Coyotes, Peña win Game 1

LA JOYA - The Coyotes brought the good times back with them to La Joya on Thursday night, continuing the roll they started here a little more than two weeks ago and carried along during triumphant trips to McAllen High and Falfurrias.

La Joya defeated PSJA High 8-1 for its fifth consecutive win to take a 1-0 lead in the teams' best-of-three, area round series.

Since losing to Sharyland almost three weeks ago, La Joya defeated Rio Grande City 16 days ago at home to clinch at least share of the District 30-5A title and then pulled off a victory at McHi to win the league outright on the final day of the regular season.

"Losing that Sharyland game kind of woke us up," Coyotes coach Reuben Farias said. "It let us know that we are vulnerable and we needed to pick it up. It was like a blessing in disguise."

The Coyotes swept Laredo LBJ 2-0 for a bi-district championship last week in Falfurrias and can do the same against the Bears with a win today in San Juan.

Picking up three of the Coyotes' wins over the last two weeks, including Thursday night, has been their standout lefty Miguel Peña, who has fired 37 strikeouts during his last three starts.

"I am real happy for Miguel," Farias said. "Early in the year he wasn't getting as many strikeouts. Sometimes he puts a lot of pressure on himself but I think he has returned to form,"

Peña had to battle out of jams in the second and third innings but managed to pitch a complete game, striking out nine, scattering three hits and giving up one run

"My confidence is up really high," Peña said. "I feel likes it's my freshman and sophomore years except with more mentality. I feel way better now."

The only offense the Coyotes needed was in the first. Peña, Robert Mariscal and Adrian Peña each picked up RBIs in the opening frame.

Mariscal (4-for-4, two RBIs) brought home a second run in a three-run second inning, which was highlighted by a two-run triple by third baseman Lupe Lopez.

The Coyotes offense rushed Bears pitcher Fernando Gomez out of the game after two innings. Gomez gave up six runs, six hits and three walks in his short outing.

"In baseball everything is timing," Bears coach Steve Flores said. "They got a little bloop hit here and a little bloop hit there. They hit the ball well but those little bloop hits get you momentum going.

"They did a hell of a job (Thursday). We just have to get ready for (today)."

Javier Ramirez brought in two more runs in the third inning on a double.

"It is very important for us," Miguel Peña said about winning the first game of the series. "It doesn't mean we should relax. We just have to stay humble."

Peter Rasmussen covers high school baseball for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448.