RE-PETE

A lot of people refer to La Joya pitcher Miguel Pena as Mickey. He has to have the best song when he goes up to bat. The song “Mickey”, which has the famous line “Oh Mickey, you’re so fine/ You’re so fine you blow my mind/ Hey Mickey! Hey Mickey!” plays as he walks to the plate. Funny stuff.

Pena’s stuff on the mound Tuesday against McAllen HIgh was not overly impressive but he was  solid. He only allowed four hits and struck seven in a complete game. The one run McHi did score was unearned.

Because of errors, however, he seemed to be pitching himself out of jams more often than not. It seems to have been a trend this year for the Coyotes. Coyotes coach Reuben Farias said Pena has given up a few unearned runs this year and has had to battle through some innings because of errors. As was the case Tuesday, Pena finds ways out of tough situations.

 ”We are confident eveytime he is in there,” Farias told me after the game. ”We like our chances when he is on the mound.” 

But I’m not hungry

I was trying to interview McHi coach Eliseo Pompa after the game. I caught him on the way to the bus. He didn’t seem too interested in speaking to me and told me he was hungry and asked if I wanted to follow the team bus to where they were going to eat.

I am not sure if he was joking or not but I wasn’t hungry and wasn’t about to follow the bus for a quote.  He would have gotten a ‘no comment’ if that was the case.

All I wanted to ask were two questions. I got my questions off to Pompa, who really did seem like he wanted to get on the bus.

It has been a few days since I’ve blogged. I had a carzy week with Meet of Champs and the Dorados’ season starting.

MOC Runs Too Long

I undertsand the MOC runs longer than a normal track meet with all the ceremony that surrounds it but there  is  no need for a track meet to run four hours long.

Part of the reason it took so long is that most races have two heats now. Apparently it was changed last year to allow more kids to participate but it kind of goes against what the MOC is all about.  Only the best of the best should be invited.

I understand that there are a lot more schools than when the event first started 33 years ago and that smaller schools don’t want to be left out. It makes it that much more special when an athlete wins, having to compete against so many kids. In my opinion the sub-5A schools were well represented in the elite heats.

There were also these long lulls between events that seemed unwarrented.

The MOC drew a very large crowd but the event was soo long most had left before the final event, the 1,600-meter relay, which is supposed to be like the main event.

 BASEBALL

McAllen High can move to the head of the class with another upset. It took 10 innings to get past Sharyland.

The Bulldogs will now look to upset La Joya at the Univeristy of La Joya today.

From top to bottom, 30-5A is probably the toughest district in the Valley.

No game is a cakewalk when No. 1 Sharyland and No. 2 La Joya are in the same league. Those teams have pro and D-I prospects on their rosters. I am going to go out on a limb, I am not sure how much of a risk I’m really taking, and say one of those teams will win the district and the other will finish second.

Of course,  you can’t count out McAllen High. You have to expect the Bulldogs to make the playoffs.

Then there is a battle for the fourth and final playoff spot. I thought Rio Grande City had the upperhand here but the Rattlers lost to Memorial, and Rowe has played tough. Of course, a couple of those coaches think their team will be the one to sneak in there. The battle for fourth place might be the most interesting chase down the stretch.

TRACK & FIELD

I ran into Valley View basketball coach Clarisse Arredondo she told me I need to give some props to discus thrower Lanie Evans. Evans, who is the daughter of Tigers coach Dave Evans, has the best mark in the discus with a mark of 129-4. 

GIRLS ALL-VALLEY

I have received a couple of comments regarding why Damaris Rodriguez was left off the All-Valley team.

This was not based on just stats. If that was the case both Becca Valdez and Krsity Guerra would not have been on the team. I explained it in a past blog about what goes into this decision. There is a lot that goes into it and it is something I really think about, and I am very confident about my choices. 

I have come to realize I can’t please everyone. I try to be as balanced as possible and look at the entire picture.

Rodriguez is a great and smart player and deserves to be at UTPA. She received a lot of accolades while she played at Hidalgo and that was well deserved.

Damaris transfered to an already loaded team with some really big names on the Lady Bulldogs. It is hard to really guage how much of an impact she really had because the team was already good. Obvioulsy, she added to how dominant the team was.

