Baseball Diaries 2008-2009 Season

For Valley high school athletes, baseball is more than just cracker jacks and peanuts; it’s the feeling of teamwork, family, dedication, and the adrenaline rush of stepping out onto the diamond shaped field.

Sharyland and La Joya High School baseball teams have had an exceptional season. Some games were better for the Rattlers, others, better for the Coyotes. Both met in the regional quarterfinals last Thursday, with a victory for SHS 10-2. Win or lose, a common characteristic both these teams have, is the undeniable love for America’s past time.

The Coyotes may have lost in the playoffs, but the team still feels they won in the sense of hard work and having a team that is united like a family.

Coach Ruben Farias, head coach for the Coyotes, is still content with the 24-8 game season.

“I was pleased with the performance of the team. But, I was disappointed in the sense, we didn’t get to the goal that I had hoped for,” said Coach Farias. “Overall I was pleased with the hard work and the dedication of the seniors and the group of young men we had.”

Like many dedicated HS teams, the Coyotes put forth blood, sweat, and tears to try to make it an accomplished season.

“The practices can be difficult and overwhelming, making sure they stay on top of their school work. I know these young men went through a lot with the heat, swine flu and the difficulty to keep ourselves motivated and that’s because we were winning,” said Coach Farias. “We got eliminated in the same round, as last year, but I think these young men were fortunate enough to have success that a lot of people didn’t think we were capable of.”

Coach Farias says he is very proud of his senior players and has been able to witness them mature on and off the field.

“This senior group was very special to me. I have seen their maturity and ability improve,” said Coach Farias. “I’m going to miss them and they know they will always have an open door here.”

Seniors like Miguel Pena, Lupe Lopez, Guadalupe Barrera, and Leo Gonzales, Coach Farias says were the back bone of the team and the season.

“I have just enjoyed being able to have a good time with everybody and feel comfortable with the team,” said Barrera, a utility player. “Being able to stand out on the field Tuesday and Friday nights, the excitement of stepping up to the batter’s box, and going out to the field with my team, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. They are memories that are irreplaceable.”

Miguel Pena, pitcher, and who just signed a letter of intent with San Jacinto Jr. College, says he was disappointed with the loss against SHS, but just being able to play was an honor in itself.

“We would have our ups and downs. We finally realized it’s our senior year and we’re never going to be able to live this again,” said Pena. “We came together as a team, not only the seniors, but everybody else and we gave it our best.”

The Coyotes have an optimistic outlook for next year’s season and consider this year as memorable one.

“Throughout this year there were games that we played where we looked like a million dollars, then all of sudden something would happen and we would come back down,” said Coach Farias. “It was a rollercoaster year, but overall I was really pleased with their performance.”

The Coyotes’ goals for next year are to try to win at least 20 games or more, make the playoffs, win district, and surpass being in the regional quarterfinals.

Though the Coyotes Season may have ended, the Rattlers are still in the playoffs and will be playing a two out of three series, this Friday and Saturday, in Robstown, against San Antonio Reagan.

“I feel good about the upcoming game. We got to see San Antonio play. They are a good team, but so are we,” said SHS Head Baseball Coach Bart Bickerton. “We scouted them out and they are beatable. I feel good about going against them.”

The Rattlers have had a 29-2 season, which has been one of the best seasons in the last eight years for SHS.

“It has played out the way we expected. We have been working hard and we’re in the spot where we thought we would be,” said Coach Bickerton. “This team has come together as a team against different adversities. We lost some players and had some kids grow up through the season.”

The Rattlers feel they have been able to come this far not only through hard work, but also by having several pitchers.

“Most guys can throw a varsity game with only one or two pitchers. We have five or six. Obviously we’re blessed with that many arms and we feel we can throw our pitchers against anybody,” said Coach Chris Brown. “We have been able to rest them and we don’t have to use the same pitcher. Everyone is pretty fresh and not worn out.”

Coaches and players both agree that the season has had its ups and downs. Like a family, sometimes they disagree, but push together and grew stronger cause of it.

Tucker Oakley, senior, third and first baseman and pitcher, is happy with the family-like team.

“There are a lot of seniors on the team. We’re just like brothers out there,” he said. “But we’ve never gotten as far as we like and now that we’re at this point, we’re pushing past and trying to reach our goals.”

Adam Pena, senior, second baseman, says the coaches have been very vital to the team’s success on and off the field.

“They have prepared us very well, guided us and helped us along during practice and games,” said Pena. “We are all pretty close on the team, and hopefully we can win and get to Round Rock and bring the state title back to the Rio Grande Valley.”

The Rattlers hope to come home singing their own song about triumph and love for the game.

