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High School Sports Magazine

It’s GameDay

Teams Get Ready For Playoff Run!

L POLLS

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32-5AAAAA

Ed-Elsa Back?

31-6AAAAAA

Lady Sabercats Could Be Better

1. Edinburg Vela 4. Ed North 7. PSJA 10. Valley View 2. Weslaco 5. Bro Veterans 8. Los Fresnos 11. Pioneer 3. Har South 6. Mercedes 9. Rowe HS 12. PSJA Mem

High School Sports Magazine

Edinburg Vela HS sophomore Jaime Perez Jr. leads his Sabercats in 2019 with hopes of another 6A Region IV Tournament appearance.

(HSSMImages/Edinburg CISD)

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High School Sports Magazine

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PSJA

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High School Sports Magazine

New 30-6A Contenders! The PSJA Bears will compete in District 30-6A after the UIL realigned most districts throughout the state of Texas in February. The Bears will be favored to win the district title. (HSSMIMages/Special)

Showdown in 30-6A

Bears vs Bulldogs (McAllen, Tx)-This Friday, March 22nd will be the most anticipated date in District 30-6A when leagueleading PSJA High School (3-0) travels to Ted Uhlaender Field to take on the three-time 30-6A defending champions, McAllen High School Bulldogs.

Last year, the Bulldogs defeated PSJA in the Bestof-Three series (10-3, 2-12, 3-1) of the area champion-

ships of the 2018 UIL State 6A Baseball playoffs while both teams played in two separate districts. The University Interscholastic League realigned most baseball districts last February, moving PSJA and PSJA North into District 30-6A, from 31-6A. What’s at stake on Friday night? Two scenarios. A district 30-6A title and a first place seeding the state

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High School Sports Magazine

playoffs. A first place seeding in the 6A playoffs will avoid current leaders, 29-6A Laredo United and Laredo United South? Or, maybe, even, Eagle Pass and Laredo Alexander. In this district, all four teams could give any 30-6A teams a problem. Eagle Pass and Laredo Alexander both advanced to the second round in 2018 with wins over La Joya and McAllen Nikki Rowe. McAllen eliminated Laredo United in the first round of the Bestof-Three series.

On Friday night, McAllen High School (15-4-1, 2-1) head baseball coach, Eliseo Pompa will be back in the dugout after suffering a one-week “Spring Break Flu”.

His teams went 1-1 last week in district play with a shocking loss to La Joya 9-5 after blowing out Mission 14-1 last Tuesday night.

On the mound? Pompa will probably go with his University of Texas commit, junior pitcher, Aaron Nixon (5’10 190lbs) 3-0, who has made four appearances this season with 23 innings pitched. The junior right-handed pitcher has struck out 49 batters and walked ten. He has given up eights hits with wins over against Flour Bluff,

2018 Results

Dell Diamond-Dish-Falk Field Round Rock-Austin, Texas

State Baseball Tournament 1A Semifinals Fayetteville defeats Abbott 11-7 Slocum defeats New Home 8-7 1A Championships Slocum defeats Fayetteville 6-3 2A Semifinals Dallardsville Big Sandy defeats New Deal 3-2 Muenster defeats Woden 2-0

4A Semifinals Argyle defeats Jasper 14-4 Sweeney defeats Godley 3-0 4A Championships Argyle defeats Sweeney 5-0 5A Semifinals Northwest Eaton defeats Humble Kingwood 3-2 (8 innings) Forney defeats CC Veterans Memorial 3-1

2A Championships Big Sandy defeats Muenster 13-3

5A Championships Northwest Eaton defeats Forney 4-1

3A Semifinals Clifton defeats Georgetown Gateway HS 5-2 Beckville defeats Brock 4-0

6A Semifinals Southlake Carroll 3 defeats The Woodlands 1 San Antonio Reagan 5 defeats Cypress Ranch 1

3A Championships Beckville defeats Clifton 5-4

6A Championships Southlake defeats SA Reagan 7-2

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High School Sports Magazine

Mission, and McAllen Nikki Rowe. The Bulldogs need this win on Friday night if they expect to defend their title for a fourth time. Offensively, the Bulldogs are batting .347 as a team with 125 runs scored on 181 hits. On the downside, the Bulldogs have struck out 101 times in the batters box against their opponents this season.

PSJA High School head baseball coach, Marco Guajarado knows that the Bulldogs will be tough in the batter’s box despite their 101 strikeouts as a team.

He knows that Nixon (.462), Gibby Mata (.368), Chris Bernal (.467), Jacob Garcia (.417), Hector Garcia (.450), and Elijah West (.362) are all big bats and bring plenty of baseball experience to the game. West leads the Bulldogs with six homers with Garcia adding five home runs. Against Mission, Garcia hit two homers, while West nailed a towering home run to the left field wall.

The Bears will match up evenly with the Bulldogs on Friday night. By comparison, PSJA defeated La Joya 6-1 in district while the Bulldogs lost to La Joya 9-5 on Friday night? In tournament play, Edinburg Vela defeated PSJA 2-1 and McAllen 5-2. This game will be fun to watch this Friday night.

