LYFORD — A four-run bottom of the first inning by the Lyford Bulldogs was enough to claim back-to-back undefeated District 31-3A titles in a 5-2 victory over the Progreso Red Ants.
“It is a great feeling,” Lyford coach Jose Rocha said. “The kids work hard every day, and they have been grinding for this. We have had a goal since the season started to repeat as undefeated district champs. It is a blessing and a testament to them.”
After the explosive first inning of scoring from the Bulldogs, the game turned into a pitching duel between Lyford’s Ryan Rivera and Progreso’s Ruben Zamora. Rivera registered 11 strikeouts and gave up one earned run in five innings of work.
“I felt good. I think I could have done better,” Rivera said. “I could have thrown more strikes. I threw a lot of balls, but I think I did pretty good.”
Rivera had moments during the early innings when he had to work his way out of jams. He put his head down and delivered the “Special K” to close out innings.
“Special K,” a reference to the cereal, was used by the Lyford dugout to encourage their pitchers to strike out batters. Statisticians use a ‘K’ as a strikeout.
“That is what we do, we give them the ‘Special K,’” Rivera said.
Zamora started off slow and often threw his pitches high or wild, and Lyford capitalized in the first. As the game wore on, he found his groove and struck out Bulldogs with ease.
“Our kids showed a lot of heart today,” Progreso coach Jose Meza said. “Zamora, for his senior year, pitched a heck of a game, and we are proud of him. I am extremely proud of the whole team, because it has been an up and down season for us, but we looked a lot better today.”
With Progreso threatening in the middle innings, Lyford called upon freshman Aiden Knies to close out the game. He picked up a two-inning save.
“I came in confident,” he said. “I knew I needed to come in the game for my team and strike people out, put the ball in the zone, and that is what I did.”
Lyford’s Aaron Hinojosa and Armando De La Garza knocked in the runs for the Bulldogs in the first. Hinojosa drove in the first run, a walk with the bases loaded brought in the second and De La Garza’s hard shot over the shortstop scored the other two runs.