“Hopefully we can have a lot of people come out to watch, because San Antonio Reagan is going to have a lot of supporters,” said Coach Bickerton. “The whole Valley should come out and support us.”

City holds Memorial Day ceremony

By Ricky Reynoso

While most people throughout the country enjoyed barbecues and shopping, Leo Pena Plazita Park was packed with veterans and residents wishing to pay their respects on Monday, May 25.

Mario Lizcano, master of ceremonies for the event, welcomed those in attendance while honoring those fallen soldiers whose names adorned the wall monument in the park.

“We want to welcome everyone here today for our Memorial Day service,” said Lizcano. “It is an honor to be here in front of you. This program was jointly hosted by the A.C.E (Assisting and Caring for Everyone) Club from Mission, the Mission Historical Museum, and the City of Mission.”

Father Roy Snipes of Our Lady of Guadalupe gave the invocation for the ceremony, during which he said he was honored to be in the presence of so many veterans. He paid tribute to all those soldiers who had died during combat.

“We give thanks for and honor those who have been willing to, and have, sacrificed their very lives to defend freedom,” said Father Roy. “We strive to develop and defend a healthy and wholesome community where our families can thrive and raise up more fine young men and women who will be examples to their community and inspire us to defend goodness, truth and beauty.”

Ben Olivarez, chairman of the board for the Mission Historical Museum and himself a Vietnam veteran, was there to represent the museum and everyone from the City of Mission. He said the ceremony was tradition that the city had been holding for several years.

“We’ve been doing this to honor those that have passed and helped us gain the freedom that we enjoy here,” said Olivarez. “As Father Roy said, we have in many cases, people here in Mission have given their blood to preserve the peace in Mission. As a veteran, I myself am familiar with what we all go through in gaining and keeping the freedom that was bestowed to us on behalf of the constitution and the Bill of Rights.”

After the speech came the National Anthem, followed by the 21 Gun Salute from the Catholic War Veterans. The keynote speaker for the event was MSgt. Salomon Marroquin. A veteran of the Korean War, Marroquin served as city secretary for the City of Mission and also worked at the Mission Municipal Hospital, as well as a staff member to Congressman Kika de la Garza.

“It’s a beautiful day today, so let’s sacrifice our time to honor the sacrifice that our loved ones have given,” said Marroquin.

He went on to say that though many Americans viewed Memorial Day as a day reserved for cookouts, watching sporting events, and shopping for sales, he stressed the importance of honoring the true spirit of the holiday.

“Many forget the true reason we celebrate this day, and that is to remember the true heroes that died while serving our great country,” said Marroquin. “At present we are at war in Iraq and Afghanistan and to this day over 4,000 men and women have been killed in action to keep our nation safe. Freedom is not free and we all suffer these losses. Let us pay tribute to those loved ones left behind.”

Sgt. Javier Marin Jr. Street dedicated

By Ricky Reynoso

Though temperatures were still sweltering late in the afternoon, a crowd of residents, Mission Police and Mission Firefighters was gathered at the corner of 18th Street and Nicholson to pay tribute to Sgt. Javier Marin, Jr. on Monday, May 25.

Marin was the second serviceman from Mission to die in Iraq after the Bradley combat vehicle in which he and five other soldiers were riding in overturned in Mohammed Sacran on Jan. 24, 2005. City of Mission Public Relations Officer Aida Lerma said the opportunity to honor Marin was one that they could not pass.

“It’s been five long years since these parents lost their son and today we’d like to give a gift to Javier’s parents and family that will help them remember their son,” said Lerma. “It is an honor for the City of Mission to be a part of this ceremony while we celebrate Memorial Day.”

City Council Member Ruben Plata said the city staff, elected officials and residents were all thankful for the sacrifice Marin made. He also personally thanked Marin’s parents, Leslie Garza and Javier Marin, Sr.

“On behalf of all of us, we thank you for your son,” said Plata. “We thank you for allowing him to serve his country and we celebrate him and his sacrifice. This is the greatest country in the world where we have people like Javier who are willing to put their lives in danger so that we can be free. There’s no way we can ever do enough to pay tribute to Javier, but we’ll do what we can to ensure that no one will forget him.”

Marin graduated from Mission High School in 1996 and enlisted in the Army in September of 1999. During his years of service, Marin received a Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman Badge. As a Mission Fire Department truck idled in the background, Lerma thanked the community for their support of Marin’s family.

“We appreciate the City of Mission administration as well as our fire and police departments for being here,” said Lerma. “We do appreciate you all supporting these families, especially Javier’s family. We’re honored to be here today. He died a hero and with great honor, we present this to his family.”

