Sharyland Pioneer’s Jacob Rosales and Edinburg Vela’s Ramsey Amador represented the Rio Grande Valley at the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association 5A-6A All-Star Game at Dell Diamond in Round Rock this weekend. And while their South squad lost the All-Star Game, they still walked away with individual accolades.
Amador, a shortstop for the SaberCats, and Rosales, a shortstop and pitcher for the Diamondbacks, earned their way to the THSBCA All-Star Game by being named to the 5A-6A All-State Elite Team for their standout seasons.
The pair of All-State all-stars got the action started Friday in individual skills competition. Amador was crowned the Home Run Derby champion, while Rosales won the Infield Skills Challenge.
The two were at it again Saturday in the 5A-6A All-Star Game. Rosales finished 2 for 2 with a fourth-inning double and an RBI single during the bottom of the seventh. Amador, who played second base and was batting one slot in front of Rosales, went 1 for 2 with an infield single. Rosales was the game’s last batter as the two-hour time limit was reached with the North leading 6-3.
With their high school careers officially over, Amador will take his game to UTRGV, while Rosales will play for Northeast Texas Community College.
Amador had a .467 batting average, crossed the plate 31 times and drove in 38 runners with four home runs on the season. He also had a 1.62 ERA, a 1-0 record and two saves with 26 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings of work as a pitcher for the SaberCats.
Rosales led the Diamondbacks to the UIL state semifinals in 5A. The senior hit .400 with 47 runs, 35 RBIs and was 43 for 43 stealing bases. On the mound, Rosales went 9-4 with a 1.87 ERA and struck out 105 batters in 78 2/3 innings.