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HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS MAGAZINE956.270.4289 • HSSMLive.com2806 W. Trenton Rd • Edinburg, TX

DAVID A. AMADORPublisher & Sports Director

HECTOR OROZCOArt Director

ALEC AMADORLead Sports Photographer

CESAR MONTALVOSports Photographer

RICHARD DAVIDSONSports Photographer

GONZALO AGUAYO JR Advertising Executive

05TOP10 POLLSSOFTBALL & BASEBALL POLL PREDICTIONS

21ONE ON ONEWITH COACH RENE SOZA

24SOFTBALLTEAMS TO WATCH IN 2015

08BASEBALL CAN PIRATES RAID CLASS 4A?

WWW.HSSMLIVE.COM

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on the moundchloe munoz Starting pitcher of Raymondville HSled her team to the 2014 State Softball Playoffs.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

By Alec Amador HSSM Lead Sports Photographer

ON THE COVER SENIOR PITCHER-EDINBURG NORTH HIGH SCHOOL CAROLINA FLORES.“BASEBALL & SOFTBALL PREVIEW” (PHOTO BY DAVID “TDDAVE” AMADOR)DESIGN & PHOTO EDIT BY HECTOR OROZCO

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baseball is a game of whispers

Many baseball players are beginning to play this sport year-round. It’s a demanding sport which requires plenty of timing, training, conditioning, and

above all, patience. Yes, patience. Think about it. A game that last seven innings in high school could end up being the longest game of any player’s life. The outfielders need to remain poise and ready to react to any ball that might be hit to them. The throw back to the infield, almost needs to perfect. The infielders play defense. These players become targets to line-drive balls; they also become targets to sliding cleats; worst, they become targets to flying bats that leaves or slips

the batters hands during the swing. Baseball is a tough sport. After the first inning, pitchers either walk off the mound with a “whew” or pure confidence. Pitchers either dominate the game or they just simply, lose it. Looking back, Adrian Alaniz (2007 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year) led the Texas Longhorns to the 2005 National Championship title by defeating Florida in two games. “I had a great college career,” says Alaniz. “But I loved pitching in high school.” Alaniz led his Sinton Pirates to the 2002 State 3A title with a perfect 17-0 record with a 1.50 era and 150 strikeouts as a junior. His senior season, Alaniz again, led his team back to the 2003 finals and pitched nine innings for a no-decision 4-3

win. The Pirates would lose to Lorena in the finals. He would end his high school career with a 48-1 record. Today, Alaniz is now a coaching assistant at the same high school he graduated from in 2003. Last year would be the first year that the Sinton Pirates would make it back to the State 3A Baseball Tournament. “This is incredible,” Alaniz told HSSM. “I am just so proud of how these guys as they fought back to beat Hidalgo.” Yes, the Sinton Pirates did beat Hidalgo last season in three games in the 2014 UIL 3A State Baseball Quarterfinals after Hidalgo had won the first game in Edinburg at UT-RGV Field. The next day, the Sinton Pirates came out swinging with Alaniz calling the pitches from the bench. “This felt like I was out there on the mound,” said Alaniz. The Sinton Pirates won Games 2&3 to advance to the state tournament at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in at the University of Texas-Austin, where Adrian used to play. Most importantly, where Adrian led his Longhorns to the National title. But, like in every game, a loss hurts. Hidalgo High School second-year head coach Karlos Carrasco watched his players get filled with emotions. He also watched one teammate, junior Alan Wilburn walk on over to hug pitcher junior Oscar Noguera. Both players were filled with emotions. Alaniz saw both players and he too, walked on over and whispered something to both players and then walked away. Whatever Adrian whispered to those two players that afternoon will be something that each player will never forget. The Hidalgo Pirates enter the 2015 season as the No.1 team in Class 4A by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association polls.

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GIRLS SOftball

1) MERCEDES

2) EDINBURG NORTH

3) Los Fresnos

4) McAllen NIKKI ROWE

5) San Benito

6) McAllen

7) DONNA HS

8) Weslaco

9) Harlingen South

10) MCALLEN MEMORIAL

BOYS Baseball

1) Hidalgo

2) PSJA

3) Sharyland

4) WESLACO

5) Harlingen

6) McAllen

7) Rio Grande City

8) EDINBURG NORTH

9) PSJA NORTH

10) Edinburg H.S.

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • NO.1 TEAM IN CLASS 4ATHE HIDALGO PIRATES WILL FIELD SIX PITCHERS IN 2015 IN DISTRICT 32-4A.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •


The Mercedes High School Lady Tigers lost to Buda Hays in the Region IV Semifinals in 2014. Hays advanced to the UIL State

Softball Tournament. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)

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Hidalgo pirate ace senior oscar noguera The Pirates could be the best team in Class 4A.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •


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HERE ARE THE PREDICTIONS... BY DAVID “TDDAVE” AMADOR • HSSM SPORTS DIRECTOR

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t still hurts,” says Hidalgo High School head coach Karlos Carrasco. It’s the kind of painful memory that no coach wants to endure in the University Interscholastic League’s State Baseball playoffs. The Pirates experienced that hurt when they lost to Sinton in the 3A State Quarterfinals, losing in three

games at Chapman Field in Calallen last season. The Pirates won the first game at UTPA Field 2-1 in extra innings and then fell flat then next day, losing 11-2, 5-2 to Sinton High School Pirates. They would advance to the state tournament with their longtime head coach Gene Kasprzyk before losing to Argyle 5-1 in the semifinals. College Station won the State 3A title with a win over Argyle 5-2 in eight innings. “We were so close. That’s what hurts the most,” says Carrasco.

The Pirates enter the season as the No.1 ranked team by High School Sports Magazine’s Pre-Season polls and with ten returning lettermen, they should make another run at the state tournament set for June 10-13, 2015 at UFCU Disch-Falk at the University of Texas-Austin and Dell Diamond Field in Round Rock. The Pirates defeated Raymondville, Ingleside, Kingsville King, and La Vernia. Their season ended with Sinton. On the mound for Hidalgo will be seniors Allan Wilburn, Oscar Noguera, and Adrian Ruiz. Sophomore Raul Ortiz will give the Pirates a strong, four-man, pitching rotation that won 26 games last year. The Pirates won the the District 32-3A title last year and have since moved up to

Class 4A with the new realignments set by the UIL. Winning another district title will be challenging as they will face seven opponents. Grulla, Rio Hondo, Raymondville, Port Isabel, Zapata, La Feria, and Progreso now make up the new district.

With the 2015 UIL Realignments, District 31-5A will be made up of Rio Grande City, Roma, Sharyland, Mission Veterans, Edinburg Vela High School, Valley View, and new Sharyland Pioneer. East of the Rio Grande Valley, District 32-5A will feature Donna, new Donna North High School, PSJA, PSJA Southwest, Brownsville Pace, Brownsville Porter, Mercedes, and Edcouch-Elsa High School. Both district should be interesting. Mercedes will enter the season with plenty of hopes under another head baseball coach after Bart Bickerton, who came over from Sharyland High School in 2014 left for Brownsville Porter. In his first season, Bickerton carried 21 players on his team and led the Tigers to a seventh place finish at 6-10 overall. Fourteen players return with seven pitchers bringing plenty of experience under new head coach Armando Reyes. With the new realignments, the Tigers will have to beat PSJA and Edcouch-Elsa, if they expect to win the district title. The Bears move down a classification after winning the Bi-District title last year against Harlingen in three games. The Yellowjackets ended the season at 7-9, ahead of Mercedes. In Class 6A, many fans have wondered what has happened to the Harlingen South Hawks since their 2007 State 5A final appearance? Head coach Tony Leal led