The Progress Times is giving away a family pack of four club seat tickets, a value of $152.00, each week to the RGV Dorados home games at the Dodge Arena. All you have to do is register for your chance to win. A new drawing will be held every week through July 24. You must register each week to be entered in that week’s drawing.

To register for the drawing, fill out the entry form in today’s edition of the Progress Times and mail it in or drop it by our office before the entry deadline listed on the form. Or, you can fill out the entry form here. Limit one entry per person. Participants must be 18 years of age or older to win.

Council honors Ramirez

By Kathy Olivarez

The late Mission City Councilman Celestino Ramirez was remembered during the Monday, May 26 meeting of the council with a video depicting his many years of service to the city and some of the many projects he participated in as a councilman. Ramirez was a councilman when projects such as the building of the new city hall, police station, library, fire stations four and five, Bentsen Palm Park, the North American Butterfly Association International Park, World Birding Center and the Anzalduas Bridge came into being.

A Mission resident gave his condolences to the council on the loss of Ramirez, saying he would always listen to the concerns of the citizens.

During citizen’s participation a group of residents who live near Palm Valley Church were present to voice their opinions about whether a road into their subdivision should be opened. One resident said the Sunday traffic through their subdivision when the gate to the otherwise dead end street was opened was a problem. Several people had mailbox damage from traffic from the church. Residents want all traffic to exit on Griffin Parkway instead of coming through their subdivision to go east to Stewart Road.

Nora Bazaldua told the council that some of the construction workers who were preparing the land for construction of the new sanctuary had taken water from her property to use without getting permission to use it or paying for it. There was now a trail through her yard to the water faucet.

A representative of the church said he was unaware of anyone using the water from a private residence in construction of the new sanctuary.

No action was taken on a resolution declaring Mission’s population to be over 50,000 for extraterritorial jurisdiction purposes. Zavala had received a letter from an engineer with the Texas Department of Transportation, saying TxDoT used only official census data when making their decisions. Mayor Salinas wanted a letter from Mario Jorge, head of the regional TxDot office or from someone at the main office in Austin before approving the resolution.

A public hearing on an amendment to the Community Development Block Grant funds for fiscal year 2008-2009 in the amount of $225,188 was held. The money is to be used for rehabilitation assistance. Approximately 11 homes will receive assistance from this additional grant.

Later in the meeting approval to send an amendment to HUD explaining the planned use of the $225,188 was approved. Once approved by HUD, 50 percent of the funds must be spent within 120 days.

The council approved an amendment for construction costs for one of the housing assistance projects located at 1301 Doherty. An expenditure of $750 will be used to install a 12 inch dirt berm and rain gutter on the north and west sides of the home. A neighbor complained runoff from rain was coming on to her property due to the elevation of the home.

The council approved a request by Ciudad Madero, a Gulf Coast city, to become a Sister City to Mission. Aida Lerma told the council this was a strong program that promoted goodwill between Mission and cities in Mexico. It was 99.9 percent underwritten by private donations. The city paid only travel expenditures.

Tax collections for 2009 amounted to $14,082,252.04, which amounted to 88.34 percent of the total adjusted levy of $17,305,813.57.

Resolution 1235 authorized intervention in the AEP Texas Central Company’s and the AEP Texas North Company’s request for approval of an advanced metering system. Ricardo Perez, the city’s representative, said he felt a better price could be negotiated for the system which eliminated meter reading trying to look over fences to read meters. The request was for customers to pay $3.25 month for four years and $2.71 monthly for seven additional years to pay for the new metering system.

The council approved an expenditure of $451,114 to provide Education Resource Officers for the MCISD for the 2009-2010 school year. A similar contract for the amount of $295,709 was approved for the Sharyland Independent School district.

The Mission Historical Museum was given permission to apply for a Target Community Grant in the amount of $1,000 to $3,000.

Two Mission Consolidated Independent School District teachers, David Martinez and Sam Casarez, were recognized for getting a fellowship to do environmental research on the arid coastal areas. The project involves a six-week work-study program this summer through the Texas A&M-Kingsville. Information gained will be put to use in MCISD classrooms next year.

Council approved the purchase of five digital repeaters through the HGAD contract to assist the police and fire departments. They will be paid for through funds from the 2008 Homeland Security grant in the amount of $175,000 and an additional $19,969.08 from State Forfeiture Accounts.

Mayor Beto Salinas asked Planning Director Sergio Zavala to set up a meeting with representatives from the church and the neighborhood where both could express their concerns and see if the situation could be resolved to both parties’ satisfaction.

Archives | Privacy Policy | About Us | Contact Us | Advertise