Eagle Pass Eagles upset No. 1 ranked Corpus Christi Carroll Tigers 2-1 to clinch Regional Semifinals Championship
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The high flying and mighty Eagle Pass High School Eagles upset the Texas 5A No. 1 ranked Corpus Christi Carroll High School Tigers 2-1 to win the Regional Semifinals Baseball Championship in a one game winner take all playoff on Friday, May 23, 2014, at the San Antonio Independent School District Spring Sports Complex in San Antonio, Texas as standout sophomore Eagles pitcher Tony Galvan hurled a gem of a game limiting the potent Tigers batters to only four hits, striking out five, and walked only one while the Eagles defense committed no errors.
This historic victory by the Eagles over the Tigers will definitely go down as one of the best wins in the storied Eagle Pass Eagles baseball history.
The Eagles gave up one run in the bottom of the first inning to the Tigers, but the Eagles scored one run in the top of the third on a walk to standout Eagles shortstop Eric Gonzalez and an Tigers error scoring Gonzalez to tie the game at 1-1 each.
The Eagles scored the winning run in the top of the fourth inning as standout Eagles catcher Diego Gaona led off the inning with a double and standout Eagles designated hitter lefty Carlos Barrera blasted a double to the wall to score Gaona what would be the eventual game winning run, 2-1.
Eagles pitcher Tony Galvan got more ball movement and consistent as the game went on baffling the strong Tigers hitters with a killer change up and throwing strikes on the outside corner to earn the win, going the distance-seven innings.
Eagles designated hitter Carlos Barrera batted 2 for 3 with the game winning RBI in the top of the fourth inning.
The Eagles will now play the winner of the Laredo Alexander Bulldogs and the San Antonio Reagan Rattlers next week for the Regional Championship, advancing to the elite eight in Texas-Regional Finals-for the second consecutive year.
The Laredo Alexander Bulldogs won Game 1 on Thursday, May 22nd, by the score of 9-5 while the San Antonio Reagan Rattlers won Game 2 on Friday, May 23rd, 2-0, forcing a winner take all Game 3 with the right to face the Eagles next week.
The Eagles improve to 25-10-1 overall in the season while the Tigers finish 33-4. Tigers ace pitcher Rene Pineda took the loss going the distance (7 innings) allowing five hits, eight strike outs, one walk, one earned run while the Tigers defense committed one error resulting in the Eagles first run in the top of the third inning.
The Eagles are under the direction of Head Baseball Coach Reynol Mendoza.
The Eagles momentous upset victory came as a result of a total team effort as everyone played their roles in earning the win and stopping the formidable Tigers offensive firepower and standout pitcher Rene Pineda, who only had allowed six runs in the entire season before today’s loss to the Eagles.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates the Eagle Pass Eagles on their upset win over the Corpus Christi Carroll Tigers and garnering the coveted Regional Semifinals Championship. Go Eagles Baby!