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Another region IV finals? Hidalgo head coach Karlos Carrasco and his staff will be favored to lead their team to the regional finals.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •


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DID YOU KNOW? Head Baseball Coaches Eliseo Pompa (McAllen HS), Tony Leal (Harlingen South), Eddie Serna (Weslaco HS), and La Joya’s Rueben Farias have more than 20-years of head baseball coaching at each school. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

(Hidalgo, Texas)

Tough Loss! Hidalgo pitcher Allan Wilburn comforts Oscar Noguera after their loss to Sinton

HS in the State 3A Regional Finals. (HSSM Sports/Alec Amador Lead Photographer)

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his Hawks to Dell Diamond Field, site of the UIL State Baseball Championships, and defeated Midland in the semifinals and then lost to Cypress-Fair in the championship game 6-1. Since then, the Hawks and no other Rio Grande Valley team has seen Dell Diamond Field again. Can the Hawks make the trip in 2015? With ten starters back from a team that went 26-8 and 16-2 in district play, the Hawks could surprise some teams. Will they be tough to beat in District 32-6A? That remains a factor. Four pitchers return in the linemen with Jake Atkinson and Bobby Arias leading the team on the mound. In District 31-6A, Weslaco and PSJA North both get the nod as the top two teams in the district. Head coach Rene

Soza comes to PSJA North after being an assistant at Hidalgo. “We have plenty of players that are hungry and talented. I just need to make sure that we continue to work harder,” says Soza.

Moving over to District 30-6A, after the UIL realignments, McAllen and longtime head coach Eliseo Pompa now know that his hands will be full when they now play La Joya High School, La Joya Palmview, and McAllen Nikki Rowe in district play. McAllen Memorial and Mission could show some improvement in 2015. This could be the toughest district in South Texas. Tournaments begin this week along with the A.N. “Tony” Rico Baseball Classic set for March 5-7th in Weslaco.

S ince 1948 UIL State Baseball Final Appearances by Rio Grande Valley Teams:

• 1965 Brownsville High School lost to Dallas Samuel in the Class 4A Baseball Championships 14-0

• 1974 Mercedes lost to South Grand Prairie 9-1 in 3A Championship game

• 2007 Harlingen South lost to Houston Cy-Fair 6-1 in 5A Championship game

CLASS 5A BI-DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS Weslaco over Brownsville Hanna 10-4, 6-3Laredo Alexander over Edinburg 11-0, 2-0 PSJA over Harlingen 3-8, 5-0, 10-5 La Joya Palmview over Del Rio 4-0, 13-8 Harlingen South over McAllen 6-3, 8-6 Eagle Pass over Sharyland 1-2, 3-0, 5-0 McAllen Rowe over Los Fresnos 4-1 Edinburg North over Laredo United 3-2, 4-2

AREA CHAMPIONSHIPS Eagle Pass over Harlingen South 3-2, 3-1Edinburg North over McAllen Rowe 6-8, 5-3, 14-2 LJ Palmview over PSJA 2-0, 5-4 Laredo Alexander over Weslaco 10-9

REGIONAL-QUARTERFINALS Eagle Pass over Edinburg North 10-1, 7-0 Laredo Alexander over La Joya Palmview 1-0

REGIONAL SEMIFINALSSA Reagan over Laredo Alexander 5-9, 2-0, 9-3Eagle Pass over CC Carroll 2-1

REGION IV CHAMPIONSHIPS SA Reagan over Eagle Pass 2-1

CLASS 4ABi-District Championships Laredo Martin over Mission Veterans 9-7, 3-4, 9-8

CC Moody over Rio Grande City 12-0 CC Flour Bluff over Valley View 10-2, 6-0 CC Ray over Roma 1-0

CLASS 3A Bi-District Championships Hidalgo over Raymondville 15-5 Kingsville King over Rio Hondo 22-2, 22-3 Zapata over Port Isabel 18-1, 5-0 La Feria over Grulla 1-0, 6-5

AREA CHAMPIONSHIPS Devine over La Feria 4-3 Sinton over Zapata 11-0 Kingsville over Robstown 0-3, 5-3, 13-3 Hidalgo over Ingleside 10-0, 11-5

REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS Hidalgo over Kingsville 3-2, 0-4, 14-0 Sinton over Devine 5-2, 6-2

REGIONAL SEMIFINALS Hidalgo over La Vernia 4-0, 5-3 Sinton over Yoakum 5-0, 7-5

REGION IV CHAMPIONSHIPS Sinton over Hidalgo 1-2, 11-2, 5-2

2014 UIL Baseball Playoff Results

The UIL All-Century Baseball Teams1ST TEAMPitcher - Nolan Ryan, AlvinPitcher - Roger Clemens, Spring WoodsCatcher - Adam Dunn, New CaneyFirst Base - Lance Berkman, New Braunfels CanyonSecond Base - Chuck Knoblauch, Houston BellaireThird Base - Kelly Gruber, Austin WestlakeShortstop - Ernie Banks, Dallas WashingtonOutfielder - Carl Crawford, HoustonOutfielder - Brooks Kieschnick, Corpus Christi CarrollOutfielder - Hunter Pence, Arlington

2ND TEAMPitcher - Adrian Alaniz, SintonPitcher - Josh Beckett, SpringCatcher - Taylor Teagarden, Carrollton CreekviewFirst Base - Don Baylor, Austin HighSecond Base - Travis Tucker, Killeen Ellison

Third Base - Chris Davis, LongviewShortstop - Spike Owen, CleburneOutfielder - Ben Grieve, Arlington MartinOutfielder - Michael Bourn, Houston NimitzOutfielder - Jordan Danks, Round Rock

3RD TEAMPitcher - Colt Molloy, MemphisPitcher - David Clyde, Houston WestchesterCatcher - Keith Moreland, Dallas TurnerFirst Base - Jeff Ontiveros, Round RockSecond Base - Seth Johnston, BoerneThird Base - Scott Livingstone, Richardson Lake HighlandsShortstop - Craig Reynolds, Houston ReaganOutfielder - Ryan Langerhans, Round RockOutfielder - Scott Podsednik, WestOutfielder - Willie Upshaw, Blanco

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1948-1949 All Schools* El Paso Bowie Austin 3-2

1949-1950 All Schools* Odessa Abilene 2-1

1950-1951 All Schools* Beaumont South Park Dallas Highland Park 2-0

1951-1952 All Schools* Houston Reagan Crozier Technical 8-5

1952-1953 All Schools* Fort Worth Polytechnic Amarillo 4-1

1953-1954 All Schools* Austin Travis Dallas Highland Park 6-1

1954-1955 All Schools* Paris Abilene 2-1

1955-1956 All Schools* Abilene Dallas Highland Park 13-0

1956-1957 3A Bryan Cuero 6-2

1956-1957 4A Abilene Wichita Falls 9-2

1957-1958 3A South San Antonio Corsicana 11-3

1957-1958 4A Austin Lufkin 6-4

1958-1959 3A South San Antonio Odessa Ector 7-1

1958-1959 4A Beaumont Fort Worth Paschal 2-0

1959-1960 3A Seguin Snyder 3-0

1959-1960 4A Houston Bellaire San Antonio Harlandale 5-4

1960-1961 3A South San Antonio Paris 6-0

1960-1961 4A Baytown Lubbock Monterey 3-1

1961-1962 3A El Campo Seminole 4-1

1961-1962 4A Houston Bellaire Odessa 8-6

1962-1963 3A South San Antonio Fort Worth Castleberry 8-1

1962-1963 4A Lufkin Houston Bellaire 6-4

1963-1964 3A South San Antonio Brownfield 17-1

1963-1964 4A Freeport Brazosport Sherman 2-0

1964-1965 3A Waxahachie Alvin 6-3

1964-1965 4A Dallas Samuell Brownsville 14-0

1965-1966 3A South San Antonio Dumas 1-0

1965-1966 4A Freeport Brazosport San Antonio MacArthur 6-1

1966-1967 3A South San Antonio Beaumont Forest Park 3-0

1966-1967 4A Corpus Christi King Abilene Cooper 1-0

1967-1968 3A El Campo Lamesa 3-0

1967-1968 4A San Antonio Highlands Pasadena 3-1

1968-1969 3A Taylor Andrews 3-0

1968-1969 4A Houston Lamar Midland Lee 1-0

1969-1970 3A Brenham Dumas 11-2

1969-1970 4A Houston Aldine Houston Bellaire 4-0

1970-1971 3A Dumas Taylor 4-0

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did you know? The last time a Rio Grande Valley team played in the UIL State Baseball Tournament was back in 2007. The Harlingen South Hawks lost o Houston Cy-Field 6-1 in the championship game.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Big Bulldogs! The McAllen High School baseball team will now compete in District 30-6A after the new UIL Realignments. (HSSM Sports/Alec Amador Lead Photographer)

