Eagles-McAllen Bi-District Series Report: Fri. May 3, 2019

••Tuesday•, 07 •May• 2019 21:26• ??EPSCadmin??

EAGLES BASEBALL BI-DISTRICT NEWS

Eagles eliminated by

McAllen Bulldogs in two straight

In Bi-District Round

By: Conrado Perez, Jr. – Eagle Pass Sports Central

“Your best and only source for local sports news in Eagle Pass”

The District 29-6A co-runner-up champion and third place representative Eagle Pass Eagles varsity baseball team under the direction of head coach Reynol Mendoza with an overall season record of 20 wins with 11 losses and 1 tie ventured to Laredo, Texas on Friday, May 3, 2019 to open their best two out of three series for the UIL Region IV Class 6A Bi-District championship against the McAllen Bulldogs the District 30-6A second place representative in a 7:00 PM series baseball diamond opener at the United ISD Student Activity Center. Game 2 of this best of three series is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, 2019 with a 1:00 PM matchup at Krueger Baseball Field and if necessary Game 3 will start 30 minutes after Game 2 also at Krueger Baseball Field.

GAME 1

The opening game of this best of three series had all the makings of that historic 1970 District 15-AAA classic championship game between the then South Zone Champion Eagle Pass Eagles and the North Zone Champion Samuel Clemens Buffaloes that went 15 innings with former legendary Eagles pitcher Rolando Surita hurling all 15 innings striking out a whopping 25 batters in that 1 to 0 victory over the Buffaloes and their standout pitcher Harold Sinclair. This time the 2019 Eagles tangled with the McAllen Bulldogs in a nail biting thriller that went 11 innings before the outcome was determined.

This opening series matchup pitted two of the top pitchers in the entire Region IV with the Bulldogs starting their ace and future University of Texas Longhorn Aaron Nixon while the Eagles countered with their ace southpaw Rey Rey Mendoza a future University of Houston Cougar and the matchup more than lived up to its billing as these two workhorses hooked up in a true marquee pitching duel.

The Bulldogs tallied the first run of this game in the top of the first inning on a hit by pitch, one wild pitch, two singles and a two out hit by pitch to force in the first run of this game. The Bulldogs held on to that one run lead all the way to the sixth inning when the Eagles knotted up the game with a lone run with Rey Rey Mendoza leading off the bottom of the sixth with a single, Isaac Gonzalez laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Rey Rey Mendoza over to second, Braulio Rodriguez singles to put runners at the corners, with pinch runner Kevin Ochoa on his way to steal second the Bulldogs catcher fake threw to second and caught Rey Mendoza in a rundown but then the Bulldogs catcher was called for interference on the play which enabled Rey Rey Mendoza to walk home with the game tying and what proved to be the Eagles only run of the game.

Meanwhile as the game remained tied at one all both starting pitchers showcased their talent as they both dominated and feasted on their opposing batters with pin point accuracy with all of their respective assortment of pitches that eventually would result in both pitching staffs combining their efforts to record a whopping total of 33 strikeouts in this game.

Eagles starting pitcher Rey Rey Mendoza pitched his heart out hurling seven complete innings allowing just one run scattered six base hits, issued 3 walks hit three batters and recorded 11 strikeouts during his time on the mound before handing over the pitching chores to reliever Sergio Lopez who did more than an amicable job toiling four innings of work allowed one run on 2 base hits issued one walk and recorded 3 strikeouts. The Bulldogs starting pitcher Aaron Nixon went 9 complete innings allowed one run, scattered three base hits, issued one walk and struck out 17 batters during his time on the mound with relief help from Tristan Cavazos who wound up as the game winning pitcher.

The game remained tied at one after seven innings so the game headed into extra innings where the McAllen Bulldogs threatened to take the lead in the top of the ninth on a one out walk with the runner then stealing second, with two outs an intentional pass was given to the Bulldogs third batter in their lineup, the next batter drilled a single up the middle with the runner at second heading home but Eagles centerfielder Rey Rey Mendoza gunned down the runner at home with a perfect throw to Eagles catcher Orly Garza who tagged out the runner with room to spare to end the inning.

