2012 HSSM Baseball Preview

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March 15-April 10, 2012

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Sharyland Ace Tres Barrera Verbally Committs to Texas Longhorns

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RIO GRANDE VALLEY

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Sharyland Ace Tres Barrera Verbally Committs to Texas Longhorns

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All  About  Commentary  with  Tddave

Roberto  Garza  Jr. Chicago  Bears

It’s  All  About

The  Game One  of  the  true  athletes  I  ever  dressed  in  long  shorts,  beach  the  Colts.  I  also  mentioned  met  was  Roberto  Garza  Jr.  from  Rio  Hondo  High  School.  He  appeared  on  our  1997  HSSM  Cover  with  one  discus  and  shot  put  in  each  hand.  Ro-­ berto  loved  sports  back  then  and  at  32  years-­old,  he  contin-­ ues  to  love  sports.     The  NFL  Chicago  Bears  of-­ fensive  center  enjoys  coming  EDFN KRPH +H ORYHV WR ÂżVK and  loves  his  mother’s  au-­ thentic  cooking.  â€œThis  is  home.  This  is  where  I  grew  up,â€?  says  Garza.  5HFHQWO\ *DU]D Ă€HZ LQ IURP Chicago  to  launch  his  Roberto  Garza  Jr.  Track  and  Field  Re-­ lays  at  his  alma  mater.  He  was Â

sandles,  and  proudly  wear-­ ing  a  shirt  with  his  sponsoring  QDPH RI WKH KLV WUDFN DQG ÂżHOG meet.     Many  students  from  this  region  know  Roberto.  Many  student/athletes  enjoy  talk-­ ing  to  Roberto,  listening  to  his  stories  and  success.  â€œI  tell  these  athletes  that  they  can  accomplish  anything  they  set  their  minds  too,â€?  added  Roberto.  :H WDONHG DERXW KLV ÂżUVW Super  Bowl  in  2007,  playing  against  Peyton  Manning  and Â

his  appearance  on  the  Mad-­ den  2009  Cover  and  his  recent  cover  photo  in  the  2011  Sports  Illustrated  January  Issue.  â€œThat  was  amazing.  Usually,  we  dream  about  seeing  our-­ selves  on  the  covers  as  teens,  but  this  was  really  cool,â€?  added  Garza.      As  teen  athletes  approached  Garza  during  our  interview,  I  stepped  away  and  had  to  watch  Roberto  smile  with  his  kindness  and  love  that  he  has  for  these  teenagers  and  the  Rio  Grande  Valley.

11-­Year  Veteran NFL  Player Signs  2-­yr  Contract  Extension  through  2013

Career  Highlights 2011  Offensive  Team Captain Chicago  Bears 2011  USA  Today  All-­Joe  Team 2009  Featured  on  Madden En  Espanol  Game  Cover  2006-­2007 NFC  Champions Chicago  13-­3  record 2007  Super  Bowl  XLI Lost  to  Indianapolis  Colts 29-­17 2005 Signed  as  free  agent by  Chicago  Bears 2001 Drafted  by  Atlanta  Falcons 99th  Overall  pick 1997 Appeared  on High  School  Sports Magazine  Cover A  True  Champion!  Former  Rio  Hondo  H.S.  athlete,  Roberto  Garza  Jr.,  appeared  on  the  covers  of  the  January  2011  issue  of  Sports  Illustrat-­ ed  and  Madden  En  Espanol  in  2009.  (HSSMImages/Special)

4

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MARCH Â 2012

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(Weslaco, Texas)-HSSM takes a look at the teams to beat in 2012. Teams already showing signs of improvement are La Joya Palmview (8-2), McAllen Memorial (7-4), Donna (4-6), San Benito (8-2), and JuarezLincoln (5-3). All four teams missed the state playoffs in 2011. Many surprises could be instore for 2012 too, but for now, let’s take a look at teams in the line-up. At No.1, the Sharyland Rattlers (11-3) continue to show their dominance in the Rio Grande Valley early on. Head coach Bart Bickerton is beginning to not like the

polls. “We don’t need to be ranked. It becomes a distraction. We are young and we need to stay focus,� says Bickerton. The Weslaco Panthers (10-3) and Sharyland Rattlers won their district championship titles in 2011 but both were cut short in the State 5A baseball playoffs after posting successful seasons. The Rattlers were ranked as high as No.4 in the state polls but Sharyland head coach Bart Bickerton and Weslaco’s Eddie Serna both understand that polls in the state playoffs mean nothing. “We had our chances last year but

Baseball Baseball  Report:  Weslaco,  Sharyland,  McHi  Favored

BEGINS!

we could be much improved in 2012,â€? says Serna. The Panthers won their 32-5A title with a perfect 14-0 record and kept that streak alive by winning the State 5A Bi-District title with a win over Harlingen South (9-1, 13-12). But, the Rattlers, who went 28-2 overall and also recorded a perfect 14-0 UHFRUG LQ 'LVWULFW $ ORVW LQ WKH Ă€UVW round of the State 5A playoffs to Laredo United in a one game playoff 3-2. That game still stings in the mind of Bickerton. “That was the luck of the draw. We need WR Ă€QG D ZD\ WR ZLQ WKHVH JDPHV Âľ DGGHG Bickerton. For a Rattler team in 2011 that had 20 team homers, 76 doubles, 256 RBIs, and scored 308 runs, including a .414 batting average, these stats mean nothing to Bickerton once the playoffs come around. The Rattlers again, could make a run at a State 5A title. With one-run losses to Corpus Christi Carroll, ranked No.1 in 5A and Calallen, also ranked No.1 in 4A, the Rattlers could see much improvement in the state playoffs. Returning are pitchers Eric Gutierrez, Tres Barrera, Francisco Martinez, and Joey Esquivel. Against the Edinburg Bobcats in the Sharyland Spring Baseball Tournament, the Bobcats took an early 2-0 lead before Barrera closed out the game with a left-

Top-­Ranked  Sharyland!  Pictured  are  l-­r  are  Tres  Barrera,  Eric  Gutierrez,  Francisco  Martinez,  and  Joey  Esquivel.  All  four  players  will  lead  the  team  on  the  pitchers  mound.  (HSSMImages/David  A.  Amador) March  2012

HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

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(HSSMImages/Thomas  Amador)

(HSSMImages/David  A.  Amador)

ÀHOG EODVW RYHU WKH IHQFH IRU D KRPH UXQ WR HQG WKH JDPH LQ ÀYH LQQLQJV %DUUHUD LV KHDGHG WR WKH 8QLYHUVLW\ RI 7H[DV LQ Austin to play baseball in 2013. To date, the Rattlers have outscored San Antonio Stevens, Laredo Cigarroa, Flour Bluff, Nikki Rowe, Edinburg, and Weslaco by a margin of 70-7. Losses to Calallen (2-1) and Carroll (3-2) show that these Rattlers could pose a threat in Region-IV. Calallen lost to 4A state champions Wichita Falls Rider 6-2 in the ÀQDOV ODVW VHDVRQ DQG &DUUROO ORVW WR /XEERFN &RURQDGR LQ WKH $ VHPLÀQDOV LQ In District 30-5A, the Sharyland Rattlers should run the tables again with McAllen, McAllen Memorial, McAllen Rowe, La -R\D 3DOPYLHZ DQG 0F$OOHQ 0HPRULDO DOO FRQWHQGLQJ IRU WKH Ànal three playoff spots. Memorial is off to a 7-4 start but dropped their district opener to McAllen. That leaves Donna, Palmview, 6KDU\ODQG DQG 0F+L DOO WLHG IRU ÀUVW SODFH 7KH 5HGVNLQV PDGH

Got’Cha!  PSJA  Bears  shortstop,  Brandon  Barrera  gets  ready  to  tag  Brandon  Burns  of  State  5A  No.1  ranked,  Cor-­ pus  Christi  Carroll.  The  Bears  are  the  defending  31-­5A  Dis-­ trict  Champions  and  will  be  favored  to  repeat.  Top  photo  is  CC  Carroll  runner  Trey  Rodriguez.  coaching changes in the off-season and brought in Carlos Pimentel to lead the team. McAllen Memorial has gone through a playoff drought since 1996. That was the year that the Mustangs lost to Victoria 10-0 in the Class 5A Area Championships. Players to watch are Bryan Stites and Garrett Sharp. ,Q WKH SDVW ÀYH VHDVRQV 0F$OOHQ + 6 KDV HQMR\HG JUHDW baseball moments and head coach Eliseo Pompa knows that KLV WHDPV ZHUH MXVW D IHZ RXWV DZD\ RI PDNLQJ LW WR WKH 6WDWH 5A tournament. In 2011, the Bulldogs lost to Laredo Alexander LQ WKH UHJLRQDO TXDUWHUÀQDOV DQG DJDLQ LQ WKH

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Bulldogs watched San Antonio Churchill come from behind to beat the Bulldogs in the third game of the Class 5A regional VHPLĂ€QDOV LQ $OLFH And in 2008, after beating San Antonio Reagan 6-2 in WKH Ă€UVW JDPH RI WKH UHJLRQDO VHPLĂ€QDOV 5HDJDQ ZRXOG FRPH EDFN DQG ZLQ WKH Ă€QDO two games to eliminate the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs lost in three games in the regional VHPLĂ€QDOV WR &RUSXV &KULVWL Carroll in 2007, again, after ZLQQLQJ WKH Ă€UVW JDPH +DG WKH Bulldogs won that year, they would have played Harlingen South in the Class 5A Region ,9 Ă€QDOV RU TXDUWHUĂ€QDOV The Hawks advanced to the state championship game that season. So many close opportunities. “We have had our chances and we let them get Defending  32-­5A  Champs!  Weslaco  High  School  junior  away,â€?says Pompa. In District 31-5A, the PSJA pitcher  Kevin  Garza  will  lead  the  Panthers  on  the  mound  in  Bears got a taste of what it 2012  with  hopes  of  making  the  State  5A  playoffs.  (HSSMImages/David  A.  Amador)

was to play last year’s State $ VHPLÀQDOLVW &RUSXV &KULVti Carroll at the Sharyland Spring Baseball Classic. The %HDUV VFRUHG ÀUVW WDNLQJ D lead but the Tigers would reVSRQG ZLWK D ÀYH UXQ LQQLQJ LQ the third to close out the game 8-3. The Bears are coming off a banner season after winning the 31-5A title and at 9-3, the Bears will be challenged by the Edinburg Bobcats for the title. Both teams are off to 1-0 starts, tied with PSJA North DQG +DUOLQJHQ 6RXWK IRU ÀUVW place. In the State 5A Area playoffs last season, the Bears lost to McAllen in three games 6-3, 3-7, 5-1. The Bobcats won the bi-district title against Brownsville Hanna and then dropped a heart breaker to Laredo United 1-0 in the area playoffs. Teams struggling are Harlingen (5-4), Edinburg Economedes (4-5), PSJA Memorial (5-5), and Edinburg North (55) and all stand at 0-1 in district play. But, keep in mind that this is still a long season. Chilly weather and rainy conditions have played a role in tournament games the last

Defending  Class  5A  Region  IV  Area  Champs!  McAllen  High  School  will  be  favored  to  make  the  playoffs  in  2012.  Pictured  are  Michael  Rodriguez,  Ricky  Solis,  JC  Carrillo,  Emilio  Guerra,  Chris  Zuniga,  Justin  Salinas,  Roman  Silva,  Joey  Montoya,  Justin  Gonzalez,  Joey  Garza,  Junior  Garcia,  Israel  Sanchez,  Matt  Gomez,  Zack  Rangel,  Ryan  Friedrichs,  David  Stockton,  and  Jacob  Guzman.   (HSSMImages/David  A.  Amador)

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March  2012

HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

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1. Sharyland H.S. The Rattlers were ousted from the State 5A playRIIV LQ LQ WKH ÀUVW URXQG +HDG FRDFK %LFNHUton talks about making it to state every season. One game playoffs have kept these Rattlers home. This could be the year of the Rattlers.