Porter Ace! Daniel Alvarado, only a sophomore, will lead his Brownsville Porter team with new head coach Bart Bickerton. (HSSM Sports/Alec Amador Lead Photographer)

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YEAR CONFERENCE WINNING SCHOOL OPPONENT SCHOOL SCORE

1970-1971 4A Houston Bellaire Lubbock Monterey 5-4

1971-1972 3A Taylor Kilgore 4-0

1971-1972 4A Lubbock Monterey Houston Bellaire 2-1

1972-1973 3A La Grange Brenham 3-1

1972-1973 4A Midland Houston Westchester 3-1

1973-1974 3A South Grand Prairie Mercedes 9-1

1973-1974 4A Lubbock Monterey Houston Spring Woods 4-2

1974-1975 3A Brenham Sinton 3-0

1974-1975 4A Duncanville South San Antonio 6-3

1975-1976 3A Brenham South Grand Prairie 5-4


1976-1977 3A Uvalde Pecos 9-1

1976-1977 4A Houston Sharpstown Duncanville 6-1

1977-1978 3A Mount Pleasant Burkburnett 5-2

1948-1949 All Schools* El Paso Bowie Austin 3-2

1949-1950 All Schools* Odessa Abilene 2-1

1950-1951 All Schools* Beaumont South Park Dallas Highland Park 2-0

1951-1952 All Schools* Houston Reagan Crozier Technical 8-5

1952-1953 All Schools* Fort Worth Polytechnic Amarillo 4-1

1953-1954 All Schools* Austin Travis Dallas Highland Park 6-1

1954-1955 All Schools* Paris Abilene 2-1

1955-1956 All Schools* Abilene Dallas Highland Park 13-0

1956-1957 3A Bryan Cuero 6-2

1956-1957 4A Abilene Wichita Falls 9-2

1957-1958 3A South San Antonio Corsicana 11-3

1957-1958 4A Austin Lufkin 6-4

1958-1959 3A South San Antonio Odessa Ector 7-1

1958-1959 4A Beaumont Fort Worth Paschal 2-0

1959-1960 3A Seguin Snyder 3-0

1959-1960 4A Houston Bellaire San Antonio Harlandale 5-4

1960-1961 3A South San Antonio Paris 6-0

1960-1961 4A Baytown Lubbock Monterey 3-1

1961-1962 3A El Campo Seminole 4-1

1961-1962 4A Houston Bellaire Odessa 8-6

1962-1963 3A South San Antonio Fort Worth Castleberry 8-1

1962-1963 4A Lufkin Houston Bellaire 6-4

1963-1964 3A South San Antonio Brownfield 17-1

1963-1964 4A Freeport Brazosport Sherman 2-0

1964-1965 3A Waxahachie Alvin 6-3

1964-1965 4A Dallas Samuell Brownsville 14-0

1965-1966 3A South San Antonio Dumas 1-0

1965-1966 4A Freeport Brazosport San Antonio MacArthur 6-1

1966-1967 3A South San Antonio Beaumont Forest Park 3-0

1966-1967 4A Corpus Christi King Abilene Cooper 1-0

1967-1968 3A El Campo Lamesa 3-0

1967-1968 4A San Antonio Highlands Pasadena 3-1

1968-1969 3A Taylor Andrews 3-0

1968-1969 4A Houston Lamar Midland Lee 1-0

1969-1970 3A Brenham Dumas 11-2

1969-1970 4A Houston Aldine Houston Bellaire 4-0

1970-1971 3A Dumas Taylor 4-0

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Pirates landing? Hidalgo defeated La Vernia in two games in the Class 3A Region IV Semifinals in 2014. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •


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making changes Bart Bickerton Led the Sharyland Rattlers to numerous of district titles and is now at BROWNSVILLE PORTER High School. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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1971-1972 3A Taylor Kilgore 4-0

1971-1972 4A Lubbock Monterey Houston Bellaire 2-1

1972-1973 3A La Grange Brenham 3-1

1972-1973 4A Midland Houston Westchester 3-1

1973-1974 3A South Grand Prairie Mercedes 9-1

1973-1974 4A Lubbock Monterey Houston Spring Woods 4-2

1974-1975 3A Brenham Sinton 3-0


1975-1976 3A Brenham South Grand Prairie 5-4


1976-1977 3A Uvalde Pecos 9-1

1976-1977 4A Houston Sharpstown Duncanville 6-1

1977-1978 3A Mount Pleasant Burkburnett 5-2


1978-1979 1A Riviera Kaufer Ore City 9-3

1978-1979 2A Kermit Winnie East Chambers 3-1

1978-1979 3A De Soto Cleburne 2-1

1978-1979 4A Spring Baytown Sterling 1-0

1978-1979 B Palmer Colmesneil 6-3

1979-1980 1A Waskom Falls City 13-0

1979-1980 2A Linden-Kildare La Grange 8-7

1979-1980 3A Austin Westlake De Soto 11-10

1979-1980 4A Pearland San Antonio Roosevelt 9-4

1979-1980 B Colmesneil Palmer 8-0

1980-1981 1A Bremond Palmer 13-3

1980-1981 2A Shiner Waskom 3-2

1980-1981 3A Somerset Bowie 5-2

1980-1981 4A South San Antonio West Lubbock Estacado 3-2

1980-1981 5A Lubbock Monterey Pearland 7-3

1981-1982 1A Palmer Burton 11-4

1981-1982 2A Southlake Carroll Pineland West Sabine 7-3

1981-1982 3A Crockett Midlothian 8-6

1981-1982 4A El Campo Weatherford 9-7

1981-1982 5A Houston Sharpstown Fort Worth Southwest 8-7

1982-1983 1A Valley Mills Cayuga 12-0

1982-1983 2A Pollok Central Gladewater Union Grove 9-1

1982-1983 3A Kenedy La Grange 3-2

1982-1983 4A Snyder De Soto 13-4

1982-1983 5A Port Arthur Jefferson Corpus Christi Moody 6-1

1983-1984 1A Prosper Runge 18-7

1983-1984 2A Ore City Dripping Springs 5-4

1983-1984 3A Odem Fort Worth Lake Worth 13-8

1983-1984 4A Austin Westlake De Soto 9-3

1983-1984 5A Freeport Brazoswood Houston Cy-Fair 5-3

1984-1985 1A Colmesneil Fayetteville 12-0

1984-1985 2A Riviera Kaufer Coppell 8-1

1984-1985 3A Sweeny Linden Kildare 6-3

1984-1985 4A De Soto New Braunfels Canyon 7-2

1984-1985 5A Victoria Stroman Pasadena Rayburn 3-0

1985-1986 1A Colmesneil Archer City 11-1

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Harlingen High School will now compete in District 32-6A. The Cardinals are coached by Bryan Aughney. (HSSM Sports/Alec Amador Lead Photographer)

Diving Catch! The Rayondville Bearkats advanced to the State 3A playoffs in 2014.