I likened her role this year to a Tony Parker or Derek Fisher. Both smart point guards who provide court leadership but you will not see them on the NBA All-First Team, second team or third team. It was just the type of year she had.

I commend Damaris and her team for a great season.

Most Valuable Player
Bianca Torre, senior, Harlingen South: I tried to find arguments against picking her against MVP but she probably meant more for her team than anyone else and is arguably the best player in the Valley. The numbers dont lie and everyone I talked to about this thought she was lock.

She was really nervous when I interviewed her and she was very humble about it.
Newcomer of the Year
Brittanie Nelson-Best, fresh., McAllen Rowe: There were no real standouts. This award came down to potential. Brittanie did a lot for Rowe down the stretch
Coach of the Year
Lottie Zarate, Santa Rosa: She had the biggets impact and the Lady Warriors made the biggest turn around and made history.
First Team
Guard — Kristy Guerra, junior, Roma: My riskiest pick. Here is one of those players who if out of the game, her team struggles. Put up good numbers and leader of a big turn around in Roma.
Guard — Lyndsie Currie, senior, McAllen High: I enjoyed watching her shoot. She has a distinct shot and easily one of the top two or three shooters in the Valley. She is a better defender than most give her credit for.
Forward — Andi Garza, senior, McAllen High: She is an awesome player. It was fun to watch her dominate the second half of the area round game against Economedes. She made it look so easy sometimes.
Forward — Becca Valdez, senior, McAllen High: She is a tough player and proved she could play with the talent up north.
Post — Victoria Gonzalez, junior, Hidalgo: The double-double threat returns again next year. She is right up there with Torre as a player to watch in 08-09.  
Second Team
Guard — Andrea Longoria, senior, Sharyland; Laura Rodriguez, junior, Mission Veterans; Ali Bills, junior, McAllen High; Vanessa Beltran, senior, Brownsville Pace.
Forward — Morgan Brown, senior, Edinburg Economedes; Emma Saenz, junior, Weslaco East; Jillian Briones, San Benito; Kimberly Armstrong, Weslaco High.
Center — Mariana Mascorro, senior, Hidalgo. Yadira Salinas, junior, Edinburg High

This was a tough list to come up with. I put a lot of thought into it. There were some good players left off the list and I am sure people will let me know. I’ll see feedback positive and negative.

I need to start off this blog by thanking the Edinburg North volunteers in the press box at the Cats Relays on Friday for helping me out with the track results. You guys rule. 

Cats Relays Best

Here are some of the top performances from Friday’s meet:

Triple Jump - 1, Cameron Gatling, McAllen Rowe, 42-1 1/2

Pole Vault - 1, Johnny Hinojosa, PSJA Memorial, 14-0 (PSJA ISD record)

200 dash - 1, Marco Adriana, Edinburg North, 22.10

Shot Put - 1, Amenda Garcia, Edinburg Economedes, 40-10

MEET OF CHAMPS

Mission is the host this year and Patriots football coach Carlos Longoria. One of the more fun events of the year which is run by football coaches.

COMMENTS

Roger M wanted to know about the 30-5A All-District selections. I don’t know what coaches are thinking when they are making their selections because I am not there, you would have to ask the coaches why the starting five of McHi didn’t sweep all the awards. I’ll be honest, I always take these All-District lists with a grain of salt. I was looking at the 30-5A All-District list and I don’t see anything too crazy. Teams might be limited (again every district selction process is different) to how many players they could nominate.

Estevan submmited a comment asking if The Monitor was going to make a big deal about two girls who have inked with UTPA. I think you are talking about Andi Garza and Damaris Rodriguez. If I am wrong, let me know. It is my understanding they haven’t actually signed with UTPA. They have made verbal commitements. I havent’ seen anything official from UTPA. If they do sign, I’m sure we will be made aware of it.

Speaking to coach Teresa Casso, she said Lady Broncs coach DeAnn Craft is really excited about the two players.

I checked our archives on Guzman and The Monitor never made a big deal about her going to college. It was mentioned as part of her MVP story. No athlete gets a story about going to college unless they sign with a D-I school.

There is only two weeks left before the Meet of Champs and only three weeks until district meets.

Track really is a short season but spans 3 1/2 months becuase the state meet is basically one month after district meets are run.

Next week will be a light week with many schools on spring break.