Thank-You! McAllen Bulldogs junior Hector Garcia has hit five HRs this season as the three-time defending 30-6A champions will play PSJA this Friday night.

(HSSMImages/Bulldogs)

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High School Sports Magazine

Let’s Go Mustangs! The McAllen Memorial HS Mustangs Varsity Baseball team will be a team to watch in 2019 as they return plenty of experience in District 30-6A. (HSSMIMages)

The Race is On...

Mustangs, La Joya (McAllen, Texas)-The McAllen Memorial High School Mustangs could be maturing despite their 1-2 District record. Firstyear head coach Chase Deaton knows that this district could end up in a crazy, wild, chase for the four playoff spots. “We are capable of making a run at the state playoffs,” says Deaton.

Baylor signee, Caleb Hollis, a six-foot, three inch pitcher brings plenty of fire power on the mound and his biggest

test of the season will be at home against McAllen High School on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs (2-1) lost its first district game of the season against La Joya last week and this could be a plus for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs posted early wins against Harlingen South, Mission Veterans, including a 8-7 win over Calallen.

McAllen Nikki Rowe High School head baseball coach Adrian Leal enters his fourth season as the Warriors head

coach, after a Class 6A Bi-District finals appearance in 2018. “We are young and our depth is lacking,” says Leal.

The Warriors are still in the hunt for a playoff spot with a 2-1 record after posting wins over La Joya Juarez-Lincoln and PSJA North. “Those wins were big for our program,’ added Leal.

HSSM picked the La Joya Coyotes as one of the top four teams to make the playoffs in 2019 from District 30-6A and

In 30-6A!

after posting a 9-5 win over McAllen, the Coyotes could continue its onslaught of wins coming up in the next few weeks.

District 30-6A Standings

PSJA McAllen Rowe La Joya PNorth McA Mem Mission LJ Juarez

13-4-1 15-4-1 11-6 10-7 8-10 6-11-1 5-10-1 1-14

3-0 2-1 2-1 2-1 1-2 1-2 0-2 0-2

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High School Sports Magazine

Edinburg Vela HS Sabercats Defends 31-6A title! Jonathon Navarro, a senior, will help lead the Sabercats back to a possible Class 6A Regional IV Baseball Championships in 2019. (HSSMImages/Fan)

(Edinburg, Texas)-Edinburg Vela High School Head coach Jaime Perez is still scratching his head after being shutout with a no-hitter by the Harlingen South hawks 6-0 on March 8th, followed by another loss to the Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks (6-2) on March 9th, all losses came at the Edinburg CISD All-American Baseball Tournament.

“It’s been kind of crazy and hopefully, we are starting to come together after these long tournaments,” says Perez.

In District 31-6A, the Sabercats opened with two much needed wins

Can Sabercats Defend Title...in 31-6A

Bobcats, Panthers?

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High School Sports Magazine

Another Playoff Spot? The Edinburg North High School Cougars Varsity Baseball team will be another team that could make a bid for the 2019 UIL State 6A Baseball playoffs. (HSSMIMages/Special)

over Edinburg North (14-0) and Edinburg Economedes (16-2) with outstanding performances by seniors Ramsey Amador, Nico Rodriguez, and catcher, Jaime Perez Jr. Three new teams were added to 31-6A after the UIL realigned most teams throughout Texas back in February. Moving into the district are defending 32-6A champions, Weslaco High School, along with Weslaco East and Donna North High School, joining Edinburg, Edinburg Vela, Economedes, and Edinburg North.

The Weslaco Panthers will play Edinburg Vela this week in a key battle and this will be the first meeting between both teams. Both teams are defending champions, both teams could make a run in the playoffs in May 2019. Panther head coach, Eddie Serna is approaching his 400th career win and a win over the Sabercats will set the District 31-6A Standings pace for this district race.

12-4-2 2-0 This district will be fun to Ed Vela 16-3-1 1-0 watch as third and fourth Weslaco 1-1 place could go down to Donna North 5-9 6-8-2 1-1 the wire on the final week Wes East 7-10-1 1-1 of play. The Donna North Ed North 8-10 0-1 Chiefs are the surprise Edinburg 2-12 0-2 team in 2019.

Economedes

2018 Results

State Baseball Playoffs Class 6A Bi-District Los Fresnos defeats Edinburg North 5-4, 4-5, 11-2 Mission defeats SA Southwest 1-3, 3-8 Edinburg Vela defeats Harlingen 10-0, 10-2 Eagle Pass defeats La Joya 7-0, 11-10 McAllen defeats Laredo United 6-3, 1-5, 2-1 PSJA defeats Weslaco 4-0, 1-2, 8-0 Laredo Alexander defeats Rowe 2-0 Brownsville Hanna defeats PSJA North 9-5, 8-4

Class 5A Bi-District Sharyland Pioneer defeats Bro Veterans 7-6, 1-9, 10-0 Valley View defeats Bro Pace 19-6, 10-0 Sharyland defeats Ed-Elsa 1-2, 6-4, 10-4 Rio Grande City defeats Bro Lopez 3-4, 5-1, 13-2