They could make another state run in 2015. (HSSM Sports/Alec Amador Lead Photographer)

The PSJA Bears will now compete in District 32-5A. Sophomore pitcher Enrique Rubio will be on the mound in 2015. (HSSM Sports/Alec Amador Lead Photgrapher)

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1985-1986 2A Riviera Kaufer Frankston 10-2

1985-1986 3A Pattonville Prairiland Brownfield 7-4

1985-1986 4A Brenham Mercedes 6-1

1985-1986 5A Houston Bellaire Round Rock Westwood 7-4

1986-1987 1A Burton High Island 7-4

1986-1987 2A China Spring Three Rivers 6-0

1986-1987 3A San Augustine Hooks 6-4

1986-1987 4A Brenham Fort Worth Brewer 12-3

1986-1987 5A Abilene Cooper San Antonio MacArthur 13-3

1987-1988 1A Apple Springs Maud 11-6

1987-1988 2A Shelbyville Blanco 11-1

1987-1988 3A Sinton Waco La Vega 4-0

1987-1988 4A Brenham Waxahachie 11-5

1987-1988 5A Abilene Cooper Round Rock Westwood 7-4

1988-1989 1A Maud Pettus 6-1

1988-1989 2A China Spring Shelbyville 4-3

1988-1989 3A Sinton San Augustine 2-1

1988-1989 4A Paris Austin Anderson 11-8

1988-1989 5A Sugar Land Dulles Corpus Christi Carroll 4-1

1989-1990 1A Colmesneil D’Hanis

1989-1990 2A Gilmer Harmony Holliday 8-5

1989-1990 3A Freer Southlake Carroll 13-11

1989-1990 4A Carthage Robstown 9-3

1989-1990 5A Duncanville Deer Park 6-5

1990-1991 1A Valley Mills Gunter 10-2

1990-1991 2A Van Horn Schulenburg 7-3

1990-1991 3A Falfurrias Queen City 5-2

1990-1991 4A Robstown West Mesquite 7-6

1990-1991 5A League City Clear Creek Klein Oak 8-2

1991-1992 1A Valley Mills Flatonia 9-4

1991-1992 2A Shiner China Spring 5-4

1991-1992 3A Queen City Bellville 4-3

1991-1992 4A Robstown Bridge City 10-1

1991-1992 5A Freeport Brazoswood South San Antonio 5-1

1992-1993 1A Flatonia Ponder 2-1

1992-1993 2A China Spring Boling 13-0

1992-1993 3A Bellville Falfurrias 6-2

1992-1993 4A Mount Pleasant Wolfforth Frenship 3-2

1992-1993 5A Arlington Martin Abilene Cooper 8-0

1993-1994 1A Gunter Trinidad 9-4

1993-1994 2A East Bernard Pineland West Sabine 5-0

1993-1994 3A Orange Grove Alpine 10-0

1993-1994 4A Belton Big Spring 4-0

1993-1994 5A Houston Bellaire Corpus Christi Moody 2-1

1994-1995 1A D’Hanis Corsicana Mildred 7-4

1994-1995 2A East Bernard Pilot Point 14-2

1994-1995 3A Hallettsville Luling 6-2

1994-1995 4A Coppell Lamesa 12-2

1994-1995 5A Sugar Land Elkins Lubbock Coronado 6-0

1995-1996 1A Thorndale Spurger 7-5

1995-1996 2A Weimar Gilmer Harmony 4-0

1995-1996 3A Crockett Graham 8-6

1995-1996 4A Fort Worth Arlington Heights Orange Little Cyp-Mauriceville 14-0

1995-1996 5A Lubbock Monterey Klein Oak 5-4

1996-1997 1A Fayetteville Spurger 6-2

1996-1997 2A Weimar Alto 9-2

1996-1997 3A Hallettsville Castroville Medina Valley 6-3

1996-1997 4A Fort Worth Boswell Dallas Highland Park 3-0

1996-1997 5A Round Rock Lubbock Monterey 7-1

1997-1998 1A Thrall Collinsville 10-3

1997-1998 2A Gunter Rosebud-Lott 7-0

1997-1998 3A Atlanta Dripping Springs 7-4

1997-1998 4A Dallas Highland Park Corpus Christi Calallen 5-2

1997-1998 5A Klein Sugar Land Elkins 2-0

1998-1999 1A Collinsville Cross Plains 6-5

1998-1999 2A Cooper Kingsville Academy 8-7

1998-1999 3A West Liberty 9-7

1998-1999 4A Andrews Corpus Christi Calallen 4-3

1998-1999 5A Houston Bellaire Duncanville 13-2

1999-2000 1A Evadale Cross Plains 11-10

1999-2000 2A Weimar Colmesneil 7-1

1999-2000 3A China Spring Yoakum 4-1


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Contending for district title?Valley View HS will compete in District 31-5A and will be favored to make the playoffs.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •


19FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

2003-2004 5A Corpus Christi Moody Lewisville Flower Mound 6-1

2004-2005 1A Thorndale Harleton 10-5

2004-2005 2A Woodville Holliday 2-1

2004-2005 3A Carthage Lubbock Cooper 6-1

2004-2005 4A Corpus Christi Calallen Waco Midway 10-3

2004-2005 5A Humble Kingwood Rockwall 10-5

2005-2006 1A Anderson-Shiro Gilmer Union Hill 9-8

2003-2004 2A Brock Hughes Springs 7-4

2005-2006 3A Texarkana Liberty-Eylau Falfurrias 2-1

2005-2006 4A New Braunfels Fort Worth Arlington 4-1

2005-2006 5A Conroe The Woodlands Katy 5-3

2006-2007 1A Archer City New Deal 6-2

2006-2007 2A Rogers Hooks 8-4

2006-2007 3A Jasper Liberty Eylau 14-4

2006-2007 4A CC Moody Mesquite Poteet 9-1

2006-2007 5A Cy-Fair Harlingen South 6-1

2007-2008 1A Bosqueville Flatonia 10-3

2007-2008 2A Salado Corsicana Mildred 12-8

2007-2008 3A Snyder Pleasant Grove 3-2

2007-2008 4A Corpus Christi Calallen Waxahachie 11-1

2007-2008 5A Plano West Southlake Carroll 10-8

2008-2009 1A Miles Windthorst 4-3

2008-2009 2A Danbury Holliday 6-5

2008-2009 3A Carthage Giddings 5-2

2008-2009 4A Texarkana Texas Corpus Christi Moody 4-3

2008-2009 5A El Paso Socorro Lufkin 12-7

2009-2010 1A Windthorst Evadale 11-1

2009-2010 2A Rogers Bushland 6-1

2007-2008 3A Texarkana Pleasant Grove Giddings 2-0

2009-2010 4A Brenham Corpus Christi Calallen 2-1

2009-2010 5A Corpus Christi Carroll Klein 5-2

2010-2011 1A Johnson City Johnson Blue Ridge 7-2

2010-2011 2A Cameron Yoe Nacogdoches Central Heights 7-3

2010-2011 3A Kennedale Robinson 5-1

2010-2011 4A Wichita Falls Rider Corpus Christi Calallen 6-2

2010-2011 5A Clute Brazoswood Lubbock Coronado 10-3

2011-2012 1A Fayetteville Stamford 10-0

2011-2012 2A Jarrell Bushland 9-2

2011-2012 3A Texarkana Pleasant Grove West 4-0

2011-2012 4A Rockwall Heath Cleburne 10-1

2011-2012 5A Houston Cypress Ranch College Station A&M Cons. 4-1

2012-2013 1A Price Carlisle Stamford 6-1

2012-2013 2A Hallettsville Hughes Springs 4-2

2012-2013 3A La Grange Texarkana Pleasant Grove 10-2

2012-2013 4A Tomball Corpus Christi Moody 6-1

2012-2013 5A Conroe The Woodlands Fort Bend Dulles 9-5

2013-2014 1A Douglass Flatonia 10-0

2013-2014 2A Sunnyvale Troy 13-3

2013-2014 3A College Station Argyle 5-2

20132-2014 4A Aledo Victoria East 4-0

2013-2014 5A Lewisville Flower Mound San Antonio Reagan 10-0


1999-2000 4A Corpus Christi Calallen Port Neches-Groves 8-6

1999-2000 5A Conroe The Woodlands Corpus Christi Moody 3-2

2000-2001 1A Bremond Brock 4-2

2000-2001 2A Weimar Elysian Fields 6-5

2000-2001 3A La Grange Forney 4-3

2000-2001 4A Fort Worth Western Hills Carthage 12-7

2000-2001 5A Midland Austin 4-2

2001-2002 1A Shiner McLeod 5-3

2001-2002 2A Celina Holliday 7-5

2001-2002 3A Sinton Forney 5-0

2001-2002 4A Southlake Carroll Corpus Christi Calallen 11-4

2001-2002 5A Fort Bend Elkins Austin Bowie 8-3 11-4

2002-2003 1A Colmesneil D’Hanis 5-0

2002-2003 2A Weimar Holliday 9-0

2002-2003 3A Lorena Sinton 3-2

2002-2003 4A Hewitt Midway Denton Ryan 3-1

2002-2003 5A Fort Bend Elkins Round Rock 5-4

2003-2004 1A Shiner Follett 13-3

2003-2004 2A Nacogdoches Central Heights Ponder 4-1

2003-2004 3A La Grange Forney 10-4

2003-2004 4A Boerne Denton Ryan 5-1


WarDogs!San Benito High School will move over to District 32-6A with Ram Partida leading the Greyhounds.

(HSSM Sports/Alec Amador Lead Photographer)

20 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

21FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

HSSM: As the the new head baseball coach at PSJA North High School, what can you bring to this program?

Soza: There is plenty of rich, baseball tradition here at PSJA North High School. Fans expect success, players want success, and so do I. It’s what I love and it’s what I do. I love coaching.

HSSM: How many baseball games have you won in your career?

Soza: My overall record is 102 wins and 56 losses.

HSSM: Who has influenced you in your coaching career?

Soza: Good question. I have been very fortunate. Back in 1971 Ricky Solis was the relief pitcher for the University of Texas-Pan American and the starting pitcher was Lupe Salinas. These guys made it to the NCAA College World Series that season. I was coached by Solis when I was in the Pony League. Another mentor was head coach Hector Salinas at Texas Southmost in Brownsville and of course, Al Ogletree from UTPA. He is now the winningest coach in NCAA Baseball.

HSSM: How tough is it to play college sports?

Soza: It requires a lot of discipline. I played catcher during my college days. I was only 5’7 and weighed 165lbs. But, I understood the game of strength and conditioning. The mental part of the game was even more important.

HSSM: In high school, do players understand what it takes to win?

Soza: Yes and no. Some players just want things given to them without putting in the extra efforts. While other players want to develop into becoming great students of the game. Nowadays, players play on select teams and forget about the discipline it takes to make it in high school.

HSSM: What is the difference in high school verses playing on select teams?

Soza: There is a theory of baseball. You must understand the pitch count, coaches must know the player, and defense is so important. The competition keeps growing with select ball and understanding

BY DAVID A. AMADOR • HSSM SPORTS DIRECTOR

THE RAIDERS BASEBALL PROGRAM HAS MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, OR 2013. “IT’S ALL ABOUT TEACHING THIS GAME OF BASEBALL AND ONE DAY YOU WILL TEACH SOMEONE ELSE BASEBALL. EVEN YOUR OWN KIDS,” SAYS SOZA.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

for the recordSoza’s 102 wins & 56 losses. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

By David Amador HSSM Lead Sports Photographer

the theory of baseball will develop any player into great ones.

HSSM: How long have you been around this game you love so much?

Soza: Since I was four years old. I grew up and played played at Bishop High School and was the starting catcher and pitcher. In college, I played at Texas Southmost in Brownsville-Team and became the team captain. I also was recruited by UTPA and we were the last team to play in the 1986 NCAA baseball playoffs. That year we played Tulane and Texas and went 0-2.

HSSM: How did you feel playing those teams?

Soza: It was the best feeling ever. To play against Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas, was just unimaginable. We had the desire to win and play.

HSSM: Is that what you will try to bring to North High School? Last season, you were an assistant at 4A Hidalgo when they went to the state quarterfinals.

Soza: And we can do the same thing here and go even further too.

HSSM: How?

Soza: It’s a matter of trying to find what’s best and bring the fundamentals of baseball back to the dugout.

HSSM: So, who has inspired you the most?

Soza: My Dad. He never knew much about this game but taught me to work endless hours to become who I wanted to be.

HSSM: Have a great season.

Soza: Thanks Tddave.

21FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

22 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

San Isidro San Perlita Santa Maria Lasara La VillaRiviera Kaufer Bruni

District 32-2A Season District

Santa Rosa LyfordBrownsville Frontier Edinburg Idea Quest Monte Alto


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Hidalgo E.C. La FeriaProgreso Rio HondoRaymondvilleGrulla ZapataPort Isabel


Edinburg VelaMission Veterans Sharyland Roma Valley View Sharyland Pioneer Rio Grande City

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DonnaBrownsville Pace PSJA Edcouch-Elsa Brownsville Porter Mercedes PSJA Southwest Donna North


McAllen Memorial McAllen La Joya Palmview La Joya Mission McAllen Rowe LJ Juarez-Lincoln

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BasEballStandingsBOYS


WeslacoEdinburg PSJA North Weslaco East Edinburg NorthEd. Economedes PSJA Memorial

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Brownsv. HannaBrwnsv. Veterans San Benito Harlingen South Harlingen Los FresnosBrownsv. RiveraBrownsv. Lopez

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San Perlita La Villa LasaraSan Isidro Santa Maria Rivera Kaufer Bruni


Edinburg IDEA LyfordSanta Rosa Brownsville IDEAMonte Alto


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Rio HondoLa FeriaZapata Port IsabelHidalgo Grulla RaymondvilleProgreso


Edinburg VelaMission Veterans RomaSharyland Rio Grande CityValley View Sharyland Pioneer

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MercedesDonnaPSJA Brownsville Pace PSJA Southwest Donna North Brownsville Porter Edcouch-Elsa


McAllen Rowe La Joya Palmview McAllen Memorial LJ Juarez-Lincoln McAllenLa JoyaMission

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SOFTballStandingsGIRLS


PSJA NorthWeslaco East EdinburgEd. Economedes Weslaco EastEdinburg NorthPSJA Memorial

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Harlingen Brwnsv. VeteransHarlingen South Brownsv. HannaLos FresnosSan Benito Brownsv. RiveraBrownsv. Lopez

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23FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

24 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 201524 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

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Ohhh dalilah!She will lead the Top-ranked Mercedes Lady Tigers in District 32-5A.• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

By ALEC AMADOR HSSM Sports LEAD Photographer

25FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015 25FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

BY DAVID “TDDAVE” AMADOR • HSSM SPORTS DIRECTOR

26 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

Andreah Ruiz edinburg northPlays catcher and third base for the Lady Cougars. Can head coach Richard Tressler lead his team to the State 6A State Tournament in Austin, Texas this year? _______________________________

DISTRICT 31-6A: EDINBURG NORTH, EDINBURG ECONOMEDES, EDINBURG HS, WESLACO, WESLACO HS, PSJA NORTH, PSJA MEMORIAL. THE LADY COUGARS ARE THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS. _______________________________

Joanna Gonzalez san benitoThe Lady Greyhounds advanced to the State 5A Region IV Regional Quarters in 2014. Can they do it again in 2015? San Benito is the only team to ever play in the state tournament._______________________________

DISTRICT 32-6A: HANNA, RIVERA, LOPEZ, VETERANS MEMORIAL, HARLINGEN, HARLINGEN SOUTH, SAN BENITO, LOS FRESNOS _______________________________

osing to the State 4A girls softball semifinalist,

Buda Hays did not sit well with Mercedes High

School head softball Veronica Morrell in 2014.

