Lrd Sports Wire & 956 Sports Laredo
March 9,2010
"Laredo Nixon Starts District Against Calallen"
CONTINUE FROM PAGE ONE
Coach Colin went on to say "I want to play little ball and get one run an inning as I told the team get a run in
each inning and you will win many games".
Going over the players he has this year he has been impressed with freshman catcher Edward Zepeda. Who
took over the catching job and has not let go of the position.
Coach Colin said " we did not realize how strong of an arm he had from behind the plate until he started
throwing out runners trying to steal on us that was a pleasant surprise which we want to work on more".
Zepeda played a great defensive game behind the plate. He threw out a runner as the ball got to second the
runner slide into the tag . The ball got there way before the runner did. His pop up time from behind the plate
to second was remarkable considering he is only a freshman. His pop up time is below 1.9 seconds . A time
that will be reviewed constantly the next four years by many college scouts and pro scouts.
The play of short stop Leo Benavidez in the hole was impressive. His two double plays that he started and he
threw out three runners at first with his strong arm. Several times the Calallen runners would look at him after
their run to first shaking their heads that they could not believe a ball hit into the hole was pulled to get them
out.
IT was a game that starter left handed senior pitcher Emilo Compean had in control the first five innings. Other
than the un earned run with two outs in the firsts. Compean struck out four in those first five innings. In the
second , third and fifth innings Calallen went 3 up and 3 down Two of those strike out came in the 3rd.
It was in the sixth inning that things started to break down for the Mustangs. Calallen scored three runs in the
6th inning with their top of the order going Calallen started with a hit from their lead off hitter followed by a
triple and a sac to score the first two innings. In the Sac play the Calallen runner was at third and the ball is hit
to left field as the Mustang fielder was running into foul grounds the runner appeared to have moved towards
home to early. The appeal was not done through the pitcher and the required throw to 3rd base and the next
pitched to the next batter allowed the run to remain. Even though Coach Colin argued with the home plate
umpire. From there it was over for the Mustangs.
The next inning Calallen scored five runs in the top of the 7th inning . The lights were turned off by Calallens
lefty Josh Zustinzilly with a closing that resembled a classic top pitcher taking control of his pitches and control.
Both in the sixth and seventh inning Zustinzilly struck out the side to end the Mustang treat . A masterful
performance by Zustinzilly who struck out 13 Mustang batters in seven innings pitched. He allowed two hits.A
play in the 2nd inning right at the Calallen short stop resulted in J Bustamante reaching first. The ball was hit
at the Calallen shortstop and he leaped and with the play in front the ball hit his glove and skidded to left. It
touched the glove in normal scoring that would be an error or it would have been three hits the Mustangs had.
That was the inning the Mustangs had back to back SAC's something we will see a lot this year from Nixon. A
single in the fourth and a double in the fifth and that was all the Mustang batters could get off the lefty.
Only two Mustang runners reached third . Once in the 5th after the double by Benito Renteria and Leo
Benavidez reached third on two errors by Calallen. But when both runners reached third Zustinzilly closed the
door real fast. He went 6 over the limit in seven innings pitched on 77 pitches only.
While Compean had the Mustangs in the game for five innings Calallen in the end closed the game to win the
game. Watching the Mustangs trying to put the pieces together with a young team. You see where they are
getting better at playing "Coach Colin Little Ball". There were three innings where the Mustangs laid down
SAC's and moved runners over.
After the game Coach Colin spoke to us and said " we had a great game going for five innings our kids played
well in that time frame and we got to play Small ball like we wanted early on". They were just not able to fight
off a brilliant pitching performance from Calallens pitcher. No one would have the way he pitched.
The Mustangs take a breather from district play and head to Alice, Texas this weekend for a tournament. With
time and perhaps a one two punch with the two senior pitchers the Mustangs have in Emilo Compean and
Cesar Mata. The Mustangs could be playing for the fourth slot in district to make the playoffs. One Sac at a
time like the five SAC's the Mustangs had in this game.
