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Harlandale nabs another
Daniel Elizondo, Sports Editor - Wednesday, April 29, 2009

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Pleasanton falls victim to Indians in 11-inning marathon.

It was almost like déjà vu for the Pleasanton Eagles on Friday. Holding on to a lead and with the momentum. But for the second straight week, it all came crashing once again.

After going up 5-2 against Harlandale on Friday, the Eagles found themselves in trouble and the Indians took it to extra innings and defeated Pleasanton 8-7 in 11 innings at the Pleasanton Sports Complex.

Pleasanton (18-8, 6-5 in District 29-4A) are now tied with Harlandale for third place and will need McCollum to defeat Harlandale on Friday coupled with a Pleasanton win over Floresville to end league play at third place.

“We had every chance to win that game and we just fell apart,” said Head Coach Bobby Nicholson. “I felt like this game could have been lights out but we couldn’t get the job done. It’s been like that all year, playing good for a few innings and then falling apart.”

Harlandale needed an error from Pleasanton when starting pitcher Sammy Ramon dropped a routine fly ball that drove in two runs that gave Harlandale a 7-6 lead at the top of the seventh inning.
Pleasanton rallied and tied the game at the bottom of the inning when Michael Barrow singled to drive in Daniel Mims who also singled in the inning.

But the Indians staved off the Pleasanton comeback and put out Johnathon Leal on a flyout and then struckout Lukas Sotello to send the game into extra innings.

Harlandale scored the go-ahead run at the top of the 11th inning on an error. The Indians put out three of the next four Pleasanton batters to win.

Pleasanton went up 5-0 in the third inning taking control of the game including three runs scored in the third. Ramon hit a two RBI shot that was mishandled by the rightfielder.

Ramon started for Pleasanton on the mound but was ejected from the game in the sixth inning for throwing his glove. Senior Ross Porter came in and finished the game.

If Pleasanton remains tied with Harlandale to end league play, the Eagles will get fourth place by virtue of the head-to-head against the Indians. The third place finisher in 29-4A will face Gregory Portland or Corpus Christi Ray. The fourth place finisher will face no. 1 ranked Corpus Christi Moody.

Pleasanton defeated Southside 6-4 on Tuesday, April 21.

The Eagles took a 6-3 lead in the third inning. Pitcher Boone Mokry held the Cardinals to one hit and one run the next four innings.

Leal, Sotello and John Flores went 2 for 4 each in the win.