The Lady Tigers easily defeated Hays 4-1 in the

first game at Sinton High School but the next day,

Morrell watched her team lose 4-0, 3-1. “That

was a tough loss,” said Morrell. “We just gave up

too many opportunities.” Junior pitcher, Dalilah

Barrera returns on the mound for the Lady Tigers

after capturing 24 wins and just four losses as a

sophomore.

................................SHE WAS ALMOST UNTOUCHABLE WITH A 1.22 ERA WITH 278 STRIKEOUTS AND 33 WALKS AS THE LADY TIGERS WON THE DISTRICT 32-4A TITLE. ................................She could be the pitcher that the Lady Tigers will

need if they expect to make it to the UIL State

Softball Tournament. The University Interscholastic

League realigned the state’s enrollment and now,

the Rio Grande Valley will feature two 5A districts

with Mercedes moving into District 32-5A,

comprised of eight teams. Brownsville Pace,

Porter, Edcouch-Elsa, PSJA, PSJA Southwest,

Donna, Donna North, and the Lady Tigers will all

compete in the same district. Expect Edcouch-

Elsa, Brownsville Porter, and Mercedes to contend

for the outright title. The Lady Tigers defeated

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

(Mercedes, Tx)

The Mercedes Lady Tigers will now move to District 32-5A after the new realignments. They are the defending district champions. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)

27FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

Tianna Sandoval, RF rio hondo The Lady Bobcats advanced three rounds in the State 3A playoffs in 2014. The Lady Bobcats enter the season as the team to beat in District 32-4A._______________________________

DISTRICT 32-4A: RIO HONDO, RAYMONDVILLE, PORT ISABEL, LA FERIA, RAYMONVDILLE, ZAPATA, PROGRESO, HIDALGO, AND GRULLA HS _______________________________

Monica Rubio brownsville lopezThe Lady Lobos will be much improved in 2015. Can they make the playoffs?_______________________________

DISTRICT 32-5A: RIVERA, HANNA, BROWNSVILLE VETERANS, BROWNSVILLE LOPEZ, LOS FRESNOS, SAN BENITO, HARLINGEN, HARLINGEN SOUTH _______________________________

Anika Garza romaStarting catcher of the Lady Gladiators in 2015. Roma will be much improved and will play in a new district after the realignments._______________________________

DISTRICT 31-5A: ROMA, RIO GRANDE CITY, VALLEY VIEW, SHARYLAND, SHARYLAND PIONEER, MISSION VETERANS, AND EDINBURG VELA HS. _______________________________

..........................................................................................................................................................................

Alice, Victoria East, Corpus Christi Moody in the 4A

playoffs before losing to the Buda Hays Rebels. The

Lady Jackets made the playoffs and lost in the first

round to Corpus Christi Moody in two games 11-2, 9-3.

Both Edcouch-Elsa and Mercedes will have their work

cutout for them as they will face the Lady Cowgirls in

district play. They moved down a classification from 6A

to 5A with the new realignments. The Porter Cowgirls

knocked off McAllen Nikki Rowe in the first round of the

Class 5A playoffs in 2014 but lost to Edinburg North

26-6, 3-0 in a two-game sweep. Returning for the Lady

Yellowjackets will be eight lettermen including junior

pitchers Miranda Acevedo and Sarah Rodriguez. The

infield will return first baseman Stephanie Rodriguez,

second basemen Teresa Gomez, and third baseman

Janie Herrera. Last season the Lady Jackets scored

154 runs and had an impressive batting team average

of .382. Their fielding percentage was .825 which

made them tough on defense. In District 31-5A, the

other newly created district will feature two Sharyland

teams that could face District 32-5A in the playoffs.

Mission High School coach by longtime icon, Iris

Iglesias takes her team to 6A and knows that this

year will be challenging. Sharyland, Sharyland

Pioneer, Rio Grande City, Roma, Valley View, Mission

Veterans, Edinburg Vela, will all compete for the

district title. As for the Lady Eagles? “It’s always

important to be the number one seed in the state

playoffs,” says Iglesias. “It gives any team an

opportunity to advance to the next round.” The

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

photography By Alec Amador

HSSM Lead Sports Photographer• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

The Edinburg North Lady Cougars advanced to the State 5A Region IV semifinals softball tournament in 2012. They lost to San Antonio Holmes 8-3, 7-6 in 2012.

Did you know?

28 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

29FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

30 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

Bi-District Champions! The Raymondville Lady Bearkats defeated Hidalgo in the first round of the State 3A playoffs. Both teams should make another playoff run in Class 4A. (HSSMImages/Tddave)

Gotcha! The McAllen Memorial Lady Mustangs will be favored to compete for the District 30-6A title while Los Fresnos is favored to win the District 32-6A title in 2015. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)

31FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

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Sandra Guzman grullaThe Grulla Gators are just beginning to build its softball program. They will bring alot of pride to their district in 2015._______________________________

DISTRICT 32-4A: GRULLA, RIO HONDO, PORT ISABEL, ZAPATA, PROGRESO, RAYMONDVILLE, HIDALGO, LA FERIA _______________________________

Taylor Gomez-Right Fielder donnaThe Lady Bravettes will be the surprise team in 2015 as the drop down a classification. The Bravettes are coming off a great performance last week at the Donna ISD Softball Tournament._______________________________

DISTRICT 32-5A: DONNA, DONNA NORTH, BROWNSVILLE PACE, BROWNSVILLE PORTER, MERCEDES, PSJA, EDCOUCH-ELSA, AND PSJA SOUTHWEST. _______________________________

Esmer Cuellar, First Baseman juarez-lincolnThe Lady Huskies will now compete in a new district with new expectations. Can they make the playoffs in 2015? Can they adjust to Class 6A?_______________________________

DISTRICT 30-6A: LA JOYA JUAREZ-LINCOLN, LA JOYA PALMVIEW, LA JOYA HS, MISSION, MCALLEN, MCALLEN MEMORIAL, AND MCALLEN NIKKI ROWE. _______________________________

Mission Veterans Memorial Lady Patriots finished

in second place last season and were able to beat

Corpus Christy Ray 8-3 in the first round but the

second round was marred by a two-game sweep

by Medina Valley 10-0, 6-1. Mission finished in

third place and lost to Corpus Christi Flour Bluff

7-3 in the Class 4A Bi-District Championships.