In the top of the 11^th inning the McAllen Bulldogs finally broke up the tie with a lone run on a leadoff double a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single to take a 2 to 1 lead over the Eagles. In the bottom of the 11^th the Eagles could not answer back enabling the McAllen Bulldogs take the thrilling 2 to 1 victory in game one of the best of three series.

Score by Innings: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E

McALLEN BULLDOGS 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 9 1

EAGLE PASS EAGLES 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 1

Losing Pitcher: Sergio Lopez Leading Hitters: Rey Rey Mendoza 2 for 4 with 1 run scored and Braulio Rodriguez 1 for 4

GAME 2

The Eagles resumed their bi-district series on Saturday, May 4, 2019 with a 1:00 PM matchup against the McAllen Bulldogs but this time Game 2 of the best of three series was played at venerable Krueger Field in Laredo. The Eagle Pass Eagles who were the designated visiting team for this game took the early lead with a two run output in the top of the third inning with Hector Montoya reaching on a two out error by the McAllen third baseman, designated hitter Edward Mendoza belted an RBI double to drive in Hector Montoya, Edward Mendoza would later score on a balk to give Eagles a 2 to 0 lead over the Bulldogs.

In the bottom of the third the Bulldogs countered with a pair of runs of their own to tie the game at 2 all on three hits and a costly Eagle Pass error. In the bottom half of the fourth the McAllen Bulldogs broke up the 2 all tie with another pair of runs on only two base hits and another pair of Eagle Pass errors to take a 4to lead over the Eagles,

The McAllen Bulldogs then managed to tack on one more final run in the bottom of the fifth on yet another Eagle Pass error, two bases on balls and a fielder’s choice. The Eagle Pass Eagle failed to produce any further offensive damage as they struck out 14 times in this game which gave them a total of 33 strikeouts in this two game series which enabled the McAllen Bulldogs to come away with the 5 to 2 victory in game two to sweep the series from the Eagles in two straight thus eliminating the Eagle Pass Eagles from the post season as the Eagles culminated the season with an overall season record of 20 wins with 13 losses and 1 tie.

Score by Innings: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E

EAGLE PASS EAGLES 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 7 4

McALLEN BULLDOGS 0 0 2 2 1 0 5 7 1

Losing Pitcher: Roly Riza Leading Hitters: CJ Jimenez 1 for 1, Hector Montoya 2 for 4 with 1 run scored, Edward Mendoza 1 for 3 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI , David Lopez 1 for 3, Jacob Ruiz 1 for 3 and Victor Perry 1 for 4.

Eagle Pass Sports Central would like to congratulate the 2019 Eagle Pass Eagles on a great season and would like to thank the graduating senior class members Roly Riza, Isaac Gonzalez, Rey Rey Mendoza, Kevin Ochoa, Orly Garza, Victor Perry, Hector Montoya, Braulio Rodriguez and Tito Villarreal for the countless number of thrills and memories that each you provided during your respective Eagle Pass High School varsity baseball career and we wish each of you continued success in all of your future endeavors.

UIL Region IV Class 6A

BI-District Round Playoff Results:

UNITED SOUTH vs. LA JOYA Best 2 out of 3 Series

Fri. United South won 3 to 1

Sat. La Joya won 3 to 2

Sat. United South won 11 to 5

United South advances to face Harlingen

LAREDO ALEXANDER vs. PSJA NORTH Best 2 out of 3 Series

Thur. PSJA North won 3 to 1

Fri. Laredo Alexander won 6 to 2

Sat. Laredo Alexander won 4 to 3 in 14 innings

Laredo Alexander advances to face Edinburg North

EAGLE PASS vs. McALLEN Best 2 out of 3 Series

Fri. McAllen won 2 to 1 in 11 innings

Sat. McAllen won 5 to 2

McAllen advances to face Edinburg Vela

LAREDO UNITED vs. PSJA Best 2 out of 3 Series

Thur. Laredo United won 4 to 3

Fri. PSJA won 7 to 4

Sat. Laredo United won 6 to 5

Laredo United advances to face Los Fresnos

eaglepasssportscentral.com

Eagles-McAllen Bi-District Series Report: Fri. May 3, 2019

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