Herald All-Metro Baseball: Munoz key to Falcons’ success
By EDWARD SEVERN
Staff Writer
The Los Fresnos Falcons went 14-0 in District 32-6A this season.
Josh Munoz, District 32-6A’s Most Valuable Player, is also The Brownsville Herald’s 2022 All-Metro Baseball Most Valuable Player after helping lead the Falcons to that successful season.
“Winning the award feels good, really good,” Munoz said. “It also feels weird, because I am not really satisfied with what I have accomplished, there is a lot more that needs to be done, but that is just me.”
Munoz finished the season with a .463 batting average, one home run, 19 stolen bases and 23 RBIs, and was one of the best shortstops in the area.
“My season went great,” he said. “It was filled with a lot of adversity, but it was just me getting over that and going through it, physically and mentally.”
Munoz said his brother, Joseph Munoz, helped him with the mental aspect of the game. Munoz said he shook off the early season jitters and had fun.
“It is me versus me, when I struggle,” Munoz said. “(Joseph) told me to be myself, that is what I did, and I had a great year.”
Munoz said the Falcons will be ready this upcoming season to defend their district title.
Offensive Player of the Year
Marlon Rodriguez, Brownsville Veterans
Rodriguez was pivotal in the success of one of the best teams in the Metro area this season.
“It feels good, I am really happy,” Rodriguez said. “Congratulations to everyone else that won an award.”
Rodriguez had a stellar season at the plate for the Chargers. He finished the season with 41 hits, 38 RBIs, one home run and a batting average comfortably over .400.
“I think that part of my game went really well,” he said. “I had confidence. There were times where I had good streaks and I did not face many issues. I felt I did well in that regard.”
Rodriguez’s favorite game this season was the final game of a three-game series against Sharyland High in the playoffs. He had three hits and drove in one run as the Chargers advanced to the area round of the playoffs.
Brownsville Veterans had a solid offense. Jorge Alvarado, Jason Villarreal and Carlos Garza hovered around a .400 batting average. Combined with Rodriguez, the four Chargers drove in nearly 100 runs.
“This year, the team was excellent,” Rodriguez said. “I would not change anything or anyone, they all put in the work. Anytime we got in a situation, we were able to solve it. This is the best team that Veterans has had so far. This was my best year out of the four years.”
Defensive Player of the Year
Carlos Garza, Brownsville Veterans
Garza continued where he left off last season. Last year’s All-Metro newcomer of the year was awarded District 32-5A’s Defensive Player of the Year award this season.
“I am really happy and grateful for the award,” Garza said. “All of the hard work in the offseason paid off.”
Garza picked up eight wins this season in 11 starts. He threw five complete games, shutting out opponents four times. Garza also struck out 75 batters and finished the year with 1.52 ERA.
“At first I did not want to pitch,” he said. “I was able to control it, I liked it and I just wanted to help my team.”
Garza is ready for the next couple of seasons with his teammates and working to accomplish his goals.
“We all want to go play in college,” he said. “You just have to be determined. If you have a good mindset, anything is possible.”
Newcomer of the Year
Jacob Salas, Brownsville Veterans
Salas did not make varsity until this season, his junior year, and he did not disappoint.
“Honestly, it feels really good,” Salas said. “I have put a lot of hard work, dedication and time into baseball over the years.”
The second baseman finished the season with 35 hits and a .368 batting average in his first year of varsity. Salas drove in 16 runs and scored 21 times.
“Over the years, I was waiting for my turn,” Salas said. “My coach gave me a chance, and I showed him what I had.”
Salas said he was comfortable and confident, but that would not have been possible without his teammates, he said. Salas said his teammates helped by giving him instructions on his batting and fielding.
Salas said the Chargers will be ready next year for a deep playoff run.
Coach of the Year
Rene Morales, Los Fresnos
The Falcons did not have a deep playoff run like last season. This season, they went 14-0 in District 32-6A, the first time in school history Los Fresnos has captured an undefeated district championship.
“Receiving this award is awesome,” Morales said. “It shows how much our kids are very coachable, we have a great coaching staff, and it says a lot of about our program. It means a lot.”
Morales said every team he has is different and this Falcons team took a different way to achieve goals. One of the goals was to win district.
“They left their legacy behind,” he said. “Hopefully, the teams that come up will leave their legacy behind. One of our mottos is to leave your legacy behind, so people can remember you.”
