By JOSHUA McKINNEY, Staff Writer
Brownsville Veterans Memorial has a new coach and new expectations after posting the program’s best season in baseball.
The Chargers won their first district title made it as far as the area round of playoffs in 2015.
Brownsville Veterans wants to do even more to raise the program’s profile this season and will have to do so with a new coach in charge. Eric Gonzalez takes over for Joey Benavides as Brownsville Veterans’ coach.
“When I came in, I heard that they’ve been without a coach for a while,” Gonzalez said. “They were dying to know who their coach was going to be, and I’m glad things are rolling for them. They’re a good, good group of kids.”
A pair of star-studded seniors leads Brownsville Veterans this season: shortstop David Anaya, the All-Metro MVP in 2015 who is signed to play baseball for Incarnate Word, and pitcher/infielder Fred Villarreal, a University of Houston signee and last year’s All-Metro pitcher of the year.
“It’s always a luxury when you have good players, of course,” Gonzalez said. “Right now, what we’re doing is hopefully polishing up some things we need to polish up and going over some offensive and defensive plays to solidify our team.”
Catcher Jimmy Moody, senior third baseman/pitcher Noe Solis, senior first baseman Jorge Montelongo and senior right fielder/pitcher Baltazar Guzman also return for their senior season.
Making the playoffs is the first priority for Brownsville Veterans, but the team also has a repeat as 32-6A champions and a trip to the third round within its sights.
“They feel like they left some stuff (on the field),” Gonzalez said. “They didn’t finish the job, and they want to finish it this year. I know they’re excited and they know they have some talent. They’ve played together for a long time and I hope I can help them get past that little level that they reached, and hopefully we can go further than that.”
HANNA GOLDEN EAGLES
Perennial playoff contender Hanna aims to make a fifth straight appearance in the playoffs this season.
The Golden Eagles have prepared for the start of the season by scrimmaging playoff teams like PJSA High, La Joya High, Edinburg North and Weslaco High.
“We’re competing against good programs (in scrimmages), and we’re coming around,” coach Eddie Garcia said. “I’m excited, the kids are excited. We’re just trying to put it together.”
Hanna has an experienced group of players returning who are hungry for more success. The expectations are more than just grabbing one of District 32-6A’s four playoff spots, Perez said.
“The kids understand that we have high expectations,” he said. “They’re working hard. They got their feet wet last year. They got a taste for it.”
Garcia says pitching is Hanna’s strength going into the season, with the Golden Ealges returning starters in senior Alec Buitron and sophomore Noe Guerrero.
Catcher Cesar Saldana, third baseman Lee Alonzo and left fielder Israel Lambarri are the Golden Eagles’ other returning players.
LOS FRESNOS FALCONS
Los Fresnos wants to get back to the postseason after missing out in 2015.
“The kids are working hard and getting after it,” Los Fresnos Rene Morales said. “We’re trying to get as good as we can. We’re just trying to focus on the little things and things like that. They’re responding real well to what we’re doing.”
Youth was an issue last season, but young players slotted into starting spots head into the season with experience and confidence.
Los Fresnos is counting on the experience to give them a bump in the District 32-6A playoff hunt.
“Last year, we missed it and we were very young,” Morales said. “We had two returning starters last year. And that was it. This year, we’re bringing a lot of the kids back, so the expectation is to make a playoff run and see what we can do at the end of the season.”
The Falcons return a pair of second team All-Metro players in junior shortstop Miguel Gonzalez and sophomore outfielder George Villafranca.
Third baseman/pitcher Nick Montamayor, second baseman Abel Rodriguez and utility player Nathaniel Reyna also return from last season’s team.
LOPEZ LOBOS
Victor Martinez, coach of Lopez’s baseball team, is ready to see what his team is capable of doing this season.
“I’m pretty excited to se how well we will be,” coach Victor Martinez said. “They put in a lot of work in the offseason. They’ve worked hard all offseason, now we get to see what they can do against other teams.”
Martinez said the Lobos have two sophomores as two of their top three pitchers, with a senior with little pitching experience filling out the staff.
One of those pitchers is All-Metro and District 32-6A newcomer of the year Alex Olguin, a sophomore starting pitcher and shortstop.
“Last year, he was kind of trying to test the waters,” Martinez said. “But he’s the type of player who isn’t afraid, doesn’t get nervous. He’s confident in his pitches.
All-district senior utility player Marky Ordonez, whom Martinez says plays all over the field, will also get a chance to pitch.
Also coming back are center fielder Eusebio Castro, left fielder Saul Mendoza and catcher Jesus Rodriguez.
RIVERA RAIDERS
The Rivera Raiders have a positive outlook on contending for one of District 32-6A’s playoffs spots this season.
“Like every year, I’m optimistic about the year,” coach Travis Parker said. “We’ve got a young group varsity-wise, but it’s exciting. There’s excitement in the air. I think I’ve got a good group. We’ve been working hard the last couple of weeks to get ready for 2016. We’re going to see where we end up once it gets going for real.”
Parker says he has a young team, with four freshmen making the jump to varsity.
The difference with this group and others in past years at Rivera is a higher baseball IQ, which is why he thinks making a postseason trip is an achievable goal.
