KEVIN NARRO | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
MISSION — Mission Veterans kept its hot offense going Friday night.
“I challenged our kids to come out with some energy tonight,” Patriots coach Casey Smith said.
Mission Veterans took their coaches challenge and ran away with a 13-1 win in five innings against Alamo Heights in the Mission Classic Tournament.
Heading into Friday night’s tilt against Alamo Heights, a state semifinalist last season, the Patriots had swept through their first three opponents — Edinburg High, Alice and Mission. The Patriots offense tallied 34 runs on 24 hits as the team outscored its opponents 34-6.
“We have been doing a great job of grinding out at-bats,” Smith said. “We don’t want to get to anxious swinging at bad pitches. It’s just a matter of stringing it together, getting guys on, and moving them over with a bunt. We’re just doing a lot of the little things right, and tonight we came out with energy.”
Mission Veterans wasted no time getting on the scoreboard Friday night with an eight-run first inning.
Senior third basemen Anthony Gonzalez got the scoring started with an RBI single that made it 2-0 Patriots. Gonzalez would finish the night 2 for 4 and has been swinging a hot bat for the Pats, going a combined 6 for 9 in the tournament with four RBIs and four runs scored. The Patriots sent 13 batters to the plate in the first inning.
“It doesn’t matter where the coaches put me. I’m just ready to play,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve been trying to focus on the inside part of the plate. Coach has done a good job on working with me. I’ve been getting in front of too many pitches, and the past few weeks I’ve been able to adjust my swing, and I feel it’s all coming around.”
The Patriots finished with 13 runs, their third time scoring in double figures, while sophomore catcher Alexis Trevino capped off a 3-for-3 night with two runs and three RBIs.
With senior ace Noel Vela at first base, the Pats turned to sophomore Alex Guajardo. Guajardo (2-0) pitched a complete five innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk.
“Anytime you can throw strikes, you can win games,” Smith said. “Alex fell behind a little bit, but did a great job on competing, throwing strikes and letting his defense work behind him.”
The Patriots will face Alice in the championship game at noon today.
Mission Veterans (9-2, 1-0, 31-5A) won its first district game last week and will shift its focus to Roma once tournament play is complete.