2. PSJA H.S. The Bears won the 31-5A title in 2011 and surprised many teams thorughout the season. This team could become the team to watch in 2012.

3. Weslaco H.S. The Weslaco Panthers won the District 32-5A title with a perfect 14-0 record. Head coach Eddie Serna loves his chances of going four-deep in 2012.

4. McAllen H.S. Under head coach Eliseo Pompa, the Bulldogs adYDQFHG WR WKH 6WDWH $ 5HJLRQDO 4XDUWHUÀQEDOV LQ 2011 and in 2010, the Bulldogs were one game away RI PDNLQJ LW WR WKH 6WDWH $ 4XDUWHUÀQDOV ,Q the Bulldogs lost to SA Reagan in three games in the UHJLRQDO VHPLÀQDOV

5. Edinburg H.S. The Bobcats are beginning to show their dominat ways in baseball. Last year, a one-game loss to Laredo United 1-0, in the area playoffs could have been different in a three game series?

6. Rio Grande City H.S. 7KH 5DWWOHUV ORVW WR 6WDWH $ VHPLÀQDOLVW &DODOOHQ LQ WKH UHJLRQDO TXDUWHUÀQDOV &DODOOHQ ORVW WR VWDWH champion, Wichita Falls Rider. Hmmm...

7. Harlingen South H.S. 7KH +DZNV DUH VWLOO WU\LQJ WR ÀQG WKDW PDJLF IURP 2007 that led this team to the State 5A Championship game.

8. Hidalgo Early College Big  Stang!  McAllen  Memo-­ rial  catcher  Garrett  Sharp  (6’3,  200lbs)  leads  the  team  in  batting.  The  Mustangs  will  be  looking  to  make  the  playoffs  in  2012.  (HSSMImages/Alec  Amador)

,I WKH 3LUDWHV FDQ ÀQG D ZD\ WR ZLQ GLVWULFW WKH\ ZLOO not have to face Corpus Christi Moody early on, the defending Region IV champions in 2010.

9. Rio Hondo H.S. The top 3A team in South Texas are the Bobcats afWHU ÀQLVKLQJ UXQQHU XS LQ $

10. McAllen Memorial H.S. The last time the Mustangs made the state playoffs was way back in 1989? Players to watch are Bryan Stites and Garrett Sharp. This year, the Mustangs will look real sharp.

10

HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

March  2012

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2010-­11 Class 5A Region IV Baseball results %L 'LVWULFW $UHD &KDPSLRQVKLSV 5HJLRQDO 4WUV 5HJLRQ 6HPL¿QDOV Weslaco Harlingen South

Weslaco (9-­1, 13-­12)

Eagle Pass Winn La Joya HS Sharyland Laredo United

Winn (7-­0, 4-­10, 9-­0)

Eagle Pass Winn (22-­3, 9-­7)

Eagle Pass Winn

Laredo United

(8-­3)

(3-­2)

Edinburg Brownsville Hanna

Edinburg HS

PSJA Los Fresnos

PSJA

United (1-­0)

(0-­1, 7-­1, 8-­7)

McAllen HS

(7-­4, 3-­4, 9-­3)

McAllen Eagle Pass

McAllen

Laredo Alexander Mission HS

Laredo Alexander

(6-­3, 3-­7, 5-­1)

Laredo Alexander

(9-­4, 3-­10, 10-­0)

Brownsville Pace PSJA North

(1-­5, 3-­2, 9-­8)

2010-­2011 State 5A Champion Clute Brazoswood (33-­8) defeats Lubbock Coronado (32-­15) LQ ¿QDOV

Alexander

(5-­2, 7-­3)

(3-­1, 6-­2)

PSJA North (8-­4, 13-­6)

2010-­11 Class 4A Region IV Baseball results %L 'LVWULFW $UHD &KDPSLRQVKLSV 5HJLRQDO 4WUV 5HJLRQ 6HPL¿QDOV Roma CC Flour Bluff

Flour Bluff (3-­2, 8-­2)

SA Southside Gregory-­Portland Victoria West SA Brackenridge

Flour Bluff (7-­3, 5-­4)

Gregory Portland (3-­1, 16-­1)

Moody (9-­0, 4-­1)

Victoria West (11-­0, 11-­6)

CC Moody Hidalgo

CC Moody

CC Calallen Mission Veterans

Calallen

CC Moody (8-­6, 8-­3)

(8-­6, 8-­3)

Calallen

(8-­1, 11-­1)

(22-­4, 11-­1)

Victoria East SA Edison

Victoria East

SA Burbank Floresville

SA Burbank (9-­12, 2-­0, 13-­1)

Rio Grande City Alice

RioGrande City

Rio Grande City

(4-­3, 3-­2)

Calallen (13-­1, 22-­4)

(22-­3, 10-­0)

2010-­2011 State 4A Champion Wichita Falls Rider (39-­7) defeats CC Calallen (39-­6) LQ ¿QDOV

(7-­2, 7-­9, 12-­7)

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2010-­11  Class  3A  Region  IV  Baseball  results %L 'LVWULFW $UHD &KDPSLRQVKLSV 5HJLRQDO 4WUV 5HJLRQ 6HPL¿QDOV Zapata BYE Aransas  Pass Columbia Sinton BYE

Zapata Columbia (6-­0,  7-­4)

Columbia (5-­3,  3-­1)

Columbia (5-­6,  16-­5,  10-­8)

Sinton Sinton

Orange  Grove Port  Isabel

Orange  Grove

Robstown BYE

Robstown

(111-­1,  4-­1)

(8-­6,  11-­5)

Robstown (4-­5,  8-­6,  12-­0)

Rockport  Fulton Wharton

RP Â Fulton

Sweeney BYE

Sweeney

Grulla  HS CC  West  Oso

West  Oso

Robstown (7-­5,  5-­3)

(5-­2,  1-­8,  3-­1)

2010-­2011 State  3A  Champion Kennedale  (33-­5-­1) defeats  Robinson (31-­6) LQ ¿QDOV

Sweeney (15-­5,  14-­1)

(14-­5)

2010-­11  Class  2A  Region  IV  Baseball  results %L 'LVWULFW $UHD &KDPSLRQVKLSV 5HJLRQDO 4WUV 5HJLRQ 6HPL¿QDOV Bishop BYE Dilley SA  Cole Marion BYE Santa  Rosa Refugio

Bishop (3-­2,  8-­2)

Bishop (7-­3,  5-­6,  11-­1)

Dilley (12-­2,  15-­2)

Moody (9-­0,  4-­1)

Marion

Marion (7-­4,  21-­5)

Santa  Rosa (1-­7,  17-­10,  13-­6)

2010-­2011 State  2A  Champion Cameron  Yoe (35-­7-­1) defeats  Nacogdoches  Central  Heights (35-­7) LQ ¿QDOV

2010-­11  Class  1A  Region  IV  Baseball  results Bi-­District  Championships:  San  Perlita  lost  to  Woodsboro  %HQ %ROW DGYDQFHV WR 6WDWH $ 5HJLRQ ,9 VHPL¿QDOV before  losing  to  Shiner  11-­9,  8-­10,  12-­5;;  Benavides  lost  to  Johnson  City  in  Area  Championships  9-­4,  4-­14,  7-­2

March  2012

HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

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Class 5A Defending Bi-­District Champions! Pictured are Edinburg H.S. players (l-­r) are Sammy Alvarado, Brandon Perez, Ivan Herrera, Edgar Cordon, Vinnie Zerda, Luis Alaniz, Scott Garza, E.J. Melendez, and Aldo Zamora. (HSSMImages/David A. Amador)

few weeks but that did not stop Edinburg pitcher Sammy Alvarado from shutting out Harlingen 5-0 in a one-hitter in their district opener. Harlingen’s Kevin LedesPD VLQJOHG WR FHQWHU ÀHOG WR EUHDN XS WKH no-hitter in the seventh inning. Alvarado had 13 strikeouts on the night. Edinburg head coach Robert Valdez is eaJHU WR ÀQLVK WRXUQDPHQW SOD\ ZKLFK WHQGV to mix in with district games in March. “It’s tough playing tournaments and district games together in one week,” says Valdez. Moving over to District 32-5A, winning the district championships in 2011 with a perfect 14-0 record was very strange and stressful for Weslaco head coach Eddie Serna. “Anytime you are playing for a dis-

trict title is one thing but, to go perfect in one season is stressful.” says Serna. At the Tony Rico Tournament, the Panthers shutout McAllen Memorial 9-0 to win the annual event at Weslaco Baseball Field. Panther pitcher Marcus Mendiola’s RQH KLWWHU JDYH WKH SXUSOH DQG ZKLWH ÀYH wins to up the season to 10-3. Mendiola FDUULHG D QR KLWWHU LQWR WKH ÀIWK LQQLQJ EHIRUH DQ LQÀHOG VLQJOH IURP 5HQH %DUUHUD ended the milestone. Against, EdcouchElsa, the Panthers won 14-0. Players to watch are Mando Ramos, Kevin Garza, James Farris, and catcher Jorge Bocanegra. “I’m looking forward to what this season brings. It will be fun,” adds Serna. Teams to watch are San Benito (8-2), Browns-

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March 2012

ville Porter (4-6), Brownsville Hanna (8-3), and Brownsville Lopez (3-5). Last season, the Pace Vikings, Los Fresnos Falcons, Hanna, and Weslaco all made the trip to the State 5A Playoffs with only the 3DQWKHUV DGYDQFLQJ WR WKH DUHD ÀQDOV 7KH Panthers lost to Eagle Pass Winn in three games 7-0, 4-10, and 9-0. “We have better pitching this season. That was the difference last year. Now, we could be in a better position,” said Serna. In District 32-4A, Roma is the defending champion with Rio Grande City, La Joya Juarez-Lincoln, Valley View, Hidlago Early College, and Valley View all making runs at winning a title too. The Huskies, Tigers, and Pirates are all off to 2-0 starts in district play. The Gladiators

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are 1-1 and tied with Edcouch-Elsa and Rio Grande City. ,Q WKH 5DWWOHUV ÀQLVKHG DV UXQQHU ups but made a run a winning a State 4A title. Wins over Alice and San Antonio Burbank made fans wonder if the Rattlers were for real. Against Calallen, the Rattlers were swept 13-1, 22-4 in the Class $ 5HJLRQ ,9 4XDUWHUÀQDOV 7KH :LOGFDWV went on to play in the state championship game against Wichita Falls Rider, losing 6-2 at Dell Diamond Ballpark in Round Rock, Texas last June 11th. Teams to watch in District 32-3A are Rio Hondo, Zapata, and Grulla-Rio Grande City. In District 31-3A, Lyford, Robstown, and Raymondville could make a run at the state title. The Cottonpickers won the 4A title in 1991 & 1992 and almost did again in 2011 as they lost to KenQHGDOH LQ WKH 6WDWH $ VHPLÀQDOV Finally, in District 32-2A, the Santa Rosa Warriors, Bishop, and Falfurrias could take it a step further in the playoffs. The Jerseys won the State 3A title in 1991 and almost did again in 2006, losing to Liberty Eylau 2-1 in 3A. Since 1948, only two teams from the Rio Grande Valley have played in the state baseball championship game. The Mercedes Tigers advanced to the State 3A championship game against South Grand Prairie in 1974 losing 9-1 and the Tigers ZRXOG UHWXUQ DJDLQ WR WKH VWDWH ÀQDOV LQ Class 4A against Brenham in 1986, losing 6-1. In Class 5A, the Harlingen South Hawks lost to Houston Cy-Fairbanks 6-1 in 2007.

