Late run pushes Lobos past Warriors, take 1-0 series lead

Edward Severn | Special to RGVSports

LA JOYA — La Joya Palmview had bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning with the game tied 2-2. Game 1 of a possible three for an area round title against McAllen Rowe looked destined for extra innings.

The Lobos did not need to swing the bat. A wild pitch was all that was needed. Senior third baseman Adrian Garza scored the go-ahead run to give the Lobos a 1-0 series lead and a 3-2 victory Friday night in Palmview.

“We were just hoping we could get a base hit or something, or something,” Lobos head coach Manuel Garcia Jr. said. “We have a lot of faith in our kids. We believe in them, we trust them and we have faith in them. We tell all of our players to stay alert and be in the game. Be in that moment.”

Garza pounced on that moment and also had a chance with one out, but the pop fly into center field kept creeping in towards the infield. The throw was off target to the catcher, but Garcia Jr. elected not to send his runner on third.

Not doing so paid off.

McAllen ToweÕs Zavier Garcia gets back safely on first as Palmview’s Javier Garza is late on the tag during game one of a Region lV-5A Dl area round playoff series at Palmview High baseball field Friday, May 09, 2025 in La Joya. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

“I thought about it,” he said. “Sometimes your gut-feeling tells you something. We held off and that happens, we scored.”

La Joya Palmview was down 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth when freshman first baseman Javier Garza drove in two runs on an infield single with two outs. He beat out the throw by the Warriors’ first baseman to the pitcher coming into cover first base.

Two runs came around to score. Garcia Jr. said his team has battled all year.

PalmviewÕs Javier Garza makes contact with a ball during game one of a Region lV-5A Dl area round playoff series at Palmview High baseball field Friday, May 09, 2025 in La Joya. (Delcia Lopez | [email protected])

“They have been like that the past couple of weeks,” he said about his team’s resilience Friday night. “I think it changed when we played that 15-inning game against Mission Vets … I think that is what prepared them for these types of games.”

Lobos junior pitcher Joseph Martinez picked up the win on the mound. He went 7 innings and struck out 7 batters.

Martinez gave up two runs in the bottom of the second to the Warriors. Ivan Garza and Isaias Ledezma drove in the runs for McAllen Rowe.

Game 2 is at 3 p.m. Saturday in McAllen. Game 3 after if needed.

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