Antonian overcomes Central Catholic

Big third quarter keys Apaches’ 66-63 victory

by Mark Kusenberger
SAsports.com Senior Writer

Photos by Rene Garza

Jonathan Holmes kept Antonian from getting blown out in the first half by Central Catholic. Eric Garza led their third quarter comeback. Then Holmes took over again to make sure it stuck.

It added up to a 66-63 Apache victory over the Central Catholic Buttons Wednesday night before a large, boisterous crowd at the Paul Taylor Field House.

Walker contributed 13 points in the first half and 11 in fourth quarter on his way to a game high 25. Garza scored 11 in the third, including three treys, finishing with 14.

Despite Walker’s efforts, which included some startling athleticism on several baskets, Central Catholic dominated the first quarter and led 21-12 after one quarter. A quick three-pointer by Alex Senioris set the tone, as Central Catholic compensated for Antonian’s height advantage. Senioris had six points while Cole Martinez added nine for the Buttons.

Antonian (21-7, 2-0 in TAPPS 2-5A) put more emphasize on working the ball inside in the second quarter, but in the short term it only kept them from falling further behind. While the 6’7 Walker scored seven points and the 6’7 Jerred Kite scored six, Robert Johnson led the Buttons with six points, and Central Catholic actually outscored Antonian 18-17 in the second quarter, sending the teams to the locker room with the Buttons ahead 39-29.

At halftime, Antonian honored their state champion team from 1968, coached by later St Mary’s University legend Buddy Meyer, who was present for the ceremony. All present were about a dozen of the team’s member, including two of Romy Vela’s brothers. Romy Vela is now the head basketball coach at Central Catholic (18-8, 0-1 in TAPPS 2-5A.)

Maybe it was the halftime ceremony, maybe it was Antonian coach Andre Walker’s halftime speech, maybe it was adjustments, but the Apaches shut down Central Catholic in the third quarter. The zone defense they adopted kept the Buttons’ inside game under wraps, and the Buttons’ outside scoring dried up. Antonian spent the first six minutes of the first half on a 14-0 run, beginning with a putback from Holmes, and ending with a steal and driving layup from Garza. Two Buttons timeouts failed to stem the tide, and a 39-29 deficit became a 43-39 lead.

Of course, this being a Central Catholic-Antonian contest, the outcome could not be easy. A Cole Martinez trey to start the fourth retook the lead for Central 47-46, then a putback from Holmes put the Apaches back on top. Although Antonian built the lead up to five, Martinez, who scored 13 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, scored with 1:30 left to put the Buttons ahead 62-61. Holmes scored again to put Antonian back in the lead, then free throws from Garza built the lead to 65-62.

Phil Betencourt went to the free throw line with 9.8 seconds left for the Buttons’ last chance. After making the first free throw, he deliberately missed the second, but a lane violation gave the ball to Antonian. Garza hit a free throw with 7.75 seconds left for the final margin.

The Antonian victory keeps them undefeated in district along with idle Austin St Michael’s in five-team TAPPS District 2-5A.

Quarters
CENTRAL CATHOLIC 21 18 5 19 - 63
ANTONIAN 12 17 17 20 - 66

CENTRAL CATHOLIC SCORING: Cole Martinez 25, Alex Senioris 15, Tommy Berry 7, Dylan Delgado 6, Robert Johnson 6, Matt Hidalgo 3, Phil Betencourt 1, Rob Venturini, Geovan Franco

ANTONIAN SCORING: Jonathan Holmes 25, Eric Garza 14, Jerred Kite 10, Sean Bambace 7, Jacob Cukjati 6, Justin Brickman, Anthony Gabriel

Cross country: Antonian boys and girls, SACS girls win state

Congratulations to the Antonian boys and girls cross country teams; they both won TAPPS 5A state titles Saturday in Waco.

Antonian boys runners in the Top 25 included Matt and Andrew Gazda (2nd and 3rd), Anthony Gallardo (8th), D.J. Cortez (11th), Philip McBride (12th), Kenny Cortez (13th)m and Cesar Rodriguez (22nd).

Antonian girls runners in the Top 25 included Oliva Lopez (5th), Bridgette Kozar (6th), Laura Cortez (9th), Greta Porisch (13th), Angela Garza (15th), Angeli Phillips (16th), and Marcella Reyes (22nd).

