Tovias lifts Diamondbacks over Rattlers in extra innings
BY BRYAN RAMOS | STAFF REPORT
MISSION — The rivalry between the Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks and Sharyland High Rattlers has blossomed into one of the best the Rio Grande Valley has to offer. Evidence of that is when the two met on the diamond Tuesday night, extra innings would be needed to determine a winner.
After exchanging blows like boxers in the middle of the ring for nine innings, Sharyland Pioneer’s Pedro Tovias delivered the knockout punch.
Trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Diamondbacks had their backs to the wall. They showed no signs of quit, however, as Pioneer’s first three batters found their way on base. After a walk brought in one run and an error tied the game at 6-6, Tovias stepped to the plate with the bases loaded.
Facing a 2-2 count, Tovias drilled a pitch past the Sharyland pitcher into center field to bring in Jacob Rosales for the game-winning run, giving the Diamondbacks a 7-6 win in walk-off fashion.
The Rattlers jumped ahead in the top of the ninth on a Diego Pena single down the left field line that scored Jose Garcia and Trae Cadena, giving them a 6-4 lead.
The game was tied on three separate occasions as one team would light up the scoreboard, only for their rival to answer right back.
Pioneer’s Evan Maldonado got the win for the Diamondbacks as he threw 5.2 innings of relief, allowing no runs and striking out three. At the plate, Johnny Lugo went 1 for 5 with two RBIs, Jacob Rosales went 2 for 5 with 2 runs and an RBI, and Tovias finished 2 for 4 with one run scored and the walk-off RBI.
Sharyland’s Diego Pena produced a team-high three hits with two RBIs, and Andy Lozano brought two more Rattlers runs on 1 -for-4 hitting.
The win sends the Diamondbacks to 21-3 overall, and 4-1 in 31-5A play. Meanwhile, the Rattlers fall to 18-4, 3-2 in district.
They’ll play again in a couple days. District 31-5A’s schedule is designed with weekly series between teams, meaning the Rattlers will have their turn to host the Diamondbacks at 7 p.m. Friday for the second round of this year’s Sharyland Showdown.