The Sharyland Rattlers baseball team entered their third round playoff game against the Eagle Pass Eagles last Friday thinking that they’d be competing on a level playing field. As the game progressed, however, it soon became so obviously clear to Rattlers’ players, coaches and fans that the umpires’ calls were not going their way that they began to suspect foul play.

As the No. 2 ranked 5A team in the Lone Star State, the Rattlers breezed through an undefeated district season and easily won both their bi-district and area round best of three playoff series in straight games over Del Rio and McAllen High by combined scores of 46-9. With those wins Sharyland improved its season record to 31-1 and seemed to be on the verge of making a run deep into the state playoffs as they prepared for their one game winner-take-all regional quarterfinal game against Eagles Pass in San Antonio last Friday. However, the Eagles emerged victorious in an extremely controversial fashion.

Read more: Rattlers file UIL incident report after controversial loss

A Mission High School student athlete and her coach have been selected for honors by the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA). Outstanding girls track athlete Vanessa Rodriguez has been selected as a TGCA All Star. Her coach, Irene Gallegos, has been selected to be the TGCA Track and Field All Stars coach for conferences 4A and 5A.

Each year at the UIL State Track and Field Meet the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) Track Committee selects 15 girls from conferences 1A, 2A and 3A and 15 from conferences 4A and 5A as TGCA Track and Field All Stars. Selections are made from nominations submitted by member coaches with only high school seniors being eligible to be selected.

Rodriguez, who won the long jump and the 200m dash district championships this year and also placed second in the triple jump, is one of only two Valley girls to be selected as a TGCA All Star. She also placed second in the long jump, fourth in the triple jump and first in the 200m dash at the area meet, which made her a three event regional qualifier. She will be attending the TGCA Summer Clinic in Austin.

Read more: Lady Eagles’ Gallegos and Rodriguez to be honored

West girls hang on to down East in PKs

MISSION—Sharyland midfielder Gilberto “Tito” Alanis closed out his high school soccer career on Thursday, May 9, by doing what he’s always done, come through in the clutch. Alanis scored the game-winning goal to lift the West All-Stars over the East 3-2 in the Sixth Annual Rio Grande Valley Soccer Coaches Organization Senior Showcase at Rattler Stadium.

The win was the West squad’s second in a row over the East. The West defeated the East 2-0 in 2012 at the Brownsville Sports Park and leads the all-time RGVSCO Senior Showcase series 4-2.

Read more: Sharyland’s Alanis gives boys West All-Stars showcase victory

AUSTIN, May 10, 2013—Veterans Memorial High School’s Keilah Garcia today captured fourth place in the State UIL Track & Field competition in 4A girls discus with a throw of 132’ 1”. Keilah fell short of her 140’ 10” throw that earned her second place at regionals two weeks ago.

Read more: Keilah Garcia takes 4th place at state meet today

When it comes to hurling a 12-pound steel ball through the air, La Joya Palmview’s Felipe Valencia is considered by many to be the best in the state. Valencia will have the opportunity to prove them right at the shot put competition in the state track and field meet in Austin tomorrow.

After taking home the silver medal at state just one year ago, then sophomore Valencia proved that he was already among the best of the best. As this year’s top ranked 5A putter in the Lone Star State and with the district, area and regional championships already under his belt, Valencia needs just one more win to bring Palmview High School its first state championship. Lobos’ head boys track and field coach Margarito Requenez helps put this in perspective.

“It will mean a lot if he wins,” said Requenez. “This school has only been open five years and having the first state champion ever would mean a lot. It’s been a while since La Joya ISD has had a champion.”

Read more: Palmview’s Valencia aims for gold at state meet

MISSION, May 9, 2013—The latest poll by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association released today shows Sharyland High School (29-1) is now ranked No.2 in the state. The Woodlands (29-3) is ranked No. 1.

This weekend, Sharyland will face its first real test in the playoffs as the Rattlers take on McAllen High School (19-11) in the area round. The first game in the best of three series against the Bulldogs will be held Friday at McHi baseball field at 7:30 p.m. The second game of the series will be played at noon, Saturday at Sharyland High baseball field. If a third game is necessary, it will start 30 minutes after the conclusion of game 2 at the same location.

Last weekend, the Rattlers put away Del Rio in just two games, 10-0 and 14-1, to advance.

5A Area Baseball Playoffs
Sharyland vs McHi
Game 1
Friday, May 10, 7:30 p.m.
Site: McAllen HS Baseball Field

Game 2
Saturday, May 11, Noon
Site: Sharyland HS Baseball Field

Game 3
(if necessary)
Saturday, May 11, 30 min. after Game 2
Site: Sharyland HS Baseball Field