Class 6A Area Championships Los Fresnos defeats Mission 12-5, 9-3, 2-12 Edinburg Vela defeats Eagle Pass 5-3, 8-4 McAllen defeats PSJA 10-3, 2-12, 3-1 Laredo Alexander defeats Hanna 8-2, 6-1

Class 4A Bi-District Robstown defeats Port Isabel 8-0, 9-1 Orange Grover defeats Zapata 6-4 Sinton defeats Raymondville 4-3, 11-1 Kingsville defeats Grulla 3-2

Class 6A Region IV Qtrs Edinburg Vela defeats Los Fresnos 4-5, 12-7, 4-3 Laredo Alexander defeats McAllen 3-1, 0-11, 2-1 Class 6A Region IV Semifinals SA Churchill defeats Edinburg Vela 7-3, 9-2CC Carroll defeats Rio Grande City 7-2, 6-3

Class 5A Area Championships CC Veterans defeats Pioneer 0-2, 5-2, 17-0 CC King defeats Valley View 2-1, 0-10, 6-0 CC Carroll defeats Rio Grande City 7-2, 6-3

Class 3A Bi-District Santa Gertrudis defeats Santa Rosa 4-1, 2-4, 8-7 Falfurrias defeats Monte Alto 17-1, 16-2 Banquete defeats Lyford 10-5, 12-0 Class 2A Bi-District No RGV Teams Class 1A Bi-District No RGV Teams

Page 9

High School Sports Magazine

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION 2019 SEASON POLLS Class 4A Polls

Class 1A Polls

1. D’Hanis 2. Abbott 3. New Home 4. Fayetteville 5. Avalon 6. Ira 7. Dodd City 8. Nazareth 9. Saint Jo 10. Springlake Earth

Class 2A Polls 1. Big Sandy 2. Douglass 3. Refugio 4. Valley Mills 5. Gruver 6. Carlisle 7. Albany 8. Sunray 9. Ralls 10. Shelbyville

1. Brock 2. Central Heights 3. Wall 4. Clifton 5. Kirbyville 6. Gateway Prep 7. Bushland 8. Grandview 9. Halletsville 10. Denver City

2018 TSWA ALL-STATE SELECTIONS Class 6A (Texas Sports Writers Association) 1B-Abanny Garcia, McAllen HS (1st Team) 2B-Andy Martinez, Mission (1st Team) OF Rigo Moreno, McAllen (2nd Team) OF Aaron Galvan, Edinburg Vela (2nd Team) 6A Honorable Mentions P Abanny Garcia,McAllen P/SS Aaron Nixon, McAllen P Victor Montemayor, Los Fresnos Class 5A C Emmanuel Garza, RGC (3rd Team) 5A Honorable Mentions 1B Jarren Garcia, Ed-Elsa HS OF Pepe Contreras, Sharyland OF Jonathan Lugo, Pioneer HS 4A Honorable Mentions Cross Gonzalez, Rio Hondo HS

1. Argyle 2. Sweeny 3. Bridge Water 4. Iowa Park 5. Canton 6. Robinson 7. Levelland 8. Stephenville 9. Decatur 10. Pleasant Grove

Class 3A Polls

Class 5A Polls

1. Colleyville Heritage 2. CC Veterans 3. Georgetown 4. Cleburne 5. Mansfield Legacy 6. Calallen 7. Brenham 8. Wylie East 9. CC King 10. Tomball

Class 6A Polls

1. Austin Lake Travis 2. Keller 3. Cy Ranch 4. Katy Tompkins 5. Flower Mound 6. Houston Lamar 7. The Woodlands 8. SA Reagan 9. Prosper 10. Buda Hays

2019 UIL District by District Standings District 30-6A PSJA 13-4-1 Rowe 11-6-1 La Joya 10-7 McAllen 15-4-1 PNorth 8-10-1 McA Mem 6-11-1 Mission 5-10-1 LJ Juarez 1-14

3-0 2-1 2-1 2-1 1-2 1-2 0-2 0-2

District 31-5A 16-2 Pioneer 11-5 RGC Sharyland 16-3 Palmview 11-6 4-7 Roma PMemorial 3-10 Southwest 7-9 MVeterans 5-15

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

District 31-6A Ed Vela 12-4-2 Weslaco 16-3-1 Donna North 5-9 Wes East 6-8-2 Ed North 7-10-1 Edinburg 8-10 Economedes 2-12 District 32-5A Bro Vets 11-4-2 Bro Lopez 9-1-2 Valley View 3-6-1 Mercedes 2-4-1 Bro Porter 6-8 Ed-Elsa 5-13 Bro Pace 5-6 Donna 4-10

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

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

District 32-6A Harlingen Har South Bro Rivera San Benito Los Fresnos Hanna

10-10 11-3-2 13-4 7-11 11-8 5-14

District 32-4A Zapata 3-0 La Feria 2-1 Hidalgo 2-1 Grulla 2-1 Rio Hondo 1-2 Progreso 1-2 Raymondville 1-2 Port Isabel 0-3

3-0 2-0 2-0 1-2 0-3 0-3

9-4 6-5 4-9 6-9 7-9 6-5-2 4-7 1-11

agua sUD Backs the Pack!

