Lions Baseball Finds First District Win Over PI

photo and story by Billy Watson/LFN

Windy conditions and wild throws helped the La Feria Lions baseball team notch their first district win this season.

The La Feria Lions (1-1) mercy-ruled the Port Isabel Tarpons (0-2) 12-2 in five innings on Tuesday, March 12, at the Veterans Memorial Sports Complex.

Lions’ junior pitcher Ethan Montalvo got the win on the mound allowing for seven hits, two runs, and 44 strikes on 66 pitches on the night.

After losing to the Progreso Red Ants 6-5 in the district opener, Head Coach Jaime Acuna said his team came into Tuesday night’s game more focused and got after it.

“I think we just hit the ball very well,” Acuna said. “We were really aggressive at the plate, played really good defense, very few errors, and we ran bases very well.”

The Lions ran up the score at the end of the first inning, leading 5-1.

During La Feria’s first at-bat, Lions’ Daniel Lopez put up a midfield pop-up that couldn’t be caught. That was when Derrick Perez took off to third base, but the throw sailed over the third basemen and landed in from of the Lion’s dugout, bringing home Perez.

In the bottom of the third, Lions’ Roly Solis hit a line-drive shot to center field that rolled past a Tarpon outfielder, allowing Solis to turn on the jets as he rounded the bases for an inside-the-park home run.
The Tarpons found some offense in the top of the fourth when pitcher Matthew Cantu hit a line-drive into centerfield for a double.

However, at the next at-bat, Lions’ centerfielder Derreck Perez made a spectacular grab to end the offensive groove for Port Isabel.

The Lions haven’t been to the state playoffs in baseball in four or five years, according to Coach Acuna, but he said the group of players on his squad have played together for the last two years and are doing really well.

“Last year we had a young group,” Acuna said, “but as they mature, you know, we finally starting to put it together. So, just getting experience and that experience is starting to pay off.”

“Losing that first game by a run really motivated us to come out and swing the bats early, and that’s what we did. They made a few errors and we just took advantage of it.”

The Lions continue district play against the Hidalgo Pirates on Friday, March 15, followed by a road trip to Zapata on Tuesday, March 19, and then home Friday, March 23 with the Raymondville Bearkats.