Rio Sports Live | May 2021

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VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 1

MAY 2021

SPORTS PREVAIL From No Fans to Full Stands

CALALLEN SOCCER MAKES HISTORY page 22 Photo: Billy Watson / RSL

RGVCBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND

pages 26 & 27

Remembering BELOVED COACHES pages 4 & 5

may 2021

Page 2

Broadcast Recap Games from April 2021 with live view counts

32-5A District Track Meet - Finals 4/1/21

5,903

SOFTBALL | Flour Bluff vs. CC Ray 04/10/2021

1,711

BASEBALL | C.C. Carroll at C.C. Veterans 4.20.21

SOFTBALL: Victoria West at C.C. King 4.1.21

1,792

Baseball CC Ray vs CC Moody 4.10.21

1,522

SOFTBALL | London at Santa Gertrudis Academy 04/20/2021

Boys Soccer | Regional Quarterfinals : IDEA Riverview vs. Hidalgo 4.1.21

7,070

Baseball Weslaco @ Harlingen South 04-12-21

2,681

Softball | Harlingen at Los Fresnos 4-20-21

Baseball: Victoria East At CC Moody 4.1.21

1,638

Baseball:West Oso at CC Miller 4.12.21

3,421

Softball | McAllen Memorial at Sharyland Pioneer 4/20/21

5,109

GIRLS SOCCER |4A Quarter - London vs. Santa Gertrudis Academy 4.1.21

6,647

Baseball | Rio Grande City Vs. Mission Veterans 04/13/2021

1,705

La Joya vs Mission Veterans Memorial l Softball l 4/20/21

1,995

Softball | PSJA vs Edinburg Vela 4/1/21

4,321

Softball CC Carroll vs CC Veterans Memorial 4.12.21

1,232

Girls Softball | PSJA Memorial vs Sharyland High | 4/20/21

2,781

32-5A District Track Meet - Finals 4/1/21

6,720

Softball | La Joya-Juarez Lincoln at Edinburg North 4-13-21

3,151

Softball|CC Moody at CC King|4.20.21

3,611

Softball | Harlingen at Harlingen South 4-1-21

8,847

BASEBALL: Victoria West at C.C. King 4.13.20

2,558

Baseball | La Joya at Edinburg Economedes 4-20-21

2,478

Baseball | Edinburg vs Edinburg Vela | 4/1/21

1,945

Softball | Weslaco at Los Fresnos 4-13-21

8,750

Baseball | Sharyland Pioneer vs Sharyland | 4/20/21

2,369

Softball | McAllen High Vs. Sharyland Pioneer | 04/01/2021

6,944

SOFTBALL | Bishop at Santa Gertrudis Academy 04/13/2021

4,387

BASEBALL | Gregory-Portland at C.C. King 4.20

2,054

SOFTBALL | C.C. Carroll at C.C. Ray 4.1.21

2,877

Girls Softball | Sharyland Pioneer vs Sharyland High | 4/13/21

6,844

Softball | Weslaco East at Mercedes 4-22-21

4,702

BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS | London vs. Pharr IDEA 04/01/2021