Best of Luck to All Athletes for a Winning Season!

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Roger Hernandez President County Place 3

Cesar Rodriguez, Jr. Vice-President City of Mission

Esequiel Ortiz, Jr. Secretary City of Palmview

Lloyd A. Loya Treasurer City of Peñitas

Ivan Sandoval Director City of Sullivan City

Adolfo Arriaga Director City of La Joya

Homero Tijerina Director County Place 1

Eddie Saenz, P.E. General Manager & Agua SUD Employees

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE

www.LaJoyaISD.com La Joya ISD Superintendent Dr. Alda T. Benavides La Joya ISD School Board Armin Garza-President Claudia Ochoa-Vice-President Alex Cantu-Secretary JJ Pena-Member John Alaniz-Member Frances Salinas-Member Oscar Salinas-Member

La Joya ISD Athletic Director Alex Guajardo 956.323.2031 La Joya High School Principal Antonio Cano La Joya Palmview Principal Yvonne Ayala La Joya Juarez-Lincoln Principal Ricardo Estrada

Good Luck to Our Girls Soccer Teams!

Head Coach Daniel Malacara

Head Coach Ricardo Garza

2019 La Joya JUAREZ-LINCOLN HS Girls Soccer Team

Head Coach Lupe Moreno

2019 La Joya HS LADY COYOTES HS Girls Soccer Team

2019 La Joya PALMVIEW HS Girls Soccer Team

201 East Expressway 83 La Joya, Texas 78560 956-323.2000

High School Sports Magazine

Year of the Cat? The Edinburg High School Bobcats Varsity Baseball advanced to the UIL State Region IV Baseball semifinals in 2015 before losing to San Antonio Johnson in the Best-of-Three series played under harsh weather conditions in La Feria. (HSSMIMages)

32-6A, 32-5A, 31-5A, 32-4A, 32-3A....

Hawks, D-Backs?

(Harlingen, Texas)-In District 32-6A, three teams look like they will continue to be the front runners, with Harlingen (3-0), Harlingen South (2-0), and Brownsville Rivera (2-0) in this sixteam district.

Last year, the Brownsville Rivera Raiders were ousted by forfeits due to ineligible players listed on the roster.

Improving in District 32-6A are the Harlingen

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Cardinals under secondyear head coach Juan Rangel. The Cards have posted wins over McAllen Rowe (6-0), Alice (5-1), along with district wins against Brownsville Hanna (15-0) and Los Fresnos (9-7).

The Harlingen South Hawks played its best game thus far, with a nohitter win over Edinburg Vela High School 6-0.

Look for all three teams to make playoff runs.

In District 32-5A, the defending champions, Brownsville Veterans Memorial Chargers are currently sitting in first place at 2-0 under head coach Alberto Rodriguez.

The Chargers (11-4-2) posted district wins over Brownsville Pace (9-1) and Donna (11-0). Chasing the Chargers are the Brownsville Lopez Lobos (9-1-2) at 1-0. Both teams could find themselves battling for the district

title. With two spots up for grabs, this district is wide-open and it could become any team’s race.

Mercedes, Valley View, Edcouch-Elsa, Donna, Porter, and Pace could contend for the final two playoff spots.

The Valley View Tigers have posted early wins against Rowe (8-6), Edinburg North, and tied Harlingen South (6-6), so they could contend for third place.

High School Sports Magazine

Another State Tournament Appearance? The Harlingen South Hawks are the only team from the Rio Grande Valley to make it to the UIL State Baseball Tournament in Round Rock, Texas at Dell Diamond Field.

The Hawks played in the championship game against Cypress-Fairbanks before losing. (HSSMIMages)

Moving over to District 31-5A, Sharyland Pioneer High School (16-2, 2-0) head baseball Casey Smith is probably one of the youngest and most successful baseball coaches in South Texas with more than 200 career wins and he always seems to find a way to win with his boyish-looks.

The D-Backs finished fourth last year and won the Class 5A Bi-District Championship title in his first season with Sharyland Pioneer. Smith, in 2019, has led his team in tournament play with quality wins over Edinburg Vela (6-2), Harlingen (10-0), and Browns-

ville Rivera (5-3). All three teams are playoff contenders in Class 6A. If the Pioneer Diamondbacks expect to make a district title run, they will have to beat cross-town rivals, Sharyland High School and head coach Bart Bickerton. The Rattlers (16-3, 1-1) split district games against La Joya Palmview 4-6, 8-1, but, Bickerton knows that baseball is a long season.

Another to watch in 31-5A are the Rio Grande City Rattlers (11-5-1, 2-0). The Rattlers knocked off Mission Veterans 13-6, 10-0 to remain in first place.