In addition, the SA Christian girls took the state title in TAPPS 4A.

Football: Harlandale vs. Antonian - In Pictures

Photos by Jaime Rivera
SAsports.com Photographer
www.JRSportsPhotography.com
jr@jrsportsphotography.com

The Harlandale Indians came from behind to defeat the Antonian Apaches 32-28 in front of a wild crowd at Harlandale Memorial Stadium Friday night.

The win puts both teams at the 3-1 mark for the season. Harlandale travels next week to Medina Valley to open up 29-4A district play, while Antonian hosts Brownsville St. Joseph in TAPPS district action.

More pictures are available for viewing:
www.JRSportsPhotography.com
jr@jrsportsphotography.com

Volleyball: Incarnate Word vs. Antonian - In Pictures

Photos by Antonio Morano
SAsports.com Senior Photographer
www.moranomemories.photoreflect.com
amorano@satx.rr.com

More photos are available for viewing:
www.moranomemories.photoreflect.com
amorano@satx.rr.com

Volleyball: Antonian vs. ESD - In Pictures

photos by Teresa Shumaker
www.tshumakerphotography.photoreflect.com
shumakerphotography@yahoo.com

More pictures are available for viewing:
www.tshumakerphotography.photoreflect.com
shumakerphotography@yahoo.com

Volleyball: Steele vs. Antonian - In Pictures

photos by Antonio Morano
www.moranomemories.photoreflect.com
amorano@satx.rr.com

Whatever the admission price was at Antonian High School last night, it was worth it if you were a volleyball fan.

In The end, it was Steele, ranked #3 in our 4A poll, defeating Antonian, #2 in our Private poll, 25-18, 21-25, 25-12, 18-25, 15-5.

As usual, Mackenzie Adams was her usual self, with 39 kills, three aces, and 13 digs. But this is definitely an all-around team.

Coach Glunt breathed a sign of relief as the Lady Knights improved to 14-1.

Many more photos from this match can be found at:

www.moranomemories.photoreflect.com
amorano@satx.rr.com

Central Catholic baseball wins district

Buttons hold off Apache rally in 4-3 victory at Antonian

by Mark Kusenberger
SAsports.com Staff Writer
www.TSRNsports.com

Devin Padilla threw out the tying run at the plate for the final out of a 4-3 Central Catholic victory at Antonian Saturday afternoon.

The play halted a two-run rally in the bottom of the 7th, allowing the Buttons to hold on to the victory and win the TAPPS 5A District 2 Championship.

Central Catholic led 4-1 going into the bottom of the 7th, and reliever Alex Garcia, who would earn the save, retired the first two batters he faced. Christian Carreon reached on an error; then Dylan Romo singled up the middle. Patrick Ramirez singled past the second baseman to center to load the bases, after which Matt Smith hit a grounder that went off Garcia’s glove for an error, allowing Carreon to score and cut the lead to 4-2. Nefi Rodriguez singled to left, scoring Romo to make it 4-3, and Antonian coach Cedrick Harris sent Ramirez home as well. Padilla threw wide of the plate on the first base side, but catcher Zander Tover – who’d suffered copious heckling from Antonian fans after a 7th inning strikeout – caught the ball cleanly and dove for Ramirez, applying the tag before the runner could cross the plate.

The winning pitcher for Central Catholic was freshman Marco Carreon. Carreon is small enough that he looked like a 7th grader wearing his father’s uniform, but his herky-jerky motion kept Antonian batters off balance. Carreon pitched 4+ innings, giving up just one hit and one run, which was earned. Carreon struck out three Apaches, walked three, and hit two with pitches.

Central Catholic scored all their runs off losing pitcher Jeff Dorsey. In a peculiar first inning rally, Stephen Burkholder led off with a single to second. Padilla following with a popup to shallow center; Christian Carreon dropped it, but recovered in time to throw to the shortstop Ramirez, retiring Burkholder on an 8-6 force play. Padilla would score on a double to center by Roger Zamarripa. Zamarripa was thrown out at third trying to stretch the hit into a triple; Carreon threw to cutoff man Danny Martinez, who relayed to third baseman Dylan Romo, who tagged out Zamarripa.

