Eagles quest for State Championship derailed by San Antonio O’Connor Panthers 3-2
By: Ricardo E. Calderon
Live from the San Antonio Northeast ISD Blossom Athletic Center Baseball Field
The Eagle Pass High School Eagles quest for a fifth trip to the State of Texas Baseball Championship Tournament was derailed on Friday, May 31, 2013, by the San Antonio O’Connor High School Panthers who edged the Eagles 3-2 in the UIL Region IV Finals Baseball Championship held at the San Antonio Northeast Independent School District Blossom Athletic Center Baseball Field amidst a jam packed audience estimated at 3,000.
The home team designated Eagle Pass Eagles hosted the visiting San Antonio O’Connor Panthers in a Texas High School Baseball Classic on Friday, May 31st, with the winner advancing to the 2013 UIL 5A State Championship Tournament at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, Texas.
The Eagles entered the Regional Championship game with an overall season record of 24-11-1 having swept the San Antonio Johnson Jaguars in the Regional Semi-Finals Championship, upsetting the Mission Sharyland Rattlers in the Regional Quarter-Finals Championship, defeating the Brownsville Hanna Golden Eagles in the Area Championship, dominating the La Joya Coyotes in the Bi-District Championship, and finishing as Runner-Up Champions in District 29-5A.
The Panthers sported an overall season record of 32-7-2 going into the Regional Championship having defeated the Laredo United Longhorns in the Regional Semi-Finals Championship, dominated the Corpus Christi King Mustangs in the Regional Quarter-Finals Championship, upsetting the San Antonio Reagan Rattlers in the Area Championship, edging the San Antonio South San Bobcats in the Bi-District Championship, and capturing the District 27-5A Championship.
Standout Eagles southpaw pitcher Devon Torres hurled a complete seven innings game allowing three runs (two earned), spreading eight base hits, struck out six batters, and gave one base on balls in taking the hard fought loss. Panthers ace right hand pitcher Justin Garcia pitched six and two-thirds innings allowing only two runs, three base hits, four bases on balls, one hit batsman, and no strikeouts in earning the win while Panthers relief pitcher Jose Rodriguez hurled only one-third of an inning to earn the save.
Both Torres and Garcia dominated the first two and a half innings of the game in a pitchers’ duel keeping the game scoreless.
In the top of the third inning, the Panthers erupted for three runs to take a 3-0 lead, which they would never relinquish, against the Eagles with two outs as Panthers second baseman Zachary Davenport got on base hit by a pitch, Justin Garcia got on base on an Eagles infield error advancing Davenport to third base and an Eagles catcher throwing error to third base scored Davenport with the first run, Mark Ecker singled to left center field scoring Garcia for the second run, Kent Corso singled to center field scoring Ecker for the third run, Zachary Galm singled but failed to score as the next batter grounded out.
The Eagles battled back and threatened to score in the bottom of the fourth inning as Eagles pitcher Devon Torres was hit by a pitch to lead off and Alex Martinez came in to pinch run for Torres, Martinez advanced to second base on a throwing error, Diego Gaona flied out for the first out, standout Eagles first baseman Mando Lopez slammed a single to left center field and pinch runner Alex Martinez was thrown out at home attempting to score on Lopez’s single for the second out, Juan Lopez received a base on balls, and R.J. Ruiz grounded out to end the Eagles scoring threat stranding Mando Lopez and Juan Lopez on the base paths.
Eagles lefty pitcher Devon Torres settled down after the third inning and dominated the potent Panthers batters with confidence for the remainder of the game. Torres struck out two Panthers batters in the top of the sixth inning and another in the top of the seventh inning with his beautiful curve ball causing the Panthers to be retired three up and three down in both innings.
The Eagles rally for a come from behind victory started in the bottom of the sixth inning with one out as standout Eagles catcher Diego Gaona blasted a towering solo home run over the 312 feet left field sign into the adjacent football stadium bleachers to score the Eagles first run of the game. The next two Eagles batters grounded out and flied out to end the inning, but not before narrowing the score 3-1 in favor of the Panthers.
The never say die Eagles battled back in the bottom of the seventh inning to make it a game as standout Eagles left fielder Javy Cardona received a base on balls with one out, Jacoup Roiz got on base on another base on balls advancing Cardona to second base, Eagles head coach Reynol Mendoza called upon standout senior pitcher Gilbert Villalobos to pinch hit for Kevin Chisum, Villalobos blasted an RBI single to right center field on the first pitch he saw scoring Cardona for the second Eagles run of the game and advancing Roiz with the potential tying run to third base, Eric Gonzalez flied out to shallow left field for the second out precluding a possible tag up attempt by Roiz, Eagles starting pitcher Devon Torres received a base on balls to load up the bases with two outs causing Panthers skipper David Collenbeck to bring in Jose Rodriguez to relieve Panthers starter Justin Garcia with the game on the line to face standout Eagles catcher Diego Gaona, who had just hit a solo home run the inning before, as the over 3,000 fans in attendance stood up and cheered for their team as Rodriguez battled Gaona to a one ball and two strikes count with Gaona fouling off several pitches before swinging at a high fast ball which was popped up very high in the night sky but Panther third baseman Justin Garcia barely caught it in foul ball territory to secure the Panthers victory 3-2 and denying the Eagles a dramatic come from behind rally in the bottom of the seventh inning and their quest for a fifth State Baseball Championship Tournament. The Panthers earned their first trip to the State Baseball Championship Tournament in their history.
The loyal and faithful Eagles fans gave the heart broken Eagles a deserving standing ovation for their outstanding effort and near upset of the potent Panthers. The Eagles, nonetheless, enjoyed a great 2013 baseball season and state playoff run which revived the rich and proud Eagles baseball tradition and fever throughout the community and the nation. The Eagles conclude the 2013 season with a 24-12-1 record.
The 2013 Eagle Pass Eagles Baseball Team include Devon Torres, Gilbert Villalobos, Diego Gaona, Mando Lopez, R.J. Ruiz, Eric Gonzalez, Juan Lopez, Javy Cardona, Kevin Chisum, Jacoup Roiz, Alex Martinez, Dillon Elguezabal, Chris Perez, Fernando Garza, Roland Rodriguez, Cesar Mendez, Jack Acuna, Tony Galvan, Chava Lopez, Isaac Ramirez, Joey Soto, and Olexis Gutierrez.
The Eagles are under the direction of Head Coach Reynol Mendoza, Assistant Coaches Heriberto Roiz and Henry Silva, and Volunteer Coaches Mario Trevino, Michael Villarreal, Joe Villa, Chris Villa, and Coach Hinojosa. Athletic Trainers are Dwight Arganbrite and Brian Todd and Student Trainers are Joey Ruiz, Cynthia Soto, and Erika Polanco. The EPISD Athletic Director is Edward Graf.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates the Eagle Pass Eagles on a great 2013 season and state playoff run and wishes them all the best in their future endeavors.
