BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | THE MONITOR
McALLEN — McAllen High has been the top dog in the Valley all year. The Bulldogs have been ranked first in every RGVSports.com Top 10 poll this season.
But they didn’t always get recognition statewide. They were not ranked in the first state 6A Top 25 from txhighschoolbaseball.com. Today, they are ranked No. 1 in the state.
“I told them, ‘It doesn’t matter where you start. It matters where you finish,’” McHi coach Eliseo Pompa said.
The Bulldogs were ranked third in the state in the April 15 poll. Then, on April 23, they moved up to No. 1. They remained No. 1 when the latest poll was released Monday.
This year, the Bulldogs are 25-1-1 overall, and they went a perfect 12-0 through District 30-6A.
“We are very proud of how the kids have played this year, and we are hoping it continues into the playoffs,” Pompa said.
The Bulldogs postseason begins at 7:30 p.m. Thursday as they host Laredo United in the bi-district round.
Just after the regular season, the Bulldogs held a celebration to honor Pompa, who passed 700 career coaching wins this year.
“It was OK,” Pompa said. “I guess if you stay in this business long enough, and hopefully you have good kids — it was good. It’s a good feeling.”
The Bulldogs are preparing to roll into the playoffs and defend their No. 1 state ranking.
“Now that we are ranked up high in the state, now we have a target on us, and now we have to defend that target,” Pompa said. “It just proves to the kids and to the people down here that it can be done. Of course, it’s not over by any means, but we are glad to be getting the recognition.”