SPONSOR OF SHARYLAND PLAYOFF BASEBALL

Laredo United upset the 2nd ranked Sharyland Rattlers in Sinton, Texas Friday evening.  Laredo United came into the bi-district round as the forth seed after forfeiting 15 games.  The Rattlers hung onto a 2-1 lead in the 7th inning until the United Longhorns caught fire scoring 2 in the inning.

Playoff Sponsor Steve Bazan Farmers Insurance

Harlingen South vs. Weslaco

956sports.com playoff baseball coverage presented by Steve Bazan – Farmers Insurance Agency- will begin Thursday in Weslaco as the Harlingen South Hawks take on the Weslaco Panthers in the bi-district round.  Leading our broadcast will be Carlos Robledo and David Fox.  Carlos and David will call the best of three series.  Friday night’s game will be in Harlingen and if needed, Saturday’s game will be in Weslaco.

Sharyland vs. Laredo United

Joe Bowling will take the lead for this game between Sharyland, Maxpreps.com’s 2^nd ratied team in the nation and Laredo United. United has had to deal with some forfeitures of games, but is far better than their record indicates.  Both teams will be traveling to Sinton, Texas. Broadcast starts at 7:30.

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McALLEN HIGH SCHOOL

HT: 5’10” WT: 180

Position: Pitcher/ Third Base

Parents Name: Conrado Hinojosa And Teresa Hinojosa

What Are Your Team Goals For This Season?

To Be Playing In The State Championship Game

What Are Your Individual Goals For This Season?

To Be A Leader On And Off The Field Of Play.

Have Any Colleges Contacted You And If So Which Ones?

I’ve Been Contacted By A&M Kingsville And Missouri Crowder Community College

What Has Been Your Most Memorable Game As A Player So Far And Why?

Last Year In The Round Of The Playoffs Against Brownsville Lopez I Got The Win Pitching And I Also Hit A Homerun.

Which Player (pitcher/batter) Do You Recall Has Been The Toughest To Face So Far?

I Remember Facing Lupe Lopez From La Joya When I Was Younger And I Wouldn’t Come Close To Hitting Him.

If You Are A Pitcher, Do You Enjoy Pitching Or Hitting More? Why?

I Love To Do Both.

Who Is your Favorite Baseball Player?

Roy Halladay

Which Is Your Favorite Baseball Movie?

Field Of Dreams

Who Has Had The Biggest Influence On You On The Baseball Field?

My Older Brother Joaquin (Currently Playing At Texas A&M) Has Really Pushed Me To Be The Best I Can Be.

If You Could Look Ahead 10 Years Where Do You See Yourself?

I Could See Myself As A Head Coach Of A High School Team.

What Number So You Use? Why?

I Use Number 1 Because It’s Been My Number My Entire Life.

McALLEN HIGH SCHOOL

HT: 5’10” WT: 175

Position: First Base

Parent Name: Elina Pompa

What Are Your Team Goals For This Season?

To Win District And Make The Playoffs.

What Are Your Individual Goals For This Season?

To Get A Higher Batting Average Than Last Season And Have No Errors On The Field

What Has Been Your Most Memorable Game As A Player So Far And Why?

My Freshmen Year When I Played My First Varsity Game Against Sharyland, We Had Not Beat Them The Past Two Seasons And We Beat Them.

Which Player (pitcher/batter) Do You Recall Has Been The Toughest To Face So Far?

The Toughest Pitcher I Have Faced Has To Be Miguel Peña From La Joya

Who Is your Favorite Baseball Player?

Derek Jeter

Who Has Had The Biggest Influence On You On The Baseball Field? Why?

My Grandfather (Coach Pompa) Because Everything I Do On The Field He Has Taught Me.  Without Him I Would Not Have Been Half The Player I Am Today.

Which Is Your Favorite Baseball Movie?

Sandlot.

If You Could Look Ahead 10 Years Where Do You See Yourself?

Graduating From College And Opening Up A Business.

What Number So You Use? Why?

Number 20 Because Two And Zero Are My Favorite Numbers So I Just Combined Them.

Head Coach: Reuben Farias, 10th season

Assistant Coaches: Fred Holguin, Ruben De Leon, Ramon Moreno, Fernando Cantu

2009 Record: 21-12, District: 9-5

Career Record: 188-69-3

School’s District Titles: 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008

Bi-District Champions: 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Area Champions: 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Regional Quarter Final Champ: 2002, 2010

Key Losses: Adrian Garza (UTPA) and Lupe Lopez (Cisco J.C.)