State  Baseball  Finalist  in  1974  &  1986!  Mercedes  is  the  only  team  from  the  Rio  Grande  Valley  that  has  EHHQ WR WZR GLIIHUHQW FODVVL¿FDWLRQ University  Interscholastic  League   3A  &  4A  title  games.  Can  the  Tigers  do  it  again  in  2012?  (HSSMImages/David  A.  Amador)

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Softball

Top-Ranked Edinburg Leads Polls 6WDWH $ 5HJLRQ ,9 6HPLÀQDO &KDPSLRQV San Benito, Edinburg North Closing In

Race For State

(McAllen, Texas ,W ZDV MXVW D IHZ PRQWKV ago that the Edinburg Lady Bobcats and San Benito Lady Greyhounds softball teams raced into the State 5A Region-IV Softball Tournament and almost made it through, too. The Lady Bobcats fell to the San Antonio O’Connor Lady Panthers LQ WKH UHJLRQDO VHPLÀQDOV ZKLOH the Lady Greyhounds broke through by defeating San Antonio Southwest Lady Dragons in a thrilling three-game series winning 3-2, 1-0.

But, in the end, the Lady Panthers proved to be too much for the Lady Greyhounds LQ WKH UHJLRQDO ÀQDOV VZHHSLQJ WKH WKUHH game series 16-2, 16-0. O’Connor advanced to the State 5A Finals, before losing to state champions, Conroe The Woodlands 7-5 at last June 4th at Red McCombs Field in Austin, Texas. Could this be the year that a Rio Grande Valley softball team makes it to the state championships? In 2011, six teams from the Valley advanced to the State 5A Area

ÀQDOV DQG IRXU ZHQW RQ WR WKH QH[W URXQG with San Benito and Edinburg representing their brackets in the regional tournament or Sweet 16. In Class 4A, every team from District 32-4A were eliminated in the bi-district championships. District champions, Edcouch-Elsa lost to Corpus Christi King 8-2, 8-6 while Weslaco East was shutout E\ UHJLRQDO VHPLÀQDOLVW 7XOVR 0LGZD\ LQ three games (2-3, 14-4, 6-2). Rio Grande &LW\ DQG 0HUFHGHV ERWK ORVW LQ WKH ÀUVW

2011  30-­5A  Defending  Champions!  The  Sharyland  Lady  Rattlers  will  be  favored  to  repeat  as  30-­5A  District  Champi-­ ons  in  2012.  Pictured  is  Lady  Rattler  Tiffany  Ochoa  sliding  as  home  in  the  Brownsville  ISD  Softball  Festival.  (HSSMImages/Mike  De  La  Cruz)

16

HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

March  2012

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1. Edinburg 2. San Benito 3. Ed-­ inburg North 4. Edcouch-­Elsa 5. McAllen H.S. 6. Brownsville Por-­ ter 7. Harlingen South 8. McAllen Rowe 9. Weslaco 10. Mercedes As of March 15, 2012 30-5A Standings 1. McAllen 2. Rowe 3. La Joya 4. Mission 5. Sharyland 6. Donna 7. Memorial 8. Palmview

Season 11-1 9-3 9-4 9-6 7-8 7-8 4-7 1-11

Dist 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1

31-5A Standings 1. Edinburg 2. Edinburg North 3. Har South 4. PSJA North 5. PSJA 6. Economedes 7. Harlingen 8. PSJA Mem

12-2 12-4 11-2 10-4 3-8 3-10 8-7 0-10

2-0 2-0 2-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-2 0-2

32-5A Standings 1. San Benito 2. Porter 3. Weslaco 4. Pace 5. Los Fresnos 6. Hanna 7. Rivera 8. Lopez

11-2 12-3 7-5 4-5 7-6 6-4 3-8 1-11

1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-1 0-1 0-1 0-1

32-4A Standings 1. Ed-Elsa 2. Mercedes 3. Hidalgo 4. Wes East 5. Mission Vets 6. Roma 7. RGC 8. Bro Vets 9. Valley View 10. Juarez-Lin

Season 15-1 8-5 9-6 7-7 6-6 4-7 6-7 5-8 6-9 0-12

Dist 5-0 4-1 3-2 3-2 3-2 3-2 2-3 2-3 0-5 0-5

32-3A Standings 1.Rio Hondo 2. Port Isabel 3. La Feria 4. Grulla 5. Zapata 6. PSJA SW

7-8 3-5 5-7 3-8 4-8 1-5

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

31-3A Standings 1. Lyford 2. Orange Grove 3. Robstown 4. Raymondville 5. West Oso 6. CC Miller

7-5 5-4 5-6 5-10 2-6 1-9

0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0

6WDWH $ 5HJLRQ ,9 6HP¿QDOLVWV The Edinburg Lady Bobcats will be led by returning pitcher Myranda Hinojosa with hopes of defending the 31-­5A title in 2012. (HSSMImages/Mike De La Cruz)

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round. In Class 3A, Zapata and Lyford won their bi-district rounds while Port Isabel and Rio Hondo were eliminated in the Ă€UVW URXQG WRR ,Q WKH DUHD SOD\RIIV WKH Lady Bulldogs lost to Ingleside (14-4) and the Lady Hawks fell to Sweeney. In Class 2A, one team from 32-2A adYDQFHG DOO WKH ZD\ WR WKH UHJLRQDO Ă€QDOV District champion, Kinsgville Academy lost to Danbury 5-4, 7-2 after knocking off Karnes City, Refugio, and Little River Academy. Riviera Kaufer and HebbronYLOOH ORVW LQ WKH Ă€UVW URXQG 'DQEXU\ ZHQW on to win the State 2A title with a win over Nacogdoches Central Heights 9-1. In Class 1A, La Villa lost to Woodsboro LQ WKH Ă€UVW URXQG DORQJ ZLWK %HQDYLGHV District 32-1A champion, Port Aransas lost to Center Point 4-3 in the area playoffs. With district competition well under way, the Harlingen South Lady Hawks are showing early signs of earning a possible district 31-5A title after scoring 17 Ă€UVW LQQLQJ UXQV LQ WKHLU ZLQ RYHU WKH Lady Bears at Lady Hawk Field at Dixieland. South (12-2 overall, 3-0 District 31-5A), used 12 walks and three errors to get most of their runs tally, with only four base hits coming from the 22 batters. In District 32-5A, the Weslaco Pantherettes began the District 32-5A season with a 4-1 win over Los Fresnos at home last Monday night. Weslaco head coach Mario Rodriguez said, “we are young this season but starting the district season with a win is good.â€? In 32-4A, it was a pitchers duel all the way to the end as Ed-Elsa knocked off Mercedes 2-0 in 10 innings. Mercedes loaded the bases with nobody out in the QLQWK WR ZLQ LW EXW WKH RSSRUWXQLWLHV MXVW could not come in the Lady Tigers way. E-E’s Sandy Guerrero struck out 12 and Mercedes’ Stephanie Flores struck out 18 Lady Jackets in 10 innings.

Weslaco  East  Lady  Wildcats  Softball  team  pictured  from  l-­r  Sam  Rivera,  Stephanie  Villarreal,  Stephanie  Bautista,  Stefani  Garcia,  and  Ashley  Rogers.  Back  row  l-­r  are  Monica  Ramirez,  Aimee  Pedraza,  Lisa  Lopez,  Brainna  Gonza-­ lez,  Jackie  Rodriguez,  Brittany  Diaz,  Aliza,  Longoria,  and  Ashley  Avila.  (HSSMImages/Mike  De  La  Cruz)

Weslaco  Lady  Pantherettes  Softball  team  pictured  from  l-­r  are  Odessa  Por-­ ras,  Summer  Smith,  Christina  Lazo,  Liliana  Rodriguez,  Klarysa  Abeldano,  and  Maxine  Solis.  Back  row  l-­r  are  Andrea  Lopez,  Kelsey  Sada,  Mandy  Estevanes,  Nyissa  Arroyo,  Lilliana  Salazar,  and  Ashley  Robledo.  (HSSMImages/Mike  De  La  Cruz)

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Track Field

Rio Grande City’s Alex Garza Signs With University of Houston

One More Shot

(Rio Grande City, Tx)-Rio Grande City H.S. senior, Alex Garza signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Houston on a WUDFN DQG ÀHOG VFKRODUVKLS ODVW ZHHNHQG LQ D ceremony held at the Joe R. Sanchez Stadium. Garza has been competing in the shot put and discus events since his freshmen year at Rio Grande City High School and he would like to end his high school career as a state champion in Class 4A. Since, the Rattlers dropped down from 5A to 4A in the new UIL realignments, Garza ÀQLVKHG VL[WK LQ the boys discus event at the Class 4A

Austin, Texas, Garza can now concentrate on becoming a two-time champion in WKH VKRW SXW LQ WZR FODVVLÀcation and also take aim on ZLQQLQJ KLV ÀUVW GLVFXV WLWOH too. “This is my senior year and I would like to give my all,” says Garza.

Track and Field Championships held at Mike Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas with a throw of 166’05”. In the shot put event, Garza settled for a silver medal with a toss of 59’11.05”. That toss was far below the mark he shot as a sophomore with a 63’0 to win the 5A title. At the University of Houston, Garza would like to continue with the shotput and even try the hammer throw. Head coach Eladio Bermudez was proud of Garza. “This young man has dedicated himself to practice and competition. He will succeed at Houston,” says Bermudez. Garza has already hit 63 feet 5 inches, which makes him a favorite in Region IV to win the shot put and get another shot at the title. With the 2011 UIL State Track and Field Championships set for May 11-12th at Mike A. Myers Stadium in

20

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

March 2012

Rio  Grande  Valley  Track  and  Field  Results Rio  Hondo,  Tx-­Results  from  the  Inaugu-­ ral  Robert  Garza  Jr.  Relays  held  on  Fri-­ day  at  Bobcat  Stadium.

