Coyotes Advance to the Regional Semifinals
La Joya Coyotes’ Lucas Zambrano slides at second base during last Saturday’s Game 3 win against Weslaco H.S. Panthers. Progress Times photo by Joe Vela.
The La Joya Coyote baseball season isn’t over. Despite the odds, the Coyotes and the McAllen Memorial Mustangs are the only two RGV baseball teams still alive in the 2024 UIL State Baseball Playoffs. This weekend, The Coyotes will compete in the 6A Region IV Semifinals for the second time in three years. While that achievement is noteworthy, the Coyotes aren’t resting on their laurels. They’re hungry for a state playoff berth and won’t stop, no matter the cost.
How They Got Here
In their last two playoff series, the Coyotes fell behind one game to none against San Antonio Brennan and the Weslaco Panthers. Against the Brennan Bears, the Coyotes rallied behind the arm of postseason ace Santiago Tijerina in Game 2 to force a decisive Game 3. In Game 3, the Coyotes scored more runs and logged more hits than they had in their two previous games. The 15-5 victory was their largest since April 26th.
Against the Panthers, the Coyotes Game 1 struggles continued. They fell behind early and rallied late but ultimately lost after errors allowed the Panthers to score three unanswered runs in the top of the 6th, handing them a 6-4 victory. In Game 2, the Coyotes shut down the Panthers on their way to a convincing 3-0 victory thanks to a near-perfect defensive performance from their starters and a complete game no-hitter from postseason MVP Tijerina.
No one expected what occurred in Game 3. The Coyotes escaped Weslaco with a 6-5 victory after outlasting the Panthers in a 4-hour, 45-minute, 11 inning marathon. The Coyotes fell behind 4-0 after two innings until the top of the 3rd when Alfonso “El Rocky” Balboa singled on a line drive to left field to kick start a trademark Coyotes rally. A few plays later, Balboa’s aggressive base running led to the Coyotes’ first run of the night. Then, a Homer Munoz double to left field drove in Rolando Solis to bring the Coyotes within two. A Kevin Flores single to center with two outs and one on allowed pinch runner Vadhir De Hoyos to cross home plate, bringing the score to 3-4. The Coyotes eventually tied the game at 4 in the top of the 5th thanks to excellent base running from pinch-runner De Hoyos.
“Last year, we lost in the first round. So, I just wanted to do whatever I could to help my team win the ball game, Balboa said when asked about being the Coyotes’ spark in Games 2 & 3.
Five scoreless innings followed, but neither team could gain an advantage despite placing runners in scoring positions; excellent pitching and stiff defense kept both lineups quiet.
The Coyotes finally made progress in the top of the 10th inning when Weslaco reliever Julien Casares walked Munoz to get to first baseman Roel Garcia, who’d been struggling all series. Garcia made the Panthers pay by slapping a line drive to left center, allowing Munoz’s trusted pinch-runner De Hoyos to sprint towards home. De Hoyos dashed around second towards third right as the relay throw went airborne. De Hoyos slid into third head first just as Panther’s third baseman Tony Quintero caught the ball and attempted to tag him. De Hoyos was ruled out even though he appeared to have touched third before being tagged. Coyotes’ head coach Mario Flores. Jr, visibly frustrated, leaped over the third base bag to argue the call and was immediately tossed out of the game.
With seemingly no end in sight, the Coyotes entered the bottom of the 10th without their head coach. Luckily, they held serve and entered the top of the 11th inning hell bent on snatching the lead. Munoz continued his clutch night at the plate, demolishing a hard ground ball to left field that scored Rolando Solis moments after Balboa scored from third on a passed ball. The two runs gave the Coyotes a 6-4 lead.
“At the end of the day, it’s about who wants it more. And we just wanted it more. We wanted to go to that fourth round and make the Sweet 16. And it happened for us,” Munoz said when asked how he caught 11 innings and led the Coyotes despite having the flu.
In the bottom of the 11th, Ivan Marron, Lucas Zambrano, and Santiago Tijerina all took the mound, securing the three outs needed for a Coyotes series victory.
“I was telling them that I wanted the ball. I wanted to pitch. I just wanted to show them that I wanted the win,” Tijerina said after using his final six series pitches to secure a Game 3 victory.
What’s up next
La Joya Coyotes’ Gustavo Gonzalez shows his high school colors during last Saturday’s Game 3 win against Weslaco H.S. Panthers. Progress Times photo by Joe Vela.
The Coyotes traveled to Laredo yesterday to take on the San Antonio Johnson Jaguars (25-9) in the 6A Region 4 Regional Semifinals at Veterans Field. Game 1 of this best-of-three series was played last night. First pitch of Game 2 is scheduled for today at 5 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will start 30 minutes after the completion of Game 2.
As for the Jaguars, they finished second in District 28-6A behind the state-ranked Reagan Rattlers and are 6-2 this postseason. Under the leadership of longtime coach Gordon Gesell, the Jaguars have made the Regional Semifinals 5 times in the past 12 years, including two Regional Finals appearances and one State-runner-up finish in 2016. An army of all-district, all-state, and division 1 commits like Kayson Cunningham Jr., Tyler Walton, Masa Chilcutt Jr., Chad Pantuso, and Ty Hawkins Jr. make the Johnson Jaguars one of the very best teams in 6A baseball.
After a slow start to the season, The Coyotes are 15-4 in their last nineteen games and 6-2 this postseason. In their postseason victories, they have outscored their opponents 33-17. Their two losses were by a combined four runs. Clutch hitting from veterans and newcomers, combined with an experienced pitching staff, has carried the Coyotes to this point. Players like Matthew Ortiz, Rolando Solis, Isaac Sayavedra, Nick Balderas, and Edwin Zuniga have fulfilled their roles and then some.
“It’s been amazing seeing the growth of those young kids like Matthew Ortiz, Rolando Solis, and Isaac Sayavedra. Those young ones are really stepping up,” Coach Flores Jr. said when asked about contributions from role players.
Many people did not expect the La Joya Coyotes to be one of the last Valley teams standing in the playoffs. But tonight, the Coyotes will battle a 6A powerhouse for an opportunity to play for a regional championship. They know it won’t be easy because nothing in baseball ever is. The only thing they’re guaranteed is 7 innings. And they intend to win every single one with focus, patience, and relentless effort, just like they’ve done all season.
“I’m very proud of our kids. They’ve had a wonderful season so far. And I think we’re not done yet. We’re going to continue doing what we’ve been doing… They just gotta believe,” Flores Jr. said when reflecting on leading the Coyotes to the Regional Semifinals.