Eagles defeat Brownsville Hanna 7-3 to clinch Area Championship, Next play Mission Sharyland for Regional Quarter-Finals Championship
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
An Exclusive Eagle Pass Business Journal News Story/Copyright 2013
The mighty Eagle Pass High School Eagles defeated the perennially potent Brownsville Hanna High School Golden Eagles 7 to 3 in their one game rain shortened Regional Area Baseball Championship series on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at the Harlandale Independent School District Frank Tejada Baseball Stadium in San Antonio, Texas, clinching the Regional Area Championship and advancing to play the perennial powerhouse Mission Sharyland High School Rattlers currently ranked second in Texas among 5A teams and led by former Eagle Passan Felipe “Tres” Barrera, III, a signee with the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns Baseball Team under head coach Augie Garrido.
Scheduled to play a best of three series against the Brownsville Hanna Golden Eagles, the Eagle Pass Eagles were limited to a one game Area Championship due to inclement weather including rain and lightning in San Antonio, Texas during Friday and Saturday, May 10-11th.
The Eagle Pass Eagles sent standout senior southpaw pitcher Devon Torres to the mound who went the distance (seven innings) limiting the potent Brownsville Hanna hitters to only 10 hits and allowing three runs in earning the hard fought victory and Area Championship.
Eagle pitcher Devon Torres shut out the visiting Brownsville Hanna Golden Eagles in the top of the first inning. The Eagle Pass Eagles scored one run in the bottom of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead as Eagle leadoff hitter Eric Gonzalez stroked a single to get on base, Devon Torres executed a sacrificed bunt advancing Gonzalez to second base, Diego Gaona singled advancing Gonzalez to third base, Mando Lopez got on base on a fielder’s choice but pinch runner Olexis Gutierrez was thrown out at home attempting to score on Lopez’s groundout, and Juan Lopez slammed a single scoring pinch runner Alex Martinez to give the Eagles a slim 1-0 lead.
The Brownsville Hanna Golden Eagles scored one run in the top of the second inning to tie the game at one run a piece on two base hits against Eagle pitcher Devon Torres.
Both teams’ pitchers settled down and held both teams scoreless in the third inning with the game tied 1-1. Eagle hurler Devon Torres kept the potent Brownsville Hanna batters scoreless in the top of the fourth inning.
The Eagle Pass Eagles scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning to regain the lead 2-1 as Eagles clean-up batter Mando Lopez singled to get on base, Juan Lopez stroked another single advancing Lopez to second base but Lopez was surprised by the strong arm of the Golden Eagles catcher throwing him out at second base, R.J. Ruiz stroked a single advancing Juan Lopez to second, Javy Cardona belted a back to back single advancing Lopez to third base and Ruiz to second loading the bases, Jacoup Ruiz slammed an RBI single scoring Lopez, Kevin Chisum flied out and R.J. Ruiz was caught at home attempting to score to end the inning.
The never say die Brownsville Hanna Golden Eagles scored a run of their own in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game once again at 2-2 each. The Eagle Pass Eagles were unable to score any runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with the game tied 2-2.
Eagles pitcher Devon Torres held the Brownsville Hanna Golden Eagles scoreless in the top of the sixth inning with the game tied 2-2.
The Eagle Pass Eagles busted the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring five big runs to take a commanding 7-2 lead as R.J. Ruiz singled, Javy Cardona hit a back to back single advancing Ruiz to second base, Jacoup Ruiz executed a sacrificed bunt advancing Ruiz to third base and Cardona to second base, pinch hitter Alex Martinez received a walk to load the bases with one out, Eric Gonzalez slammed a two RBI double to the fence scoring Ruiz and Cardona and advancing Martinez to third base, Devon Torres belted a two RBI double scoring Martinez and Gonzalez, and Diego Gaona stroked an RBI single scoring pinch runner Chris Perez.
Eagles ace pitcher Devon Torres limited the Brownsville Hanna Golden Eagles to one base hit and one run in the top of the seventh inning to earn the win and help the Eagles clinch the coveted Area Championship by the final score of 7-3.
The Eagle Pass Eagles are under the direction of head coach Reynol Mendoza and assistant coaches Henry Silva and Heriberto Roiz.
The Eagle Pass Eagles will renew their historic rivalry with the Mission Sharyland Rattlers on Friday, May 17th, at 7:30 p.m. at the Harlandale ISD Frank Tejada Baseball Stadium in San Antonio, Texas as both teams met last year in the same Regional Quarter-Finals Championship with the Mission Sharyland Rattlers winning in two games in a best of three series. The Eagles will seek to redeem last year’s playoff loss to the Rattlers and earn the right to advance to the Regional Semi-Finals Championship with a victory over the potent Rattlers.
All Eagle Pass Eagles baseball fans in Texas are invited and encouraged to attend the Eagles Quarter-Finals Championship game against the Mission Sharyland Rattlers this Friday, May 17th, in San Antonio and cheer them on to victory.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates the Eagle Pass Eagles on their Bi-District and Area Championships and wishes them the best of luck against the Mission Sharyland Rattlers in the Quarter-Finals Championship this Friday, May 17th. Go Eagles Go! Beat the Rattlers!
