EDINBURG — The last time the Edinburg SaberCats saw Harlingen South, the Hawks were celebrating a 6-0 win on Vela’s home field during tournament play in March.
South’s Nick Muniz no-hit the SaberCats for the win the first time around, and he was back on the mound Thursday night squaring off against Edinburg Vela’s ace, Nico Rodriguez.
But this time, there was no no-hitter. Instead, District 31-6A champion Edinburg Vela blasted three home runs on its way to an 8-4 win in Class 6A bi-district playoff action.
SaberCats senior Ramsey Amador was responsible for two of those homers, including a grand slam during the bottom of the fourth inning.
“Them beating us early in the season, I told our guys we have to come out and stomp on them and shut them down, being that that’s their No. 1 and see what they come back with. Shutting down their No. 1 was big for us,” Amador said after dropping six RBIs on the Hawks.
Muniz only made it 3 2/3 innings in this one as he surrendered eight earned runs with three homers, two to Amador and one to Rodriguez, who hit a solo shot during the bottom of the second.
“They beat us in a tournament game, and of course a lot was riding on it. But I told our club that was then, this is now. We’re a lot better than we were then,” Edinburg Vela coach Jaime Perez said. “They barreled up some balls. I don’t think we were as electric as we have been, but I thought for the most part our kids competed. We both played well.”
Amador’s big night didn’t just happen at the plate, either. Rodriguez pitched 5 2/3 innings while striking out eight before exiting after a ball hit back at him struck his leg. That’s when Amador stepped in on the bump to close out the game. Amador struck out three Hawks in 1 1/3 innings of work for the save, shutting the door on a Harlingen South comeback attempt.
“Nico had a little injury and I told him to take yourself out and I’ll be able to close it and we’ll save you for the rest, because we need to keep going into the playoffs on a long run,” Amador said.
After three years of seeing Amador work first-hand, Perez said that’s just Ramsey being Ramsey.
“It’s Ramsey,” Perez said. “Ramsey’s done that since he’s been here as a sophomore. He’s hit the ball well, he’s thrown the ball well there on the bump for us in the playoffs. Ramsey’s a big-time player in big-time situations and that’s what he does and that’s big for us.”
Amador finished 3 for 4 with six RBIs, one grand slam, one home run and two runs. Rodriguez finished with one home run, and Isaac Lopez went 2 for 4 with one RBI.
The SaberCats have a chance to sweep the series tonight on Harlingen South’s home field.
“It’s a big game because it’s the next game. We respect everybody we play. We take nobody for granted. We’re going to their place, just like they came over here and beat us at our home place,” Perez said. “We had to defend ours, now we have to go over there and beat them at their place. It’s the playoffs, anything can happen. It’s Texas high school baseball at its finest.”
Game 2 of the three-game series is set for 7 tonight at Harlingen South High School, with Game 3, if necessary, scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday back at Edinburg Vela High School.