6,941

Softball | San Benito Vs. Harlingen : 4-13-21

7,961

Softball | La Feria vs. Port Isabel 4/23/21

1,388

SOFTBALL | Zapata at Calallen 4.2.21

2,722

Edinburg North vs. Edinburg High l Baseball l 4/13/21

8,410

BASEBALL: Victoria West at C.C. Moody 4.23.21

2,602

Softball | PSJA vs Edinburg 4/9/21

3,187

SOFTBALL | Zapata at Alice 4-23-21

6,140

Softball Gregory-Portland vs CC King 4.13.21

2,425

Baseball | Santa Gertrudis vs Lyford | 4/23/21

1,131

BASEBALL: Carroll at C.C. Ray 4.13.20

1,699

Softball Victoria West vs CC Veterans Memorial 4.23.21

6,154

Boys Soccer Quarterfinals | Sharyland vs Brownsville Porter | 4/2/21

10,624

Girls Soccer | Regional Quarterfinal Donna North at Los Fresnos 4-2-21

4,479

Boys Soccer Regional Quarterfinals | Valleyview vs Brownsville Vets | 4/2/21

3,103

Softball | Mercedes at Edcouch-Elsa 4-3-21

2,892

Track Finals District 32- 6A 4/3/2021

3,808

Baseball San Benito @ Brownsville Hanna 04/05/21

8,812

Girls Soccer| Los Fresnos vs Round Rock April/6/2021

2,946

Softball | Mission vs Economedes 4/6/21

4,423

Softball | McAllen Nikki Rowe Vs. Sharyland 04/06/2021

1,955

SOFTBALL | Los Fresnos at San Benito 4-6-21

9,412

PSJA North vs. Edinburg High l Baseball l 4/6/21

1,963

SOFTBALL | Calallen at Tuloso-Midway 4.6.21

3,579

BOYS SOCCER playoff | Brownsville Porter vs. Dripping Springs 4.6.21

6,490

Baseball | La Joya at Edinburg North 4-6-21

3,347

15-6A District Wrestling | 4-7-21

1,313

District 15-5A Girls Wrestling Meet

3,544

District 29/30-5A Area Meet 4.14.21

7,210 10,687

Baseball | Sharyland high vs Mcallen High | 4/23/21

1,400

Softball | Brownsville Hanna at Los Fresnos 4-14-21

4,448

Baseball | Weslaco vs Los Fresnos | 04-23-21

1,277

UIL 31-32 District 5A Area Track Meet Finals l 4/15/21

9,828

Softball Port Lavaca vs CC Miller 4.23.21

2,082

SOFTBALL | Edinburg Vela at Mission 4-15-21

2,979

BASEBALL: C.C. King at C.C. Ray 4.23.21

2,551

Baseball | Brownsville Hanna @ Harlingen | 04-16-21

1,455

Softball:King at Carroll|4.24.21

2,201

Softball CC King vs CC Ray 4.16.21

2,107

Softball | Calallen vs. Santa Gertrudis Academy | 04.24.2021

SOFTBALL | Rio Hondo at Port isabel 4-16-21

2,572

Softball:Victoria East vs Moody|4.24.21

1,242

Baseball:CC Moody at CC Carroll|4.16.21

2,695

Softball | Lyford vs San Benito 4/24/21

7,185

SOFTBALL: Alice at Calallen 4.16.21

8,841

Softball:Gregory Portland at CC Ray|4.24.21

SOFTBALL | Falfurrias at Bishop 04/16/2021

7,964

Region IV 2A/4A track and field meet 4/24/2021

13,929

Softball | Harlingen vs Brownsville Rivera 4/16/21

4,412

Boxing | Golden Gloves Ring 1 coverage | 4/24/21

1,948

Baseball | Brownsville Hanna @ Harlingen | 04-16-21

2,114

Softball | Raymondville vs. La Feria 4/26/21

3,730

Baseball | McAllen Nikki Rowe Vs. Sharyland Pioneer 04/16/2021

2,062

Baseball | Los Fresnos vs Harlingen | 4/26/21

1,951

Softball | San Benito vs. Harlingen South 4/16/21

11,052

1,638

14,521

10,589

2,039

Baseball | Brownsville Hanna @ Harlingen South 04-26-21

1,765

Baseball | Mission vs Edinburg Vela | 4/16/21

2,410

SOFTBALL: Victoria West at C.C. Carroll 4.26.21

1,568

Baseball | PSJA at Edinburg North 4-16-21

1,408

Softball | Raymondville vs. Port Isabel 4/27/21

3,309

Softball Ingleside vs CC Ray 4.16.21

2,158

BASEBALL: Victoria East at C.C. Ray 4.27.21

1,503

Baseball:C.C Ray at C.C Veterans Memorial|4.16.21

1,614

Softball | Edinburg North vs Mission Veterans 4/27/21

2,325

Baseball | PSJA at Edinburg North 4-16-21

1,351

Baseball | Mcallen Rowe vs Edinburg Vela | 4/27/21

3,570

Softball | Laredo Martin vs Mission Vets 4/9/21

1,774

Softball of CC Moody vs CC Carroll

2,381

Softball | Los Fresnos at Harlingen South 4-9-21

9,856

Baseball Harlingen South @ Harlingen 4-09-21

1,986

BOYS SOCCER | Class 4A Region IV Championship - Boerne vs. Hidalgo 04/09/2021

2,990

SPECIAL REPLAY: SOFTBALL: Alice at Calallen 4.16.21

3,422

BASEBALL: C.C. Moody at C.C. King 4.27.21

1,114

Softball | McAllen Nikki Rowe Vs. Sharyland Pioneer 04/09/2021

2,416

SOFTBALL: Flour Bluff at C.C. Carroll 4.17.21

1,867

Softball | Calallen vs. La Feria : Bi-District 4-29-21

6,214

BASEBALL: Orange Grove at Odem 4.9.21

1,955

Baseball:CC Flour Bluff at CC Ray|4.17.21

1,385

SOFTBALL | Bi-District | Port Isabel at Robstown 04/29/2021

4,962

Baseball:C.C Veterans Memorial at C.C King 4.9.2021

2,613

SOFTBALL: Victoria West at C.C. Moody 4.19.21

1,898

Bi-District Softball | Roma at C.C. Carroll 4.29.21

3,155

Softball of CC Ray vs CC Veterans Memorial

2,784

Baseball|Ingleside at C.C Miller|4.19.21

1,574

Softball | C.C Ray vs. Rio Grande City | 04.29.21

4,546

McAllen High vs Sharyland Pioneer l Baseball l 4/9/21

1,366

Baseball | San Benito vs. Harlingen 4/19/21

2,705

Bi-District Softball | Odem at London 4.29.21

6,904

Softball | Edinburg at Edinburg North 4-9-21

3,981

Baseball | Harlingen South @ Brownsville Rivera | 04-19-21

7,995

Baseball | La Grulla vs Raymondville | 4/30/21

1,478

7,852

SOFTBALL: Flour Bluff at C.C. Carroll 4.19.21

4,406

Softball Bi-District Playoffs CC London vs Odem 4.30.21

7,549

Baseball:CC Veterans Memorial at CC Moody|4.19.21

2,539

Bi-District Softball | PSJA at Harlingen South 04.30.21

8,014

Bi-District Softball | Rio Hondo vs Alice 4.30

9,319

Baseball Harlingen South @ Harlingen 4-09-21 Boys Soccer Regional Finals | Brownsville Porter vs Valleyview | 4/9/21

18,257

SOFTBALL | CC Veterans-Memorial vs. CC Moody 04/10/2021

3,213

Softball:Victoria East at Ray|4.20.21

2,455

Baseball Gregory Portland vs CC Carroll 4.10.21

2,251

Softball IDEA Edinburg vs. Lyford 4-20-21

2,901

District 15-5A boys wrestling meet 4.10.21

1,263

Baseball | Sharyland Pioneer vs Sharyland | 4/20/21

3,410

Total Live Views: 569,615

May 2021

Page 3

CHALLENGES OF SPORTS IN 2020 LIKE NONE OTHER IT TOOK THIS TO GET IT DONE

By Joe Bowling Jr. RSL It’s one thing to open a link to a broadcast and watch it live or as an archive. It’s a multitude of things that came into play for those games to be played and then broadcast for 202021 high school sports season.

From limited or no fans, to players and or teams quarantined, to districts shutting down sports altogether only to bring them back on with schedules changing faster than the wind direction.

It was a challenge, to say the least. Rio Sports Live worked right through it with no less than 200 schools and was on the front lines from start to finish. As schools learned and adapted, so did Rio Sports Live (RSL) in a memorable year.

The first challenge was simply finding a way and setting up solutions.

In the RSL coverage area, it was the Coastal Bend teams that were playing games as the school year began.

The area schools had been covered before, but usually during tournament play or during playoffs.

Even as many schools were holding classes virtually, their teams were practicing for volleyball, football and other fall sports.

Districts such as Corpus Christi Independent School District were setting the pace for those that followed. At times, being the template that other schools would use.

“We tried to keep the safety of the participants and the fans in mind as we were working on guidelines, policies for gyms, stadiums, etc.” said CCISD athletic director Brenda Marshall, “We tried to think of every detail and scenario that could happen and hopefully we

had an answer to remedy the situation.”

Schools in the RGV would later be calling upon the experiences there in order to fine tune their approach to opening up sports. Schedules that had been created last year were obsolete and in the first year of a UIL realignment, the ability to plan out games could not even include the “let’s just use last year’s schedule” approach.

In the RGV, sports were pushed back nearly a month behind the Coastal Bend. This, too, became a task for schools as they sought ways to play games and find opponents.

“We were trying to see which schools were going to have dates available at first.” said Letty Ibarra from the Mission ISD. “We had our own problems to solve on how we could determine if players were cleared and then it came down to who could play

us and where.”

Then came the concerns about fans getting to see the games.

“We had no fans allowed for some games at the start,” said Ibarra, “There were parents being told that their kids could practice and could play the games, but they could not attend them.

This was something that we knew we had to address and it involved our administration, our athletic departments and our technical personnel.”

Rio Sports Live had been covering games at a pace that had grown quickly from the 2017 -18 school year through 2019-20. For Mission, RSL had covered many games over that span, but for this year, the question was how to cover them all.

From Odem to Taft, from West OSO to Three Rivers, the schools needing coverage grew,

not by the day but by the hour. Others like Woodsboro, H.M. King, CCISD, London, Refugio were just a few who needed a way to broadcast their studentathletes.

Then, came the wave from the RGV that included Port Isabel to Brownsville, Lyford to Los Fresnos, Harlingen, Edinburg, Mission, Donna Sharyland schools and more. All had limited coverage before suddenly being in need of full-time crews. Thus RSL grew.

At a time when advertising revenue had been reduced to near zero because businesses were simply trying to stay open. The platform of ‘never charging schools or fans’ had to add resources and personnel, which would be done as three steady crews grew to 20 overnight. Even then the list of games

outnumbered those in the mix to cover the games.

RSL adapted with crews doubling and tripling up six of the seven days every week because schools were virtual, games were scheduled throughout the day. At times, crews would be at a volleyball game at one school at 10:00 am, set up by 2:00 p.m. at another and, by 6:00 p.m., they were setting up for one final game. The number of games on a given month that RSL covered went from averaging 70 per month to closer to 300.

“When we found out that Rio Sports Live was willing and able to cover our teams at both Mission and Mission Veterans, it was like a heavy weight was lifted off our shoulders,” Ibarra said. “We knew then that our athletes’ games could be seen.”

From the fall to the ► CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

may 2021

Page 4

Harlingen reflects on longtime coach Monty Woodall RARE. That was the one word Harlingen High head coach Manny Gomez used to describe Monty Woodall...

By Kevin Narro RSL Woodall, who passed away last month, stood tall, covered in tattoos with long black hair and was an intimidating coach when one came across him. Woodall spent over 20 years at his alma mater Harlingen High and made a career off of developing athletes on and off the field, most notably in the weight room.

The rugged tattoo look did not define Woodall; it was only the layer.

Those who knew Woodall knew he was a man of God, family,

military and coaching.

In his time at Marine Military Academy, Harlingen High, Lyford and most recently Harlingen South, Woodall left his mark over not only the athletic program but his colleagues.

Gomez and Woodall were cut from the same cloth, as was Harlingen South head coach Israel Gonzalez, another Harlingen High product.

