Cowboys Seeing Blue

The Laredo United Longhorns showed Porter ace Henry Garcia that its Game 1 performance was no fluke.

Porter's season came to end one game earlier than expected with Laredo United's bats knocking Garcia for eight runs on eight hits helping the Longhorns gain an 8-0 victory in Game 2 of their area round series at RMB Fairgrounds Field, thus sweeping the Cowboys.

The Cowboys put the ball in play against Laredo United but never had the clutch hit to put up runs as the team left eight runners in scoring position which Porter coach Tony Barbosa said was the difference in the game.

"It did, unfortunately, we never came through like in the season when we needed to with runners in scoring position," he said. "We had opportunities but never capitalized and pitching can only do so much. I don't take anything away from Laredo United. They are a very good ball club."

Even with Garcia's struggles on the mound he fought back at the plate batting 4-for-4 with a double. Overall in the series the Porter hurler went 7-for-10 with four doubles and three RBIs.

Laredo United's fiery starting pitcher Luis Pollorena tossed a complete game shutout scattering nine hits while striking out eight batters.

"Porter is a good team and Henry Garcia is tough. We knew we were going to have our hands full and the kids just came out hitting," Longhorns coach J.J. Gomez said. "Our philosophy is to create early, and get the lead. (Pollorena) is a crafty lefty. He went stronger as the game went on and did a good job for us."

Garcia endured four fielding errors including back-to-back ground balls from Cristo Torres that would have ended the inning. Instead, Longhorn outfielder made the Cowboys pay for their mishaps with an RBI single for a 1-0 lead. After Homero Ortiz was hit by a pitch Danny Navarro tacked on another run for a 2-0 advantage with a single up the middle.

Pollorena kept the Cowboys bats in check while the Longhorns were just just starting to boil on a scorching sunny day.

Laredo United tacked on to a 4-0 lead opening the fourth frame with consecutive singles before Javier Perez hit a deep fly sacrifice to center putting them ahead 5-0.

One batter later the Longhorns hauled off three straight RBI doubles for an 8-0 lead before Garcia struck out A.J. Gomez to end the inning.

Dennis Oritz relieved Garcia and was the most effective pitcher of the series for the Cowboys tossing two scoreless frames on two hits with one strikeout.

Catcher Gus Henggler who has been catching for Garcia since he was a child said that he was grateful for the season he had with his teammates.

"I'm so glad I got to play with these guys," he said. "Especially playing with Henry I've been catching him since I was 10 or 11 so I'm glad I got to catch him in the last game."

Barbosa added that the catcher-pitcher tandem he's had is special and that he expects them to continue to the next level of baseball.

"You use the seniors as motivation for the younger ones," Barbosa said. "Just like I told them Henry and Gus are going to play ball somewhere."