No Hitter! The Sharyland Pioneer Diamondbacks defeated PSJA Southwest 11-0 (5 innings) to start District 31-5A play. Senior pitcher, Jacob Rosales (4-1) pitched his first No Hitter of the season with seven strikeouts and five walks on 55 pitches. (HSSMImages/DBacks)

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#ENCOUGARNATION www.EdinburgNorth.ECISD.US

2017 Class 6A Region IV Soccer Finalists

2018 Bi-District

Soccer Finalist

Head Coach Raul McCallum

2018 Volleyball Class 6A Bi-District Finalist

Head Coach Elias Moran

Head Coach Richard Tressler

2018 Softball Class 6A Bi-District Finalist

ENHS www.EdinburgNorth.ECISD.US

Dr. Rene Gutierrez ECISD Superintendent Mark Micallef EDINBURG NORTH HS Principal Damian Gonzalez Boys Athletics Coordinator Richard Tressler Girls Athletics Coordinators Page 12

EDINBURG NORTH High School 3101 N Closner Blvd Edinburg, Texas 78541 956.289.2500

S

High School Sports Magazine

30-6A 31-6A 32-6A 32-5A 31-5A 32-4A

SOFTBALL Playoff Picture

(Edinburg, Texas)-Edinburg Vela High School head softball coach John Maples understands the expectations set with his Sabercats softball team. “We are ex-

pected to win and this community thrives on success,” says Maples. “Our girls work hard and after last year’s Region IV-6A Semifinals, our team has made a deeper

Returning Class 6A Region IV Softball Semifinalist!

The Edinburg Vela High School Lady Sabercats will be favored to win the 31-6A title in 2019. Pictured are l-r Karina Guzman, Brianna Salinas, and Felisha Guzman.

(HSSMIMages/Special)

District 32-2A Lasara San Perlita Premont La Villa Bruni Riviera District 32-3A Bro Riverview IDEA Monte Alto Santa Rosa Edinburg IDEA Lyford

2019 UIL District by District Softball Realignments District 32-4A Rio Hondo Progreso Port Isabel La Feria Hidalgo Zapata Grulla Raymondville

District 32-5A Bro Lopez Bro Pace Bro Porter Bro Veterans Donna Edcouch-Elsa Mercedes Valley View

District 31-5A Roma Sharyland Pioneer Rio Grande City LJ Palmview PSouthwest PSJA Memorial MissVeterans

District 30-6A LJ Juarez-Lincoln La Joya HS PSJA North PSJA Mission McAllen McA Memorial McA Rowe

District 31-6A Weslaco Weslaco East Donna North Edinburg Edinburg North Ed Economedes Edinburg Vela

District 32-6A Brownsville Hanna Brownsville Rivera Harlingen Harlingen South San Benito Los Fresnos

Page 15

commitment to make it back to the regional tournament.”

The Sabercats are currently ranked No.3 in Class 6A by the Texas High School Girls Coaches Association in this weeks Top Ten Polls. A ranking this high would mean a trip to the University Interscho-

High School Sports Magazine

lastic League’s 6A State Softball Tournament on May 31st at the Red and Charline McCombs Field in Austin, Texas.

The Lady Sabercats have lost three nondistrict games this season to state ranked No.10 Harlingen South 5-2, Los Fresnos 7-2, and Mercedes 4-1. All three teams were playoff teams from

2018.

In District 31-6A, the Lady Sabercats look untouchable as they blanked Edinburg North 9-0, Economedes 260, and Weslaco 8-4 on March 12th. What’s most impressive with this Maples-led team are the 207 runs scored this season while allowing just 63 defensively. The Lady

Sabercats will end their regular season on April 18th against Weslaco East and the Lady Sabercats will play a fourth place 32-6A opponent in the state playoffs. “We lost some key players who moved or transferred out to other schools, but, we have managed to stay together as one team,” says Maples. The Lady Sabercats will meet Edinburg High School this Friday night in a key 31-6A battle at 7:00 p.m.

Team To Watch in 31-6A (Weslaco, Tx)-The Weslaco High School Lady Panthers softball team have not won a game since February 28th. For head coach Mario Rodriguez, that looks like an District 30-6A Contenders! The McAllen Memorial High School girls softball team is eternity for his softball favored to make the playoffs under head coach Audra Benavidez. The Lady Mustangs will program. As a matter of play rival, McAllen Nikki Rowe HS on March 26th. (HSSMIMages) fact, its a six-game losing streak that the Lady Panthers will carry with them when they play host to the Edinburg Lady Bobcats tonight in a must-win game in 31-6A. The Lady Panthers played in the Seguin Softball Tournament and were placed in a tough bracket with losses to Calallen, Gregory-Portland, Converse-Judson, and San Antonio Johnson.

