By DAVE FAVILA
Staff Writer
Despite a forecast that threatened plenty of rain-outs, the weather held on Tuesday and the Los Fresnos Falcons opened District 32-6A action with a 7-6 win over Brownsville Lopez.
Winning is becoming a habit for the Falcons, who have won their last nine in a row to improve to 11-1 on the season.
In addition to Tuesday night’s win, the Falcons captured the championship at the Edgewood Tournament in San Antonio this past weekend, winning games against SA Memorial, SA Jefferson, Natalia, SA Edison and Laredo Martin in the title game.
The Falcons’ offense was very potent during the Edgewood Tourney, outscoring its opponents 65-8.
“The team is a young one this year, but the kids are very motivated and working really hard,” said Falcons head coach Rene Morales.
In Tuesday’s win over the Lobos, senior right-hander Nick Montemayor pitched a complete game to pick up the victory.
“It’s been a great team effort so far,” Morales said of his ballclub’s success. “We’re getting two-out hits and making plays on defense. I’m really proud of these kids, but we’re taking it one game at a time.”
The Falcons are off this weekend but continue 32-6A play on March 15 at home against San Benito, who fell in their district opener on Tuesday to Brownsville Hanna 3-1.
BIG WIN: The Rio Hondo Bobcats had an up-and-down weekend at the Mike Rodriguez Tournament in Pharr, going 2-3 with bookmark wins over Brownsville Lopez and PSJA Southwest.
But heading into their District 32-4A opener against state-ranked Hidalgo on Tuesday, Cats head coach Sergio Gonzalez knew his team was going to have to play much better than it did in Pharr.
Mission accomplished as the Cats beat the Pirates in a thriller, 3-2.
In the victory, senior lefty VJ Olivarez pitched a complete game three-hitter while Robert Gonzalez went 2 for 3 with a double, Levi Oviedo went 2 for 4 with an RBI and Andy Vasquez was 1 for 2 with an RBI and a double.
“We played our best game (Tuesday), putting everything together from great pitching and defense, to getting the big hits when we needed them,” Gonzalez said. “It started with our team believing in themselves that they can compete with a state-ranked team. They brought the fight last night and we were fortunate enough to come out on top in a close game.”
The Bobcats take a break from league play this weekend as they take on Brownsville Rivera on the road Friday. They return to conference action on March 15 when they host Port Isabel, which also won its district opener on Tuesday, 7-5 over Zapata.
BIG RED ON A BIG ROLL: The Harlingen Cardinals (82) are hot right now, winning their last six in a row, including their District 32-6A opener at home against Brownsville Rivera on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, ace Jaedon Wynn held the Raiders to just one run while designated hitter Alex Hinojosa stepped up at the plate.
But aside from Tuesday’s win, the Cards had an outstanding weekend at the Tony Rico Tournament in Weslaco, winning the title with victories over Donna North, Weslaco East, Weslaco JV, Laredo LBJ and, in the title game, Sharyland Pioneer.
The Cards actually return to Weslaco this weekend in the Weslaco Invitational where they’ll go up against Weslaco High, La Joya Palmview and Sharyland.