By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
PORT ISABEL — Port Isabel had a goal this season and they achieved it with the help from Mark Martinez’s bat.
Mark Martinez went 4 for 4 with a double and five RBIs to help the Tarpons cruise past La Feria 12-1 and earn a share of the District 32-4A title Friday.
“I had a lot of confidence and my team was supporting me,” Martinez said. “I felt pretty good going up there. I was just hit the ball and it clicked. In those clutch spots it just felt good.”
Port Isabel had a couple big innings, but none more important than the fifth. The Tarpons sent five runs across the plate and defeated the Lions via the run rule to seal their first district title in 11 years.
“It’s been a while (to win the district),” Port Isabel coach Robert Holland said. “It feels good, especially for the kids, they had a lot of pressure. But they put that on themselves, they knew they were good and we knew they were good. We’ve played good ball all year long.
“They work hard, I’m happy for them.”
Port Isabel earned a share of the title after Hidalgo defeated Grulla 9-3. The Tarpons and Pirates both finished 12-2 in 32-4A and split their two contests this season.
Port Isabel started district play with four straight wins before falling to Hidalgo. The Tarpons then went on to win eight of nine games, including defeating the Pirates in their rematch a month later.
“After that (first) Hidalgo game, they knew they blew a chance to beat them,” Holland said. “I told them it was alright, we’ll see them again, to just take one game at a time. They just kept working. They accepted the challenge.”
La Feria (2-12) scored its lone run in the first inning on an RBI single from Dimas Trevino. But the Port Isabel bats would answer early and often.
The Tarpons put two runs on the board in the bottom half of the first with a double by Mark Martinez. It would be all they needed, but Port Isabel manufactured four more runs in the second to take a five-run lead.
The Tarpons added another tally in the fourth on a single from Martinez. Later, Port Isabel exploded for five more runs in the fifth to seal the win and at least a share of the district crown.
It was more than enough support for Kaleb Martinez. The Tarpons right-hander went five innings, allowed just one run on three hits, walked two and struck out four.
Port Isabel’s 2 through 4 hitters, Jose Martinez, Javier Hernandez and Trey Mock also had a big impact. The trio combined to hit two doubles, walked five times and scored eight of the Tarpons’ 12 runs.
Port Isabel’s offensive output translated into a rough outing for the Lions’ Austin De La Cruz. He allowed all 12 runs on eight hits, walked nine, struck out four and plunked a hitter in the district loss.
La Feria coach Jaime Acuña was unavailable for comment following the game.
Port Isabel heads to the postseason pretty healthy and with plenty of confidence.
“These guys are confident,” Holland said. “They know they can play, we just have to take the next step. They’ve made all their goals, but the fourth one is to advance (in the playoffs).
“They know we have some more to go, so we’ll see what happens.”
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.