EAGLE PASS EAGLES BASEBALL DIAMOND NEWS

Eagles upset by the

Laredo United South Panthers 7 to 6

By: Conrado Perez, Jr. – Eagle Pass Sports Central

“Your best and only source for local sports news in Eagle Pass”

The Eagle Pass Eagles varsity baseball crew under the leadership of head coach Reynol Mendoza and assistant coaches Henry Silva and Chris Villa resumed play on Thursday of their district game against the Laredo United South Panthers that was interrupted by the torrential downpour by Mother Nature on Tuesday, April 12 2016 with two outs runner at first and the Eagles leading 5 to 2.

Tuesday:

The home standing Eagles took the lead immediately in the bottom half of the first inning with a three run output with Dee Andre Torres and Jorge Rodriguez drawing back to back two out walks, Erykk Fuentes reached safely on a fielder’s choice to load the bases, Orly Martinez came through with a bases clearing three RBI double to bring home Dee Andre Torres, Jorge Rodriguez and Erykk Fuentes.

In the bottom of the second the Eagles extended their lead with a pair of runs with Alan Rodriguez stroking a single to lead off the frame, Sergio Soliz also followed with a single, Mando Lopez hit into a 6-4-3 double play, Olexis Gutierrez singled Dee Andre Torres walked, the Panthers starting hurler was called for a balk allowing Sergio Soliz to trot home and Olexis  Gutierrez advancing to second, Jorge Rodriguez belted and RBI single to drive in Olexis Gutierrez giving the Eagles a semi comfortable 5 to 0 lead over the Panthers.

The gutsy United South Panthers countered with two runs in the top half of the third inning and had one runner on base when Mother Nature unleashed a torrential rain that forced a postponement for the next available playing date.

Thursday:

The game finally resumed on Thursday, April 14, 2016 right where it left on Tuesday night.  The Eagles quickly tacked on a lone run in the bottom of the fourth with Alan Rodriguez belting a single, with one out Mando Lopez reached on an error, Olexis Gutierrez walked to load the bases, Dee Andre Torres smacked an RBI single to bring home courtesy runner Derick Ibarra. Giving the Eagles a 6 to 2 lead over the Panthers.

United South answered with a lone run of their own in the top half of the fifth inning to narrow their deficit to 6 to 3 . Neither team failed to score in the sixth inning so the game headed to the seventh a final inning of play.  Needing just three outs from notching a victory, the seventh inning turned into a nightmare for the Eagle Pass Eagles as the Eagles relief hurlers experienced control problems coupled with a very costly Eagle Pass fielding error enabled the Panthers to take the lead with a four run outburst to take a 7 to 6 lead over the Eagles.  For the game the eagles pitching staff issued a whopping total of 9 base on balls and the Eagles defense committed 3 errors.

In the bottom of the seventh the Eagles went down quietly allowing the Laredo United South Panthers to walk away with the stunning 7 to 6 upset victory over the playoff contending Eagle Pass Eagles.

Score by Innings:  1   2   3   4   5   6   7     R     H     E

PANTHERS 0   0   2   0   1   0   4     7      8      1

EAGLES 3   2   0   1   0   0   0     6      9      3

Losing Pitcher: Mando Lopez     Leading Hitters: Alan Rodriguez 2 for 4, Sergio Soliz 1 for 2 with 1 run scored, Jorge Rodriguez 1 for 2 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI, Olexis Gutierrez 1 for 2 with 1 run scored, Dee Andre Torres 1 for 2 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI, Orly Martinez 1 for 3 with 3 RBI’s, Rey Mendoza 1 for 4, Mando Lopez 1 for 5 and Derick Ibarra 1 run scored.