Eagle Pass Eagles Swept in Regional Semi-Finals Baseball Championship Series by Smithson Valley Rangers, Finishing Season as Bi-District, Area, and Regional Quarter-Final Champions
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2021
The mighty Eagle Pass High School Eagles Baseball Team fell to the Smithson Valley High School Rangers 13-6 in a rain-delayed Game 2 of their best of three series in the Region IV-6A Semi-Finals on Saturday, May 29, 2021, at the San Antonio Northside Independent School District Basbeball Complex in San Antonio, Texas, finishing their season with an overall record of 20-11 and a Bi-District, Area, and Regional Quarterfinal Championships.
Earlier on Thursday, May 27, the Eagles were outlasted in Game 1 of the series by the score of 4-2 and with their loss in Game 2 (13-6) were swept by the Smithson Valley Rangers in the best of three series, ranked No. 13 in the United States and No. 9 in Texas by MaxPreps.Com.
In Game 2, the Rangers jumped early on Eagles starting pitcher Edward Mendoza with five base hits and two runs in the top of the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. The Rangers added two runs in the second inning on three base hits, extending the lead 4-0.
The Eagles answered back in the bottom of the third inning with three runs as lead-off hitter Aidan Lopez drew a base on balls, Jacob Ruiz belted a single advancing Lopez to third base, Edward Mendoza was hit by a pitch to load the bases, CJ Jimenez stroked a 2 RBI single to center field to score Lopez and Ruiz, and with one out Derek Ruiz hit a long fly ball to center field to score Mendoza, narrowing the score 4-3 in favor of the Rangers.
The Rangers added two more runs in the top of the top of the 4th inning to extend the lead 6-3, but the Eagles tallied two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, narrowing the score 6-5.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Rangers plated four runs on just two hits, a sacrifice bunt, a base on balls, and an Eagles error to extend the lead 10-5, but the Eagles added one run in the bottom of the fifth inning on a double with one out by Jarod Romero, Romero advanced to third base on a wild pitch, and a deep RBI fly ball to center by Mike Perry scored Romero, narrowing the score 10-6.
The Rangers added three more runs in the top of the sixth inning to extend their lead 13-6, while the Eagles were shut out in the sixth and seventh innings to end the game at 13-6 in favor of the Rangers.
The Eagles had a total of six runs on nine hits and one error, while the Rangers scored 13 runs on 19 hits in Game 2.
The Eagles enjoyed an outstanding 2021 season under the helm of Head Coach Reynol Mendoza, garnering third place in the highly competitive District 30-6A and three championships in Bi-District, Area, and Regional Quarterfinals in the state playoffs before bowing out in the fourth round.
The Eagles Baseball Team represented themselves, their team, high school, parents, aficionados, and community with exemplary courage, valor, character, and sportsmanship throughout the 2021 season.
The 2021 Eagle Pass Eagles Baseball Team is composed of Tavare Chavez, Ramon Salinas, Mike Perry, Aidan Lopez, Sergio Lopez, Cesar Perez, Jacob Ruiz, Omar Rodriguez, Ethan Gomez, Diego Martinez, Mathew Elizondo, Issac Stanwick, Donovan Becerra, Aaron Trevizo,, Jose Duran, Fabian Velasquez, Alex Paniagua, Juan Garza, Edward Mendoza, Izhar Mauricio, Derek Ruiz, Jarod Romero, Zack Zapata, CJ Jimenez, Dre Esquivel, and Joaquin Olivas.
Assistant Coaches include Henry Silva, Chris Villa, Ricky Ruiz, and Athletic Trainer Josue Flores.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal congratulates all the Eagle Pass Eagles Baseball Team players, coaches, staff, parents, and aficionados on an outstanding 2021 season and state playoffs run.
Go Eagles Baby!