“The way we were raised here at Harlingen High School was to just get the damn job done and get it done,” Gomez said. “That is how we were raised,

to not complain and to do what it takes to get it done. In this day and age, it is important to show gratitude to the people who bend over backwards for this program and Woodall was one of those guys who did a lot of great things for us.”

A mantra at Harlingen High is M.T.X.E., which stands for Mental Toughness Extra Effort.

It is what the program feeds off of.

“He was the backbone,” Gomez said of Woodall.

Woodall left Harlingen for Lyford after following Gonzalez, who took the job as a head coach.

Gonzalez and Woodall

began their bond during the 2007 season.

Gonzalez, who is much like Gomez, a fiery competitor and ultimate motivator looked up to Woodall in every way.

The two took that same grit to Lyford.

Most recently, Gonzalez took the head football job at Harlingen South and without question brought his mentor with him.

“The excitement we both had to make this happen and to change this program and take it in the right direction was something we had talked about for several years before I got the job,” Gonzalez said. “To

have him here for the first two months and set a foundation was special. Sometimes it is difficult when I show up to work. I see things that remind me of the fact that he is not here physically but that Woodall mentality kicks in.”

Gonzalez and Woodall spent 14 years together, but the upcoming season will be an emotional one for both Gomez and Gonzalez.

“That push forward mentality was his thing,” Gonzalez said. “No matter what life throws at you, no matter what happens on the football field you push forward

and that is what he taught to generations of kids in Harlingen and now in Lyford.

“Those lessons he brought to the table are not going away anytime soon,” Gonzalez added “They are going to be taught from father to son for generations to come and that is the great thing about being a football coach.”

Woodall suddenly passed away April 13.

Woodall was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in March and passed due to a rapid onset of COVID-19 pneumonia in both lungs.

May 2021

Page 5

FORMER PAN-AM ALL-AMERICAN AND LONG TIME COACH HECTOR SALINAS PASSES

Former Texas Pan American All-American and long time baseball coach Hector Salinas passed away due to multiple illnesses Friday April 31. He was 76.

Salinas was tabbed to build the Texas A&M Kingsville baseball program in 1993 and is in the Javelina hall of fame. Salinas a native of Elsa, Texas received a bachelor’s degree from Pan Am and later earned a master’s degree from The University of Texas at Brownsville. Salinas played his high school baseball at Corpus Christi Carroll and later coached at Corpus Christi Moody, Corpus Christi Miller, Texas Southmost and Laredo Junior College.

may 2021

Page 6

CALALLEN VS SANTA GERTRUDIS GAME

By Mark Molina RSL With the softball playoff season looming, the Coastal Bend area was given an early treat featuring two of its premiere programs, Santa Gertrudis Academy Lady Lions and the Calallen Lady

Wildcats go headto-head at Texas A&M University Kingsville’s Vernie and Blanche Hubert Field in the Rio Sports Live Game of the Month back on April 24.

Calallen took a 2-0 lead early on an Aviana Gonzalez two-run double in the top of the first

inning and held SGA scoreless over the first three innings.

That would change in the bottom of the fourth when the Lady Lions posted a three-run inning, highlighted by a 2 RBI double from Debra Favors to take a 3-2 lead after

four innings.

The Lady Cats ultimately would be too much as they posted seven runs over the final three innings to upend the Lady Lions 9-3.

Calallen’s pitching duo of Breanna Ford and Raegan Tennil combined for 10 strikeouts and

allowed just three runs on five hits.

Gonzalez led the Lady Cats with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with five RBI and two runs scored. Megan Geyer 2 for 4 with two runs scored and a walk, while Lauren Mata went 3 for 5 with an RBI. SGA was led

by Jackie Garza who was 2 for 3 with a run scored, teammate Kayla Ramirez was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Both teams are still alive in the postseason and will be competing in the regional quarterfinals this weekend.

May 2021

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ATHLETES REACH STATE MULTIPLE TIMES Two athletes from La Sara and one from San Perlita earned trips to the state level three times each this year. Ely Terry advanced to the state level in cross country, earned first team all state in basketball and qualified for the state track meet in the high jump.

For La Sara, Selissa Gonzales and Victoria Velazquez advanced to the state cross country meet and competed as an academic all-state and ran in the state track meet.

Page 8

SPRING FOOTBALL

By Jeremy Palacios RSL Edinburg North football returned to the field Wednesday afternoon and provided a glimpse of the previously missed spring schedule.

Despite schedules being cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and teams had very little time to prepare, the Cougars are looking at a new chapter here in April, flooding players and coaches with eagerness and excitement.

No one is more thrilled about seeing his team practice than Head Coach Damian Gonzalez.

“It’s awesome to be back,” he said. “The players are excited, the coaches are excited and even the parents are excited that their kids are back here. It’s a great feeling right now”.

Edinburg North ended its 2020 season with a 2-5 record and a third-

2021 place finish in District 31-6A before falling 38-8 to Harlingen High in the bi-district playoffs.

That loss was the first ever start for quarterback Evan Medrano, who will be a senior when the 2021 season kicks off and is continuously looking to getting better and fill a leadership role in the Cougars’ offense.

“Last year, we didn’t get enough time to train,” Medrano said. “Now we feel like we are even ahead of schedule. We’re taking the most out of the opportunity, and we’re going to continue to work hard.”

PATRIOTS RELOAD FOR 2021 The Patriots are looking to flip the script in spring football practices and erase the feeling of a 1-5 finish in 2020.

Losing records aren’t commonplace for

Mission Veterans since the last time they finished with a losing record was back in 2011 when they went 2-8.

What had become an annual staple for the Patriots and Coach David Gilpin was spring workouts. With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring, a 12-year streak of spring ball had come to an end.

Gilpin owes a lot of the team’s success to their practices as that’s the time they do a lot of the self-evaluation, so last year’s cancellation was a definite blow to the program.

“To not have these practices last year was sort of devastating for our program,” Gilpin said. “For us, spring ball is a time of evaluation and learning for our young kids, so to be able to have it this year makes us very happy to say the least.”

With the loss of wide

may 2021

May 2021

receiver and UTSA commit AJ Gonzaque, the offense is still in very good hands with senior quarterback Ricky Reyna at the helm. Reyna is coming off a solid year where he finished with 1,924 all-purpose yards as well as 20 total touchdowns. “All the older guys are gone now, so it’s kind of my turn to lead this team,” Reyna said. “I’m going to step up even more and hopefully lead this squad to the fourth round of playoffs like we did in 2018.”

“Right now, it’s all about getting our timing right with the passing game,” he added. “We got some new guys in

Page 9

these receiver roles and were going to be working on our chemistry this spring.”

PSJA NORTH LOOKS TO BUILD OFF OF STRONG 2020 SEASON PHARR- The PSJA North Raiders found themselves down 21-6 to Brownsville Hanna in the bi-district playoffs before scoring 22 unanswered points to complete a come from behind victory.

Unfortunately for the Raiders, the celebration would be short-lived after an athlete within the program tested positive for COVID-19, forcing a

forfeit of their upcoming area round matchup with San Antonio Taft.

The disappointment around the forfeit hit especially hard as many in the program felt the Raiders had begun hitting their peak as a team and were finally finding their individual roles within this club.

Now, during spring practices, expectations are high for 2021 “We have some unfinished business, we proved to ourselves and our fans that we can compete with just about anyone,” senior defensive back Zachary Gonzalez said. “I think with the full schedule we have now we can even build more

on top of that momentum we already had.” A big reason for this team’s late success is nowsophomore quarterback Ale Aparicio. With just being a freshman in a big setting, Aparicio stepped up to the plate and solidified his spot under center, playing big in the win over Hanna, where he displayed his running ability and notched two rushing touchdowns in the win.