300 hurdles: 1, Vela, Harlingen, 51.13; 2, Rodriguez, South, 51.3; 3, Landeros, PSJA Memorial, 51.6; 4, vasquez, San Benito, 52.67; 5, Areaga, Veterans, 52.46; 6, Garcia, San Benito

Team Results Girls: 1. San Benito 116; 2. Brownsville Rivera 115; 3. HarlingenSouth 92; 4. Harlingen 89; 5. PSJA Memorial 79; 6. Port Isabel 55; 7.Brownsville Veterans Memorial 23; 8. Brownsville Pace 17 Boys: 1. PSJA Memorial 133; 2. Harlingen South 98; 3. Rio Hondo 72; 4. Harlingen 69; 5. Brownsville Rivera 54; 6. San Benito 48; 7. Port Isabel 43; 8. Brownsville Hanna 31; 9. La Feria 24; 10. Progreso 15 Individual Results Girls-Field Events Discus: 1, Gonzalez, PSJA Memorial, 138; 2, Ruiz, Pace, 135-11; 3, O’Brien, Rio Hondo, 108; 4, Pulido, Rivera, 99-2; 5, Gonzalez, Veterans, 98-2; 6, Gloria,Harlingen, 96-5 Shot put: 1, Murchison, PI, 34-9½; 2, Martinez, San Benito, 34-8½; 3, Ruiz, Pace, 32-4½; 4, Hartman, San Benito, 32-2ž; 5, Gonzalez, PSJA Memorial, 30-2; 6, Gonzalez, Pace, 30-3Âź. +LJK MXPS 0DOGRQDGR 3, *UDFLD 5Lvera, 5-0; 3, Herrera, South, 4-10; 4, Avila, Rivera, 4-10; 5, Reyes, San Benito, 4-8; 6, Cerda, Progreso, 4-6. 7ULSOH MXPS 6RVD 6DQ %HQLWR 5Rdriguez, Rivera, 34-8; 3, Rodriguez, South, 3310; 4, Perales, PSJA Memorial, 33-6; 5, Cerda, Progreso, 32-11½; 6, Loya, PI, 32-10 /RQJ MXPS 6RVD 6DQ %HQLWR Ă´ 'H La Garza, Porter, 16-3½; 3, Perales, PSJA Memo-

200: 1, Perales, PSJA Memorial, 27.32; 2, Ednsley, Rivera, 27.43; 3, Herrera, South, 27.68; 4, Hernandez, Rio Hondo, 28.15; 5, Chapa, Rivera, 28.44; 6, Cerda, Progreso, 28.44 1600: 1, Ortegon, PSJA Memorial, 5:19.8; 2, Lopez, San Benito, 5:20.1; 3, Rivera, Rivera, 5:42.9; 4, Araiza, South, 5:54.8; 5, Becerra, San Benito, 5:55.1; 6, Hernandez, La Feria, 5:58.4 1600 relay: 1,Harlingen4:16.7; 2,San Benito4:21.1; 3,BrownsvilleRivera 4:21.8; 4, Harlingen South 4:30.7; 5,BrownsvilleVeterans 4:31.5; 6, Port Isabel 4:33.6 Boys-Field Events Discus: 1, Galvan, Rivera, 143-3; 2, Zamorano, South, 140-11½; 3, Castro,San Benito, 136-10; 4, Longoria,San Benito, 136-4; 5, Hernandez,Harlingen, 131-0; 6, Macias, Pace, 128-11 Shot put: 1, Galvan, Rivera, 47-0; 2,Martinez, PI, 46-0; 3, Benavidez, PI, 43-4Âź; 4, Macias, Pace, 42-0Âź; 5, Herrera, Hanna, 41-2; 6, %HMDUDQ 6DQ %HQLWR +LJK MXPS :LQWRQ /D )HULD (YDQV Rivera, 5-10; 3, Mendiola, South, 5-8; 4, Borrego, PSJA Memorial, 5-6; 5, valdez, La Feria, 5-6; 6, Antony S., Harlingen, 5-6. 7ULSOH MXPS %DGLOOR 36-$ 0HPRULDO 5; 2, Rosales, Progreso, 42-7½; 3, Winton, La Feria, 42-6; 4, O’Brien, Rio Hondo, 40-10½; 5, Godoy, Rivera, 39-11; 6, Flores, PSJA Memorial, 39-9

53.15. 300 hurdles: 1, Bermea, Harlingen, 37.62; 2, Guzman, Rio Hondo, 40.08; 3, Hernandez, Harlingen, 40.49; 4, O’Brien, Rio Hondo, 41.89; 5, Milligan, La Feria, 43.09; 6, Bennet, PI, 43.4 200: 1, Spears, PSJA Memorial, 22.41; 2, BorUHJR 36-$ 0HPRULDO 7UHMR +DQQD 22.77; 4, vasquez, South, 22.86; 5, Barcenas, Porter, 22.97; 6, Guerrero, Rio Hondo, 23.46 1600: 1, Fiero, PI, 4:29.3; 2, Guerrero, PSJA Memorial, 4:31.3; 3, Cardenas, Hanna, 4:39.3; 4, Calleras, Hanna, 4:45.1; 5, Romero, Harlingen, 4:45.2; 6, Duenes, San Benito, 4:45.3 1600 relay: 1, PSJA Memorial 3:26.8; 2,Harlingen3:28.6; 3, Harlingen South 3:32.8; 4,San Benito3:39.4; 5, Brownsville Rivera3:39.4; 6,BrownsvilleHanna 3:43.6 Mercedes,  Tx-­The  following  are  the  re-­ sults  from  the  Knights  of  Columbus  Relays  held  on  Saturday  at  Billy  Gene  Pemelton  Field  at  MercedesHigh  School.

rial, 16-2Ÿ; 4, Herrera, South, 15-7Ÿ; 5, Loya, PI, 15-4½; 6, Garza, veterans, 15-4 Pole vault: 1, Tanego, PI, 9-0; 2, Olerich, South, 8-0; 3, Exinia, La Feria, 7-6; 4,avila, Rivera, 7-0; )HUQDQ 3, +LQRMRVD 36-$ 0HPRULDO 7-0.

Pole vault: 1, Garza, South, 13-0; 2, Mata, Rio Hondo, 13-0; 3, Barrera, Progreso, 12-6; 4, Garcia, PSJA Memorial, 12-0; 5, Flores, Hanna, 116; 6, Salazar, Rio Hondo, 11-6.

Running events Running events 3200: 1, Ortegon, PSJA Memorial, 11:49.1; 2, Rivera, Rivera, 12:19.8; 3, Perez, San Benito; 4, Becerra, San Benito, 12:49.8; 5, Villarreal, Veterans, 13:46.6; 6, Landrum, Rio Hondo, 14:00.4 400 relay: 1, Rivera 51.34; 2,Harlingen51.83; 3, Harlingen South 52.07; 4, Port Isabel 52.68; 5, Brownsville Veterans 53.32; 6, Rio Hondo 53.81 800: 1, Rodriguez, Rivera, 2:27.4; 2, Abrego, San Benito, 2:29.0; 3, Lopez, san Benito, *XDMDUGR +DUOLQJHQ 5Dmos, Pace, 2:34.6; 6, Banuelos, San Benito, 2:36.3 100 hurdles: 1, Landeros, PSJA Memorial, 16.87; 2, Vela, Harlingen, 17.04; 3, Rodriguez, South, 17.15; 4, vasquez, San Benito, 18.16; 5, Salazar, PSJA Memorial, 18.31; 6, Gonzalez, PI, 18.53. 100 Dash: 1, Sosa, San Benito, 12.84; 2, Perales, PSJA Memorial, 12.89; 3, Salazar, Rivera, 12.96; 4, Garza, Veterans, 12.98; 5, Goldberg, South, 13.13; 6, garza, PI, 13.28 800 relay: 1,Harlingen1:51.8; 2, Harlingen South 1:51.9; 3,BrownsvilleRivera 1:52.1; 4, Port Isabel 1:52.2; 5, Brownsvlle Veterans 1:52.4; 6, La Feria 1:56.1 400:1 , Divin, Harlingen 59.61; 2, Banuelos, San Benito, 62.44; 3, Noyola, South, 62.89; 4, Abrego,San Benito, 64.14; 5,Avila, Rivera, 64.36; 6, Montes, Rivera, 66.08

3200: 1, Duenes, San Benito, 9:58.7; 2, Guerrero, PSJA Memorial, 10:06.4; 3, cardenas, Hanna, 10:16.9; 4, Romero, Harlingen, 10:19.2; 0HMLD 9HWHUDQV &DOOHURV +DQQD 10:33.5 400 relay: 1, PSJA Memorial 43.84; 2, Harlingen South 44.04; 3, Ro Hondo 44.67; 4, Brownsville Rivera 44.74; 5, Port Isabel 44.78; 6,San Benito44.86 800: 1, Rosales, PSJA Memorial, 1:56.9; 2, Fiero, PI, 2:02.6; 3, sanchez, South, 2:02.9; 4, Alvarez, PSJa memorial, 2:06.4; 5, Cavazos, Rivera, 2:07.1; 6, Rodriguez, Harlingen, 2:07.2 100 hurdles: 1, Bermea, Harlingen, 13.84; 2, O’Brien, Rio Hondo, 14.54; 3, Maldonado, PSJA Memorial, 15.07; 4, Guzman, Rio Hondo, 15.12; 5, Hernandez, Harlingen, 15.16; 6, Robles, Hanna, 16.3 100 Dash: 1, Borrego, PSJA Memorial, 10.89; 2, DeLeon, South, 11.04; 3, Barcenas, Porter, 11.08; 4, Holland, PI, 11.11; 5, Gonzalez, Rio Hondo, 11.13; 6, cruz, Harlingen, 11.17 800 relay: 1, Harlingen South 1/l32.1; 2, San Benito 1:32.8; 3, Brownsville Veterans 1:33.9; 4, Harlingen 1:34.3; 5, Rio Hondo 1:34.6; 6, Port Isabel 1:34.9 400:1, Gonzalez, PSJA Memorial, 51.09; 2, Gonzalez, Rio Hondo, 52.71; 3, Sanchez, Harlingen, 52.72; 4, Winton, La Feria, 53.01; 5, Mendiola, South, 53.11; 6, Gonzalez, Hanna,

March  2012

400:1 , Galarza, Los Fresnos, 64.40; 2, Martinez, Hanna, 66.53; 3, Weaver, Raymondville, 67.56; 4, Espinoza, EE, 68.78; 5, Perez, Mercedes, 70.88; 6, Gutierrez, Mercedes, 71.97 300 hurdles: 1, DeLeon, Mercedes, 47.71; 2, espinoza, Valley View, 53.45; 3, Banda, Mercedes, 57.18; 4,martinez,Hidalgo, 57.30; 5,Mata,Hidalgo, 63.75; 6, Janes, Raymondville, no time. 200: 1, Antonio, PSJA, 26.39; 2, Gutierrez, EE, 26.59; 3, Mata, valley View, 27.80; 4, Short, EE, 28.13; 5, Calvillo, 28.42; 6, Ruiz, Los Fresnos, 28.90 1600: 1, Mata, Mercedes, 5:38.31; 2, Gallardo, PSJA, 5:50.27; 3, Urbis, Los Fresnos, 5:53.60; 4, Cerda, EE, 5:58.45; 5, davila, Los Fresnos, 5:58.77; 6, Garza, 6:06.19

Team Results

1600 relay: 1, Mercedes 4:25.09; 2, Los Fresnos 4:32.50; 3, EE 4:44.45; 4, Raymondville 4:54.65; 5, East 4:54.76

Girls: 1, Mercedes 169; 2, Los Fresnos 111; 3, PSJA 100; 4, Edcouch-Elsa 90; 5, Valley View 46; 6,BrownsvilleHanna 38

Boys-Field Events

Boys: 1, Los Fresnos 146; 2,WeslacoEast 103; 3, Edcouch-Elsa 83; 4, Valley View 68.5; 5, PSJA 54.5; 6, Donna 48 Individual Results Girls-Field Events Discus: 1, Corrina Cox, Los Fresnos, 147-1Ÿ; 2, Keisha Rodriguez, Mercedes, 118-4Ÿ; 3, Jenna Richie, PSJA, 109-2; 4, Perla Yanez, Hanna, 104-10½; 5, Arianna Tanguma, EE, 1049Ÿ; 6, Lisa Mancillas, PSJA,

98-4

L o n g MXPS (YDQV 5Lvera, 21-6½; 2, O’Brien, Rio Hondo, 21-5ž; 3, Munoz, Pace, 21-5; 4, Bermea,Harlingen, 212ž; 5, Villanueva,Harlingen, 21-2; 6, Rosales, Progreso, 20-1½.