The Lady Panthers will be a team to watch as the season continues in Battlin’ Lady Warriors! The McAllen Nikki Rowe HS Lady Warriors softball hopes to clinch district play. another playoff berth in the state playoffs in 2019. (HSSMIMages/Special)

Page 16

High School Sports Magazine 2018 Results

State Softball Playoffs Class 6A Bi-District San Benito defeats Edinburg North 10-0 SA Southwest defeats McAllen Memorial 16-0, 16-0 Edinburg defeats Weslaco East 12-1, 15-5 Eagle Pass defeats McAllen Rowe 5-6, 11-1, 13-2 La Alexander defeats La Joya 2-1 Edinburg Vela defeats Weslaco 4-5, 12-3, 9-1 South San Antonio defeats McAllen 18-1, 13-3 Harlingen South defeats PSJA Memorial 7-5, 6-11, 7-6 Class 6A Area Championships San Benito defeats SA Southwest 3-2, 10-4, 0-3 Eagle Pass defeats Edinburg 11-7, 2-8, 7-6 Edinburg Vela defeats Laredo Alexander 5-0, 9-3 Harlingen South defeats South San Antonio 6-5

Tough Wildcats! The 31-6A Weslaco East High School Lady Wildcats are making their first appearance in district play after the UIL realignments moved East from 32-6A to 31-6A last February. (HSSMIMages/Special)

Class 6A Region IV Qtrs Canyon defeats SA Holmes 12-0 San Benito defeats Eagle Pass 10-3, 5-4 SA O’Connor defeats SA Warren 5-2, 6-3 EdinburgVela defeats Harlingen South 5-3

Class 5A Bi-District Bro Veterans defeats Cigarroa 19-0, 17-1 Mission Veterans defeats Bro Lopez 6-5, 12-3 Ed-Elsa defeats Pioneer 2-1 Mercedes defeats Rio Grande City 12-1, 13-0 Class 5A Area Championships Bro Veterans defeats GPortland 5-3, 5-3 Calallen defeats Ed-Elsa 11-5, 10-0 Flour Bluff defeats Mercedes Class 5A Region IV Qtrs CC Carroll defeats Brownsville Veterans 4-0, 1-0 Class 4A Bi-District Rio Hondo defeats Robstown 13-4, 20-0 Orange Grove defeats Raymondville 9-2 Rockport-Fulton defeats Port Isabel 7-1 Sinton defeats Zapata 8-0 Class 3A Bi-District Banquete defeats Lyford 2-3, 12-7, 6-1 Santa Gertrudis defeats IDEA Quest 19-0 Bishop defeats Santa Rosa 13-0 Falfurrias defeats Monte Alto 10-3 Class 2A Bi-District Three Rivers defeats La Villa 6-0, 16-5

Class 6A Region IV Semifinals Canyon defeats San Benito 10-0 SA Warren defeats Edinburg Vela 4-1, 4-3

Class 1A Bi-District No RGV Teams

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Valley View HS Principal Jesus Garza

DISTRICT 32-5A Division

9701 S. Jackson Road Pharr, Texas 78577 956.340.1000 Valley View ISD Athletic Director Julio Martinez

2019 Valley View Lady Tigers

PAGE 18

Valley View HS Head Softball Coach Nery Bustos 2nd Season

High School Sports Magazine

District 32-6A Softball Standings

1. Harlingen South 15-4 2. Harlingen 8-5-2 3. Los Fresnos 8-6-1 4. San Benito 6-7-1 5. Bro Rivera 5-6 6. Bro Hanna 1-7

District 31-6A Softball Standings

1. Edinburg Vela 19-3, 3-0 2. Edinburg North 16-6, 3-1 3. Edinburg 4-7, 2-1 4. Weslaco East 5-7, 1-2 5. Weslaco 1-8, 0-1 6. Donna North 0-7, 0-2 7. 0-5, 0-2

d 7 0

nez

s

District 30-6A Softball Standings

1. PSJA North 2-0, 2-5 2. Mission 3-4-1, 1-0 3. PSJA 6-4, 3-1 4. McAllen Memorial 3-3, 2-1 5. McAllen Rowe 5-8, 2-2 6. La Joya 12-11, 2-2 7. McAllen 10-11, 0-4 8. LJ Juarez-Lincoln 0-5, 0-2 District 32-5A Softball Standings

1. Bro Veterans 15-6-1, 4-0 2. Mercedes 12-8-1, 3-1 3. Edcouch-Elsa 6-3, 2-1 4. Valley View 5-6, 2-2 5. Bro Lopez 2-4, 0-1 6. Bro Porter 0-4, 0-2 6. Donna 1-5, 0-2 6. Bro Pace 3-11, 0-2 District 31-5A Softball Standings

Tough Cats! (Top photo) The Weslaco East HS Lady Wildcats will compete in District 316A while (bottom photo) the Mercedes HS Lady Tigers from District 32-5A will contend for the district title. (HSSMIMages)

District 32-5A

1. Sharyland Pioneer 10-7, 1-0 1. Sharyland 4-6, 3-0 3. LJ Palmview 5-5-2, 0-1 3. Roma 1-3, 0-1 3. Rio Grande City 1-4, 0-1 3. PSJA Southwest 0-8, 0-1 3. PSJA Mem 6-3-1, 0-0 3. Mission Vets 1-6, 0-0

Can Lady Tigers Win It?

7-4

(Mercedes, Texas)-When it comes to playing a tough non-district schedule, Mercedes High School head softball coach Kristy Leal will put her team against any team.

The Lady Tigers opened their season with fourstraight wins and then endured a grueling and questionable seven-game losing streak. Since then, those questionable losses quickly turned into an impressive 8-1-1 record, including District 32-5A wins over Edcouch-Elsa and Brownsville Porter.

