BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
LA JOYA — McAllen High had started junior ace Abanny Garcia in Game 1 of its previous two playoff series, but in Game 1 of the Class 6A Region IV quarterfinals against Laredo Alexander on Friday at the La Joya Sports Complex, senior Ramiro Maldonado got the ball.
“Usually what they (Alexander) like to do is they go with their No. 1 pitcher in Game 2,” McHi coach Eliseo Pompa said. “That’s the way they have been playing it in all of their series.”
Alexander went against its pattern and started its ace, TCU commit Marcelo Perez, in Game 1. The strategic decisions from both teams played out to perfection for McHi.
Maldonado was dominant, going 6 2/3 innings with six strikeouts, three walks, three hits and one run allowed. His performance led McAllen High to a 6-1 win over Laredo Alexander.
“I felt great throughout the seven innings,” Maldonado said. “I usually don’t get the start in Game 1, but tonight I stepped on the mound with a strong approach, and I did my job.”
Perez, meanwhile, fell apart early and gave McHi a huge edge.
In the bottom of the second, Perez walked two batters and hit another to load the bases. Sophomore right fielder Rigo Moreno drew a walk to force in a run. That brought up the top of the order in senior second baseman Keola Zamora, who fell behind in the count 1-2. The fourth pitch of the at-bat was an outside fastball, and Zamora hit a laser down the right-field line that initially scored two. The throw into the infield was off target, allowing the third runner to score and Zamora to move to second.
“That hit felt really good,” Zamora said. “We needed those runs to give support to Ramy.”
The run support was a huge help for Maldonado.
“It pumped me up to keep on going,” Maldonado said. “These guys, I know they have my back. I trust them 100 percent.”
The four-run lead was all Maldonado needed, as he went to work, shutting down Alexander.
In the bottom of the fifth, Zamora again sparked the McHi offense. He got ahead in the count 2-1 and reached base safely on the fourth pitch of the at-bat, this time being hit by the pitch.
Senior center fielder Victor Valdez reached base on a sacrifice bunt when the Alexander first baseman hit Valdez with the throw. Garcia hit a single to right field, driving in Zamora, and freshman third baseman Aaron Nixon drove in Valdez on an almost identical single.
To that point in the game, Garcia and Nixon were both 0 for 2.
“We knew they would come through,” Pompa said. “They’ve come through in crucial situations all year. When we really need something, they come through for us.”
Maldonado was at 93 pitches through six innings (the limit is 110), but he wanted to close out the game. He came out for the top of the seventh and got a quick out. Alexander sophomore shortstop Joel Hinojosa hit a single, and senior pitcher Kike Coronado sacrificed him to second. Maldonado was at 105 pitches when Perez came up to bat. Maldonado got ahead 1-2, but Perez fouled off a pitch before hitting a double to drive in Alexander’s lone run and end Maldonado’s night. Nixon came on to close out the game with a strikeout.
McHi faces a quick turnaround, as Game 2 is at 1 p.m. today at Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo. If needed, Game 3 will be played 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.
McHi enters Game 2 with Garcia ready to go, while Alexander will be throwing its No. 2 pitcher.
“It’s a big relief, because now we are going with our ace tomorrow in Game 2,” Zamora said. “We have a lot of confidence in him, and we have his back.”