BY JOHN JOE RIVERA | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
McALLEN — The McAllen Rowe Warriors’ improbable season ended on Saturday afternoon as they dropped Game 2 of their 6A bi-district playoff series with the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs, 8-0.
The Warriors fell behind early, giving up two quick runs in the top of the first inning off junior pitcher Zach Perez.
“I didn’t start off that good, but I came back and I adjust on the mound,” Perez said.
Perez’ adjustments led to him collecting three strikeouts in the second inning. He would finish the game with 10 strikeouts.
Offensively, the Warriors were shut out by Alexander’s ace pitcher Marcelo Perez, a TCU commit, who was flirting with a perfect game before giving up a base hit to Sergio Hernandez in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Hernandez was the only Rowe player to reach base, finishing the game 2 for 3 at the plate.
“Our guys showed up to play. They’ve been getting ready for this series,” Alexander coach Fernando Lemus said. “We knew Nikki Rowe was going to be tough, but these guys were ready for them. I’m very proud of these guys.”
The Bulldogs blew the game wide open in the top of the fifth inning, tacking on four more runs. Three of the runs came off a fielding error by Rowe freshman center fielder Jonas Ortiz.
Rowe’s youth and inexperience in the team’s first season under coach Adrian Leal made the Warriors’ surprise playoff appearance even more memorable.
“We had a very good season,” Leal said. “We had a season with kids that enjoyed playing the game. In that second round of district, they really made a run and they gelled together.”
Despite the loss, the Warriors’ future looks bright.
“I’ll be getting all of them back next year, so it’s a lot to look forward to,” Leal added. “Making the playoffs was awesome, and coming back with high expectations next year, that’s where we want to be.”
Laredo Alexander advances to the area round where it will face the winner between Edinburg Vela and Brownsville Hanna.