800 Relay: 1, PSJA 1:51.27; 2, Mercedes 1:51.28; 3, EE 1:52.88; 4, Valley View 1:53.96; 5, East 1:56.97; 6, Los Fresnos 2:00.41

Shot put: 1, Corina Cox, Los Fresnos, 376; 2, Nelly Flores, Hidalgo, 35-2½; 3, Melanie Garza, Hidalgo, 33-5½; 4, Keisha Rodriguez, Mercedes, 32-4½; 5, Camille kafka, Raymondville, 30-5; 6, Raquel Prado, EE, 29-4 +LJK MXPS -DOHDK &DOYLOOR /RV )UHVQRV 4-10; 2, (tie) Rauqel Mertinez, Merecedes; danLHOD (VSLQR]D 9DOOH\ 9LHZ $OHMDQGUD Vega, Hanna, 4-8; 5, Kim Espinoza, EE, 4-6; 6, Kendra Garcia, 4-4. 7ULSOH MXPS 0HODQLH *XWLHUUH] (( ô 2, Cassie Banda, Mercedes, 32-10; 3, laura Ruiz, EE, 32-7½; 4, Jordan Henry, PSJA, 31-11½; 5, Jaleah Calvillo, Los Fresnos, 31-6; 6, Ruby Briseno, Los Fresnos, 31-3 /RQJ MXPS 9DOHULH 0DQFKD 36-$ ô 2, Jaleah Calvillo, Los Fresnos, 16-1; 3, Ivonne Alvarez, Mercedes, 15-10½; 4, Kenya Barreto, Valley View, 15-5½; 5, Melanie Gutierrez, EE, 15-5; 6, alyza alaniz, Mercedes, 15-5 Pole vault: 1, Isabel Garza, EE, 9-6; 2, Maya Arrednondo, Hanna, 8-0; 3, Ashley Saenz, Hanna, 7-6; 4, Natalie Serrano, Hanna, 5-6 Running events 3200: 1, Mata, Mercedes, 12:01.52; 2, Gallardo, PSJA, 12:42.65; 3, davila, Los Fresnos, 12/l47.26; 4, Garza, Los Fresnos, 13:13.07; 5, Casas, Hidalgo, 12:23.46; 6, Turrubiates, Mercedes, 13:36.69 400 relay: 1, Mercedes 51.21; 2, PSJA 51.77; 3, Valley View 51.89; 4, EE 52.66; 5, Los Fresnos 54.13; 6, East 55.15 800: 1, Galarza, Los Fresnos, 2:30.88; 2, Urbis, Los Fresnos, 2:33.32; 3, Garza, PSJA, 2:35.58; 4, Ortiz, Hanna, 2:36.44; 5, Cerda, EE, 2:39.39; 6, Gutierrez, Mercedes, 2:43.63. 100 hurdles: 1, Pena, Mercedes, 17.01; 2, Banda, Mercedes, 17.01; 3, Alaniz, Mercedes, 17.15 100 dash: 1, Mancha, PSJA, 12.64; 2, Alvarado, Mercedes, 12.77; 3, Barroso, Mercedes, 12.82; 4, davila, Raymondville, 13.09; 5, Segura, EE, 13.26; 6, Sustaita, Valley View, 13.33

Discus: 1, Rodriguez, EE, 157-5; 2, Hernandez, EE, 150-9½; 3, Rodriguez, Los fresnos, 150-1; 4, Guerrero, EE, 147-0½; 5, garcia, Mercedes, 127-6½; 6, Rodriguez, Valley View, 125-5½ Shot put: 1, Guerrero, EE, 50-4½; 2, Rodriguez, Weslaco, 44-5½; 3, herandez, EE, 43-11½; 4, Garcia, Mercedes, 42-4½; Flores, Valley View, 41-8½; 6, Aguilar, Mercedes, 40-11½ +LJK MXPS *ULIĂ€WK (( 6LPLHQ Los Fresnos, 6-2; 3, Rafac, Los Fresnos, 5-6; 4, Gutierrez, valley View, 5-4; 5, Henry, PSJA, 5-4; 6, Garza, Valley View, 5-4. 7ULSOH MXPS *XWLHUUH] (DVW Toscano, EE, 41-11; 3, Simien, Losfresnos, 41-7½; 4, Vega, Valley View, 41-2; 5, Muniz, raymondville, 41-1; 6, cantu, raymondville, 40-7 /RQJ MXPS *XWLHUUH] (DVW Ăś 6LPLHQ Los Fresnos, 21-2; 3, ramirez, Mercedes, 20-7; 4, Vega, Valley View, 20-3½; 5, Lopez, Los Fresnos, 20-2; 6, Rafac, Los fresnos, 20-1. Pole vault: 1, Lozoya, Los fresnos, 12-0; 2, Pena, EE, 11-6; 3, Guerra, PSJA, 11-6; 4,Mendoza, raymondville, 11-0; 5, padilla, EE, 11-0; 6, Garcia, Donna, 10-0.

Running events 3200: 1, Delgado, Valley View, 9:09.02; 2, Mora, Donna, 10:04.77; 3, Armendariz, Hidalgo, 10:05.58; 4, Leal, Weslaco, 10:14.16; 5, Granados, PSJA, 10:15.01; 6, Leos, EE, 10:18.75 400 relay: 1, PSJA 44.63; 2, Los Fresnos 44.69; 3, Donna 44.77; 4, Valley View 44.95; 5, Weslaco East 45.09; 6, Raymondville 45.65 800: 1, Guillen, Los Fresnos, 2:03.22; 2, Martinez, East, 2:03.96; 3, Gonzalez, Mercedes, 2:04.69; 4, Trevino, Mercedes, 2:05.92; 5, cruz, EE, 2:06.77; 6, Garza, Donna, 2:06.82 100 hurdles: 1, Gutierrez, East, 14.32; 2, Castillo, Donna, 15.14; 3, Bucannon, Raymondville, 15.56; 4, Lopez, Los Fresnos, 15.69; 5, Flores, Valley View, 16.85; 6, Rivera, Mercedes, 18.38 100: 1, Rafac, Los Fresnos, 10.81; 2, Diaz,Weslaco, 11.07; 3, Bernal, Mercedes, 11.10; 4, Guzman, Mercedes, 11.18; 5, Hernandez, East, 11.21; 6, Anguiano, East, 11.28 800 relay: 1, Weslaco East 1:31.89; 2, PSJA 1:32.20; 3, Los fresnos 1:34.50; 4, Valley View 1:34.96; 5, Raymondville

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Mike  A.  Myers  Stadium-­Austin,  Texas 6WDWH $ 7UDFN DQG )LHOG 4XDOLÀHUV Randy Bermea-Harlingen H.S. Bronze Medal 300M Hurdles; Silver Medal 110 hurdles Zariah Noyola-Harlingen South 300-meter hurdles-5th place Raul Cervantes-Weslaco HS 400 meter dash-7th place Blake White-Harlingen South H.S. Pole Vault-8th place Sharyland HS 800-meter relays-8th Place; 400 meter relay 8th place Leigh Brown-Edinburg Economedes H.S. 100 meter hurdles-9th place Corina Cox-Los Fresnos H.S. Discus-7th place Lauren Espinoza-McAllen Memorial H.S. Shot put-8th place 6WDWH $ 7UDFN DQG )LHOG 4XDOLÀHUV Alex Garza-Rio Grande City Discus 6th Place; Shotput-Silver Medal Emily Perez-LJ Juarez-Lincoln 3,200 meter run-7th place; 1,600 meters-4th place Deandra Barroso-Mercedes /RQJ MXPS WK SODFH Orlando Oviedo-Rio Grande City ORQJ MXPS WK SODFH WULSOH MXPS WK =DFN *ULIÀQ (GFRXFK (OVD /RQJ MXPS WK SODFH Jonas Gutierrez-Weslaco East 110 hurdles 7th place Andrew Espinoza-Hidalgo 400 meter dash-9th place 6WDWH $ 7UDFN DQG )LHOG 4XDOLÀHUV Daniella Rodriguez-La Feria 1,600 meter run-9th place Armando Fierro-Port Isabel 3,200 meter run-Bronze medal Jose Jaramillo-Rio Hondo 800 meter run-7th place 6WDWH $ 7UDFN DQG )LHOG 4XDOLÀHUV Andres Watson-San Perlita H.S. 800-meter run-Bronze medal Krystal Mata-La Villa H.S. shot put-4th place Steven Perez-La Villa H.S. shot put-8th place

Mike  Galvan  of  Brownsville  Rivera  will  be  favored  in  the  discus  throw  DW WKH 'LVWULFW $ WUDFN DQG ¿HOG meet.  (HSSMImages/Alec  Amador)

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HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

March  2012

Rio  Grande  Valley  Track  and  Field  Results

Up  and  Over!  High  Jumper  Aurelia  Gracia  of  Brownsville  5LYHUD ¿QLVKHG LQ VHFRQG SODFH DW WKH 5REHUWR *DU]D -U Track  and  Field  Relays  in  Rio  Hondo.  (HSSMImages/Alec  Amador) (Continue from Page 21) 1:35.89; 6, Mercedes 1:36.46 400:1, Ortiz, EE, 54.40; 2, MDUDPLOOR (DVW Cruz, Los fresnos, 54.69; 4, Trevino, Mercedes, 55.63; 5,Martinez, East, 55.76; 6, Toscano, EE, 56.55 300 hurdles: 1, Castillo, Donna, 41.18; 2, Lopez, Los fresnos, 42.37; 3, LeDesina, Raymondville, 43.26; 4, ramirez, Mercedes, 43.33; 5, Bucannon, Raymondville, 44.09; 6, Medina, Los fresnos, 44.21 200: 1, Ramirez, Los fresnos, 22.76; 2, Hernandez, valley View, 22.88; 3, Vega, Valley View, 23.20; 4, Jones, Weslaco, 23.39; 5, Muniz, Raymondville, 23.40; 6, Ortiz, EE, 23.68 1600: 1, Delgado, Valley View, 4:32.13; 2, Martinez, East, 4:32.31; 3, Guillen, Los fresnos, 4:33.01; 4, Mora, Donna, 4:37.69; 5, Armendariz, Hidalgo, 4:40.41; 6, Granados, PSJA, 4:40.91

Daniella  Murchison  of  Port  Isabel  will  be  favored  to  win  the  32-­3A  title  as  a  freshmen.  (HSSMImages/Alec  Amador)

1600 relay: 1, Weslaco East 3:32.41; 2, Los Fresnos 3:32.50; 3, Raymondville 3:37.60; 4, PSJA 3:41.26; 6, Edcouch-Elsa 3:47.31 March  2012

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Giving Back...

Former  Rio  Hondo  H.S.  Graduate  and  NFL  Player  Roberto  Garza  Jr.  Sponsors Rio  Hondo  Annual  Track  and  Field  Meet (Rio Hondo, Texas)-One day, Chicago Bears football player, Roberto Garza Jr. will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame LQ &DQWRQ 2KLR DQG WKHUH KH ZLOO EHJLQ WR WDON DERXW KLV MRXUney as a Hispanic football player wanting to play football in the NFL. Someday, Garza will be talking about his glory days he played at Rio Hondo High School and how he walked-on to play football for the Texas A&M Kingsville Javelinas. And someday, Garza will talk about how he went to church and

prayed about making the NFL on draft day back in 2006. But on this day, Garza came to his hometown in Rio Hondo, Texas to start the inaugural Robert Garza Jr. Track and Field Relays at Bobcats Stadium. The 11-year NFL veteran smiled throughout the day as fans approached the 2011 Offensive team captain and the oldest player on the Bears roster at 32 years old after seven years with Chicago. “I will never forget these days playing here at home. I cherish these moments,â€? Garza told HSSM. Garza was the ofĂ€FLDO VWDUWHU RI WKH PHHW ZLWK WKH PHWHU UXQ DQG WKHQ MXVW VDW EDFN DQG HQMR\HG WKH PHHW Garza played in the 2007 Super Bowl XLI against the IndiaQDSROLV &ROWV DQG 3H\WRQ 0DQQLQJ 0DQQLQJ ZDV UHOHDVHG MXVW last week by the Colts. “Playing in the NFL is tough. I have managed to stay conditioned and after 11 years, it’s been great. I’m looking forward to this season,â€? says the starting center for the Bears. 5LR +RQGR DWKOHWLF GLUHFWRU 5RFN\ -DPHV DQG WUDFN DQG Ă€HOG head coach Israel Gracia are grateful to Garza for sponsoring the event. “He has a big heart and he loves coming back home. Just a few miles down the country road is Arroyo City. That’s ZKHUH KH OLNHV WR Ă€VK DQG NLFN EDFN ÂľVD\V -DPHV Nineteen schools attended the meet including all six Brownsville schools, both Harlingen schools and San Benito amongst other Sub-4A schools. On the girls’ side, San Benito took home the team title with 116 points and PSJA Memorial won the boys’ title with 133 points. South was second with 98 and Rio Hondo came in third with 72. Garza won a national championVKLS LQ WKH VKRW SXW LQ DV D MXQLRU DW 7$08.