“We tell the kids the realistic goal is to fight for a playoff spot,” he said. “That’s our realistic goal. We don’t want to set goals that we can’t reach. I believe we could reach the third or fourth spot. We just got to execute.”
Pitcher Jose Montoya, catcher Josue Perales and second baseman/shortstop Jordan Janskowski are Rivera’s returning starters.
PACE VIKINGS
Interim coach Roy Rodriguez takes over a young Pace baseball team this season.
Rodriguez stepped into the role just one day before the start of baseball practice, and is focused on taking things one day at a time while looking for the program’s first playoff appearance since 2011.
“We’re taking small steps forward,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve had three scrimmages and we’ve seen a lot of positives and we’ve had breakdowns on defense, which is going to happen early in the season and with a young team. They’re a young team and we’ve got to find a way to motivate the kids and get them ready every night.”
“It’s been interesting. It’s been a challenge,” he added. “The kids are working hard. Right now it’s growing pains, but positive ones. That’s all we ask for our kids in the program. Give all that you have everyday and in the long run, it will pay off.”
Pace returns pitcher/shortstop Gabriel Salas, pitcher/outfielder Chandler Haynes, first baseman/pitcher Santos Rodriguez and pitcher/outfielder Erik Garza from last year’s team.
“Looking at the roster, it’s a very young team.” Rodriguez said. “We don’t have a lot of kids with varsity experience. We’re going to with what we have and take it from their every night.”
PORTER COWBOYS
Porter looks to defend its District 32-5A title with a new coach.
The Cowboys went 17-7 (13-1 in 32-5A) on its way to a district title last season, losing in a one-game series to Roma (4-2) in the bi-district round.
“I think our kids worked hard in the offseason, so I think they’re ready for anything,” coach Oscar Cortez said. “I think they’re going to defend their title well.”
Cortez takes the helm for Porter after Barton Bickerton left for a job at Port Isabel. Cortez spent the past four years as an assistant for the Cowboys baseball team, so he knows exactly what he is heading into the season.
Porter graduated seven seniors but returns a group of experienced juniors, led by starting pitchers Felix Ledesma and Jesus Ramirez.
Other returning starters are shortstop/second baseman Lupe Soto, catcher Andy Flores and first baseman Josh Salazar. Third baseman Jesus Torres is the only senior returning as a starter.
“They have experience. A couple of them played (a lot of time) on varsity last year,” Cortez said. “I think that’s going to help (Ledesma) even though he didn’t pitch much. I think that’s going to be a big help.”
PORT ISABEL TARPONS
After three straight first-round exits, Port Isabel is looking to make a push to the area round.
Port Isabel is become a steady playoff contender in a strong District 32-4A, and this year figures to be no different.
“It’s going to be a tough year like always. Our district is tough,” coach Robert Holland said. “Hidalgo, Zapata and La Feria are always good. We can be, too, if we play up to our potential. Right now, we’re hurting. Our pitchers are hurting. We’ve got three kids that are hurt, so it’s tough right now. That’s what we’re looking at with our depth, our pitching. But I’d rather them be hurting now than later in the year. It’s just like I tell the kids, somebody’s testing us to see what we’ve got. If somebody’s hurt, the next person has to step up and do their job because you never know. They might be hurt all year.
“We’re looking forward to it. Our kids know what they can do,” he added. “They expect to make the playoffs. We’ve got lucky (and) made it every year. Nothing short of that. We’ll see what happens.”
The Tarpons return first-team All-Metro junior first baseman Pete Garcia and senior catcher/outfielder Javier Hernandez, as well as second-team All-Metro sophomore pitcher Jose Martinez.
Other returning starters are pitcher/third baseman Joaquin Patino, second baseman/pitcher Jonathan Garza, shortstop/pitcher Kaleb Martinez, left fielder Mark Martinez, pitcher Jose Martinez and outfielder Jeremy Martinez.
ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY BLOODHOUNDS
St. Joseph Academy is breaking in a new coach at the head of its baseball program, as well as a bunch of new faces on the team.
“It’s my first year as a head coach, and I’m just trying to get everything lined up and organized,” coach Christian Putegnat said. “We’re kind of young. I have a few seniors who’ve been on the team awhile. But we’re still pretty green.”
Putegnat said 14 players have come out for baseball so far, and a few more are expected to join the team at the end of the basketball and soccer seasons.
St. Joseph Academy dove straight into the regular season, with an 8-3 lost against Corpus Christi John Paul II on Tuesday.
St. Joseph plays in TAPPS 5A District 2.
“We hit the ball pretty well,” Putegnat said. “We just need to work on our errors on the fielding side.”
Players with experience include first baseman Adrian Garcia, third baseman/pitcher Adrian Garza, center fielder Matt Schwartz, left fielder Nick Leal, pitcher/second baseman Connor Pace, shortstop/pitcher/catcher Arturo Trevino and shortstop/second baseman/pitcher Alexander Shane.
ATHLOS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY TITANS
Athlos coach Victor Venegas says the Titans will play an independent schedule comprised of junior varsity teams.
The Titans will play in a competitive district once enough South Texas programs join the Texas Charter School Academic & Athletic League, or if the school decides to make the jump to the UIL. Athlos has a roster of 14 players comprised of freshmen, sophomores and one seventh grader.
Joshua McKinney covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @joshuabvherald.