Bulldogs surprise ranked Rattlers

ROBSTOWN - Toss out the worn-down David and Goliath sports reference. This one is better.

The McAllen High Bulldogs baseball team stunned San Antonio Reagan 6-2 in Game 1 of their best-of-three regional semifinal series. Game 2 is at 2 p.m. today in Robstown, with Game 3 to follow immediately if necessary.

Bulldogs coach Eliseo Pompa, whose squad was third in District 30-5A, said the Bulldogs (26-13) proved being the last Rio Grande Valley team standing is better than being the second-best team in the state. Reagan (34-3) also is fifth in the USA Today high school baseball top 25.

"They're ranked No. 2 in the state, No. 7 in the nation according to some polls, and you know we're from McAllen," Pompa said. "We can play, we can play.

"It gives the program a little credibility. Hey, our kids played well. I think when you deal with 15-, 16-, and 17-year old kids; anything can happen. And that's what we've been telling them all year, especially in this series."

But what makes the upset special is that McAllen High did it with a sophomore pitcher and a freshman catcher, never trailed, took an early 2-0 lead and played loose at bat and strong defense.

Alvaro Moreno struck out eight and a freshman catcher Armando Garza was 2-for-3 at the plate. Garza scored on Moreno's hit in the second inning to give McHi its first lead and helping the Bulldogs end Reagan's two-month-old 19-game winning streak.

After being held in check by Moreno and with runners on third and second, Reagan looked for the lead during the fourth inning but instead tied the game at 2 before McHi forced a double play.

The Bulldogs were held in check in the fifth, but Moreno picked up his fifth and sixth strikeouts of the game and the game shifted McAllen High's way.

In the sixth, Tim Ford singled to right, Steven Solis was walked and Adrian Leal loaded the bases with well-placed shot to right. Omar Pompa followed it with a two-run hit to center to score Ford and Solis.

Garza's second hit gave McHi the definitive edge.

He sent a blooper to right that Reagan failed to reach, scoring Leal and Pompa to give McHi a 6-2 lead.

"Yeah, they're good, but you know baseball is a game of seven innings and 21 outs, and tonight the win was for us and we'll see what happens (today)," a calm and softspoken Moreno said after the upset.

"It's a good win, it's a wonderful win. We beat the guys who were 34-2 and it feels good, but we have to finish up (today), and this win doesn't count if we don't win (today)."