The  Roberto  Garza  Jr.  Track  and  Field  Relays  at  Rio  Hondo  H.S.  Begins!  The  former  Rio  Hondo  H.S.  gradu-­ ate  and  current  NFL  Chicago  Bears  offensive  linemen  is  pictured  with  cheerleaders  from  his  alma  mater.  (HSSMImages/Alec  Amador)

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Headed  to  California!  Randy  Bermea  of  Harlingen  H.S.  signed  a  scholarship  to  attend  the  University  of  &DOLIRUQLD %HUNHOH\ WR UXQ WUDFN DQG ¿HOG 7KH +DU-­ lingen  stand-­out  long  jumps  and  runs  the  hurdles.  He  ZDV D 6WDWH $ 7UDFN )LHOG TXDOL¿HU LQ (HSSMImages/Alec  Amador)

Advertise  With  HSSM! We  Reach  More  Than  2,000,000  RGV  Fans  on  Facebook and  Our  Website  Ranks.  No.1  in  websearches  of  more  than  300,000,000  million! Most  importantly,  we  reach  reach  5,000  readers  each  week. March 15-April 10, 2012

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2010-­11 32-­5A District Champs 14-­0 2010-­11 State 5A Bi-­District Champs 2010-­11 State 5A Area Finalists 2009-­2010 Class 5A Bi-­District Champions 2009-­2010 Class 5A Area Finalists

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McHi’s Brown, Hanna Girls Doubles Team Win Brownsville Tennis Tourney (Brownsville, Tx)-At the Brownsville ISD Tennis Tournament recently, McAllen High School tennis player, Manual Brown won the Boys Singles A draw with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Harlingen South’s Bennett Holder in cool weather and no raindrops on the court. Overall, Harlingen South won the tournament with 144 points, followed by Brownsville Hanna, the tournament host, with 135 points. Harlingen High came in third with 106 points.

Harlingen  South’s  No.1  doubles  team  Kate  Holder  and  Caitlyn  Resendez  will  be  favored  to  win  the  31-­5A  tennis  title  in  doubles.  (HSSMImages/David  A.  Amador)

Manual  Brown  of  McAllen  High  School  will  be  compete  in  the  District  30-­5A  tennis  championships.  (HSSMImages/David  A.  Amador)

March  2012

McAllen High assistant coach David Reast said he was of Brown’s victory. “He’s a great competitor and loves this game,â€? added Reast. Fernando Mata of Laredo United won the boys singles B draw 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, by knocking off Rodrigo Torres of McAllen High. In girl’s action, Brownsville Hanna won the singles and doubles titles. Hanna’s Sophia Montemayor won the girls singles A draw over Sandra Dawy of Harlingen High 6-1, 6-1, and Oryana Otero of Hanna won the B draw over Stephanie Lillard of South. Doubles twin sisters, Marithe and Carolina Guerra of Hanna won the girls doubles A draw 6-2, 6-2 over Kate Holder and Caitlyn Resendez of Harlingen South. Hanna’s Ashlea Rosenbaum and Jenny Blundell won the B draw 6-1, 6-1 over Kathryn Lewis and Andrea Johnson of South. Harlingen South swept boys doubles, with Devin Kyral and &DUORV 3HUH] EHDWLQJ %HUQDUGR 9DOOHMR DQG 6HEDVWLDQ 3UHFLDGR RI 6W -RVHSK LQ WKH $ Ă€QDO DQG 3DWULFN 0F&DOOXP DQG Joseph Rayner beat Daniel Warner and Noe Moraida of La Feria LQ WKH % Ă€QDO

HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

27

2011 Donna ISD School Board Alfredo Lugo-­President Reynaldo Alegria-­VP Angel Magallanes-­Secretary Nick Castillo-­Board Member Efren Ceniceros-­Board Member Michael Flores, M.D.-­Board Member Ernesto Lugo-­Board Member

2011 Donna ISD Administration Superintendent of Schools Roberto F. Loredo Donna HS Principal Nancy Castillo Director of Athletics/Consultant Rafael G. Leal

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District 30-­5A Baseball team

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State Girls Basketball Playoffs Highlights

(Edinburg, Texas)The Harlingen Lady Cardinals basketball team watched their hopes of winning a state title come to an end in the UIL Class 5A Regional QuarterÀQDO DV /DUHGR $OH[ander eliminated the Lady Cards 52-34 at UTPA Fieldhouse. After 700-plus victories for head coach Nora Zamarippa, this victory would be recorded as a loss. Se-

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Harlingen Lady Cardinals Magical Season Ends Against Laredo Alexander 52-­34 Harlingen’s Demmee Rodriguez reaches for the ball against Laredo Alexander’s Diana 6FRWW DV 0LULDP /RSH] ORRNV RQ LQ WKH &ODVV $ 5HJLRQDO 4XDUWHU¿QDOV. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

29

State  Girls  Basketball  Playoffs  Highlights nior Jessica Prieto led Alexander with 16 points as they improved to Lady Bulldogs (36-1). Harlingen (32-5) took a 13-8 lead on the No. 7 ranked Lady Bulldogs but that was the only spark the Lady Cards could muster for the rest of the half. Alexander went rampant on a 15-0 run that put the Lady Bulldogs ahead 23-13 and $OH[DQGHU HQGHG WKH Ă€UVW KDOI with a 30-18 lead. Harlingen VFRUHG Ă€YH SRLQWV LQ HDFK WKH second and third periods. Harlingen won the District

31-5A title with a 14-0 record. But, for Zamarippa, she was still proud of her team’s efforts throughout the year. “This was a special season. It was very special. I’m proud of my team. We won the district title, bi-district title, and area titles. This was special,â€? said Zamarippa. At the Edinburg North game, Zamarippa won her 700th game in her coaching career and bursted into tears as she hung her mother who was watching from the stands. “She LV ZK\ , DP ZKR , DP ,¡P MXVW

and they forced us to turnover the ball. We were rattled and ZH ZHUH QHYHU DEOH WR DGMXVW Âľ Rowe coach Raul Vega said.   Class  5A  Region  IV  Reg  Qtrs Del Rio was led by Valeria McAllen  Rowe  38 Guevara’s 18 points followed Del  Rio  53 by Aneya Torres’ 14 points. (San Antonio, Tx)-Del Rio (28- Kelsey Green had 10 rebounds HDUQHG LWV Ă€UVW WULS WR WKH to go with three points. regional tournament by elimiRowe (24-12) was led by nating McAllen Rowe, 53-38, Ashley Watson who scored 10 in a Class 5A Region-IV Quar- points. WHUĂ€QDOV RQ 7XHVGD\ DW /DQLHU The Lady Warriors advanced High School. The Lady Rams to third round of the playoffs converted six 3-pointers, in- DQG ZRQ LWV Ă€UVW GLVWULFW FKDPFOXGLQJ IRXU LQ WKH Ă€UVW KDOI pionship despite a 1-6 start to “We made a lot of mistakes the season. thankful she’s here to be part of this,â€? added Zamarippa.

Class  5A  Area  Basketball  Champions!  McAllen  Nikki  Rowe  girsl  basketball  team  won  the  30-­5A  title  along  with  titles  in  Bi-­District  and  Area.  (HSSMImages/Alec  Amador)

30

HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

March  2012

HSSM Final Basketball Standings 2011-­12 DISTRICT BY DISTRICT GIRLS DISTRICT 32-­5A 1. LOS FRESNOS** 2. WESLACO* 3. SAN BENITO* 4. BRO RIVERA* 5. BRO PACE 6. BRO HANNA 7. BRO PORTER 8. BRO LOPEZ

Overall 30-­4 29-­8 23-­13 16-­21 9-­25 10-­20 10-­23 4-­13

DISTRICT 31-­5A 1. HARLINGEN** 2. PSJA NORTH* 3. EDINBURG NORTH* 4. HARLINGEN SOUTH* 4. EDINBURG 6. PSJA 7. ED ECONOMEDES 8. PSJA MEMORIAL

30-­4 27-­7 19-­14 19-­16 18-­15 12-­22 9-­24 5-­20

DISTRICT 30-­5A 1. MCALLEN ROWE** 2. SHARYLAND* 3. MCALLEN* 3. MISSION* 5. LA JOYA 6. MCALLEN MEMORIAL 7. DONNA 8. LJ PALMVIEW

District 14-­0 12-­2 10-­4 6-­8 5-­9 5-­9 4-­10 0-­14

BOYS

Overall 20-­13 18-­14 18-­13 16-­16 11-­18 16-­19 13-­19 06-­26

DISTRICT 32-­5A 1. WESLACO* 1. BRO HANNA* 1. BRO PORTER* 4. LOS FRESNOS* 5. BRO RIVERA 6. SAN BENITO 7. BRO LOPEZ 8. BRO PACE

District 10-­4 10-­4 10-­4 9-­5 7-­7 6-­8 2-­12 1-­13

14-­0 12-­2 9-­5 8-­6 7-­7 3-­11 2-­12 1-­13

DISTRICT 31-­5A 1. HARLINGEN SOUTH** 2. HARLINGEN** 3. EDINBURG NORTH* 3. EDINBURG* 5. ED ECONOMEDES 6. PSJA NORTH 7. PSJA MEMORIAL 8. PSJA

26-­8 27-­6 18-­14 23-­11 25-­7 16-­17 9-­21 9-­24

11-­3 11-­3 10-­4 9-­5 9-­5 4-­10 1-­13 1-­13

22-­11 22-­11 18-­17 20-­10 20-­13 7-­27 0-­0 5-­23

13-­1 11-­3 10-­4 8-­6 8-­6 3-­11 3-­11 0-­14

DISTRICT 30-­5A 1. SHARYLAND** 2. MCA MEMORIAL* 2. MCALLEN ROWE* 4. LA JOYA PALMVIEW* 5. MCALLEN 6. LA JOYA 7. MISSION 8. DONNA

25-­10 21-­11 23-­8 25-­7 15-­14 11-­20 9-­23 1-­13

13-­1 10-­4 10-­4 9-­5 6-­8 5-­9 1-­13 1-­13

DISTRICT 32-­4A 1. HIDALGO** 2. MISSION VETERANS* 3. WESLACO EAST* 3. ROMA* 5. ED-­ELSA 6. MERCEDES 7. VALLEY VIEW HS 8. LJ JUAREZ-­LINCOLN 9. BRO VETERANS 10. RIO GRANDE CITY

34-­2 27-­10 20-­16 18-­16 18-­15 14-­21 14-­19 11-­18 9-­28 3-­27

18-­0 16-­2 12-­6 11-­7 10-­8 7-­11 7-­11 5-­13 3-­15 0-­18

DISTRICT 32-­4A 1. ROMA** 2. HIDALGO* 3. BRO VETERANS* 4. WESLACO EAST* 5. JUAREZ LINCOLN 6. MISSION VETS 7. ED-­ELSA 8. RIO GRANDE CITY 9. MERCEDES 10. VALLEY VIEW

25-­7 25-­7 20-­12 17-­16 7-­7 10-­8 16-­15 16-­13 5-­13 1-­21

18-­0 15-­3 11-­7 11-­7 10-­8 9-­9 6-­12 5-­13 5-­13 0-­18

DISTRICT 32-­3A 1. LA FERIA** 2. ZAPATA* 3. RIO HONDO* 4. PORT ISABEL 5. RGC GRULLA 6. PSJA SOUTHWEST 7. PROGRESO

22-­5 19-­6 22-­9 13-­14 0-­0 8-­19 3-­27

11-­1 10-­2 9-­3 6-­6 4-­8 2-­10 0-­12

DISTRICT 32-­3A 1. RIO HONDO** 2. PORT ISABEL* 3. LA FERIA* 4. GRULLA 5. ZAPATA 6. PROGRESO 7. PSJA SOUTHWEST

20-­7 20-­5 22-­11 6-­4 5-­21 5-­27 4-­26

11-­1 9-­3 9-­3 6-­4 4-­8 2-­10 0-­12

All South Texas Boys Basketball Coach of the Year Johnny Cipriano, Santa Rosa H.S.