Joseph Colon led off the Button second with a walk. Two outs later, #9 hitter Brian Schnettgoecke doubled over the left fielder’s head to put runners on second and third, then Burkholder reached on an error by the pitcher, allowing Colon to scoring and upping the Central Catholic lead to 2-0. Padilla popped up to the shortstop Ramirez to end the inning.

The Buttons chased Dorsey in the third when Eric Ramirez drew a two-out walk, which Colon followed with a homer to left field. Central Catholic led 4-0, but Luciano Villanueva came in from left field to pitch, throwing shutout ball the last 4 and 1/3 innings for Antonian.

Carreon threw a one-out shutout through four; then plunked #9 Antonian hitter Danny Martinez with his first pitch of the fifth inning. Central Catholic coach Mike Gomez, rather than letting Antonian hitters get a third look at his freshman pitcher, brought in left fielder Alex Garcia to pitch. Garcia gave up a double to Carreon, advancing Martinez to third; then Romo had an RBI grounder to short, putting Antonian on the board, down 4-1. Garcia got Ramirez and Matt Smith to ground out, ending the inning without further scoring.

More unusual things happened in the bottom of the sixth. Antonian’s baseball field is open and below the surrounding ground level. The outfield field fence is chain link and extends only from foul pole to foul pole, and a berm rises behind the left field fence to the school’s parking lot. Nefi Rodriguez led off the sixth with a shot down the left field line; it rolled into foul ground, past the outfield fence and 15 feet up the berm for a ground-rule double. Antonian’s threat was squelched when Button catcher Zander Tovar picked Rodriguez off second.

With the regular season concluded, the TAPPS playoffs begin next week, defying the swine flu scare. Central Catholic will host independent El Paso Cathedral in the first round Tuesday at V.J. Keefe field; Cathedral boasts five Division I players on their roster. Antonian will host the third place team in the Houston district in the first round, probably St Pius.

Antonian closes regular season with victory

Apaches and St. Anthony each use 6 pitchers in 12-10 Apache win

by Mark Kusenberger
SAsports.com Staff Writer
www.TSRNsports.com

The Antonian Apaches took advantage of wild St. Anthony pitchers, and then held on for dear life in a 12-10 victory Saturday evening at Sanchez-Simmons field.

The seven-inning game, the final game for both teams in district play, took two hours and 50 minutes to play. Each team used six pitchers and 15 players overall.

Antonian scored their 12 runs on just six hits, taking advantage of 10 bases of balls and four Yellowjacket errors. Antonian scored only four earned runs; St. Anthony scored only 3.

Antonian scored first with an RBI-single by Nefi Rodriguez off losing pitcher Cole Jones. Antonian added four more runs in the second, scoring on two wild pitches and two sacrifice flies to extend their lead to 5-0.

St. Anthony had a scoring opportunity blow up in strange fashion in the second. Daniel Perez drew a leadoff walk; then Jeff Blume singled past the third baseman. After both runners advanced on a balk, Jones followed with a grounder to the pitcher Carreon. Carreon caught Perez in a rundown, throwing to third baseman Matt Smith, who then threw to the catcher Luciano Villanueva, who then threw to Carreon. Carreon applied the tag to Perez for the first out; then threw to third in time for shortstop Patrick Ramirez to tag out Blume trying to advance from first.

Jones, the batter, was safe at second having grounded into a 1-5-2-1-6 double play.

Antonian made a game of it in the third, taking advantage of three Antonian errors to score four unearned runs off Matt Smith. Stephen Valadez and Michael McCool had RBI singles, and Jones singled to drive home two runs. After three, it was 5-4 Antonian.

Antonian rallied for five runs on two hits in the 5th, sending 11 men to the plate against three different St. Anthony pitchers, extending their lead to 10-4. The Apaches added a two-run homer by Matt Smith in the sixth to build the lead to 12-4.

Then the Yellowjacket offense came to life.

St. Anthony scored 3 runs on 1 hit in the sixth, taking advantage of three walks, an error and a hit batsman. Jeff Dorsey, who was the starting pitcher in Antonian’s loss early in the day against Central Catholic, came on to retire Jeremy Valdez on a popup to end the sixth, but the Yellowjackets had closed within 12-7.

