By STEFAN MODRICH | Staff Writer
The District 32-6A baseball playoff field is all but set, with the top four teams battling for position.
First-place Harlingen High salvaged a win in the final Bird Bowl game at home. The Cardinals (17-10, 10-3 32-6A) play host to second-place Rivera tonight with a chance to clinch the district championship. If the Raiders (20-8, 9-4 32-6A) win tonight, on Friday the series will shift to Rivera for a winner-take-all battle for the 32-6A title.
Third-place Los Fresnos has a home-and-home with San Benito remaining. The Greyhounds (11-17, 5-8 32-6A) will travel to play at the Falcons (19-10, 8-5 32-6A) tonight and close out their season Friday at home.
To keep its playoff hopes alive, San Benito needs to win out and also needs help from Hanna, which has two games remaining with fourth-place Harlingen South. The Hawks (16-9-2, 7-6 32-6A) play host to Hanna tonight and finish their regular season on Friday at home against the Eagles.
All 32-6A games begin at 6:30 p.m. tonight.
REPEAT CHAMPS
Brownsville Veterans Memorial clinched the District 32-5A title with its 20th victory of the season, 13-5 over Porter on Thursday.
The Chargers (20-5-2, 11-1 32-5A) were led offensively by Ruben Gallegos (1-for-3, 3 RBIs and a sacrifice fly), Javier Hinojosa (2-for-3 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored), Christian Holloway (1-for-1 with two walks, three runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base) and Justin Anaya (1-for-4, two RBIs and one run scored).
Jorge Lozano threw five innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits, striking out six with no walks in the win.
The Chargers play host to Lopez tonight and travel to Edcouch Elsa to finish their district slate Thursday.
The third-place Lobos (16-5-2, 8-4 32-5A) and the second-place Valley View Tigers (11-12-1, 8-4 32-5A) are still jockeying for playoff position, and the fourth playoff spot remains up for grabs. Lopez ends its regular season at home against Mercedes, which lost 7-4 to Pace on Thursday.
The Vikings (11-11, 6-6 32-5A) travel to Valley View needing a win against the Tigers and some help from rival Porter, which plays host to Edcouch Elsa tonight. The Cowboys (11-15, 6-7 32-5A) trail Pace and the fourth-place Yellowjackets (11-18, 6-6 32-5A) by one game.
The Vikings will square off with Porter on Friday at Pace to end the regular season.
All 32-5A games begin at 7 p.m. tonight.
ON THE RISE
On Thursday, Rio Hondo outlasted Port Isabel 10-7 in eight innings. The Bobcats (13-12-1, 7-5 32-4A) have surged to within one game of Progreso and Hidalgo, which are knotted for second place in the district.
The Red Ants (13-7-2, 8-4 32-4A) play host to Rio Hondo tonight. The Bobcats host La Feria in their regular season finale Friday. The Lions lost 5-0 to Raymondville on Thursday.
The Bearkats travel to face the Pirates (10-12, 8-4 32-4A) tonight and host district-leader Zapata on Friday.
La Feria plays Grulla tonight at home.
The Tarpons, still seeking their first district win, will play at the Hawks (18-7, 10-2 32-4A) tonight and return home to face Progreso on Friday.
All 32-4A games begin at 7:30 p.m. tonight.
CROWN SECURED
Lyford clinched the District 32-3A championship with a 15-0 victory over Monte Alto last Tuesday. The red-hot Bulldogs (16-3, 8-0 32-3A) have won 10 straight games, including a 14-5 win Thursday at Santa Rosa.
Lyford concludes its district schedule at 6 p.m. tonight at Edinburg IDEA Quest.
COLLEGE RANKS
Brownsville Veterans alumnus Fred Villarreal earned his eighth save of the season by pitching a scoreless ninth for Houston in a 4-1 win over the No. 7 Texas A&M Aggies on Tuesday to cap a five-game win streak.
The Cougars are 23-16 on the season.