll throw slow-to-mid-80s with great secondary pitches. He just mixes things up very well.”
Roberson’s fastball tops out at 86 and is a consistent 83. And don’t let the win-loss record fool you. Two of his defeats include a 2-0 loss to Edinburg Vela and a 3-0 loss to state-ranked Mission Veterans Memorial.
It would help if he had help.
Roma’s offense has struggled all season. The Gladiators start four sophomores and two freshmen, and Cortinas said it has been a process for his young players to get fully comfortable with varsity pitching, especially in 31-5A.
“The pitching is great in this district,” Cortinas said. “It’s a matter of growing up faster. We need confidence. We’re swinging at poor pitches and being overly aggressive.”
Two of the Gladiators’ offensive stars have been sophomore Alex Garza and freshman Andrew Barrera.
Cortinas is in his 11th year at Roma, seventh as head coach. His team isn’t necessarily supposed to be in position to make the playoffs; then again, it wasn’t supposed to win the district title last season with today’s sophomores starting as freshmen last season.
He said the key is chemistry.
“We pride ourselves a lot on being a close team,” Cortinas said “We dress out 12 kids this year. Last year it was 13. We’re a true family, and I think that motivates us. These guys want to do it for each other. It’s corny or whatever, but for us it really means a lot.”
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RGVSPORTS.COM BASEBALL TOP 10 POLL
Rank, Team Record Previous
1, Sharyland High 16-2 2
2, Brownsville Veterans Memorial 13-1-2 1
3, Edinburg North 12-2-2 3
4, Edinburg High 12-2-1 5
5, Harlingen South 12-3 9
6, Hidalgo 12-4-1 6
7, La Joya Palmview 11-2-1 7
8, Weslaco High 10-4 8
9, Mission Veterans Memorial 14-6 4
10, Brownsville Porter 10-5 10