Tarpons blank Bearkats, 5-0, in Port Isabel
BY MIKE GONZALEZ
The Brownsville Herald
April 6, 2005 In the thick of the District 32-3A playoff picture, Port Isabel made sure it did its part to stay in the No. 3 spot with a 5-0 victory over Raymondville Tuesday night at Port Isabel.
Hidalgo (7-1) and Valley View (8-0) won their respective 32-5A games Tuesday night to keep the Tarpons (6-2 in District 32-3A, 13-4 overall) one game behind the Pirates for second and two behind Tigers for first.
Port Isabel sits comfortably in the third spot, three games ahead of Lyford and La Feria, who both lost on Tuesday.
The red-hot Tarpons are in a four-game winning streak and have a Friday night affair with Hidalgo. A win over the Pirates, could move the Tarpons into a tie for second place.
Despite having four players injured, Port Isabel coach Robert Holland likes the position his team is in.
Were halfway where we want to be, Holland said. The playoffs are the playoffs. If we finish first, well take it.
Carr Grienier started for Port Isabel and went all seven innings to pick up his fifth win of the season along with one defeat. The junior was solid as he only gave up two hits which came in the first two frames and struck out 11 Bearkats.
After the second inning, Raymondville (2-6, 6-10) had only four men reach base with two coming on Tarpons mistakes.
I finally felt good, Grienier said. I was able to get back where I want to be.
The offensive attack was led by Lando Ochoa, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored. The senior put Port Isabel on the board off Esteban Delgadillos triple in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.
The Tarpons went on to put two more in the second as Rolando Gutierrez scored on a throwing error followed by Roger Alaniz off Rolando Castaedas RBI single.
Frankie Herrera (1-for-2) doubled to start the fourth inning and later scored on an error in Castaedas at bat. On the play, Castaeda reach third and then crossed the plate for the teams final run on a wild pitch.
In the first match up against Hidalgo, Port Isabel was one out away from a big victory, but the Pirates got a two out, two strike hit from Jesus Pruneda to give Hidalgo the come from behind win that broke the Tarpons heart.
Grienier knows his team can take on and beat the co-defending district champs, but it boils down something simple.
We need to make every play and not make mistakes, Grienier said. We tend to make mistakes when were winning, especially in close games.
Despite limping into the Pirates game, Holland will not make any excuses about performances.
We have to play, and we are, Holland said. The kids are busting their butts off. Hidalgo is going to be a tough team, but so are we.
mgonzalez@brownsvilleherald.com
