Brian Sandalow
Sharyland’s Gutierrez adjusting to new approach from opponents
MISSION — Eric Gutierrez has seen a lot of garbage.
One season after being named Valley Freedom Newspapers’ Player of the Year, the fastballs Gutierrez craves have been in short supply. As his name has grown Gutierrez has seen mostly off-speed…
RGC Rattlers facing new challenges
RIO GRANDE CITY — Changing a culture can be a difficult and trying experience. Or, if things work quickly, the change can be embraced. Under Carlos Longoria, the latter happened last season for the Rio Grande City Rattlers as they installed a…
Tomas Garcia settling in as Huskies head coach
LA JOYA — Tomas Garcia has plenty of experience as a head coach. He’s been in that role at La Joya High, Lyford, Edinburg North, San Benito and La Joya Palmview.
But those stints were coaching boys and girls basketball. Now at La Joya…
Bears survive rally, advance to third round
RIO GRANDE CITY – This year, the Valley’s No. 1 team was able to get past the Laredo United Longhorns. And at the same time, the top-ranked PSJA High Bears were able to undo a bit of their own disappointing playoff history.
Jesse Tovar and Joey…
Pats trying to solve QB woes
MISSION — Coach David Gilpin and the Mission Veterans Memorial Patriots knew Adrian Morales wouldn’t always be around to be their quarterback. They just thought they’d have him for more than a game and three plays last season.
When Morales…
Garza’s mind clear when he throws
RIO GRANDE CITY — There’s a lot going on in Alex Garza’s head.
He’s got his move to the University of Houston looming this summer. The expectations on him to win his second state championship in the shot put only got bigger when he won the…
Edcouch-Elsa’s Morales’ recovery on schedule
ELSA — The agony and pain quarterback Eric Morales felt the previous time he played for the Edcouch-Elsa Yellowjackets was obvious, even from the highest levels of Benny Layton Sr. Memorial Stadium.
It was late in the first quarter of E-E’s…
Wrestling growth continues into two classes
When he saw the new wrestling alignments last month, Rio Grande City coach Ronald Pratt was “ecstatic.”
For the first time in UIL history, wrestling has been split into two classes, proving further the growth of the sport. And, Pratt hopes, the…
Rivals McAllen Memorial, Sharyland split up in swimming alignment
In the new UIL swimming alignment released last month, the Rio Grande Valley’s two biggest rivals were split up.
Shadowing the new football alignment, McAllen Memorial was shipped to District 31-5A, away from rival Sharyland, which stayed in 30-5A….
Bees moving forward after Bucks fold
HIDALGO — Citing decreasing attendance and a bleak financial situation, the Laredo Bucks folded on Tuesday, ending their 10-season run in the Central Hockey League. While it’s a bitter pill to swallow, that news doesn’t end the existence of the…