Head Coach: Ricardo Lopez Jr., 1st Season

Assistant Coach: Jose Angel Navarro, Hiram H. Lopez, Joseph W. Seale, Freddy Alvarez, Francisco Egnia Jr.

2009 Record: 7-17, District: 6-8

School’s District Titles: 2002

Coach Lopez believes his team will get better as the season progresses. “We are young, and we are eager to win,” said Coach Lopez who is taking over for Coach Pat Saenz this season. “The mindset of RGC will need to change, and our attitude needs to improve in order for us to have a successful season,” added the 1st year coach.

The Rattlers have lost several outstanding players in the last two seasons including (2009) Vicente Rodriguez III (Huston Tillotson), (2009) Juan Zuniga (Huston Tillotson) and (2008) B.J. Valdez (Laredo).

The 2010 edition of the Rattlers will include Gabriel Garza (jr.), SS; Victor Maldonado (jr.), OF; Luis Trevino (soph.), C; Alex Olvera (soph.), 3B; Roman Salinas (soph.) INF/OF; Fidencio Guerra (sr.), INF/OF; Jesus Zuniga (soph.), OF; Victor Fuentes Jr. (fresh.), 3B; and George Sanchez (jr.), INF.

“We will probably start a very young team this year, but I believe they are good enough to compete,” said Coach Lopez. Coach Lopez is a home grown product of the Rio Grande City school system. He has been at the Rattler campus for the past 7 years after spending one year at Edinburg High. Coach Lopez has the right mindset for their program to rise to an elite level.

Last year, the Rattlers finished 5th in the district standings behind McAllen Rowe with a 6-8 record. The last playoff experience was back in 2007 when the Rattlers were defeated by Laredo United in bi-district play.

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