BY KEVIN NARRO | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
EDINBURG — This week was a roller-coaster ride for Edinburg North. Coming off a loss Tuesday against PSJA High, Edinburg North welcomed in crosstown rival Edinburg Vela. The teams are in the second half of district play, but Friday night’s tilt felt much like a playoff game, with fans filing in from both sides and city bragging rights on the line.
After surrendering a 4-0 lead, Carlo Servin laced in a go-ahead RBI double, giving the Cougars a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Edinburg North never relinquished the advantage. Servin retired the side in order in the top of the seventh, securing the win for the Cougars.
“We have a very experienced team,” Cougars coach Damian Gonzalez said. “We have been in big games before, and our kids understand how to handle these types of games. Our kids came through. We got down, but battled back.”
Edinburg North completes the season sweep over Vela and remains tied with PSJA High for first place in District 31-6A at 7-1. Despite dropping two in a row, Vela remains in the playoff picture at 5-3.
Edinburg North entered the third inning with a 1-0 lead before taking advantage of a walk and a Vela error that resulted in three more runs. Jose Salinas’ RBI single extended the Cougars’ lead to 4-0 in the third.
The SaberCats bats woke up and responded with a five-run fourth inning. Vela chased North’s starting pitcher, Argelio Guajardo, after three innings. Servin entered in relief for Guajardo and inherited a bases-loaded situation.
The five-run frame was capped off by a game-tying RBI double from Matt De La Cruz, and the go-ahead run was scored off a fielder’s choice, giving Vela its first lead of the night at 5-4.
The veteran Cougars kept their cool and took a 6-5 lead in the fifth inning. A game-tying RBI double from Jon Salas and go-ahead RBI single from Juan Almeida gave North the lead once more.
Vela didn’t go down quietly. RJ Ochoa scored Ryan Rodriguez on an RBI single, tying the game at six in the top of the sixth.
Servin finished the night 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Guajardo wound up with a no decision, turning in three strikeouts, five walks, one hit and four runs in three innings of work. Servin entered the game in the fourth, and surrendered two runs (one earned) on five hits with two strikeouts through four innings.
Vela starter Andre Martinez was saddled with the loss but pitched tough. Martinez pitched his limit at 110 pitches, through 5 2/3 innings, while striking out nine.
“This was a huge win for us,” Servin said. “It was a crazy week, but we didn’t get down on ourselves. We came in ready to go. Tuesday was tough on us, and we didn’t want that feeling again. I feel great. I came in relief and adjusted my pitches, and we made plays when we needed too. My last at-bat I fell behind early, I battled back, I worked the count full, and got a pitch high, and I and I took advantage.”
Edinburg North will now shift its focus to PSJA Southwest, while Vela will square off against Edinburg High.