Returning Letterman: Gabriel Barrera, (12), P/INF, 2010 H.M. All-District

Edgar Flores, (12), P/INF, 2nd Team All-District 1B and P                                                                    Robert Hernandez, (10), 2010 2nd Team All-District DH

Ramon Moreno, (11), 2010 2nd Team All-District C

Noel Muniz, (11), 2010 H.M. All-District OF

Lee Ramirez, (12), 2010 2nd Team All-District SS

Top Newcomers: Jose Esparza, (12), P/3B/DH

Juan J. Rodriguez, (11), OF

Alexander Mata, (11), OF

Eleocadio Reyna, (11), P

This may be the first season that the split of La Joya schools will hit the very successful Coyote program, but Coach Farias always has his teams ready to play.  The Coyotes still return a strong group of starters (6) with plenty of talent. La Joya has produce college players year in and year out with the latest  players mentioned above Adrian Garza (2010); Lupe Lopez (2010) and Wally Barrera, UTPA (2009), Miguel Peña, San Jacinto J.C. (2009), and Robert Mariscal, UTB, (2008). The Coyotes will battle Sharyland and McAllen for the District Title.  The La Joya program has been in the play-offs throughout the last 10 seasons and this year will be no different. Last season the Coyotes won a Bi-District Title, Area Title, and a Regional Quarter Final Title before losing to eventual 5A State Champion Corpus Christi Carroll in the Regional Semi-Final Round.  Barrera, Flores, Hernandez, Moreno, Muniz, and Ramirez all have varsity experience and will be counted on to lead this season.

The Bulldogs Will Reload in 2011

Head Coach: Eliseo Pompa, 8th season, 27th overall

Assistant Coaches: Carlos Moreno, Rick Trevino, Homer Garr

2010 Record: 35-5, District: 13-1

Career Record: 537-269

School’s District Titles: 1953, 1955, 1976, 1980, 1985, 1992, 1993, 2010

Key Losses: Alexis Garza (University of New Mexico)

Alvaro Moreno (Cisco JC)

Tim Ford (Incarnate Word)

RJ Garza (Alvin JC)

Returning Starters: Omar Pompa (12), 1B, 2nd Team All-District 1B

Marcos Hinojosa (12), P/3B, 1st Team All-District 3B/2nd Team P

Armando Garza (12), C/P, 2nd Team All-District

Axel Serna (12), SS/P, 2nd Team All-District UTL.

Ryan Rock (12), OF

Returning Lettermen: Jeff Ertter (12), P/OF

Chip Noser (12), OF/C

Ricky Solis (11), OF/2B

Top Newcomers: Chris Zuniga (10), P/3B

JC Carrillo (10), 2B/SS

Emilio Guerra (10), P/1B

Allen Garza (12), P/3B

Michael Rodriguez (11), OF

Travis Simpson (12), OF

Last season the Bulldogs not only gained their first district title since 1993, but had an excellent playoff run last year.  The Bulldogs just fell short of reaching the Regional Finals by being defeated by San Antonio Churchill (0-6, 5-3, 5-4) in heartbreaking fashion.  This season Coach Pompa returns five starters and three returning letterman that will be key to the success of the Bulldogs.  There is still plenty of talent in Bulldog land to make another good run this season.  The key to the Bulldogs season will be good pitching and good defense according to Coach Pompa.   Marcos Hinojosa will lead the pitching staff after going 7-1  with a 1.89 ERA and hitting .376.  Omar Pompa leads the returning players with his hitting batting .395 last season.  Armando Garza an excellent catcher will now be asked to step up after going 6-2 on the hill last season with a 2.89 ERA. Another good pitcher for the Bulldogs will be versatile Axel Serna who hit 330 last year.  Once again the Bulldogs should fight over the district crown with La Joya, Sharyland, and a much improved and talented Palmview team.

McALLEN HIGH SCHOOL

HT: 5’11” WT: 170

Position: Catcher/Pitcher

Parent Name: Mary Ann Garza

What Are Your Team Goals For This Season?

To Win A District Championship And Compete In The Playoffs.

What Are Your Individual Goals For This Season?

Not To Lose A Game On The Mound.

Have Any Colleges Contacted You And If So Which Ones?

Sam Houston State, UTPA, UTSA, And Texas State

What Has Been Your Most Memorable Game As A Player So Far And Why?

My Freshmen Year Going 9 Innings With Sharyland and winning 7-5.

Which Player (pitcher/batter) Do You Recall Has Been The Toughest To Face So Far?

Definitely, Miguel Peña From La Joya (Now Pitching At San Jacinto JC)

If You Are A Pitcher, Do You Enjoy Pitching Or Hitting More? Why?

I Like Pitching More Because I Feel That I Have More Control Over The Game.

Who Is your Favorite Baseball Player?

My Little Brother (Kaleb Garza)

Which Is Your Favorite Baseball Movie?

The Sandlot.

If You Could Look Ahead 10 Years Where Do You See Yourself?

If Not Playing Pro Ball, Than Having A Good Steady Job.

What Number So You Use? Why?

Number 10, I’ve Had This Number Since I Was About 5 Years Old