Jacob Holbrook led off the bottom of the 7th with a liner to left, robbed of a hit by a great play from Michael Patrick. Jacob Fernandez followed with a bloop single to center field. Garrett Putman lined out to second baseman Carreon for the second out, then Valadez drew a five-pitch walk to move Fernandez to second. McCool tripled over the center fielder’s head for his third hit of the night, driving in two and bringing St. Anthony within 12-9. Next, Daniel Perez singled up the middle to score McCool and make it 12-10. Ramirez came to the hill to relieve Dorsey and retired Blume on a grounder to first to preserve the victory.

The winning pitcher for Antonian was subject to the discretion of the official scorer. Patrick Ramirez, who closed the ballgame, earned the save, and starting pitcher Christian Carreon pitched only the first two innings, falling short of the necessary four innings a starting pitcher must complete to be eligible for the victory. Among the four other pitchers, Eric Amaya was the most effective, pitching two shutout innings despite giving up three hits and a walk in the 5th (he was helped out by one of Antonian’s three double plays.) By the letter of the rulebook, Amaya should be awarded the victory, although Antonian coach Sedrick Harris would be following tradition were he to award the victory to Carreon despite his short start.

Luciano Villanueva rallies Antonian past St. Anthony

Apaches extend winning streak to 15 with 3-2 victory in nine innings

by Mark Kusenberger
SAsports.com Staff Writer
www.TSRNsports.com

Luciano Villanueva scored the tying run in the 7th and the winning run in the 9th to lead the Antonian Apaches to a 3-2 victory over the St. Anthony Yellowjackets Wednesday afternoon at Antonian High School.

Antonian (19-7, 4-0 in TAPPS 2-5A), which extended their winning streak to 15, trailed St. Anthony 2-0 going into the 7th. The Yellowjackets are winless in district.

Antonian put together the winning rally without a hit in the 9th. Michael Patrick drew a leadoff walk against losing pitcher Jacob Hernandez, then Hernandez, who had thrown 104 pitches, made way on the hill for Stephen Valadez. Danny Martinez sacrificed Patrick to second, then St. Anthony intentionally walked Matt Smith. Each runner advanced on a passed ball, then with the infield and outfield in, Villanueva hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Patrick for the game winner. It was Antonian’s first lead of the game.

St. Anthony (8-13, 0-4 in TAPPS 2-5A) manufactured runs in the first and second, and Fernandez came within one out of making those runs stand up against a hot Apache team. Fernandez led off the game with a single to left, after which Garrett Putman bunted him to second. Valadez singled to left to drive home Fernandez, and St. Anthony was ahead.

The script worked again in the second. Jeff Blume reached on an error, then Ernest Castro sacrificed him to second. Robert Cantu advanced Blume to third with a grounder to short, then Jeremy Valdez reached on an error, allowing Blume to score and giving St. Anthony a 2-0 lead.

Antonian got the leadoff man aboard in the 1st, 2nd, and 5th innings, but couldn’t get him past third. However, Jeff Dorsey was settling in; after giving up the runs in the first and second, he retired every leadoff hitter the rest of the game. Dorsey went all 9 innings for the victory, giving up 7 hits and 2 runs – 1 earned – striking out only 1 but walking none. Dorsey needed only 92 pitches for the extra inning complete game.

But Dorsey’s effort would not have been enough had Antonian not taken advantage of a breakdown in the Yellowjacket defense in the 7th. With St. Anthony 3 outs away from a major upset, Patrick led off the Antonian 7th with a single to center. Martinez lined out to right for the first out, then Matt Smith, who was 3 for 3 with two doubles at the time, grounded into a force play; when the St. Anthony second baseman tried to turn the double play, he threw the ball into the Antonian dugout for an error, allowing Smith to second. Smith went to third on a balk, then scored when Villanueva’s apparent game-ending grounder to second was misplayed for a second error, cutting the Antonian deficit to 2-1. Next, Patrick Ramirez hit a sharp grounder through the legs of the St. Anthony shortstop for a third error of the inning; as the ball went all the way to the fence, Villanueva scored for first to tie the game.

Christian Carreon grounded to short to end the seventh, but the score was now 2-2, and the stage for set for Villanueva’s game-winning RBI in the 9th.

Good luck to everyone on today’s TAKS test!

Everyone here at SAsports.com wishes the best for the freshman, sophomores, and juniors who are taking the TAKS test today. Think positively, eliminate distractions, and success will follow.

God bless you guys!

- Jay Tope