3025 South Sugar Road Edinburg, Texas 78539 956-259-8005

Page 19

District 30-6A

High School Sports Magazine

Lady Raiders Undefeated; La Joya Lady Coyotes Playoffs?

(Pharr, Texas)-She’s only a first-year head softball coach and a former Harlingen South High School softball player.

After graduating from Texas A&M Kingsville, Stephanie Lugo landed her first duties at PSJA North High School, with hopes of reviving a once, dominant softball program.

The PSJA North Lady Raiders have raided District 30-6A with wins over PSJA (9-4) and McAllen Nikki Rowe (3-1) to sit in first place as they take on La Joya HS tonight in another

key game. A win over the Lady Coyotes will set the pace for the remainder of the season. “We have a talented team,” says Lugo. “We are young and these tournaments will help us mature as district approaches.”

The La Joya Lady Coyotes would love to get back into the mix of the District 30-6A race after their opening loss to McAllen Memorial 11-3.

Since then, the Lady Coyotes knocked off McAllen 19-11 and blanked La Joya Juarez-Lincoln 10-0 to finish 2-1 at the Spring Break mark.

The Lady Coyotes are led on the mound by two sophomores, Jaretzy Rodriguez and Nallely Hernandez. Both pitchers have combined for 69 strikeouts and have given up 33 walks. On offense, the Lady Coyotes have scored 145 runs and 184 hits. “I’ve been coaching this sport for a long time,” says Lady Coyote head softball coach, Carlos Rodriguez. “A win tonight is important.”

The Lady Coyotes and Lady Raiders are the frontrunners in 30-6A and a win tonight will separate both teams as the season continues.

2018 Results State Softball

Tournament Red & Charline McCombs Austin, Texas

1A Semifinals Ector defeats Gail Borden 5-1 Elkhart deefats D’Hanis 3-0 1A Championships Slocum defeats Ector 3-0 2A Semifinals Normangee defeats Woden 8-7 Bells defeats Albany 13-0 2A Championships Bells defeats Normangee 9-5 3A Semifinals Hughes Springs defeats Grandview 5-2 Santa Gertrudis Academy defeats Brock 5-0 3A Championships SG Academy defeats Hughes 8-3 4A Semifinals Liberty defeats Beeville Jones 1-0 Vernon defeats Rains 6-2 4A Championships Liberty defeats Vernon 3-1 5A Semifinals Richmond Foster defeats FW Arlington Heights 8-1 Forney defeats Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill 3-0 5A Championships Forney defeats Foster 4-1 6A Semifinals Comal Canyon defeats Conroe Oak Ridge 8-1 Atascocita defeats Plano 4-2

New-Look Lady Raiders! The 31-6A PSJA North High School Lady Raiders will be young in 2019 as they compete in district play. (HSSMIMages/Special)

Page 20

6A Championships Atascocita defeats Comal 5-3

In District 32-5A, the Donna High School Lady Bravettes and head coach Rene Salinas find themselves trying to figure out

High School Sports Magazine

how to win some games down the stretch. “Its another season and we will keep building our program,” says Salinas.

“These players love the game, we just need to find ways to win.” The lady Bravettes opened their district season with losses

Ready for 2019! The 30-6A La Joya High School Lady Coyotes softball team members pictured l-r are Kassy Villarreal, Jatzari Resendez, Jessica Reyna, Ayleene Salinas, and Leslie Ochoa. (HSSMIMages/Special)

Lady Bravettes! The 32-5A Donna Lady Bravettes show some pre-game “dugout fun” as they prepare to the upcoming season. (HSSMIMages/Special)

to Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School 15-0, followed by another loss to EdcouchElsa 13-0. The Lady Bravettes will play host to Mercedes on March 22nd with hopes of winning its first district game.

Teams to watch in District 32-5A are Brownsville Veterans, Mercedes, Edcouch-Elsa, and Valley View High School.

In the upper Valley, District 31-5A is pretty much up for grabs. The Sharyland Pioneer Lady D-Backs (11-7) and Sharyland Lady Rattlers (4-6) both lead the district at 2-0 followed by Rio Grande City and Mission Veterans Memorial High School. The Lady DBacks are led by Madison Sparks, Kailey Barrett, Sarah Odale, and Aisa Saldana.

Early this season, Rio Hondo HS head softball coach Brett Esparzawas somewhat skeptical about what his season might look like, but, those thoughts have since changed as the Lady Bobcats are off to a 5-0 start in District 32-4A followed by Port Isabel at 4-1.

The Rio Hondo Lady Bobcats have played eight 6A teams this season and went 2-8 and with District 4A, Esparza now sees what is beginning to pay off early as the season begins district play.

