RE-PETE

I must admit that I feel like I am beginning this blog thing all over again. In just a few short weeks, I was able to build a good fan base. But that was mostly pumped up girls basketball fans. I am hoping baseball and track & field fans like to read blogs too, and basketball fans keep coming back for more.

To my one fan (Alice Herenandez) concerned about me going to Jason’s Deli and not eating something not so healthy. I saw this sandwich that had pastrami in it and I haven’t had pastrami since I moved here.

I grew up a few blocks from this burger place called Jims, which is famous for its pastrami sandwiches. I have yet to taste better pastrami than that place. If you are ever in Pico Rivera, Calif., you have to try it. I am getting hungry just thinking about it.

I was really trying for a low-calorie meal, but I had to have the pastrami to see if it compares to Jims. It was good but it wasn’t quite the same. Sadly, I have no discipline.

 SHARYLAND UPDATE

I want to give a shout out to Jose Rodriguez, MD, FACP. Thats how he signs his e-mails so he must be important. He keeps me up to date with Sharyland Baseball. 

He wrote that Andre Rodriguez, who is returning after a bad car accident, is reciving a lot of DI attention from the likes of TCU, Baylor and Mizzou.

What I like about baseball here in the Valley is that there is legit talent. I think more than any other prep sport in the Valley, kids have a better chance at an athletic scholarship at a DI school. Some kids might even head directly to the minors.

Baseball America released its preseason high school All-American team yesterday. A couple of Texas players made the list.

REMINDERS

Softball/Baseball page begins next week.

All-Valley basketball is revealed March 16.

How is it that I go go to Jason’s Deli, where there are healthy choices, but I end up with probably the most unhealthy selection 0n the menu? Bird to the Wise just seemed so tasty. 

I was able to eat and surf the net for news since my week hasn’t been as hectic as the past two. I’m trying to catch up on baseball. I went on the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association’s Web site, looking for the state Top 10, but it hasn’t been updated since last year. I wonder when it will be updated or if there are any other polls, let me know.

The La Joya tournament will say a lot as to who will be No. 1 when the Top 10 is updated for the first softball/baseball page next week.

No. 2 La Joya put itself in the same pool as No. 1 Edinburg High so only one of those teams will advance to the Championship Flight on Saturday. Once one of those two teams get there they will face stiff competition.

McAllen High, Rio Grande City, Brownsville Lopez and Harlingen South are also in the tournament. Its going to be a tough tourney.

GIRLS BASKETBALL ALL-VALLEY

Criag this is for you. The All-Valley team is not based on only stats. I do look at stats but there is more that goes into the decision. I like to ask coaches who they think are the best players. I look at all-district lists (I know those aren’t the mote reliable but I like to see where players stand). I look at how well teams did and what players left an impression on me when I saw them compete in person.

This is always a tough decision but I always come away very condfient in the all-valley teams I have chosen in the past. I am sure girls basketball fans will let me know if they agree of disagree with me.

Now that girls basketball is over and boys basketball is about to end, I can turn my attention to baseball. It is always tough when sports overlap but I’m looking forward to covering baseball.

Here is my preseason top 1o. Let me know what you think. Once I start updating the poll in a couple of weeks the top 10 is always fluid.

1.EDINBURG HIGH
2. LA JOYA
3. MCALLEN HIGH
4. SHARYLAND
5. WESLACO HIGH
6. BROWNSVILLE PORTER
7. BROWNSVILLE LOPEZ
8. EDINBURG NORTH
9. RIO GRANDE CITY
10. PSJA HIGH

EDINBURG BASEBALL NEWS

Coach Kaz, of Edinburg High, said his team’s 18-3 loss to Calallen in the championship game of the McAllen-Mission CISD tourney was a disapointment but said the Bobcats were not used to the big game.

Despite being a senior-ladden club, the Bobcats haven’t competed in many high-pressured situations. There was some tough Valley competition in the tourney so EHS could take it as a plus that it made it to the championship game.

Caoch Kaz  took over for Coach Perez, who retired for healah reasons, but has interim attached to his title. After the season, as per the school district’s policy, he will have to re-apply for the job. It will be a silimar situation to Edinburg High football coach Caceres, who had to re-apply for his position.

If Edinburg does well this year, as expected, Kaz should be on the bench for the Bobcats next season.

Track & Field

McAllen Memorial distance runner Tricia Terry did not compete at the City of Plams Relays because of shin spilts but that might have just given her some rest for this past weekend’s McAllen High Relays.

She broke the meet revord in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:26.33. The previous record was set in 1988 by Porter’s Letty Trevino, 11:28.15.

Its an impressive record considering the McHi relays has been around for 60 years.

ALL-VALLEY

The Boys and Girls All-Valley teams are set for March 16. If anything changes, I’ll let you know. Keep an eye for that.

In Quotes 

South coach Dawn Engleman’s qoute in the Valley Morning Star story Forget the Alamo City summed up Friday night at the Convocation Center.

“I’m really disappointed,” said an emotional Dawn Engleman. “I feel sorry for the Valley, we’re not going to get any respect.”

You can’t take the Sweet 16 away from South and McHi because they proved to be the best in deep South Texas but the way they lost doesn’t help the Valley’s image as a notch below other area’s in the state in most prep sports.

No Respect

A photographer from another paper asked me Friday if I was staying the night in San Antonio or going home after both teams lost.

Actually, I am not sure why he automatically assumed I was from the Valley because I was not wearing a press pass and never met the guy.

I told him it would be too tiring to drive home and that I was staying the night.

He laughed and said, ‘I guess you have to have confidence or hope. Good luck to the Valley,’ and walked away.

Travel lightly

The Lady Hawks didn’t have a huge entourage like the rest of the teams at regionals. 

They even needed help with the book.

Sharyland volleyball coach Lizette Torres, who played basketball under Engleman at South, was asked by the Lady Hawks coach if she could lend a hand with the book.

Look out

Now that basketball is over, I’ll be  blogging about baseball and track & field. Hopefully I don’t lose the basketball fans.

There is still some basketball left. Keep an eye out for the All-Valley team in the coming weeks.

Madison 72, South 51

South and Madison have been corgial to one another. The McHi-Wagner game got a little physical.

Wagner fans were asking for Valdez to be tossed out of the game after a hard foul.

Whatever happened to no cheering in the press box(row). After Valdez’s hard foul a reporter yelled to the refs to control the game before someone gets hurt.

Madison 72, South 45 1:45 to go in the game.

Torre is heating up. She now has 17 points but her team is down 68-35 with 5:05 to play in the game.

South’s press has either been non-existent or Madison is just brushing it off.

McHi’s Becca Valdez has to be commended for her solid play Friday. She showed some heart in the Lady Bulldogs’ game against Wagner.

If they all crashed the boards like Valdez, they may have had a chance in the game.

If McAllen High and South are the best the Valley has to offer, than the RGV has a long way to go. 

McHi is arguably the best balanced team in a long time and struggled against McAllen High.

South ran cricles around Valley teams this year but is was apparent early in their game against Madison, they really didn’t have shot.

I guess the best thing you can say is keep trying.

Madison 64, South 28 with 2:09 to go in the third quarter.

Lady Mavs 58, Lady Hawks 24  with 5:08 in the third.