March 9,2010
"Laredo Nixon Starts District Against Calallen"
CONTINUE FROM PAGE ONE
Coach Colin went on to say "I want to play little ball and get one run an inning as I told the team get a run in
each inning and you will win many games".
Going over the players he has this year he has been impressed with freshman catcher Edward Zepeda. Who
took over the catching job and has not let go of the position.
Coach Colin said " we did not realize how strong of an arm he had from behind the plate until he started
throwing out runners trying to steal on us that was a pleasant surprise which we want to work on more".
Zepeda played a great defensive game behind the plate. He threw out a runner as the ball got to second the
runner slide into the tag . The ball got there way before the runner did. His pop up time from behind the plate
to second was remarkable considering he is only a freshman. His pop up time is below 1.9 seconds . A time
that will be reviewed constantly the next four years by many college scouts and pro scouts.
The play of short stop Leo Benavidez in the hole was impressive. His two double plays that he started and he
threw out three runners at first with his strong arm. Several times the Calallen runners would look at him after
their run to first shaking their heads that they could not believe a ball hit into the hole was pulled to get them
out.
IT was a game that starter left handed senior pitcher Emilo Compean had in control the first five innings. Other
than the un earned run with two outs in the firsts. Compean struck out four in those first five innings. In the
second , third and fifth innings Calallen went 3 up and 3 down Two of those strike out came in the 3rd.
It was in the sixth inning that things started to break down for the Mustangs. Calallen scored three runs in the
6th inning with their top of the order going Calallen started with a hit from their lead off hitter followed by a
triple and a sac to score the first two innings. In the Sac play the Calallen runner was at third and the ball is hit
to left field as the Mustang fielder was running into foul grounds the runner appeared to have moved towards
home to early. The appeal was not done through the pitcher and the required throw to 3rd base and the next
pitched to the next batter allowed the run to remain. Even though Coach Colin argued with the home plate
umpire. From there it was over for the Mustangs.
The next inning Calallen scored five runs in the top of the 7th inning . The lights were turned off by Calallens
lefty Josh Zustinzilly with a closing that resembled a classic top pitcher taking control of his pitches and control.
Both in the sixth and seventh inning Zustinzilly struck out the side to end the Mustang treat . A masterful
performance by Zustinzilly who struck out 13 Mustang batters in seven innings pitched. He allowed two hits.A
play in the 2nd inning right at the Calallen short stop resulted in J Bustamante reaching first. The ball was hit
at the Calallen shortstop and he leaped and with the play in front the ball hit his glove and skidded to left. It
touched the glove in normal scoring that would be an error or it would have been three hits the Mustangs had.
That was the inning the Mustangs had back to back SAC's something we will see a lot this year from Nixon. A
single in the fourth and a double in the fifth and that was all the Mustang batters could get off the lefty.
Only two Mustang runners reached third . Once in the 5th after the double by Benito Renteria and Leo
Benavidez reached third on two errors by Calallen. But when both runners reached third Zustinzilly closed the
door real fast. He went 6 over the limit in seven innings pitched on 77 pitches only.
While Compean had the Mustangs in the game for five innings Calallen in the end closed the game to win the
game. Watching the Mustangs trying to put the pieces together with a young team. You see where they are
getting better at playing "Coach Colin Little Ball". There were three innings where the Mustangs laid down
SAC's and moved runners over.
After the game Coach Colin spoke to us and said " we had a great game going for five innings our kids played
well in that time frame and we got to play Small ball like we wanted early on". They were just not able to fight
off a brilliant pitching performance from Calallens pitcher. No one would have the way he pitched.
The Mustangs take a breather from district play and head to Alice, Texas this weekend for a tournament. With
time and perhaps a one two punch with the two senior pitchers the Mustangs have in Emilo Compean and
Cesar Mata. The Mustangs could be playing for the fourth slot in district to make the playoffs. One Sac at a
time like the five SAC's the Mustangs had in this game.
Coach Colin starts district play against
Calallen at Ochoa Field.
Calallen at Ochoa Field.