By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
LOS FRESNOS — The Los Fresnos Falcons successfully defended their District 32-6A baseball championship in dramatic fashion Friday on their home field.
A bases-loaded sacrifice fly to shallow right field by Joseph Munoz with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning plated Johnny Cadengo from third base to lift the Falcons over the Weslaco High Panthers 2-1.
The contest went into extra innings with the score tied 1-1 after seven frames.
On the final play of the game, Cadengo beat a throw to the plate from the outfield just in time to ignite a victory celebration by the Los Fresnos players, coaches and fans.
“This is a great feeling and it’s awesome,” Los Fresnos coach Rene Morales said. “He (Munoz) made a play (with that sacrifice fly) and it was one of those things that allowed us to make a play (with Cadengo coming home from third). He (Munoz) came through when we needed him.”
The Falcons and Panthers entered Friday’s contest tied for first place in 32-6A with 10-3 records. It was the final game on the district schedule for both ballclubs.
“It felt great to win,” said J.J. Sanchez, Los Fresnos’ center fielder/pitcher. “Our team came through when it had to.
“It’s great to win the district title, but we can’t assume anything,” he added. “We have to keep on playing hard in the playoffs. This win makes us feel very confident (for the postseason). Once we’re heated up, it’s hard to stop us.”
Los Fresnos had beaten Weslaco High 3-2 on Tuesday in Weslaco as the Falcons put themselves in a position to repeat as 32-6A champions with another win Friday.
“This game was going to be a tough one and we knew that from the very beginning,” said the Falcons’ Charles Chapa, a third baseman. “It felt good to come out on top at the end of it.
“We had a real solid week of practice and we came together as a team (to beat Weslaco High in back-to-back games),” Chapa added. “It gives us momentum for the playoffs.”
The Falcons improved to 22-7 overall, while the Panthers are now 23-5 on the season.
Both teams are headed to the Class 6A playoffs and will face bi-district opponents to be determined from District 31-6A.
Los Fresnos led 1-0 after three innings before the Panthers tied the score 1-1 with a run in the top of the sixth.
The Falcons took a 1-0 lead when J.J. Sanchez hit an RBI sacrifice fly to left field with one out in the bottom of the third that enabled Carlos Perez to dash home from third.
The Panthers evened the score 1-1 in the top of the sixth with two outs when Weslaco High’s Raul Camarena hit into what appeared to be a routine second baseman to first base put-out. But a throwing error on the play allowed Axel Camarena to make it home from third to knot the score.
The decisive bottom of the ninth began with Cadengo drawing a walk. Alex Salas then reached first on a fielder’s choice when the Panthers tried to throw out Candego at second, but he was ruled safe, which brought about a fairly heated discussion between the Weslaco High coaches and the officials. Still, the call at second stood and there were no outs. After Tony Gallegos’ mid-air bunt attempt was caught by the Weslaco High pitcher for the first out, Carlos Perez was hit in the back by a pitch and it loaded the bases, setting the stage for Munoz’s sacrifice-fly heroics.
Los Fresnos finished with seven hits, while Weslaco High had two, which were singles by Axel Camarena and Evan Margo.
Chapa and Hugo Sanchez each had a pair of singles for the Falcons.
Los Fresnos’ J.J. Sanchez picked up the pitching victory in relief of starter Christian Hernandez, who lasted until the top of the seventh. The two combined for 10 strikeouts, two walks and two hits allowed.
Rico Avila started on the mound for the Panthers and pitched into the eighth before he was replaced by Jacob Cavazos, who took the loss. Together, they struck out seven batters, walked three and gave up seven hits.
Each team committed an error.