Sharyland and Edinburg Vela, both competed in

Class 5A with the Lady Rattlers winning the first

round before losing to San Benito in the area

playoffs. Vela dropped its playoff opener to Eagle

Pass. Both teams have since moved down from the

new 6A Division and will now compete in the 5A

Division. If there is any indication as to which 6A

team will be granted the No.1 ranking, Edinburg

North head coach Richard Tressler would love to

secure that spot if it only meant a guaranteed spot

in the UIL State 6A Softball Tournament set to begin

June 3-6th at the Red & Charline McCombs Field at

the University of Texas at Austin. The Lady Cougars

had much to be thankful for after Tressler under

went a triple-bypass operation in 2013. “It almost

got me,” said an emotional Tressler. “I thank God

everyday for giving me another chance to live.”

Now, before the game and after the game, Tressler

walks to the outfield for a moment to give thanks

to God. “I love this game of softball and I want to

be here for a long time,” he said. The Lady Cougars

went 29-6 and captured the District 31-5A title

with an impressive 15-1 record. They also won the

The Edinburg Lady Bobcats advanced to the State 5A Region IV semifinals softball tournament in 2010 & 2012. They lost to San Antonio O’Connor 15-0, 3-0.

Did you know?

32 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

33FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

34 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

The Los Fresnos Lady Falcons will compete in District 32-6A. The advanced to the Regional-Quarterfinals in 2014. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)

New District 31-5A. The Sharyland Lady Rattlers will move down to Class 5A from 6A as head coach Paul Cruz gets his team ready for 2015. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)

35FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

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Ashley Garcia sharylandThe Lady Rattlers will begin the 2015 season in a new district and will move down a classification. after playing in the larger classification, it will only get tougher in 5A softball. The Lady Rattlers are coming off a bi-district title in 2014._______________________________

DISTRICT 32-5A: EDINBURG VELA, SHARYLAND, SHARYLAND PIONEER, VALLEY VIEW, ROMA, RIO GRANDE CITY, MISSION VETERANS._______________________________

Cecily Niles, senior port isabelA captain on the team and will be one of the leading hitters in district. The Lady Tarpons will play in one of the toughest districts in South Texas. Can they make the playoffs in 2015?_______________________________

DISTRICT 32-4A: LA FERIA, HIDALGO, PROGRESO, PORT ISABEL, RIO HONDO, ZAPATA, GRULLA, AND RAYMONDVILLE _______________________________

Elindsvey De Leon economedes She will lead the Lady Jags at third base this year. After the new realignments, this district only gets tougher with plenty of playoff teams with experience._______________________________

DISTRICT 31-6A: EDINBURG, ECONOMEDES, EDINBURG NORTH, WESLACO, WESLACO EAST, PSJA NORTH, PSJA MEMORIAL. _______________________________

Bi-District title with a win over Eagle Pass Winn and

captured the area championship title by knocking off

Brownsville Porter 26-6, 3-0. Jackie Longoria, now a

sophomore, returns with her impressive 15-2 overall

record, with 85 strikeouts and 47 walks. She

surrendered 91 hits in 111.1 innings and head coach

Tressler talks about Longoria’s her maturity in 2015.

“She will be the player to watch in 2015. She has

worked hard this past off-season,” says Tressler. In

the playoffs, he watched his team lose to Eagle Pass

in three games to end their state title run in 2014 in

the third round. “That was hard to swallow. We were

better than that,” adds Tressler. The new

realignments have put District 31-6A into a very

competitive district with teams Weslaco, Weslaco

East, Edinburg, Edinburg Economedes, PSJA North,

and PSJA Memorial. The Lady Bobcats, like the Lady

Cougars made the playoffs last season. The Lady

Bobcats defeated Laredo Johnson 9-10, 10-7, 15-0

in the 5A Bi-District Championships before falling to

Los Fresnos 15-4, 2-8, 11-4. After a 12-4 district

finish, head coach Jesse Banda will coach sixteen

players on the Lady Bobcats team in 2015 with

plenty of experience coming back. Eight players

return, including sophomore pitcher Desi Marmolejo.

She will be the go-to pitcher for the Lady Bobcats

along with senior pitcher Gina Garza, sophomore

Rebecca Delgado, Natalie Perales. Moving into the

district are newcomers, Weslaco with seniors,

pitcher Melissa Menchaca, first baseman Kelsey

The San Benito Lady Greyhounds advanced to the State 5A Region IV finals softball tournament in 2011 and became the only team to make it to the UIL State Tournament in 2013. They lost to Lewisville 5-2 in the semifinals. Lewsville won the title.

For the record:

36 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

DANNY YBARRA CONSTRUCTIONA BUILDER YOU CAN TRUST

DANNY YBARRA OWNER

(956) [email protected]

15 Years ofExperience

5540 Camino De La Tierra • Brownsville, Texas

37FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

Skyler Macias harlingenThe Lady Cardinals will have their hands full with Los Fresnos and San Benito. The Lady Cardinals will be young in 2015. ______________________________

DISTRICT 32-6A: HARLINGEN, HARLINGEN SOUTH, LOS FRESNOS, SAN BENITO, BROWNSVILLE RIVERA, BROWNSVILLE HANNA, LOPEZ, VETERANS MEMORIAL _______________________________

Ester Casarez la ferriaAlways a powerhouse in softball, the Lady Lionettes lost to Rockport-Fulton in the first round of the state playoffs but they will bring plenty of experience in 2015._______________________________

DISTRICT 32-LA FERIA, PORT ISABEL, RIO HONDO, HIDALGO, ZAPATA, GRULLA, RAYMONDVILLE, PROGRESO _______________________________

Sarah rodriguez edcouch-elsaThe Yellowjackets will be tough in 2015 and moving into a new district with teams like Brownsville Porter and Mercedes will be interesting down the stretch. _______________________________

DISTRICT 32-5A: BROWNSVILLE PACE, PORTER, DONNA, DONNA NORTH, EDCOUCH-ELSA, MERCEDES, PSJA, PSJA SOUTHWEST _______________________________

Sada, and outfielder Ariel Amador. The Lady

Panthers will be loaded with pitchers Taylor Tafolla,

Aylssa Escamilla, and Charlene De Anda. In District

30-6A, McAllen Nikki Rowe, McAllen, and McAllen

Memorial all made the playoffs in 2014. Only the

Lady Bulldogs came out on top with a bi-district

win over Harlingen South but then lost to Eagle

Pass in two straight games in the 5A Area

Championships. Lady Bulldog head coach Ruth

Garcia has been building its program and this will

year will be a test after losing eight seniors. They

return junior second baseman Annika Garcia, senior

outfielder Joanna Villarreal, senior Carina Sendejo, a

third baseman; Eden Hernandez, a junior outfielder,

and sophomore pitcher Alexis Gutierrez. Favored to

win the outright title with be the McAllen Rowe Lady

Warriors and head coach Oziel Hernandez is excited

about 2015 and with sixteen players back, and why

not? Junior pitchers Joscelyn Moncayo and Krystal

Ramos both return along with pitchers, sophomore

Odessa Hernandez and senior Olivia Hood. High

expectations surround sophomore Chelsea Boyd who

is back at catcher. As a freshman, she hit .444 with

33 RBIs and five home runs, to help lead the Lady

Warriors (20-7, 11-5) to a second-place finish in

district but lost to Brownsville Porter in the first round

of the state playoffs. If the McAllen Memorial Lady

Mustangs expect to get off to a better start, Daisy

Gonzalez, pitcher/first baseman will be looked at to

ake that happen. She led the team with a .538 hitting

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The Mercedes Lady Tigers advanced to the 2014 UIL 4A Region IV semifinals for the first time in school history.

For the record:

38 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

ercentage and .788 slugging mark

while going 15-9 in the circle. She

pitched every district game as a

freshmen. Now, the sophomore will

team up with eight returning starters back with

high expectations. The Lady Mustangs made their

first playoff appearance in eight years under head

coach Audra Benavidez. Eight teams will now

compete in the newly realigned District 32-6A.

