Loboes Playoff-Bound Despite Tuesday Loss
    By Jessica Ray, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, April 24, 2008

The Monahans Loboes are headed for the playoffs as the third-seeded team in district 2-3A after a 4-7 loss to Pecos on Tuesday.  The teams were fighting for the district title, but in such close contention, Monahans drops to third place with the loss.

The first two innings came up empty for both teams, and Pecos got the third with an unearned run.  A walk loaded bases, and pitcher Blake Hughes pegged the next batter to force in an Eagle runner.  Three hits and four runs later, Monahans was on the losing end of a five-run inning.

The loboes made the call to put Ty Horton on the mound, and Steven Valles took Horton's spot as catcher.  Horton pitched one batter, who hit a fly left of the third-base line.  Chase Williams was there to make the catch and end the painful top.

The Green took it in stride, however, and worked their way up to the Eagles one run at a time in the bottom.  Williams doubled in the first at-bat.  Ivan Rios walked before Fabian Flores singled to load the bases with no outs.  Horton took the next walk to bring in Williams on the first Lobo run.  Quincy Titus then got a hit that landed near second base, but a Pecos error left everyone safe and brought in Rios.  Flores stole home for the next run while Hughes was at bat.  Hughes took a walk to load the bases again, and Valles took another bases-loaded walk to bring the Loboes within one point at the close of the inning.

It was three up and three down in the top of the fourth.  The first at-bat was a strikeout, then Eagle pitcher Vincent Palomino was thrown out at first.  Matt Montoya caught Temo Reyes' fly in the outfield for the third out.

Monahans put two runners on the bases in the bottom of the fourth, but both were left stranded with a strikeout, and the score remained 4-5.

In the sixth inning, the first Eagle batter took his base on balls.  Rios put out the next batter at first base, then Titus caught a fly in the outfield for the second out.  The next two hits brought two Eagles home.  The Loboes were unable to answer in the bottom, leaving Monahans behind 4-7.

In the top of the seventh, one Eagle took a walk, then hit into the outfield.  Fabian Flores took a dive for the catch, and then threw a whopping distance to first to out the off-base runner for the double play.

Pecos attempted to take base on a passed ball in the next at-bat, but the try was shy, and the game went into the final half-inning.

Monahans suffered two quick outs in the bottom of the seventh when Horton's fly was caught and Titus was out at first.

Hope was still alive when Hughes doubled, but she dies when Robledo's hit beat him to first base, ending the game 4-7.

The Loboes beat the Eagles twice in three match-ups in the league season, but Pecos still takes the top spot in playoffs with the district title.  That is just the way it goes in 2-3A baseball.  Presidio will take the second place position.

The Fabens Wildcats are the runners-up in District 1-3A and will begin play against Monahans next week in Van Horn.  The bi-district round is a three-game, two day series.  The first game will be played on Saturday, May 3 at 2pm.  If a game three is required, it will be played 30 minutes after game two.

Keyed By  Ruben Rodriguez, Sr. '08