DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
DONNA — Something happened last week that eluded Donna North senior Axel Vazquez all season. He lost.
Heading into the eventual 13-2 defeat to PSJA High at home, Vazquez was 6-0 with a 1.11 ERA. But he was rocked for seven runs (four earned) on seven hits in four innings in a winner-take-all game for the District 32-5A title.
Vazquez walked off the field, however, conscientious of the moment. Far from frustrated or mad, he was humbled.
“I didn’t have my stuff. I wasn’t locating pitches,” Vazquez said. “I was just throwing down the middle and they got me. I knew the first loss was going to come. Nobody’s perfect. But that game was good for me. It’s more motivation.”
And that’s bad news for Edinburg Vela, the Chiefs’ Class 5A bi-district opponent this weekend beginning with Game 1 Friday night at Donna North (14-11). The last thing Vazquez needed was more motivation.
“Coming into this year, he was ready,” Chiefs coach Leroy Rodriguez said. “He told me, ‘Coach, I’ll do anything. Whatever you need from me, I’m ready to do it.’ It was his last year and he was ready to play through pain, ready to do anything we asked. He told me, ‘Coach, I really want to put the team on my back and I really want to make the playoffs.’”
After playing his freshman year at Donna High, Vazquez moved to Donna North a hindered player as a sophomore. He had shoulder surgery late during his freshman season. He suffered a tear when, after pitching the first four innings of a district game and moving to catcher, he tried to throw out down a baserunner attempting to steal second. The throw resulted in a tear of his right shoulder.
Vazquez was Donna North’s designated hitter during its inaugural year of varsity play in 2014 as he was unable to throw for 18 months. He pitched only a few innings last season as he struggled with conditioning and regaining any semblance of familiarity on the mound.
“The toughest thing to get back was my confidence,” Vazquez said. “It felt like everything was new to me. The speed, my pitches, throwing. Nothing felt normal. I felt like I was starting over. It was all in my head.
“I knew I would have to work harder than I’ve ever worked if I wanted to pitch again.”
Slowly, Vazquez trained his way back to where he felt comfortable again. While a lot of work needed to be done physically, his study of the game was never better.
Vazquez would sit with his father and brother and identify situations during games, what he should do and shouldn’t do. Vazquez’s gift, Rodriguez said, is his know-how.
“He knows how to pitch and he’s smart out there,” Rodriguez said. “He knows when to rear back and throw hard or when to spot it and get some outs. He thinks when he’s pitching.”
In 61 innings this season, Vazquez has a 1.30 ERA and 72 strikeouts to 21 walks. Rodriguez initially wanted him to be a guy who could throw a solid five or six innings.
Vazquez has topped that. In six of his seven starts, he has gone the distance.
“This is what he wanted to do,” Rodriguez said. “He wanted to make the playoffs, and going through what he went through he has something to prove. He feels this success is something that was supposed to happen two years ago. It just got off track.
“He’s only worked harder and he told me, ‘I got this. We’re going to do it.’ The other guys see that and it gets them going.”
As a result, Donna North is in the playoffs for the first time in program history. It wasn’t necessarily supposed to be here this soon. Even if Vazquez had not returned to form as a pitcher, he would’ve been fine — his .491 batting average, 11 RBIs and four triples lead the team.
But the fact that he has is important. He has awarded the Chiefs a point of contention.
“I just wanted to play ball and make history,” Vazquez said. “I wanted to get back to myself. Looking back to my freshman year, what I loved to do was pitching. To me, I liked being in control. I felt like the game was in my hand. And to get back from the surgery, I was just motivated to do what I love.”