All South Texas Girls Basketball Coach of the Year Nora Zamarippa, Harlingen H.S.

30-­5A Coach of the Year David Keith-­Sharyland H.S.

30-­5A Coach of the Year Raul Vega, McAllen Nikki Rowe

31-­5A Coach of the Year Brian Molina-­Harlingen South H.S.

31-­5A Coach of the Year Nora Zamarippa-­Harlingen H.S.

32-­5A Coach of the Year Gabe Valdez-­Weslaco H.S.

32-­5A Coach of the Year Kim Edquist-­Los Fresnos H.S.

32-­4A Coach of the Year Abelardo Escobar-­Roma H.S.

32-­4A Coach of the Year Saul Arjona-­Hidalgo Early College

32-­3A Coach of the Year Joe Guzman-­Rio Hondo H.S.

32-­3A Coach of the Year Angel Martinez-­La Feria H.S.

32-­2A Coach of the Year Johnny Cipriano-­Santa Rosa

32-­2A Coach of the Year Martin Gonzalez-­Santa Gertrudis Academy

32-­1A Div I Coach of the Year Rick Cantu-­La Villa H.S.

32-­1A Div I Coach of the Year Rene Duque-­La Villa H.S.

32-­1A Div II Coach of the Year David Contreras-­LaSara H.S.

32-­1A Div II Coach of the Year Jessica Garza, LaSara H.S. March 2012

HSSM’s All-­South Texas Basketball Team Selections Most Valuable Player Aaron Ramirez-­Santa Rosa H.S. Newcomer of the Year Jesse Pistokache, Sharyland H.S. First Team Selections Juan “Papito” Gonzalez-­McAllen Memorial Joaquin Pistocache-­Sharyland Nick Garcia-­Harlingen South A.J. Garza-­La Villa Noe Espericueta-­Edinburg H.S. Lorenzo Garza-­Brownsville Hanna Second Team Selections Josh Davies-­McAllen Memorial Andrew Espinoza-­Edinburg H.S. Ari Fernandez-­McAllen Nikki Rowe Dakota Flores-­Port Isabel H.S. Kevin Andrade-­Roma H.S. James Kittleman H.S. Third Team Selections Gus Martinez-­McAllen Memorial Leo Guerra-­Hidalgo Early College Justin Gonzalez, PSJA H.S. Charlie Powers-­Harlingen H.S. Daniel Ybarra-­Harlingen H.S. Lino Alvarez-­Roma H.S. Girls Basketball All-­South Selections Most Valuable Player Nelly Flores-­Hidalgo Early College Newcomer of the Year Angela Villarreal Weslaco Freshmen First Team Selections Lisa Mancillas,PSJA Vicky Pena, Edinburg North Jade Jones, Hidalgo Early College Demmee Rodriguez, Harlingen Laura Van Tilburg-­Weslaco H.S. Second Team Selections Bianka Martinez-­Harlingen H.S. Ciaira Briseno-­McAllen Rowe Cassie Aleman-­PSJA North Briana Casas-­Mission Veterans Micheline Mercelita-­Edinburg H.S. Kassandra Sanchez-­San Benito H.S. Third Team Selections Alyza Alaniz-­Mercedes H.S. Karla Trevino-­La Joya H.S. Arie Guerra-­McAllen H.S. Elva Hinojosa-­La Joya H.S. Chanel Ebanks-­Texada;; Los Fresnos HS Anikka Garza, San Isidro H.S.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

31

State  Girls  Basketball  Playoffs  Highlights

Weslaco Lady Panthers Wins Bi-District Title Lady Panthers Defeat Edinburg North 53-47; Almost Upsets Alexander (Edinburg, Texas)-Head coach Griselda Fino of Weslaco did what VKH FRXOG ZLWK WZR IUHVKPHQ WKUHH VRSKRPRUHV IRXU MXQLRU DQG two seniors in the starting lineup. At some point, she only had three freshmen and two sophomores playing on the court this past season. Either way, Fino found a way to make her team UHVSRQG ZLWK D UXQQHU XS ÀQLVK LQ 'LVWULFW $ RQH &ODVV $ Bi-District Championship title, and one almost area title.

Dulce Pena throughout the night. At halftime, Weslaco led 27-24 after a three-pointer by Jasmine Garza drew loud cheers from the stands at the buzzer. “We had too many turnovers and missed shots tonight,� said Edinburg North head coach Jenny Rae Garcia. In the fourth quarter, the Lady Cougars still had their chances with the game tied at 47-47 with 2:06 left to play but North’s

Class  5A  Bi-­District  Basketball  Champions!  Weslaco  head  coach  Griselda  Fino  shows  fans  who’s  No.1  in  their  win  over  Edinburg  North.  Pictured  is  Weslaco’s  Angela  Villarreal  scoring  against  North’s  Dulce  Pena  (34).  (HSSMImages/Alec  Amador) In the Class 5A Bi-District Championships, six-foot-one sophomore, Laura Van Tilburg had six blocked shots and scored 20 points to lead the Weslaco Lady Pantherettes past the Edinburg North Lady Cougars 53-47 in the Class 5A Bi-District Championships at Edinburg North Gym on Tuesday night. The win was bittersweet for Weslaco head coach, Griselda Fino, who won her Ă€UVW EL GLVWULFW WLWOH LQ WKUHH WULHV ´, Ă€QDOO\ JRW WKLV PRQNH\ RII my back. It’s been a long time waiting,â€? said Fino. Van Tilburg converted 12-of-15 free throws from the line as she would drive to the basket and get fouled by Vicky Pena, Crystal Cantu, and

32

HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

Vicky Pena aggressive play fouled Van Tilburg on the drive to the basket again. Her extra point attempt was good for one shot to make it 48-47 Weslaco. Freshmen, Angela Villarreal ended the Cougars last hopes as she scored on a fast-break layup to seal the win for Weslaco. Against, state-ranked No.7 Laredo Alexander, the Lady Panthers inexperienced showed as they went cold in the second half to lose in the State 5A Area Championships 46-41. “We played a great season. This team played as a team and believed in themselves. Most of my players are only 14-years old,� added Fino.

March  2012

State Girls Basketball Playoffs Highlights

Hidalgo Early College Runs Past Alice 83-32 Lose to Gregory-Portland in Area Round (Hidalgo, Texas)-The Hidalgo Early College girls basketball team made an early statement in the State 4A playoffs by blasting Alice 83-32. Lady Pirate point guard Nikki Sanchez scored 24 points and teammate Nelly Flores had 26 points and 21 rebounds as Hidalgo improved to 35-2. The Lady Pirates made 12 three-pointers, eight by Sanchez alone. The Lady Pirates led 46-14 halftime. Hidalgo MXQLRU IRUZDUG -DGH -RQHV ÀQished with 18 points. Sophomore point guard Lexi Williams had eight points and ÀYH UHERXQGV 7KH WRS UDQNHG

Lady Pirates went on to meet Gregory-Portland in the next round. The Lady Pirates will be trying to get back to the Class 4A Region IV Tournament after making a run in 2011. The /DG\ 3LUDWHV ORVW WR VWDWH ÀQDOist, Austin LBJ 62-35 in the VHPLÀQDOV Against the Lady Wildcats from Gregory Portland in the Class 4A Area Championships, the Lady Pirates lost 5534. It was a rematch from last season’s victory over the Lady Wildcats. The season ends the Lady Pirates run for a possible State 4A title. March 15-April 10, 2012

Class 5A Bi-­District Basketball Champions! Nelly Flores leads team past Alice Lady Coyotes. (HSSMImages/Mike De la Cruz)

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1. SHARYLAND 2. PSJA 3. WESLACO 4. MCALLEN H.S. 5. EDINBURG H.S. 6. RIO GRANDE CITY 7. HARLINGEN SOUTH 8. HIDALGO 9. RIO HONDO H.S. 10. MCALLEN MEMORIAL

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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

33

HSSM Final Polls

State Boys Basketball Playoffs Highlights Tough Loss! Edinburg’s Noe Espericueta grimaces as the Bobcats lost to Laredo United 57-­ 54 in State 5A Region Iv Area Playoffs.

Boys Rankings 1. Santa Rosa 2. Harlingen South 3. Harlingen 4. Edinburg 5. Edinburg North 6. McAllen Memorial 7. Roma 8. Brownsville Veterans 9. Rio Hondo 10. Sharyland

(HSSMImages/Mike De La Cruz)

State

Playoffs End Edinburg Bobcats Fall Short;; Harlingen South Makes Class 5A Region IV Quarters;; Santa Rosa Makes it So Sweet! B Y D A V I D A M A D O R

34

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

March 2012

State Boys Basketball Playoffs Highlights (McAllen, Texas)-It was a strange playoff season for Rio Grande Valley boys basketball teams as they watched District 29-5A or Laredo Schools eliminate Edinburg, Harlingen South, McAllen Memorial, Nikki Rowe, Sharyland, Harlingen, La Joya Palmview, and Edinburg North all from WKH VWDWH SOD\RIIV LQ WKH ÀUVW RU second rounds.

horns, we came up short,” added Molina. Class 5A Region IV Area Finals

Edinburg 54 Laredo United 57 (Alice, Tx)-Laredo United’s senior point guard, Thomas Johnson helped lead the Long-

horns to a 57-54 victory over Edinburg High in a Class 5A area playoff on Friday at Alice High School. The loss ended the Bobcats hopes of returning back to the state 5A Region-IV Tournament from 2011. The win for the Longhorns was a sweet victory after losing to the Bobcats last sea-

son in the same round 67-64. Edinburg High coach Zeke Cuellar was not pleased with the loss after missing opportunities at the right times. The Bobcats ended their season at 25-12. Edinburg High’s senior center Noel Espericuerta, scored 14 points and a teamhigh nine rebounds. United’s

Class 5A Region IV Qtr-­Finals

Harlingen South 59 Laredo United 71 (Corpus Christi, Texas)-The Hawks were the only team who went three-deep in the state playoffs under head coach Brian Molina. In the end, the Hawks would lose to Laredo United 71-59 at Calallen High School on Tuesday in a Class $ UHJLRQDO TXDUWHUÀQDO United (22-12) built a 43-25 lead with 2:31 left in the third period but South (28-9) ended the third period on an 8-0 run and opened up the fourth with a 15-4 run to cut United’s lead to 51-49. South senior Mark Villegas led the Hawk’s charge with 10 points during that span. But, United did the same after a timeout called by head coach Archie Ramos. The Longhorns regrouped and went on a 10-0 run to take a 61-49 with 3:10 left in the game. Laredo grabbed 22 total rebounds and made sure that South’s Nick Garcia was kept short of his 29.5 points per game in the playoffs. He scored 12 points for the night. “We had to stop Nick. He is a strong player,” said Ramos. With the loss, South ends their season winning a share of the District 31-5A title along with bi-district and area championship titles. “It was a great season with high expectations. We surprised alot of teams this past season. Against the LongLaredo United’s Rudy Gon-­ zalez guards Harlingen South’s Mark Villegas. The Longhorns won 71-­59 in the Class 5A Region IV-­Quar-­ WHU¿QDOV (HSSMImages/Mike De La Cruz)

