By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
LOS FRESNOS — Hanna built an early lead, but had to hold off Los Fresnos down the stretch in a crucial District 32-6A game.
With the game tied at 1, the Golden Eagles broke it open with three runs in the fourth inning and held off a rally in the late innings for a 5-3 victory over the Falcons in the district game Tuesday.
Hanna starting pitcher Noe Guerrero did the rest, going the distance as he allowed three runs on nine hits, walked none and struck out five to pick up the win. The Eagles are now 3-1 in District 32-6A after they handed Los Fresnos (3-1) its first loss in district play.
“I knew that the team worked hard all week for this game and they were helping me out through the game,” Guerrero said. “Because of them, I knew I had to get this win. It feels great, but we have to get back to work (today) and try to get another win on Friday.”
Hanna got started in the first inning with a run on a single by Raul Perez. Los Fresnos tied it at 1 in the bottom half of the inning with a run scoring single by Mark Cortinas.
That held until the Eagles broke loose in the fourth inning. Jay Medina walked to start the inning and scored on Ryan Casas’ RBI-single. Casas and Ivan Castillo would later score on a Falcons’ error to give Hanna a 4-1 edge.
Los Fresnos’ starter Cristian Hernandez took the loss after going five innings, allowing four runs on six hits, walked three and struck out five.
The Eagles added a run in the sixth inning on a passed ball to push the advantage to 5-1 off lefty reliever Joseph Munoz, who pitched the last two innings for the Falcons and allowed a run on no hits, but walked four and struck out two.
Los Fresnos wasn’t done in the bottom half of the inning as JJ Sanchez hit an RBI-double and later scored to cut the deficit to 5-3.
But Guerrero regrouped and shut the door, getting out of the sixth without any more damage. The Hanna defense helped down the stretch to seal the district victory and a sigh of relief for Hanna coach Eddie Garcia.
“That’s a good team over there,” Garcia said. “This game will come back and bite you if you relax. Our guys are starting to realize we have to play for three outs every inning. We gave them five outs in (the sixth inning) and they took advantage and they were right back in it.”
“Noe is our horse … we knew he could finish it, we knew he had the stamina. We just needed to help him out.”
Los Fresnos couldn’t squeeze any more runs out of Guerrero despite getting runners in scoring position in the final inning.
“We didn’t make enough plays to win the game,” Los Fresnos coach Rene Morales said. “Give credit to (Guerrero), he threw a great game, he kept us off-balanced. We hit the ball hard, but they made the plays … that’s baseball.”
It doesn’t get any easier for the Falcons, who are on the road against Harlingen High on Friday. Harlingen High was the only other district unbeaten heading into Tuesday’s game. Los Fresnos will try to regroup and add another win against the Cardinals.
“I’m proud of the kids, they battled hard and we battled until the last out,” Morales said. “We had a chance until that last out, so that’s all we can ask of our kids.
“We’re going to get better (today). The next game is always the biggest game.”
Hanna will savor the win, but it’s not ready to rest yet.
“We have a lot of games left,” Garcia said. “No matter their records, everyone is tough in this district and if you’re not ready you’re going to get beat. We needed it after a loss (to Harlingen South). These guys came back (after spring break) ready to work and we need to keep it going.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.