Cats Relays

I have to thank Edinburg High volleyball coach and assistant Lady Bobcats track coach Deanna Sanchez for getting me in touch with one of the Edinburg CISD head track coaches. Apparently a few of the coaches were afraid I might ask tough questions.

Finally Economedes coach Doug Erickson allowed me to interview him. He did a good job of explaining to me there have been so many track meets on Fridays. It drives me crazy to have meets on Friday, to be honest. Basically its easier to run a meet on a Friday, especially a smaller meet so I guess I have to live with it.

The Cats Relays, however,  is not small. It might be the largest in the Valley with 30 teams.

The best usually comes out to this meet and this is when athletes begin to peak. The running finals are under the lights, good stuff.

Make sure to wear sunscreen today. Its supposed to be a scorcher. You dont want to end up looking like Brian Sandalow, who apparently forgot he lives in the Valley now and not Chicago and has the red face to prove it.

Read all about it

Check out this story Stephen Saenz. He has to be a favorite to bring home a state gold medal for the Valley. What I like about Saenz is that he doesn’t let the pressure get to him. I have covered a couple of solid throwers who did not do so well under pressure.

You can check out the Valleys best from Eladio Jaimez and Carlos Vela in today’s Monitor.

Check out the All-Valley basketball teams Sunday. Ill make sure to have a blog on that.

I haven’t updated my blog in a few days. I have been kind of out of it this week but keep reading for track and baseball info.

The PEN tournament names a player of the day at the end of every day. Best tournament ever, you actually get stuff if you win player of the day.

Edinburg High’s Rick Villarreal was choosen for his performance against Roma on Thursday, scattering four hit in a complete game victory and going 3-for-4 at the plate.

Each player chosen receives a PEN shirt and shorts plus 20 percent off on supplements at PEN for one month.

I would like to thank Jose Rodriguez for passing the info along.

RE-PETE2

Yes, I have another blog.

Make sure to check out my blog on the Dorados at re-pete2.freedomblooging.com. Or you can just click on the link to the right.

Today I went to La Joya to interview Coyotes pitcher Miguel Pena, and everytime I go to La Joya I am always very impressed by how large the cmapus is.

I know people jokingly call it a univeristy but it is larger than many universities and colleges. I guess it will still be a large campus even with it splitting into three schools next year.

MIGUEL PENA

I came away impressed with this guy. I haven’t seen him play but from I understand he has a lot of potential.

He is really well spoken. I interview a lot of student-athletes and many of them don’t interview well but Miguel did a really good job.

He can actually throw left and right handed. He did not realize until he was 9 that he could throw with his left arm. And to his surprise it was his dominant arm.

Read the story here.

The local prep news was slow Tuesday, which is usually one of the busiest days of the weeks. TAKS made Tuesday a rare day off for most high school sports.

TAKS testing, I think, was scheduled for Tuesday but the Texas primary/caucus pushed the testing back to Wednesday.

DIAMOND NOTES

>>Sharyland is hosting its annual PEN tourney at Sharyland and Mission. Sharyland, Edindburg High and Weslaco are three to watch.

>>This is the third straight week Mission has been used for tourney plays. Last week La Joya used Mission for its field. During the opening weekend of the season Mission was the co-gost of the Mission-McAllen ISD tourney.

>>The first baseball/softball page is published tomorrow.

TRACK NOTES

>>Harlingen South’s Kassandra Larios won five events at the Donna tourney. She won the pole vault, the high jump, th jong jum and both hurdles events. I think this will be the year she makes it to state. I am not sure there has been anyone else, boy or girl, that has won five events in one meet.

I ran across Baseball America’s Top 10 baseball movies of all time and it got me thinking what were my favorites were.

Here is a list of my favorite baseball movies of all time.

1, Bull Durham (I actually met the director (Ron Shelton) of the movie in college. Funny movie and gives prospective of minor league life.)

2, Field of Dreams

3, Major League

4, The Sandlot (I don’t know how many times I’ve seen this one).

5, 61* (I know this was not on the big screen but I really liked this movie). 

Let me know what your favorites are.

Justin Timberlake will star in a baseball movie that will use the Corpus Christi Hooks as the back drop. Read the story here.

On a side note: Thanks Paul for asking about Kingston. He’s a little crazy but he’s doing great.