“Coming into this year a lot of pressure is off,” Aparicio said. “I’m getting more and more comfortable out there and I’m excited to show the city what I can do.”

RSl Crew bringing you the content you love

Mark Molina and Frankie Cardenas announcing a game while trying to stay dry. Softball playoffs mean it’s time to just get it done.

may 2021

Page 10

AREA SOFTBALL TEAMS TO SQUARE OFF IN REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS

By Mark Molina & Kevin Narro RSL As the softball playoffs shifted into the regional quarterfinals, several coastal bend teams were left standing, with some being pitted against one another with trips to the region final on the line.

Starting in Class 5A, it is of District 29-5A foes and crosstown rivals as the top-seeded Carroll Lady Tigers take on the Ray Lady Texans, in a best-ofthree series that kicked off Thursday, May 13 at Cabaniss.

Carroll has outscored opponents 53-3 in four postseason games over first two rounds, picking up two-game sweeps over Roma(180, 17-3) and Weslaco East (13-0, 10-0).

Meanwhile, the banner year for the Ray softball program continues.

After the Lady Texans secured a playoff berth for the first time since 2014, they went on to win its first playoff series since 2003, defeating District 30-5A champion Rio Grande City in a twogame sweep (15-3, 10-2).

Carroll swept Ray in district play, winning their first contest 8-1 on March 9 and their second 11-1 on April 1.

In Class 3A, the marquee matchup will pit District 30 champion Bishop Lady Badgers against District 29 champion Mathis Lady Pirates in a battle of state-ranked teams.

Bishop is ranked No. 4 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association

Photo of Bishop’s pitcher Andrea Martinez

poll, while Mathis comes in at No. 6.

Bishop cruised through the first two rounds, picking up a two-game sweep of Aransas Pass (5-0, 17-0) and 24-0 victory over Monte Alto. Mathis swept Falfurrias (6-5, 13-2) and defeated IDEA Quest 23-0.

Meanwhile, District 30 runner up No. 8 Santa Gertrudis Lady Lions will face off against District 30 third-place team London Lady Pirates.

The Lady Lions picked up sweeps over Orange Grove (10-0, 9-0) and Lyford (7-1, 12-2).

London also swept their way to Round 3, beating Odem (12-2, 8-4) and Santa Rosa (18-1, 15-1).

Over on the other end of the 5A bracket, the District 29-5A runner up Victoria West took on District 31 winner Sharyland

Ray’s softball team

Sharyland highschool softball girls team photo.

Pioneer. Victoria West dismissed Mercedes in the area round, while Pioneer defeated 29-5A third-place team Flour Bluff.

Over in Class 4A, there are no local teams facing off, but a couple of right rolls of the ball could set up a big Regional semifinal round for the Coastal Bend.

At the top of the

Region IV bracket, District 26 runner up Sinton will battle District 28 champion Fredericksburg with the winner there taking on the winner of Hondo and District 31 champion Calallen.

Over on the other end of the bracket, District 26 winner Rockport-Fulton will battle District 28 winner Boerne, with

the winner there facing the winner of TulosoMidway and Devine.

In Class 2A, Three Rivers will take on Weimar.

RGV Clubs advance to area Just three Rio Grande Valley teams advanced to round three over this past weekend as Sharyland Pioneer, Weslaco High and Los Fresnos all punched their tickets to the regional quarterfinals.

Los Fresnos pulled off the weekend’s biggest upset with a win against previously unbeaten San Antonio Warren.

After losing game one, Los Fresnos roared back to win Games 2 and 3 and will now meet Weslaco High, who swept San Antonio Harlanin the area round, for a trip to the Sweet 16.

Pioneer also rallied to beat Flour Bluff in three games and will now meet Victoria West.

May 2021 ► CONTINUED from PAGE 3 winter and into spring sports the “normal” transition was anything but.

“Our guidelines were written for the Fall/ Winter Sports first so we could see how things would work and take baby steps sometimes.”

Marshall said. “We adjusted if needed to the spring sports as per UIL/ TEA or local guidelines” “We had an idea from fall to winter,” Ibarra added, “but it was still much different from volleyball to basketball in our gyms, because we then had to not worry about one teams schedule in a gym but with boys and girls, the schedules doubled. By spring sports, we had a good idea, but we still had some counties in which

Page 11 their guidelines dictated how we could get our team’s games. Schools wanted to play but judges had ruled that there were added rules. When we thought it would get easier, it simply didn’t.”

For RSL, the transition from each sport presented the challenge of staying consistent in our coverage. A company that grew tenfold could have covered 100 times the games with crews and equipment. It came down to covering as many games as possible and the crews continued to create ways to be in more places on the same day. Crews were setting up equipment in two or three gyms before traveling to their game.

Announcers and camera operators who had gone back to their

regular jobs were leaving one job, walking into a gym and announcing a game, creating 12-16 and even 18-20 hour days.

By the start of spring sports seasons, any given crew could and would announce a basketball game and then get to a softball or baseball game.

Everyone in the company became versed in as many sports as they could. Camera operators became announcers, announcers called games while running a camera solo. On the surface, fans would simply see the games, behind the curtains were some taxed individuals.

Through it all, state champions were crowned, seniors were able to play out their final year, college coaches got a chance to recruit

actively and many more fans got to see games than ever before.

A challenging year to say the least, but one to be used as “the bar” for a level of difficulty for any before, or after.

As for the summer? Rio Sports Live has already begun coverage of 7 on 7 football and summer basketball leagues.

Volleyball coverage begins in less than a month. Travel teams will

be covered from May through July.

By August the goal is to have more crews, more equipment and the ability to use the challenges from this year to meet those for next.

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May 2021

Page 13

CAMPOS, GARCIA DISPLAY SISTERHOOD ON THE FIELD

By Kevin Narro RSL In the final game of the regular season, the stakes were high.

A Harlingen Lady Cardinal win would send them to the postseason and a loss would end their season. Los Fresnos, meanwhile, was playing for a share of the District 32-6A title.

In the top of the seventh, Harlingen High held a 3-2 lead with two outs.

Harlingen High junior April Garcia stepped into the box and with a one ball, two strike count, but in need of some help with an untied shoe.

Los Fresnos senior catcher Sam Campos was behind the plate and in the heat

of the moment was asked for a favor by Garcias.

Despite the heat of the moment, Campos lent a hand.

“When I went up to bat I had seen that my shoe was untied and I couldn’t tie it because I had my gloves on,” Garcia said. “I asked Sam if she can tie my shoe for me and she did.”

Campos turned

to tie Garcia’s shoe and quickly received a round of applause from the crowd. The show of sportsmanship was a feel-good moment and a gesture that shows the history of both Garcia and Campos growing up together being both teammates and foes on the softball field.

Most recently they were teammates

with the RGV Heat.

“We have been friends for a while,” Campos said. “This past summer we played on the same travel ball team for the first time but growing up we would always play against each other.

Ever since I have known her, she has always been very funny and whenever she asked me

to tie her shoe, so of course I did.”

“Whenever she leaned over, while I was tying her shoe, April just told me she loved me.”

The photo went viral over multiple social media platforms and while that moment was perfect for the two and shined some positive light in a world driven

by COVID-19, the softball community reacted with grace and support.

“I was very shocked when it went viral,” Garcia said. “I was happy it got noticed, it was a good moment for the softball world.”

“People see it as good sportsmanship but I have always been like that,” Campos said. “I give

hitters their bats when they foul off a pitch and when April asked me to tie her shoe, why wouldn’t I? She is one of my best friends.”

It was a good sight to see for Los Fresnos head coach Traci Blackman, who feels it shows how much of a bond these local softballers have..

“I just laughed a little when I first saw it,” Blackman said. “I know for these girls on the field we are enemies but I know these girls are friends with a lot of girls who are on different teams and their friendships show when we play.

