BY BRYAN RAMOS | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Edinburg Vela. McAllen High.
Two of the top teams in the Rio Grande Valley are squaring off with a three-game series in the area round of the UIL baseball state playoffs.
The Bulldogs (25-8-1, 10-4) and SaberCats (24-4-2, 12-0), who regularly play in front of crowds with standing room only, will play at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg this weekend in a blockbuster second-round series between teams fighting to advance to the regional quarterfinals.
“They’re going to be ready just like we are,” Vela coach Jaime Perez said. “It’s going to be a great series, seeing two really good clubs here in the Rio Grande Valley going head to head. It’s unfortunate that two caliber clubs like ours have to face each other in the second round so early, but that’s just the nature of the beast of the draw. We get to face each other, and let’s see what happens. It’s going to be fun for everybody, and what better venue to use than UTRGV.”
McHi coach Eliseo Pompa feels fans are in for a show this weekend as the Bulldogs and SaberCats duel.
“Both teams are going to put on a good show for the fans. Our kids, they’ve been trained to keep their poise and it’s something we kind of teach — it’s still a game. Go out there and give it your best shot,” Pompa said “If we’re going to advance, we have to beat Vela. If we don’t, that’s the season and I’m pretty sure Vela is thinking the same way. It’s just another series you got to play.”
ROAD TO AREA
Both teams swept their way into the second round of the playoffs, but each had to overcome adversity.
The Bulldogs punched their area ticket by knocking off Eagle Pass 2-0 in a three-game series, including a 2-1 11-inning win in the opener in Laredo. Junior pitcher Aaron Nixon went nine innings and surrendered just two hits and no earned runs, while senior Gilbert Mata drove in Damian Cortez from third during the top of the 11th for the game-winning score.
“We went 11 innings and faced a great pitcher in Rey Rey Mendoza, a lefty who throws 91. We made a lot of great contact and had great pitching. We just learned to compete against great pitching and learned we got a lot of heart,” Nixon said.
Meanwhile, Edinburg Vela made quick work of Harlingen South as the SaberCats blasted three home runs in Game 1, including a grand slam from Ramsey Amador, before pulling off a late comeback with three runs in the seventh inning to win Game 2, 4-2, on the road, clinching the sweep.
“I saw a lot of chemistry in the team. I hadn’t seen that in a while,” Amador admitted. “We all got together, and even though we were down, we ended up coming together and coming back. It’s all about what we did as a family.”
MATCHUPS
The SaberCats and Bulldogs clashed earlier this season while taking part in the Calallen ISD Baseball Tournament on March 2, with Vela taking a 5-2 win. That game, however, was both team’s fifth of the weekend, after most of the usual arms they pitch had already thrown.
This time, it’s completely different.
McHi and Vela have posted nearly identical stats at the plate this season as the Bulldogs boast a .345 batting average, an on-base percentage of .463 and 16 home runs. Meanwhile, the SaberCats hold a .350 batting average, .462 on-base rate and 17 home runs.
Friday night’s Game 1 matchup, however, will be focused on the two aces on the mound.
Edinburg Vela’s Kansas State commit, Nico Rodriguez, will take on McHi’s University of Texas commit in Nixon.
Rodriguez (10-1, 0.77 ERA, 102 strikeouts, 3 HRs and 22 RBIs) expects a classic matchup as the SaberCats and Bulldogs go toe-to-toe.
“McAllen High is a very good team. We’re just going to play our game and see where the chips fall. It’s going to be a big heavyweight fight. Just going toe-to-toe. Expect great games and a lot of fun,” Rodriguez said.
Nixon (7-1, 0.97 ERA, 128 strikeouts, .487 batting average, 42 runs, 18 RBIs) said while some people have wanted this for a long time, for him it’s just another game.
“They’re a great team and I think we’re a great team, too. It’s going to come down to who makes the least errors, the least mistakes. It’s going to be a good game. We’re going in composed and we’re going in ready to win,” Nixon said.
Game 2 will most likely see No. 2s in Vela’s Marc Esquivel (8-1, 1.08 ERA, 67 strikeouts) against McHi’s Gilbert Mata (5-2, 2.31 ERA, 59 strikeouts).
They’ll each face multiple .400-plus hitters as the Bulldogs have three in Chris Bernal, Hector Garcia and Nixon, while the SaberCats have four in Amador, Esquivel, Isaac Lopez and Eric Martinez.
Garcia, a junior who leads the Bulldogs with seven home runs and 36 RBIs, said it’s all about approach when facing good pitching.
“We just have to have confidence. They say ‘90% of your at bat is how you walk up to the plate,’ and if you’re confident, you have a better chance of hitting,” he said. “Put the ball in play and try not to do too much.”
While there will be plenty of eyes on the three-game series, Amador feels its just par for the course.
“It’s just like any other day. It’s another good team, it’s Round 2. In the playoffs, teams get harder and harder, and we’re ready to face a good team, see what they got and see who comes out on top,” he said.
First pitch of the area-round series is scheduled for 7 tonight, with Games 2 and (if necessary) 3 slated for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday. All games will be played at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.