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PHARR — Neither Edinburg Vela’s Luke Esparza, a sophomore first baseman, nor David White, a senior and the team’s No. 1 pitcher, played in the SaberCats’ Game 1 loss against La Joya High on Thursday.
With their backs against the wall in Game 2 of their Region IV-6A three-game series Friday at PSJA Southwest High School, the two delivered at the plate and on the mound to lift the SaberCats to a 9-5 victory to tie the series at 1-1.
The decisive Game 3 is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday at UTRGV Baseball Stadium in Edinburg.
“What more could you ask for? The baseball gods are here and they want to see more baseball,” Edinburg Vela head coach Jaime Perez said. “At this point right now, let the chips fall where they may. We rode our horse (White) till the end. He pitched his tail off tonight. What a game.”
White pitched 6.2 innings and surrendered three earned runs off five hits and two walks while striking out five. Vela senior Nolan Salinas faced the final batter to help secure the win.
“This could have been our last game, so we just came out balls to the wall, went hard and came out with a ‘W,’” White said.
After the entire Vela lineup struggled in Game 1 against La Joya ace and Texas Tech signee JC Gutierrez, Esparza, Salinas and company came alive in Game 2.
Esparza went 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Salinas finished 1-for-4 with a two-run home run. Bobby Garcia had one RBI and two runs scored on 3-for-4 hitting, while David Peña went 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs.
The SaberCats jumped ahead during the third off Salinas’ two-run homer and an RBI single by Peña scored Garcia. The Coyotes responded with a run on an error and an RBI single by Homer Muñoz during the bottom half of the inning. Esparza then came through a two-run double during the top of the fifth and added a two-RBI triple during the top of the seventh to help lead Vela to victory.
“We had to battle for the seniors since we only had this one game guaranteed. We were all playing for them and I just want to thank my teammates and coaches to put me in that situation,” Esparza said after his big game.
Muñoz led La Joya offensively with a 3-for-4 game with two RBIs. Coyotes catcher Jose “Guti” Gutierrez blasted a two-run home run during the bottom of the sixth.
“David (White) pitched a good game. We just got to bounce back tomorrow and put the ball in play,” La Joya head coach Mario Flores said. “Tomorrow’s another day and we just need to do our job and put the ball in play. The kids responded and we should be all right.”
The District 31-6A rival SaberCats (25-9, 13-3) and Coyotes (20-11-1, 11-5) have now played four games this season, including the playoffs, with each winning two apiece.
“We need to stay within ourselves. That’s one of the biggest things right now and I think this team can do it,” Salinas said. Our motto is ‘believe’ and just get the job done.”
