By Brian Argabright
Del Rio’s playoff chances are done.
Laredo United South used a 3-0 lead in the first inning to take a lead they never gave up, eventually handing the Rams (4-7) a 9-6 loss and eliminating them from playoff contention with one game remaining in the season.
South used a pair of home runs in the first inning to jump out a three-run lead. Ricky Garza led the game off with a towering solo home run to right field. Four batters late, Alex Cerda smashed a two-run home run over the left field wall for a 3-0 lead.
South extended its lead to 4-0 before the Rams were able to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second.
Sebastian Patiño was hit by a pitch to lead off the Rams’ at-bat. After Will Cooper and Jon Flores singled to load the bases, Josh Adams hit a sacrifice fly to right field that brought in Patiño to cut the lead to 4-1.
South would tack on two more runs to its lead in the fourth inning thanks to a sacrifice fly by Arturo Garcia and an RBI double by Garza.
The lead grew to 7-1 in the top of the fifth inning on an errant throw by shortstop Matt Mendez.
The Rams began to claw their way back into the game in the bottom of the fifth.
Alex Rodriguez led off with a triple. With one out, Jose Borrego singled to centerfield and brought in Rodriguez to push the score to 7-2.
After Jon Barragan drew a two-out walk, Flores swung and missed at strike three. The ball skirted away and the attempt to throw Flores out at first base sent the ball down the right field line. Borrego and Barragan scored on the error. Adams then drove Flores in with a towering triple off one of the signs atop the right field wall that cut the lead to 7-5.
Del Rio cut the lead to just one in the bottom of the sixth inning after Rodriguez singled and scored off a Borrego single to centerfield.
The Panthers added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh, and then Juan Lozano retired the Rams in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win.
Friday night’s loss marked the final home game for Del Rio High School seniors Borrego, Patiño, Flores, Adams, Carlos Arredondo, Kobe Cardenas, Seth Gonzalez, Ryan Madera, Victor Medina and Ruben Esquivel.
Prior to the game the Rams presented United South with a signed baseball for senior pitcher/outfielder Juan Milera, who had to leave the team with three games left in the regular season to begin treatment for skin cancer. In a recent interview with the Laredo Morning Times, Milera said he hoped to rejoin the team and may do so if they make it to the second round of the playoffs. The Panthers are currently tied for first in the district with Eagle Pass.
The Rams will wrap up their season Wednesday in Eagle Pass against the Eagles at 7 p.m.
