Rodriguez repeats as All-Metro MVP

After another successful season at Lopez, Beto Rodriguez once again stands above everyone else.

For the second straight year, Rodriguez is the Brownsville Herald’s All-Metro Most Valuable Player.

“It feels pretty good to have won,” Rodriguez said. “I think the hard work and dedication represents (what I accomplished).”

Rodriguez played shortstop and pitched for Lopez, which ended the season as area-round champions and the third-ranked team in Valley Freedom Newspapers’ poll. The Lobos ran through District 32-5A with a perfect 14-0 record, beat Harlingen South in the bi-district round Del Rio in the area round.

While they fell short to McAllen High in the regional quarterfinals, then the top-ranked team in Texas, it was still a stellar season for both the Lobos and for Rodriguez.

“It was a special year,” Rodriguez said. “Our expectations were to go to state. But we went as far as we could.”

Rodriguez pitched in Game 1 of the regional quarterfinal series against McHi, lasting 4 1/3 innings, while giving up six earned runs on 10 hits and two walks.

It wasn’t his best performance and wasn’t the way he wanted to go out at Lopez.

“I just didn’t feel it that day,” Rodriguez said. “The fastball had no movement, and I just tried to pitch through it but I couldn’t. They’re a good team, and plus, we weren’t able to hit the ball as well as we did in the second round.”

And playing against top competition, such as a team like McHi, is been something Rodriguez has been doing for a while.

His father, who got him into baseball, placed him in leagues with players that were older than him. It was at that point, when he 11 and succeeding against kids who were 13 and 14, that Rodriguez knew he was on to something with baseball.

“I was playing a little better than the (other) guys on the team due to the fact that my dad had me playing against older guys,” Rodriguez said. “Sometimes I would play on brother’s team, who was two years older than me. I knew what a curve ball was.”

But now, Rodriguez is off to Cisco College to continue playing baseball. While he’ll start for scratch there, and despite the success his team had, thoughts still linger of what could have been.

“It felt great,” Rodriguez said of Lopez’s playoff run. “We just couldn’t get past McHi.”

Todd Orodenker writes for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via e-mail at torodenker@brownsvilleherald.com.

The Brownsville Herald’s 2010 All-Metro Baseball team

Most Valuable Player

Beto Rodriguez, Lopez

Utility Player of the Year

Garrett Oliveira, St. Joseph Academy

Newcomer of the year

Abner Padron, Hanna

Coach of the year

Alberto Leal, Lopez

First Team

Pitcher: Edwin Castillo, Los Fresnos

Catcher: Victor Gaytan, Lopez

First Base: John Little, Hanna

Second Base: Justin Granado, Lopez

Shortstop: Chris Buitron, Hanna

Third Base: Carlos Rodriguez, Lopez

Outfield: Enrique Negrete, Lopez; Tre Paz, Hanna; J.J. Sanchez, Rivera

Second Team

Pitcher: Joshua Garcia, Porter

Catcher: Tim Torres, Rivera

First Base: Mague Treviño, Lopez

Second Base: Frank Martinez, Porter

Shortstop: Leo Saldivar, Los Fresnos

Third Base: Robert Vidal, Porter

Outfield: Arnulfo Rodriguez, Pace; Carlos Hernandez, Lopez; Steven Garza, Hanna