March 2012

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

35

State  Boys  Basketball  Playoffs  Highlights -RKQVRQ Ă€QLVKHG ZLWK SRLQWV DQG KDG four 3-pointers. Longhorn forward Robert Garcia added 14 points and had also had four 3-pointers. The Longhorns made 9 of IUHH WKURZV LQ WKH Ă€QDO WR DGYDQFH to the 5A Region-IV tournament. Class  5A  Region  IV  Bi-­District  Finals

McAllen  Memorial  47 Laredo  Alexander  55 (McAllen, Tx)- McAllen Memorial head coach Sam Cortez was hoping that winQLQJ WKH FRLQ Ă LS IRU WKH Ă€UVW WLPH LQ VL[ years would be a sign of getting past the Ă€UVW URXQG LQ WKH &ODVV $ SOD\RIIV 1RW to be, as the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs came from behind to beat the Mustangs 55-47 in the Class 5A Bi-District Championships played at McAllen Memorial H.S. Gym. “We had our chances. Now, our seaVRQ LV RYHU Âľ VDLG &RUWH] ,Q WKH Ă€UVW TXDUter the Mustangs came out with a 13-2 lead but then whistles started blowing into the loud gym giving the Bulldogs the momentum they needed to make a run. The RIĂ€FLDOV JDYH WKH %XOOGRJV DQ RSSRUWXQLW\ to make 12 of 14 from the free throw line to trail 19-17 at the half. The Bulldogs opened the second half with a 15-2 run and played tough manto-man defense, allowing the Mustangs to score only two points at the end of the third quarter. “This is hard to swallow,â€? said Mustang point guard Papito Gonzalez. “I know that we were better than what we played tonight. This is a tough loss.â€? 7KLV PDUNV WKH Ă€IWK VWUDLJKW VHDVRQ WKDW the Mustangs have lost to a Laredo school VLQFH ´:H Ă€QLVKHG 'LVWULFW $ runner-ups and we will lose two players from our line up. I’m looking forward to next year,â€? said Cortez. Class  5A  Region  IV  Area  Finals

Harlingen  H.S.  58  Laredo  Alexander  60 Brian Swain scored 16 points for the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs as they defeated the Harlingen Cardinals 60-58 in the Class 5A Area Championship game. This was the second Rio Grande Valley team the Bulldogs knocked off in the state playoffs. Alexander now takes on Laredo Martin in D UHJLRQDO TXDUWHUĂ€QDO Head coach Grey Yates could not get his team back on the groove as the CardiQDOV IRXJKW EDFN IURP D SRLQW GHĂ€FLW LQ WKH Ă€UVW KDOI ´:H DOPRVW SXOOHG WKURXJK I’m proud of our team and how we fought back,â€? said Yates of the Cardinals. Laredo Alexander head coach Luis ValGH] Ă€QDOO\ JRW KLV WHDP WR WKH VWDWH TXDUWHUĂ€QDOV IRU WKH Ă€UVW WLPH LQ WHQ \HDUV

36

HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

Josh  Davies  of  McAllen  Memorial  holds  on  to  the  ball  against  Laredo  Alexander  in  the  State  5A  Bi-­District  Championships.  The  Bulldogs  won  55-­47.  (HSSMImages/Mike  De  La  Cruz)

In the end, the Cardinals still had their chances with eight seconds left in the game. Harlingen had a shot to tie the game but Daniel Ybarra could not handle the ball under the rim, forcing a turnover. It was a great season for Harlingen as March  2012

WKH\ ÀQLVKHG DV $ &R &KDPSLRQV with a win over Harlingen South in their GLVWULFW ÀQDOH 7KH &DUGLQDOV DGYDQFHG WR the State 5A Region IV-Tournament in 2011 after beating Brownsville Rivera, Rowe, and Weslaco in three rounds.

State  Boys  Basketball  Playoffs  Highlights Class  5A  Region  IV  Bi-­District  Finals

Edinburg  North  48 Brownsville  Hanna  40 (Brownsville, Tx)-The Edinburg North &RXJDUV Ă€QDOO\ ZRQ D EL GLVWULFW JDPH under head coach Rudy Garcia, defeating Brownsville Hanna 48-40 at Hanna H.S. Gym. The win for the Cougars was celeEUDWHG RQ WKH Ă RRU ZLWK FKDQWV DQG FKHHUV

from Cougar fans. Edinburg North (18-15) trailed 9-0 and managed to overcome their game-start MLWWHUV WR WLH WKH JDPH DW WKH KDOI ´7KLV is amazing. We did it,â€? said Garcia. “We won a bi-district title.â€? Hanna’s season came to an end at 18-15. North turned a 17-17 halftime tie into a 30-17 lead. Hanna did make it interesting late in the fourth, getting back-to-

back 3-pointers from Chris Alvarado and Victor Aguilar to cut the lead to six. The Eagles wound up as tri-district champions in 32-5A with Weslaco High DQG %URZQVYLOOH 3RUWHU 1RUWK Ă€QLVKHG LQ third place in 31-5A. Against Laredo Martin, the Cougars were ousted 48-29 in the area championships to end their 2011-12 season. “It was a season to remember,â€? said Garcia.

“We  Had  Our  Chances. Â

Now,  Our  Season  Is  Over.â€? Sam  Cortez,  McAllen  Memorial  H.S.  Head  Basketball  Coach

Brian  Swaine  of  Laredo  Alexander  gets  past  Harlingen’s  Omar  Hunt-­ er  in  the  Class  5A  Region-­IV  quar-­ WHUÂżQDOV 7KH %XOOGRJV ZRQ (HSSMImages/Mike  De  La  Cruz)

March  2012

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State  Boys  Basketball  Playoffs  Highlights So  Sweet!  The  Santa  Rosa  War-­ riors  advanced  to  the  State  2A  Re-­ JLRQ ,9 6HPL¿QDOV EHIRUH ORVLQJ WR Halletsville.  Senior  Aaron  Ramirez  led  the  Warriors  to  a  great  season.  (HSSMImages/Mike  De  La  Cruz)

Head coach Johnny Cipriano told HSSM, “we still had our Santa  Rosa  H.S.  47  opportunities with Aaron on Halletsville  58 WKH EHQFK :H MXVW FRXOG QRW (Seguin, Tx)-Senior Aaron make it from the three-point Ramirez of Santa Rosa got line.â€? into early foul trouble to alThe Warriors converted low Hallettsville to win 58-47 only 3-of-25 from three-point LQ WKH VHPLĂ€QDOV RI WKH 5HJLRQ line on the night. Santa Rosa IV-2A basketball tourney on opened the game with Ramirez Friday at Goldie Harris Gym VFRULQJ SRLQWV LQ WKH Ă€UVWat Seguin High School. Santa quarter. Two quick fouls in the Rosa’s year ended at 23-9. Ă€UVW TXDUWHU VXUSULVHG 5DPLUH] &ODVV $ 5HJLRQ ,9 6HPLÂżQDOV

38

HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

with whistles blowing in from every call from every direction. With a 14-13 lead after WKH Ă€UVW TXDUWHU WKH ZKLVWOHV continued, bringing in “boosâ€? from crowd in the stands as Ramirez picked up his third and fourth fouls with 2:58 left in the half with the Warriors up 24-19. The Brahmas took the lead at 28-26 with 1:13 left LQ WKH Ă€UVW KDOI EXW 0LFKDHO Garza would give the Warriors

March  2012

back the lead right before the half with a 29-28 lead but, that lasted only a few seconds as Dazaun Silguero scored 13 of KLV JDPH KLJK LQ WKH Ă€UVW half to give the Brahmas a 3229 advantage. With Ramirez fouled out midway through the third quarter, but head coach Cipriano was SURXG ´$DURQ GLG D JUHDW MRE for Santa Rosa High School. I will miss him,â€? said Cipriano.

www.HighSchoolSportsMagazine.com

National  Signing  Day!

RGV Players Sign To Play Football (McAllen, Tx)-Select football players from across the state of Texas signed football scholarships last month. At McAllen Memorial High School, four-year starter, Matthew Kaufmann is headed to West Point Academy, while four Weslaco Panther players will play football at Cisco College and McMurry University. At Memorial High School, hundreds of students packed the school library to watch Kaufmann sign to play football for Army. “I never thought he would play for the U.S. Army. This is awesome. It’s very IXOĂ€OOLQJ Âľ VDLG 0F$OOHQ 0Hmorial football offensive coordinator, Marcus Kaufmann. It was a special moment for Dad. “These are my brothers and my family. I have them (football team) to thank and especially, my football coach Bill Littleton,â€? said the fouryear starting quarter. High School Sports Magazine’s All-South Texas Offensive Player of the Year led the Mustangs to a 12-1 season, including two back-to-back Class 5A Division II Regional )RRWEDOO Ă€QDOV +LV VWDUWV as a varsity player are the most by any football athlete at Memorial. Surrounded by his mother, Monica, his best friend, Issac De Leon; father, Marcus; sister, Madeline, Kaufmann will play for the NCAA Division I U.S. Army Black Knights football team this fall. “This is amazing. I am looking forward to becoming a Black Knight. I can hardly wait to get there,â€? added Kaufmann. In his career, he

passed for 5,571 yards and 45 touchdowns. He also rushed for 5,164 yards and scored 76 touchdowns. Kaufmann also netted 36 career wins. In 2011, he was named the Chick-FilA Player of the Week and also captured All-State Academic honors and named 30-5A Offensive At Weslaco, Jose Montiel, High School Sports Magazine’s Defensive Player of the Year will be heading to McMurry University along with teammates, Ernesto Tafolla and Servando Cruz. Offensive linemen, Mike Rodriguez will play football for Cisco College. “Playing with your teammates in college will be awesome. These guys are my brothers,� added Montiel.

Panthers  Sign  with  McMurry!  Weslaco  Panther  football  players  Servando  Cruz,  Ernesto  Tafolla,  and  Jose  Montiel  signed  scholarships  to  play  football  for  McMurry  Univer-­ sity.  The  Panthers  won  back-­to-­back  Class  5A  Bi-­District  titles.  Head  football  coach  is  Tony  Villarreal.  â€œI’m  proud  of  my  players  to  watched  them  further  their  education  and  play  football,â€?  said  Villarreal.  (HSSMIMages/Thomas  Amador) Â

Signs  with  Cisco!  Weslaco  Panther  offensive  linemen  Mike  Rodriguez  signed  a  scholarship  to  play  football  for  Cisco  College.  Pictured  also  are  head  football  coach  Tony  Villarreal  and  Eloy  De  Leon.  (HSSMIMages/Thomas  Amador) Â

Go  Army!  McAllen  Memorial  QB  Matthew  Kaufmann  signs  a  letter  of  intent  to  play  football  for  West  Point  Academy.  Pictured  are  his  father,  Marcus  and  mother,  Monica  along  with  sister  Madeline  and  best  friend  Issac  DeLeon.  Also  pictured  are  McAllen  ISD  School  Boad  member,  Danny  Vela,  head  coach  Bill  Littleton,  and  McAllen  ISD  School  Board  member,  Debbie  Aliseda  Crane.  (HSSMIMages/David  A.  Amador)  March  2012

HIGH Â SCHOOL Â SPORTS Â MAGAZINE

39

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