By ANDREW CRUM | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
With the baseball playoffs about to begin, there has already been plenty of drama before the players have stepped onto the field.
After a shakeup in District 32-6A, Rivera, who had originally qualified for the postseason, was found by the district executive committee to have used at least one ineligible player and thus the Raiders were forced to forfeit those games and it forced them out of the playoff picture. The decision was being appealed as off Tuesday night, but the district is moving forward as opponents have already been changed and games set to begin starting today.
Los Fresnos remains the District 32-6A champion, Hanna is now the second seed, Weslaco High is the third seed and Harlingen High, previously the fifth place team, is now the fourth seed.
Not that the Falcons needed anything to fuel their fire to the postseason, their momentum has already done that.
Last week, Los Fresnos finished off an impressive run to earn its title. The Falcons won four straight games and 4 of 5, including a sweep of Weslaco High. The district finale was a 2-1, 9-inning affair that saw Los Fresnos win in dramatic fashion, on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and one out to earn the District 32-6A crown, its second straight.
“It was a great win … it was an awesome feeling to walk off being district champs back-to-back,” Los Fresnos coach Rene Morales said. “The last few games have been the postseason for us because we had to win all of them to win a district championship.”
Now the Falcons are focused on the postseason, where they hope to advance even further than last season’s area round run.
Los Fresnos begins the playoffs tonight against Edinburg North at 7 p.m. at home. The series continues at Edinburg North at 7 p.m. Friday and if necessary, Game 3 will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday at Edinburg North.
“They’re playing with confidence and the momentum is right there for us,” Morales said. “I think it’s finally clicking with these guys that we’re a very good team if we do everything we’re asked to do. The kids are doing the little things right … we’re just taking it week by week, one series at a time and we’ll go from there.
“Hopefully we can get past the first round and we’ll see what we have in the second round and go from there.”
HANNA–PSJA NORTH
Hanna started slow, but earned its 10thconsecutive playoff appearance and first under new head coach Jameson Wicks after it finished in second in District 32-6A via a coin flip after the recent shakeup with Rivera.
The Golden Eagles travel to PSJA North tonight at 7 p.m., Game 2 is at 7 p.m. Friday at home and Game 3, if necessary, will be played at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hanna.
“We’re still going about it in the same way,” Hanna coach Jameson Wicks said. “They’re a good ball club, but we have to go about our business as usual. There’s no difference how we prepare for the postseason … it’s still one pitch at a time.”
For the Eagles, their success will be determined with pitching and defense.
“If we throw the ball well and over the plate, we challenge hitters and make them put it in play, it gives our defense an opportunity to make the plays behind the pitcher,” Wicks said. “If we do that, we’ll be fine because we’re going to score enough runs to win a ball game. We have to limit those big innings and have sharp outings from our pitching and be strong, defensively.”
BROWNSVILLE VETERANS MEMORIAL–SHARYLAND PIONEER
Brownsville Veterans Memorial, fresh off its unbeaten District 32-5A title, is set to begin its postseason journey. The Chargers were upended in the bi-district round a year ago, and they hope to make a run deep into the playoffs.
Brownsville Veterans begins its bi-district series with Sharyland Pioneer tonight at 7 p.m. at home. The series continues at Sharyland Pioneer at 7 p.m. Friday. Game 3, if necessary, will be at a neutral site Saturday, either at noon at UTRGV or at 1 p.m. at either Weslaco High or Mercedes.
“Right now, we’re riding high, we have a lot of confidence in what we’re doing,” Brownsville Veterans coach Albert Rodriguez said. “We’re getting solid defense and we’re hitting the ball really well. We’re not the same team at the beginning of the season; we’ve grown a lot together. If we can put the pieces together, we’ll be alright in the postseason.”
If the Chargers can pitch well, they could have the advantage.
“(Sharyland Pioneer) does a good job at putting the pressure on the defense. They’re patient at the plate, very disciplined,” Rodriguez said. “Our key is pitching … we’re going to have to go right at them. Hopefully they can execute and throw strikes.”
LOPEZ–RIO GRANDE CITY
Lopez earned a postseason berth for the first time since 2013. But just because its unfamiliar territory, doesn’t mean that the Lobos haven’t been preparing for this moment.
Lopez begins its best-of-three bi-district series with Rio Grande City at 7 p.m. tonight at home. The series continues at Rio Grande City at 7 p.m. Friday. Game 3, if necessary, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Lopez.
“We’re excited to start our playoff run,” Lopez coach Victor Martinez said. “We’ve been working on the little things, the fundamentals. We’re blessed to play another week of ball. Next week isn’t guaranteed, you have to earn it, that’s what we’re trying to accomplish … one more week of baseball.”
The Lobos are more focused on their own game than their opponent, but need to get off to a good start in the home opener to start the series.
“Baseball is baseball, we have to go out and play our game,” Martinez said. “Focus on situational hitting, have a good pitching performance and play good defense behind him. We know we need to focus on the fundamentals and we’re sharpening our tools and be ready to play ball. It’s playoffs, every team is good, they’re in the playoffs for a reason. That’s a tough team over there.
“We have to protect our house and take care of business.”
PACE–VALLEY VIEW
Pace needed a strong finish in District 32-5A, as well as a win over Donna North in a one-game playoff game, to earn the fourth seed.
The Vikings begin their first postseason since 2011 with a series against Valley View, the District 31-5A champion, at 7 p.m. tonight at home. The series shifts to Valley View at 7 p.m. Friday and Game 3, if necessary, will be Saturday with a time and location to be determined.
“They were very confident, they just believed they could do it and they finally did,” Pace coach Roy Rodriguez said of his team’s finish. “We started strong, but faded in the middle of the district race, we couldn’t get the breaks … but in the end we got the job done.”
Pace wants to continue its late season momentum that helped it earn a postseason berth. But it won’t be easy against Valley View.
“The kids are excited, their confidence is high and I told them, ‘let’s not be happy just being in the big dance, let’s keep working, let’s see where this takes us. Let’s just go out and win it.’ (Valley View) has a winning tradition and that’s what we’re trying to establish here.
“As long as we stay focused and play our kind of ball, we can beat anyone. Just go out, play our game and have fun.”
PORT ISABEL–ROBSTOWN
Port Isabel also needed some late season dramatics to keep its playoff berth streak in tact. The Tarpons had to win their final two District 32-4A games and ended up tied with Rio Hondo and Progreso for the fourth seed. Progreso beat Rio Hondo and Port Isabel faced the Red Ants in a winner-take-all game to earn a postseason spot. Progreso led late, but the Tarpons scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take the game and earn their playoff berth.
Port Isabel begins its postseason series against District 31-4A champion Robstown at 7:30 p.m. tonight at home. The series shifts to Robstown at 2 p.m. Saturday and Game 3, if necessary, will be played 30 minutes after the completion of Game 2.
ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY-DALLAS BISHOP LYNCH
St. Joseph Academy had an up-and-down season, but was much improved over last season and headed in the right direction. The Bloodhounds still earned a TAPPS Division I playoff spot and face Dallas Bishop Lynch in a one-game playoff today at 1 p.m. at a neutral site in San Antonio.
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.