LA VILLA — The area’s top high school seniors suited up for seven innings one last time at the 38th annual RGV Baseball East-West All-Star Baseball Showcase on Tuesday night at La Villa High School.
The game ended tied 5-5 after nine innings. Rio Grande City’s Marc Perez was the MVP for the West team, and Brownsville Porter’s Cristo Sauceda was the MVP for the East. Perez had a single, one walk, two stolen bases and one run scored, while Sauceda pitched three shutout innings.
“It’s an honor. It’s an honor to come out and play with a couple teammates I haven’t played with since I was young,” RGC’s Perez said. “Why wouldn’t I want to come and play one more game before I go to college?”
Brownsville Porter head coach Oscar Cortez and his staff were selected to lead the East All-Star Team, which had three Cowboys on the roster. He said it’s great for the players to be recognized for their contributions to their respective teams throughout the 2021 season.
“When I sent out the text to the kids (about playing in the all-star game), one kid put everything together by saying, ‘Coach, I’ve been waiting for this since I was a freshman — the opportunity to play one more game after the season was over,’” Cortez said. “It’s great for them to play one more game as a high school player.”
After Los Fresnos’ magical playoff run to the Region IV-6A Final, Falcons head coach Rene Morales took the field with three seniors who helped make program history in 2021.
“When they asked me to coach, I said ‘I’ll do it for my seniors.’ It’s something special for them after working hard for four years, and to have a run like we did, it’s an awesome feeling,” Morales said.
Meanwhile, Edinburg Vela’s Jaime Perez Jr. was fresh off playing in the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association 5A-6A All-Star Game on Sunday at Dell Diamond Stadium in Round Rock. Although his South Team lost to the North Team 3-2, Perez went 1-for-1 at the plate with a single up the middle.
Two days later, Perez was behind the plate starting for the West All-Star Team. It was one last opportunity for Edinburg Vela baseball head coach Jaime Perez to coach his son.
“I haven’t seen some of these guys since they were 10 or 11 years old. There was great talent and good baseball,” coach Perez said. “Watching guys throw strikes, guys make plays and hearing the ooh’s and ahh’s, that’s why they’re here and that’s why they’re all-stars.”
Longtime Zapata head coach Rene Alvarez, Mission High head coach Rick Lozano and former Sharyland High head coach Barton Bickerton, who announced his retirement in May, were honored before the game. Lozano and Alvarez received plaques commemorating their long-tenured careers, while Bickerton threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch.