It is something they all do together and they empower each other and that is amazing.”

RSl Crew bringing you the content you love

JR Gulley pre-game mode at a Sharyland Football Game.

may 2021

Page 14

IN RETURN TO POSTSEASON RAY SOFTBALL PROGRAM RIGHTS SHIP

As the softball playoffs shifted into the regional quarterfinals, several coastal bend teams were left standing, with some being pitted against one another with trips to the region final on the line.

Starting in Class 5A, it is of District 29-5A foes and crosstown rivals as the top-seeded Carroll Lady Tigers take on the Ray Lady

Texans, in a best-ofthree series that kicked off Thursday, May 13 at Cabaniss.

Carroll has outscored opponents 53-3 in four postseason games over first two rounds, picking up two-game sweeps over Roma(180, 17-3) and Weslaco East (13-0, 10-0).

Meanwhile, the banner year for the Ray softball program

continues.

After the Lady Texans secured a playoff berth for the first time since 2014, they went on to win its first playoff series since 2003, defeating District 30-5A champion Rio Grande City in a two-game sweep (15-3, 10-2).

Carroll swept Ray in district play, winning their first contest 8-1 on March 9 and their second 11-1 on April 1.

In Class 3A, the marquee matchup will pit District 30 champion Bishop Lady Badgers against District 29 champion Mathis Lady Pirates in a battle of state-ranked teams.

Bishop is ranked No. 4 in the Texas Girls Coaches Association poll, while Mathis comes in at No. 6.

Bishop cruised through the first two

rounds, picking up a two-game sweep of Aransas Pass (5-0, 17-0) and 24-0 victory over Monte Alto.

Mathis swept Falfurrias (6-5, 13-2) and defeated IDEA Quest 23-0.

Meanwhile, District 30 runner up No. 8 Santa Gertrudis Lady Lions will face off against District 30 third-place team London Lady Pirates. The Lady Lions picked up sweeps over Orange Grove (10-0, 9-0) and Lyford (7-1, 12-2). London also swept their way to Round 3, beating Odem (12-2, 8-4) and Santa Rosa (18-1, 15-1).

Over on the other end of the 5A bracket, the District 29-5A runner up Victoria West took on District 31 winner Sharyland Pioneer. Victoria West dismissed Mercedes in the area round, while Pioneer defeated 29-5A thirdplace team Flour Bluff.

Over in Class 4A, there are no local teams facing off, but a couple of right rolls of the ball could set up a big Regional semifinal round for the Coastal Bend.

At the top of the Region IV bracket, District 26 runner up Sinton will battle District 28 champion Fredericksburg with the winner there taking on the winner of Hondo

and District 31 champion Calallen.

Over on the other end of the bracket, District 26 winner RockportFulton will battle District 28 winner Boerne, with the winner there facing the winner of Tuloso-Midway and Devine.

In Class 2A, Three Rivers will take on Weimar

RSl Crew bringing you the content you love

Kenedy Narro on camera duty at a softball game.

May 2021

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Page 16 Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Harlingen South’s Iliana Saucedo clubbed a grand slam and helped lead South to a 7-3 win over Los Fresnos. (Photo via Andrew Cordero)

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Results from the 32-5A track meet. Edcouch Elsa Girls 174 points.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Results from the 32-5A track meet. Mercedes boys 132 points.

The Hidalgo Pirates are moving on after taking down IDEA Riverview 4-2 the Pirates were led by Rey Cantu as he netted 2 goals and had 1 assist leading the Pirates to the win. Congratulations to Cantu for taking home the US Army Player of the game

R io Sp o r t s Live recognizes ou r US A r my pl a ye r of t h e game. 32-6A District Champions.

We sla c o g i rl s with 191 points.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Mission Ve t e r a n s A l y s s a Guzman goes 2-for-4 with two doubles and the game winning RBI in the bottom of the 7th to help her Lady Patriots win 4-3 over Laredo Martin

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. 32-6A District Champions.

Harlingen boys with 208 points.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Pioneer’s Kayla Monjaras helped lead the Lady D’Backs to a 11-3 win over Mchi.

Our Rio Sports L i ve US A r m y player of the game.

C.C. Ray’s Leah Cran was 3 for 4 with three RBIs, a double and made plays on the infield to hep her team to a win over Moody.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Edinburg Vela’s Monee Montilla went 3-for-3 with three RBI. Montilla hit a 2R HR, double and a single en route to a 16-0 win over PSJA in 4 innings.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Edinburg Vela’s Diego Cortez went 3-for-3 with five RBI in a 12-2 win over Edinburg.

view 4 -2 the Pirates were led

by Rey Cantu as he netted 2 goals and had 1 assist leading the Pirates to the win. Congratulations to Cantu for takThe Hidalgo Pirates ing home the are moving on after tak- US Army Playing down IDEA River- er of the game

Rio Sports Live recognizes its US Army player of the game. Victoria West’s Katarina Zarate was 3 for 3 with a three-run homer and seven RBI to lead the Warriors to a 17-6 win over Corpus Christi King in five innings.

Our Rio Sports Live US Army player of the game. C.C. Carroll’s Linzee Leal was 2 for 3 with three RBI and made several defensive plays on the infield to help lead team her to a win over Gregory-Portland.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. London’s Gonzalo Alvarez Alonso notched two goals in a 3-1 playoff victory against Pharr IDEA.

Rio Sports Live recognizes its US Army player of the game. Corpus Christi Carroll’s Rhea-Ann Avalos was 2 for 4 from the plate with two home runs and three RBI in an 11-1 win over Corpus Christi Ray.

R io Sp o r t s Live recognizes ou r US A r my pl a ye r of t h e game. On Friday, Valley Views’s Peter Yanez led the Tigers to a 2-1 win and a trip to the Sweet 16.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Mercedes Bridgette Sanchez hit a double and an inside the park homer in a 10-3 Mercedes win over Edcouch-Elsa.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Los FresnosAshley Esparza recorded a hat trick en route to a 6-1 win over Donna North. The Lady Falcons are heading to the Sweet 16.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Kate Perez did it all for Los Fresnos.

The righty tossed a complete game shutout and went 4-for-5 with three RBI and a homer in a 8-0 win over San Benito.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes its US Army player of the game. Calallen’s Lauren Mata was 3 for 4 from the plate, recording a single, double and a solo home run during a 5-1 win over TulosoMidway.

The US Army player of the game award goes to Pablo Torre of Valley View he was able to score a goal and assist on the go ahead goal helping the Tigers in a hard earned win over Brownsville Porter

May 2021

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Rio Spor ts Live recognizes our US A r my player of the game.

Rio Grande City’s Luis Garza helped lead RGC to a 11-3 win over Mission Veterans.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. PSJA’s Kayla Hernandez went 2-for-4 with two RBI in a 4-2 win over Edinburg.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Edinburg High’s JR Soto fanned eight in a 7-2 win over Edinburg North.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Edinburg Vela’s Jaime Perez Jr. threw five strong innings with seven strikeouts and went 2-for-4 on the night with two doubles and three RBI in a win over Mission.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. On senior night Annabel Segoviano hit a grand slam in a 18-0 Edinburg North win over Juarez-Lincoln

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Los Fresnos sophomore Kate Perez swatted the walk off homer to send Los Fresnos to a 3-2 win over Weslaco.

Rio Sports Live recognizes its US Army player of the game. Corpus Christi Ray’s Jack Martinez allowed three hits while striking out 10 batters in five scoreless innings of work to help lead the Texans to a 2-0 win over Corpus Christi Carroll.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes its US Army player of the game.

