Laredo wins Texas Winter League opener
Published on January 19, 2007 under United League Baseball (ULB) News Release
HARLINGEN, Texas - Craig Pearson struck out six in three scoreless innings and two relievers combined to secure a 3-2 victory for the Laredo Broncos over the Edinburg Coyotes in the inaugural game of the Texas Winter Baseball League at historic Harlingen Field.
Pearson, a 6-foot-5 lefty who pitched for Alexandria in the summer United League, allowed one hit and walked two to record the victory in the seven-inning game. Jesse Hendriksen pitched the next three innings, giving up two runs (none earned). Jeremy Schultz worked a scoreless seventh for the save.
Laredo (1-0) scored two runs in the first inning without the ball leaving the infield. Josh Ashton and Candelario Perez reached on infield singles. Both eventually scored when knuckleballs from Edinburg starter Alan Bowen (0-1) got past catcher Charlie Weisser.
The Broncos added an unearned run in the second inning. Harlingen native Josh English recorded the first RBI in the league's history with a fielder's choice to score Carlos De La Rosa. The Broncos managed just one hit the rest of the game.
Edinburg scored its two runs in the sixth inning. Charlie Ibarra started the rally with an one-out infield single. Eric Gonzalez, the crowd favorite from Edinburg's summer team, hit a double off the wall in left field that is probably a home run during the summer. One out later, Kevin MacIlvane hit a grounder to second that went through second baseman De La Rosa's legs to score two runs.
The Texas Winter League is an extended tryout for high school and college players who were not drafted or signed by professional baseball clubs. A handful of players from last summer's United Baseball League are also participating. The four teams will play 24 games in 28 days. Games are at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays. No games on Sundays. In the 7 p.m. game, Harlingen hosts Brownsville.
United League Baseball Stories from January 19, 2007
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