Harlingen, Harlingen South, Los Fresnos, San

Benito, Brownsville Porter, Lopez, Rivera, and Hanna

will compete for the district title in 2015. And it will

not be easy. Los Fresnos is coming off Region IV-5A

quarterfinal finish after losing to San Benito in a

one-game playoff 7-0. The Lady Greyhounds, a

powerhouse when it comes to playing softball,

advanced to the Class 5A Region IV Softball

Semifinals and lost to San Antonio Southwest 7-2,

9-6. Harlingen, Porter, and Harlingen South all made

the playoffs in 2014. Lady Greyhounds coach Elias

Martinez will have his hands full as his team will be

tested early on in non-district action. Will the Lady

Greyhounds be the team to beat in 2015? Will this

be the year that the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons win

it all? Lady Falcons head coach Traci Blackman led

her team to the State 5A Region IV quarterfinals

after winning the 32-5A district title with an

impressive 15-1 record and 25-8 overall. The Lady

Falcons return 10 lettermen, including pitchers

Vivikah Pesina (junior) and Victoria Loa (senior).

Kelsey Sada weslacoThe Weslaco Lady Pantherettes could be looking at a playoff spot in a new district filled with plenty of playoff teams. _______________________________

DISTRICT 31-6A: WESLACO, WESLACO EAST, PSJA NORTH, PSJA MEMORIAL, EDINBURG, EDINBURG NORTH, EDINBURG ECONOMEDES _______________________________

Briseyda Gonzalez donna northThe Lady Chiefs will begin its season with new attitudes and they will be young. A new high school, the Lady Chiefs will be building for the future. _______________________________

DISTRICT 32-5A: DONNA, DONNA NORTH, PORTER, PACE, PSJA, SOUTHWEST, EDCOUCH-ELSA, MERCEDES _______________________________

Raeven Robles santa rosa hsOnly one team will not make the playoffs in 2015. Only one team will stay home. The Lady Warriors should take this district with no problems. They will be favored. _______________________________

DISTRICT 32-3A: SANTA ROSA HIGH SCHOOL, MONTE ALTO, LYFORD, FALFURRIAS HIGH SCHOOL _______________________________

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •



The Harlingen Lady Cardinals advanced to the UIL 5A Region IV Softball tournament semifinals in 2009 before losing to Austin Bowie 5-0.

Did you know?

39FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

Morgan Playle mcallen nicki roweThis could the year for the Lady Warriors. A district title? A state tournament appearance? _______________________________

DISTRICT 30-6A: MCALLEN ROWE, MCALLEN, MCALLEN MEMORIAL, MISSION, LA JOYA, LA JOYA PALMVIEW, JUAREZ-LINCOLN _______________________________

Gina Garcia edinburgThe Lady Bobcats are coming of a second round loss to Los Fresnos in 2014. They will be much better in 2015. _______________________________

DISTRICT 31-6A: EDINBURG, EDINBURG NORTH, EDINBURG ECONOMEDES, WESLACO, WESLACO EAST, PSJA NORTH, PSJA MEMORIAL _______________________________

Janeyra Garcia valley view Do not be surprised if the Lady Tigers make the playoffs in 2015. They will be much improved. Playoffs? District title?_______________________________

DISTRICT 31-5A: VALLEY VIEW, ROMA, EDINBURG VELA, SHARYLAND, SHARYLAND PIONEER, MISSION VETERANS, RIO GRANDE CITY HS _______________________________

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •



Last season Blackman led her team to wins over

Brownsville Hanna, Rivera, Lopez, Harlingen,

Veterans Memorial, and Harlingen South in the

regular season. Challenging the Lady Falcons will

be the Harlingen South Lady Hawks after finishing

their season in second place. In the playoffs, the

Lady Hawks lost to McAllen in the first round.

Thirteen lettermen return after losing just four

players to graduation. Players to watch are

sophomore pitcher Larissa Garcia, junior pitcher

Karina Abrego (6-4), and senior pitcher Mackenize

Wiley (12-5). Outfielders Lauren Conteras, Miranda

Valdez, Ariel De La Fuente, and Ashley Reyna all

return to give the Lady Hawks the plenty of

experience on defense. The Lady Hawks had an

impressive team batting average of .359 and they

also stole 82 bases. The Lady Hawks will be strong

on offense with their hitting and on defense, the

will be unstoppable on the mound with Wiley and

Abrego. Other teams to watch from the Rio

Grande Valley from District 32-4A are Port Isabel,

Raymondville, Hidalgo, La Feria and Rio Hondo.

All made the playoffs in 2014 with Rio Hondo

going three rounds before losing to Kingsville

King 7-2 in the Class 3A Region IV Quarterfinals.

Raymondville and Lyford both won first round

games in the state playoffs. In District 32-2A,

Lyford moves down a classification from 3A

and will now compete in 32-3A.

La Joya High School made Back-to-Back State 5A Region IV semifinals appearances in 2007 & 2008.

For the record:

40 FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

San Benito head coach Elias Martinez will lead his team in District 32-6A after winning the district title in 31-5A in 2014. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)

Defending Champions! Head coach Traci Blackmon will lead her Los Fresnos team in District 32-6A after going three rounds in the state playoffs in 2014. (HSSMImages/Alec Amador)

41FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

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• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Another state title run? The San Benito Lady Greyhounds will beFavored to win District 32-6A in 2015. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

By Alec Amador HSSM Sports Photographer

43FEBRUARY 24, 2015 - MARCH 28, 2015

Briana Cantu missionThe Lady Eagles and Iris Iglesias will not let this district slip away. Moving up to 6A will give the Lady Eagles something to play for in 2015._______________________________

DISTRICT 30-6A: MISSION, LA JOYA, LA JOYA PALMVIEW, JUAREZ-LINCOLN, MCALLEN, MCALLEN MEMORIAL, MCALLEN ROWE _______________________________

Lorie ann Doria romaThe Roma High School Lady Gladiators will be tough in 2015. They will bring plenty of experience to games on Tuesday and Friday nights. _______________________________

DISTRICT 31-5A: MISSION VETERANS, RIO GRANDE CITY, ROMA, VALLEY VIEW, SHARYLAND, PIONEER HS, EDINBURG VELA _______________________________

Chelsea Morgan c.c. ray Corpus Christi Ray HS lost to Mission Veterans Memorial in the first round of the state playoffs in 2014. _______________________________

OTHER DISTRICTS 28-6A: CC CARROLL, CC KING, CC RAY, SA EAST CENTRAL, SA SOUTHWEST, SA SOUTH SAN _______________________________

2015 Texas Girls Coaches Association Softball PollsClass 2A1. Weimar 2. Crawford 3. Bosqueville 4. Hawley 5. Thrall 6. Kennard 7. Dodd City 8. Windthorst

9. Harleton 10. Schulenburg

Class 3A 1. East Bernard 2. Natalia 3. Santa Gertrudis Academy 4. Halletsville 5. Brownfield 6. Lone

Oak 7. Colorado City 8. Troy 9. Garrison

10. Mount Vernon

Class 4A 1. La Grange 2. Huffman Hargrave 3. Burkburnett 4. Lufkin Hudson 5. Caldwell 6. Celina 7. Snyder 8. Abilene Wylie 9. Little Cypress-Mauriceville

Class 5A 1. Aledo 2. Elgin 3. Lucas Lovejoy 4. Azle 5. Barbers Hill 6. Frisco 7. Ennis 8. Birdville 9. Hallsville 10. Brewer

Class 6A 1. Deer Park 2. Rockwall 3. The Woodlands

4. Plano West 5. Houston Bellaire 6. Plano 7. Katy Cinco Ranch 8. Round Rock Cedar Ridge 9. Atascocita 10. San Antonio Southwest

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