Gregory-Portland’s Sierra Ouellette was 2 for 3 from the plate with a double, three RBI and recorded seven strikeouts in the circle to lead the Lady ‘Cats to a 15-0 win over Corpus Christi King.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Edinburg Vela’s Elysia Pena hit the go ahead homer in the seventh to lead Vela to a 6-5 win over Mission. Pena hit two homers on the night.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army players of the game. Bishop’s Andrea Martinez (left) and Sadie Flores.

The pair combined for four hits and six RBI’s in the Lady Badgers win over Falfurrias, 11-1.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game.

Pioneer’s Stevie Quintilla fueled the Diamondbacks to a 5-3 win.

Lady Greyhounds took down Harlingen South 5-4 as they improve to 7-6.

The US Army player of the game goes to Julissa Garcia.

She drove in 2 RBI to give the Lady Hounds the go ahead runs in the sixth.

Rio Sports Live recognizes its US Army player of the game. Corpus Christi Veterans’ Mariah Vasquez was 3 for 4 from the plate with a home run, five RBI in a 6-0 win over Ray last night.

The Round Rock Lady Dragons took down Los Fresnos 4-1 & were led by Kara Harris as she had 1 goal & 1 assist in the team win. Harris took home the US Army Player of the Game award.

Rio Sports Live recognizes its US Army player of the game. Victoria West’s Brayden Goode was 3 for 4 with two RBI in a 6-5 win over Corpus Christi King.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Los Fresnos Andrea Guevara collected two hits in their 15-0 win in four innings over Brownsville Hanna.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes its US A r my player of t he g a m e. C o r p u s Christi Carroll’s Aylah Mata was 5 for 5 from the plate with three doubles, an RBI and scored four runs in a 15-2 win over Corpus Christi Veterans.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes o u r US A r m y player of t he game. Bishop’s Hannah Griffith hit a homer over the center field wall to kickstart a four-run inning to help lift the Lady Badgers to a 5-3 win over Santa Gertrudis Academy.

RSL recognizes our US Army Players of the Game. Calallen pitcher Breanna Ford tossed six scoreless innings, allowed two runs on four hits and struck out eight in a district title-clinching 3-2 win over Alice. She also drove in the tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a 1-for-3 night at the plate.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. PSJA’s Viggo Lopez went 3-for-3 in a 12-2 win over Edinburg North.

RSL recognizes our US Army player of the game.

Harlingen’s Audrie Sayas threw a complete game, giving up three hits and one run in a 8-1 win over Brownsville Rivera.

RSL recognizes our US Army player of the game.

On Thursday McAllen High swept the 5A area meet in Mercedes. The Boys finished with 124 points and the girls finished with 168 points.

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may 2021

Page 18 Rio Spor ts Live recognizes our US Army Players of the Game.

Ingleside’s Elena Adame was 2 for 4 from the plate with four RBI in a 16-4 win over Corpus Christi Miller.

The Harlingen Cardinals took down San Benito 12-1 tonight. Thomas Ly s s y h a d 6 shutout innings & 16 Strikeouts in the team win Lyssy took home the US Army Player of the game award

Rio Sports Live recognizes its US A r my player of the game.

Victoria West left fielder Lilly Chavez recorded a two-run home run and three RBI in a 12-1, fiveinning win over Corpus Christi Moody.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game.

Jaretz y Rod r ig u e z str uck out six in a 12-4 win over Mission Veterans.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game.

PSJA Memor ia l’s D a ijzia DeLeon str uck out eight in a 10-0 win over Sharyland

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Shar yland’s Cole Gerlach went 2-for4 and drove in three runs on a double and helped fuel Sharyland to an 11-3 win over Sharyland Pioneer.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game.

L a J o y a’s Alan Delgado went 4-for-4 in a 13-2 win over Edinburg Economedes

The Lyford Lady Bulldogs got a home win over IDEA Edinburg on Senior Night 20-0.

Haley Rodriguez took home the US Army player of the game award. Rodriguez had a inside the park Grand Slam in the win

R io Spor ts Live recogn izes ou r US Army player of the game. Los Fresnos junior Victoria Altamirano provided an inside the park walk off homer for a dramatic 4-3 win over Harlingen. The Lady Falcons are codistrict champions of 32-6A.

Rio Sports Live r e c ognizes its US Army player of the game.

Corpus Christ i C a r r ol l’s Katelyn Mendez was 2 for 3 with two RBI to help lead the Lady Tigers to a 5-3 win over Flour Bluff.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US A r my player of the game.

Santa Gertrudis Academy’s Jaci Salinas.

She had eight strikeouts in 3 innings of work to lead the Lady Lions to a win over the London Lady Pirates, 15-0

Rio Sports Live r e c ognizes its US Ar my player of the game.

Gregory-Portland’s starting pitcher Robbie Spencer tossed six shutout innings while allowing just two hits to help lead the Wildcats to a 7-0 win over Corpus Christi King.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes its US Army player of the game.

Cor pus Ch r isti Carroll pitcher DJ Dud ney helped lead the Tigers to a 2-0 win over Corpus Christi Veterans as he tossed a complete game shutout. Dudney allowed just three hits and struck out five batters.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Mercedes Ju n ior Bella Ra mos went 2-for-3 en route to an 8-0 win over Weslaco East.

The Port Isabel Lady Tarpons took the win over La Féria on senior night 2-0 as the Lady Tarpons got two runs in the 6th inning. MaryJane Cantu took home the US Army player of the game award as she drove in the go ahead run to give the Lady Tarpons the lead.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes our US Army player of the game. Alice Sophomore Ava Hernadez tossed a complete shutout, fanning seven and allowed two hits in a 4-0 win over Zapata

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game.

Ly ford’s Hannah Garza went 4-for4 with a triple and two doubles in a 6-2 win over San Benito.

Zaraivion Ar mendarez of Raymondville will be heading to STATE as he took home Silver in the 400 meter run. He was one of our US Army Players Athletes of the Day.

J u l i a n Dominguez o f L a Fé r i a advanced to STATE as he took the Silver in the 800 Meter Run . Earning him a spot as one of our US Army Athletes of the Day.

Aaron Trevino of La Féria will be heading to STATE as he took home the gold in the Long Ju mp.

Earning him a spot as one of our US Army Athletes of the Day.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game.

C a l a l l e n’s Aviana Gonzlaes went 3-for-5 with five RBI in a 9-3 win over Santa Gertrudis Academy.

Rio Sports Live r e c ognizes our US Army Players of the Game.

Corpus Christi R a y’s Ry a n Rodriguez was 3 for 4 from the plate and recorded five RBI in a 15-7 win over Corpus Christi King.

May 2021

Page 19 R io Spor ts Live recognizes our US Ar my Players of the Game. Corpus Christi Moody’s Derek Hernandez was 1 for 2 with a walk and recorded an RBI, stolen base and scored a run in a 4-2 win over Victoria West.

R io Sp or t s Live recognizes ou r US A r my pl aye r of t he game. Harlingen Sout h’s Oz z y Her rera and Jonadam Bustamante combined for seven strikeouts and Herrera drove in a key RBI double to get the rally going en route to a 5-2 win over Brownsville Hanna.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes o u r US A r m y player of t he game.On Thursday McAllen High swept the 5A area meet in Mercedes. The Boys finished with 124 points and the girls finished with 168 points.

Rio Sports L i ve r e c o gnizes our US Ar my player of the game.

Ricky Montelongo recorded e ig h t s t r i ke outs, leading Harlingen to a 5-2 win over Brownsville Hanna.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes our US Army Players of the Game.

Corpus Christi R a y ’s Ky l e e Rodriguuez was 2 for 3 and scored three runs in an 11-1 win over Corpus Christi King

Rio Sports Live r e c ognizes our US Army player of the game.

