Baseball ends with loss to Greenwood  
    by Dave Poynor, Staff Writer ~~ Monahans News ~~ May 4, 2004

There are a lot of excuses coach Arcadio Rivera could make for his teams's season ending loss to Greenwood here Friday.

Injuries have been a problem all season, and in the final games pitchers Houston Stockman and Dimas Porras were still battling arm problems.  To make matters worse the all-powerful TAKS testing took priority over all athletics last week, forcing teams like Monahans to play on back-to-back nights.

Rivera is having none of that.  No excuses from him.

"Defensively we did not play well enough to win," he said of the 14-11 final game.  "We made errors in critical situations, made mental mistakes with the ball, and I would emphasize that no one single error cost us the game."

The Loboes jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning in the loser-elimination game, but Greenwood came right back with six-run innings in the second and fourth. Trailing 12-3, the MHS squad battled back fiercely, scoring eight runs in the final three innings.  They even managed to get the trying run to the plate before the last out of the season,

It was an end to a strange year of baseball.  Going into the season Rivera and his coaches expected this to be a long term rebuilding project that might materialize late in 4-3A play.  Instead the young bunch got off  to a blistering start and played the best three tournaments in school history.  In early league play, the Loboes dropped some close games that could have gone either way, then the injuries affected the lineup, and down the stretch a lack of overall depth contribution to a defensive problems.

The final loss was a bitter pill for the coaches and players, ending a six-year playoff performance that made school history.

"The coaching staff is really proud of those kids for the way they kept fighting back," Rivera said,  "At the same time we feel sorry for those seniors who won't get another chance to put on a Lobo uniform."

Although there were only four seniors this season, they were critical components on the last three Lobo teams, and they will long be remembered  by fans and coaches: Jesus Pedroza started and played just about every inning as catcher this season after three years as an outfielder, and an All-District one in 2003.  Lance Porter came on strong this season, contributing as a DH pitcher, and third baseman.  Stockman, another All-District outfielder last year, surprised everyone with his pitching performance this season.  Dimas Porras ends a long of the Porras' and MHS athletics.  The 2003 Monahans News MVP from the football team, Porras led the Loboes in batting average for three straight years.  This year he led in doubles hit and average, and will most likely earn his third straight All-District award.

Presidio won the district title over Pecos Friday night and will get the bye before taking on the Brown-field-Perryton winner.  The second place Eagles will face Seminole, and Greenwood takes on Sweetwater in their first round of contest.

Keyed by Jordan Sellers, Junior 2004