Page 21

High School Sports Magazine

University of Texas Complexes for Baseball & Softball

UIL Host Sites for

Two Sites! The University Interscholastic League will contract Dell Diamond Field and UFCH Disch-Falk Field this season as host sites for the Texas HS Baseball Championships. The UIL State Tournament begins June 5th-8th. (HSSMIMages/Special)

Page 22

l

High School Sports Magazine

or Games

(McAllen, Texas)- The last time two teams from the Rio Grande Valley advanced to the UIL State Softball Tournament in Austin, Texas was in 2015 and 2016. Both San Benito and Weslaco advanced the state tournament. The Lady Panthers lost to Pearland 4-0 in the semifinals while the Lady Greyhounds fell to Lewisville 3-2 in the semifinals. The Lady Greyhounds made their first state tournament appearance in 2013, and lost to Lewisville 5-2 in the semifinals.

Schedule 2019 UIL Baseball Tournament Wednesday, June 5th 1A, 2A, 4A Semifinals 1A Semifinals 9:00 a.m. Dell Diamond 1A Semifinals 12 noon Dell Diamond 2A Semifinals 4:00 p.m. Dell Diamond 2A Semifinals 7:00 p.m. Dell Diamond 4A Semifinals 1:00 p.m. UFCU Disch Falk 4A Semifinals 4:00 p.m. UFCU Disch Falk

Thursday, June 6th 1A, 2A, 4A Championships & 5A Semifinals 1A Championships 9:00 a.m. Dell Diamond 2A Championships 12:00 noon Dell Diamond 4A Championships 6:30 p.m. UFCU Disch Falk 5A Semifinals 4:00 p.m. Dell Diamond 5A Semifinals 7:00 p.m. Dell Diamond Friday, June 7th 3A, 6A Semifinals 3A Semifinals 9:00 a.m. Dell Diamond 3A Semifinals 12:00 noon Dell Diamond 6A Semifinals 4:00 p.m. Dell Diamond 6A Semifinals 7:00 p.m. Dell Diamond Saturday, June 8th 3A, 5A, 6A Championships 3A Championships 9:00 a.m. Dell Diamond 5A Championships 12:00 noon Dell Diamond 6A Championships 4:00 p.m. Dell Diamond

UIL Softball Championships! The University Interscholastic League will bring the State Softball Tournament to Red & Charline McCombs Field May 29th-June 1st in Austin, Texas. Games will also be played at the Univresity of Mary Hardin Baylor. (HSSMIMages/Special)

Page 23

High School Sports Magazine

Carlos Rodriguez, La Joya High School

For The Love

of the Game...

(La Joya, Texas)-In the batting cages, a wind-blown, gray-haired, rugged-looking man, with actor Sean Connery features, longtime head softball coach, Carlos Rodriguez talks with his players, one by one, teaching them the game, he loves so much.

“Each player is different, every year is different.

That’s what I like about coaching, It’s a yearly Carlos Rodriguez challenge...” La Joya HS Head Coach Page 24

For the past three win seasons and outing in 2019. L qualified for the Coyotes fell shot first round, endin forward t love so m

t three seasons, Rodriguez has enjoyed three twentys and he has high hopes of making it another 20-win 019. Last year, the Lady Coyotes finished 25-10 and r the UIL State 6A playoffs. In the playoffs, the Lady l shot to the Laredo Alexander Lady Bulldogs in the ending the Lady Coyotes bid for a state title. “We look ward to this season and I’ll keep coaching the game I e so much, “ says Rodriguez.

Longtime Head Softball Coach Carlos Rodriguez has led the La Joya High School Lady Coyotes for the past twenty-five years.

(HSSMIMages)

Page 25

High School Sports Magazine Top Ten Polls Girls Softball

Much Improved Lady Wildcats! The Weslaco East High School Lady Wildcats will continue District 31-6A play at Edinburg North on March 14th followed by Edinburg Economedes on March 19th. The Lady Wildcats defeated North on February 16th. (HSSMIMages)

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Class 4A 1. Cypress Mauriceville 19-2 2. Melissa 17-1-2 3. Aubrey 13-1-2 4. Splendora 15-2 5. Bellville 17-4 6. Caldwell 12-2 7. Mabank 15-4 8. Giddings 17-6 9. Hargrave 18-3-1 10. Carthage 15-4 Class 5A 1. Angelton 16-0 2. Barbers Hill 21-1 3. Dripping Springs 21-2 4. Medina Valley 19-1 5. Hallsville 18-1 6. Magnolia 14-1 7. Forney 15-2 8. Lubbock Monterery 19-3-1 9. El Paso Chapin 21-4 10. College Station 15-3-1 Class 6A 1. Cedar Ridge 19-0 2. Keller HS 16-3-1 3. Edinburg Vela 19-3 4. Klein Collins 17-2 5. Austin HS 15-3 6. SA Holmes 14-1 7. Deer Park 12-1 8. Wylie HS 12-1 9. El Paso Franklin 11-1 10. Harlingen South 16-4

UIL State Soccer Championships Red and Charline McCombs Field May 29-June 1, 2019

www.ElcoTx.com Good Luck to All RGV Football Teams.

High School Sports Magazine

District 31-5A Contenders! The Rio Grande City High School Lady Rattlers softball team will play Sharyland High School on March 14th in a key district showdown. Head coach Nicole Smedley leads her Lady Rattlers in 2019 with hopes of making the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. (HSSMIMages)

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