H a r l i n g e n’s Thomas Lyssy pitched six innings of onerun ball with four strikeouts and went 2-for-4 with an RBI

Rio Sports Live r e c ognizes our US Army player of the game. Desiree Cavazos h el p e d le a d the Lady Kats to a 10-4 win over La Feria.

Allison Gonzalez of Por t Isabel took home the US Army Player of the game award for her performance in the win over Raymondville 2-1

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US A r my playe r of the game.

Edinburg North’s Kaylee O’Bryan went yard twice with a two and three run blast that led ENHS to a 9-1 win over Mission Veterans.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes its US Army player of the game. Corpus C h r i s t i C a rroll’s Rhea Ann Avalos led the Lady Tigers to a 15-0 win over Victoria West, racking up four RBI on a 2-for-3 night at the plate that included a three-run homer.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes its US Army player of the game.

Cor pus Christi K i n g ’s J a c o b Trevino pitched a complete game and allowed just one runs on four hits and racked up four strikeouts in a 2-1 over Corpus Christi Moody.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes its US Army player of the game.

Corpus Christi Ray’s Miguel Everett had a busy day, pitching five complete innings (four scoreless) and allowed just three runs on two hits. He also recorded a hit with two RBI in a 5-3 win over Victoria East.

Rio Sports Live recognizes our US Army player of the game.

Edinburg Vela’s Rudy Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with two RBI in a 8-6 win over McAllen Rowe.

Rio Sports Live re c ognizes our US Army player of the game.

C . C R a y ’s Leah Cran went 4-for-4 with two doubles and a triple in a 15-3 win over Rio Grande City. Ray leads the series 1-0.

Calallen took dow n LaFeria 19-0 in game one of the best of three series.

Lauren Mata took home the US Army Player of the game award as she had a two Run Homer in the team win.

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes ou r US A r my player of the game. Harlingen South’s Kaitlin Dones went 3-for3 in a 10-2 South win over PSJA. South wins the series 2-0 and will meet San Antonio O’Conner in the area round.

R io Spor t s Live recogn i zes ou r US A r my player of t h e g a m e.

Raymondville’s Derrick Ramirez th rew f ive no hit innings and fanned 11 and went 2-for3 at the plate with an RBI in a 10-0 win over La Grulla

Rio Spor ts Live recognizes its US Army player of the game.

London’s Mikaela Salinas was 3 for 5 with four RBI and a run scored to help lead the Lady Pirates to a 12-2 win over Odem to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three bi-district series.

Rio Sports Live recognizes its US Army player of the game. Corpus Christi Carroll’s Vanessa Quiroga tossed a perfect game, facing and retiring 15 batters while striking out nine in an 18-0, five-inning win over Roma in Game 1 of a best-of-three bi-district series.

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May 2021

Page 21

Valley View returns to state tournament in another strong year for RGV soccer

By Jeremy Palacios RSL This past year was out of sorts to say the least, but what stayed true was the Rio Grande Valley’s annual deep run in the UIL playoffs as it has now sent a team to the UIL boys state soccer tournament for the 10th consecutive season.

Once again, it was the Valley View Tigers who represented the RGV, making it three times in four seasons for the program on the big stage.

The most pivotal game in the postseason was the Regional IV-5A finals, where they faced

off against another powerhouse soccer club Brownsville Porter.

Heading into the highly anticipated matchup, both teams were thought to be evenly matched as the two clubs boasted potent offenses and top-10 rankings in the Texas High School Coaches Association poll, with Valley View ranked No. 7 and Porter at No.10.

In the end, it was the Tigers winning the match 2-1 on an overtime goal from Ever Arredondo on the assist from Torre, sending them back to state.

The Tigers scored 86

total goals throughout 20 games, including outscoring their opponents 14-6 in the postseason while being led by the Valley’s leading scorer Pablo Torre.

The Cowboys have a strong offense of their own, as they scored 89 goals throughout 25 games. The Cowboys were led by a trio of Jose Mateos, Brandon Montes, and Julian Gallegos, who all combined scored 69 goals. Porter has outscored their opponents 15-2 in the postseason.

The Cowboys finished up their season with a 20-5-1 record,

which included a return to the regional finals for the first time in five years.

With the Tigers winning that matchup they went on to face Kingwood Park Panthers in the UIL state semifinals. Where they would barely lose to them 5-4.

As we turn to the Women side of the soccer world, two schools made runs to the Regional Semifinals.

One of those ball clubs being McAllen High School Bulldogs.

This team is known for their success and their ability to control the pace of the game.

This possession style squad scored a total of 120 goals in just 21 games, and only allowing just 10 goals in those 21 games with 14 of them being complete shutouts.

The girls leading the defensive unit is Cassidy Leftwich, Charlotte Beck, Mia Reyna and goalkeeper Grace Kelly.

The Lady Bulldogs finished their season with the only of the campaign, falling in the regional semifinals to the Cedar Park Timberwolves and a 21-1.

Another team making a deep run was the Lady Falcons

of Los Fresnos High School. This team finished a tough district season being No. 3 seed in a tough district, but would ultimately right the ship in the postseason and advance to the fourth round.

Head coach Juan Luna gives all the credit to the experienced seniors Kim Salazer, Pamela Esparza, Natalia Alegria, and captain Mindy Perez, who lead the way to the regional semis.

The Lady Falcons eventually fell to the Round Rock Dragons 4-1 and finished the season with a record of 19-7-1.

Courtesy photo

may 2021

Page 22

Calallen girls become first Coastal Bend Soccer team to reach state title game

By Mark Molina RSL The Calallen girls 2021 soccer season will not just be remembered for just being a monumental one for the program.

It will go down as a historical feat for the Coastal Bend.

After defeating Salado 3-2 in the Class 4A state semifinal, the Calallen girls became the first team in Coastal Bend history to advance to the state championship game.

The Lady Cats would eventually come up short of the 2021 state championship, falling to Midlothian Heritage 6-0 in the final.

Still, the Lady Cats made history with the historic playoff run, finished the season 25-2

and had several players finish with top accolades.

The underclassmen played a big role for Calallen as sophomores Jilian Curtis, Kaylie Smith, Camree Villalobos and Kaitlyn McCarty were key cogs.

Curtis and Smith were named co-district MVPs and were named to the state all-tournament team.

Curtis, a captain and forward scored 72 goals on the season with 25 assists, while midfielder Smith tallied 44 goals with 39 assists.

Villalobos, a defensive midfielder, was a state all-tourney team selection and an all-district first team selection, scoring 11 goals with 9 assists.

McCarty, a defender, got the state all-tourney nod and was a district co-

defensive MVP. Senior Maddie Pearl was named to the state all-tournament team and was the district co-utility player of the year while scoring 10 goals with 24 assists. In the net, junior goalkeeper Laramie Miller was the all-district goalkeeper of the year and tallied 10 saves in the state championship game, the most in a state contest.

For the season, she racked up 82 saves and secured 24 shutouts.

Head coach Sarah Pipkin-Love was named the district coach of the year and assistant Josh Ortiz was the state assistant coach of the year.

NOTABLE FINISHES The London Pirates and Lady Pirate soccer teams were among the last four

teams standing in the Coastal Bend as the made their march to the Class 4A regional semifinals.

The Lady Pirates defeated Vanguard (3-1), Hidalgo (3-0) and Santa Gertrudis (3-0) before falling to Wimberly 5-0 in the region final.

The Pirates, meanwhile, defeated Zapata (6-0), Jubilee Brownsville (2-1) and IDEA Pharr before losing a close battle to Boerne 2-1.

Over in District 295A, the Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial girls advanced to the regional quarterfinals after defeating La Joya palmview (6-0) and McAllen Memorial (2-1) before falling to McAllen High in Round 3.

Calallen holds up their 29-4A district throphy after a 13-0 win over Ingleside on March 16. Courtesy photo

May 2021

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Historic Cards Harlingen High baseball ends outright district title drought

By JEREMY PALACIOS RSL This season mot to “Cardinal Grit” has been instilled within the Harlingen Cardinals baseball team by head coach Mando Rangel.

What it means to the Red Birds is that “in order to accomplish a championship winning season, you have to obtain championship DNA. On the field if you want to act big then you have got to perform big.”

This creed was sketched into these players mindsets, as they finished the District 32-

6A season off with 10 consecutive wins and secured the program’s first outright district crown in 23 seasons.

“It feels good that we were able to accomplish this for the kids, these kids work hard day in and day out, so it feels good knowing that they’re hard work is paying off,” Rangel said. “As coaches we try to motivate and elevate these kids, trying to get them to understand the potential they have and what they can do. And the kids fed into this program of developing a championship culture.”

Although this a new

feat for this club, you wouldn’t know it by its overall demeanor,” Rangel said. “This year we told the guys that even though we didn’t get the district title last year, we felt like we deserved it then, we’re going to go out there and act like we’re the top of the district and that’s the way the kids performed,’ says Coach Rangel.

Exciting the program this season is the young leaders anchoring it. A prime example of that is third baseman Steven Sepeda, who uses his voice to motivate the rest of the infield and doesn’t let his defense get flat-

footed and makes sure that it is always ready to play.

Another key cog of the team is third-year letterman and second basemen Jacob Marroquin.

Marroquin has been the backbone of this team, keeping it humble and ready for what’s ahead.

With the 2021 season serving as a bright spot for the Harlingen High baseball program, it should continue as they have a bevy of young talent hoping to continue the run of Cardinal success and will lose just two starters graduating this spring.

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COASTAL BEND COLLEGE TO LAUNCH VARSITY ESPORTS THIS FALL

By Mark Molina RSL

As the world of eSports has become increasingly prevalent over the last few years, so too have the opportunities it can present to its participants.

It can produce name recognition, fortune, unforgettable experiences and now, a college education as colleges begin to integrate it to their respective athletic programs.

One such college taking this step forward is Coastal Bend over in Beeville

as they announced in early March that it would launch a varsity eSports this Fall.

Leading the way for Coastal Bend college will be eSports coach Will Bond, who explained that the program will have scholarships available for those who qualify and are willing to work harder in the classroom and even on their character.

“We are a coed varsity program, which means we are under the athletic banner,” he said. “We now have equal opportunity scholarships for both men and women.

RSl Crew bringing you the content you love

Rudy Zamarripa Jr. going for the best views for a softball broadcast. Behind the scenes where it isn’t as easy as you might think.

In order to receive a standard athletic scholarship or a dorm scholarship, you need to be in the program and you need to be enrolled for 15 semester credit hours at CBC. We also have stricter grade requirements in that you must have a 2.5 GPA. We also have a community service requirement because our No. 1 focus in player growth and development in and out of games.”

Another requirement is that of athletic training, something Bond said not many people realize about the growing sport.

“We have athletic requirements in that you have to come through athletic training, which is a prerequisite for our program,” Bond said.

“We still have players that do have injuries; thosen exist as well.

Studies show more and more that players who have some sort of workout routine perform better ingame in their decision making and their

reflexes. We make that a huge point. Players suffer injuries like karpaltunnel and back injuries, which are much more prevalent than people realize.”

CBC will affiliate with the National Junior College Athletic Association ESports (NJCAAE) and the National Association

of College ESports (NACE).

The NJCAAE will be competing for a national championship, while the NACE will allow players to compete and perhaps get recruited by four-year schools, according to a CBC press release.

While most colleges

offer about three to four games, CBC will offer more such as multiple Call of Duty games, Overwatch, League of Legends, Rainbow Six: Siege, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Rocket League, FIFE, Madden, NBA 2K and more

San Isidro ISD

Building Character through Athletics

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RGVCBA ALL-STAR BOYS

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In class 6A, the East side downed the West with a 86-78 win, Weslaco’s Vince Peralez dropped 21 points for the East. On the boys sub 6A, Santa Rosa’s Chris Vela fueled the East side to a wild 76-73 win over the West side.

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RGVCBA ALL-STAR GIRLS

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1 On the girls side in class 6A, Andrea Molina led the way for the West squad en route to a 74-35 3 drumming of the East squad. In the sub 6A games, on the girls side, Victoria Alvarado scored 10 points and led the West side to a 55-45 win over the East.

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BASEBALL ROUNDUP Corpus Christi Veterans’ Jake Rabe during a May 4 practice at the Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial baseball field. (Mark Molina / RSL)

By Mark Molina & Kevin Narro RSL The Coastal Bend baseball season completed its area round with a bevy of teams moving on to the area round to take on teams from the Rio Grande Valley.

The Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial is back in the postseason after a second-place finish within a tough District 29-5A and the Eagles are off to a

good start.

The Eagles sent the third-place Roma Gladiators out of District 30 packing after a 14-1 victory in a one-game bi-district playoff and will now take on the District 32 champion Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers, who are fresh off a sweep on McAllen Rowe (6-1, 5-0).

The winner of that series between District 29 third-place team Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi Veterans’ Daylan Pena during a May 4 practice at the Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial baseball field. (Mark Molina / RSL)

Ray defeated and District 31 winner McAllen High.

After a strong finish in District 29-5A play led them to the postseason, the Corpus Christi Carroll Tigers defeated District 30-champion Rio Grande City in a three-game series.

The Tigers dropped Game 1 8-3, but rebounded to takes Game 2 (12-4) and a deciding Game 3 (11-4). Now, the Tigers will face Brownsville Porter, which won a three-game series of its own against Sharyland Pioneer.

District 29 winner Gregory-Portland will take on District 31 third-place team Sharyland High.

Over in Class 4A, District 31 champion Calallen dismissed Grulla ina two-game sweep (11-0, 14-0) and will now face District

30 runner-up Pearsall, with the winner facing either Hondo or Raymondville.

Another district champion Sinton from District 26 defeated Brazosport in the bi-district round (9-3, 10-0) and will face Boerne from District 28.

The Tuloso-Midway Warriors bounced La Feria from the postseason and are now preparing for District 29 fourthplace Somerset, which defeated District 30 champion Uvalde in the first round. The winner there will face the winner of Alice and Pleasanton.

The Alice Coyotes made quick work of Hidalgo, sweeping the Pirates in tw0 (14-1, 14-9).

Class 3A saw several teams advance and are ready to faceoff in Round 2, starting with

teams from District 30 and 32.

District 32 third-place team Bishop Badgers defeated District 29 runner up Odem Owls in a two-game sweep (7-4, 11-2) and will now face the District 32 champion Lyford Bulldogs, who will make their playoff debut after a firstround bye.

District 30 runner-up Banquete, fresh off a sweep of George West (3-2, 13-0) will meet District 32 fourthplace team Santa Rosa, which is fresh off a bi-district victory over IDEA Quest.

In the bottom half of the bracket, District 30 winner London defeated Orange Grove in a series sweep (17-0, 20-10) and will meet District 31 runner up Monte Alto.

Elsewhere in the bracket, District

30 fourth-place Hebbronville, coming off a two-game sweeping upset of District 29 champion Mathis will take on District 32 runner up Progreso.

In Class 2A, Premont will face Mason and Refugio will take on Falls City.

RGV Clubs advance to Area Harlingen High swept Edinburg and will meet Eagle Pass for the area title. Edinburg Vela squeaked past San Benito in three games and will take on Laredo United South.

In 4A Raymondville took down Robstown and will have a date with Hondo, while in 3A Lyford will meet Bishop. Sharyland beat Weslaco East and now has a date with Gregory Portland

Vela Highschool boys team picture. Courtesy of Vela Highschool Facebook page.

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