Roadrunners lelvel off; Dillas pass 100,000 fans

Published on August 18, 2009 under United League Baseball (ULB) News Release


E stands for Edinburg, but it also stands for Eric - the two Roadrunners' veteran Erics - Gonzalez and Montoya. Both have been playing crucial roles in the latest Roadrunners surge to gain a place in the United League Baseball playoffs. The season ends August 31, with the playoffs to begin the next day. The Roadrunners won 12 consecutive games before losing to the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings by 6-2 Saturday night (August 15). This was five short of their minor league record of 17 consecutive wins in 2006, the first year of the league.

On Tuesday, at 36-30, they were a half game out of second place, after dropping two games to the Coastal Bend Thunder. Meanwhile, the second place Amarillo Dillas (36-29), who also have been playing exceptional baseball, although hammered 16-5 Monday by San Angelo had other good recent news. The Dillas management reported they went over the 100,000 attendance mark on Thursday (August 13). Although Gonzalez has not been hitting as well as in some years past, his leadership is so very important to keeping the team in shape mentally and physically, according to Field Manager Vince Moore. The manager said that he was so thankful that Gonzalez, who lives in La Feria, returned to the Roadrunners this season. Moore said he was equally glad to see the return of right handed pitcher Montoya, who is now 5-1 and is back in form, sporting a 2.97 ERA. Gonzalez, at 30, is the true veteran of Edinburg baseball. The infielder first began playing for the Roadrunners, then in the Central League, in 2001. He played with the club through 2005. Then, in 2006, the club became a member of the United League Baseball, with Moore returning as manager and with Gonzalez making his return. He has been on the club since then, giving him nine years of Edinburg ball. Montoya first went to Edinburg in 2004 and has been there since.

Both are former league All-Stars and have been the glue to keep the club together, Moore reports. They also were greatly involved in that record 17 wins, finally stopped by the San Angelo Colts, and also of the latest winning streak.

The streak had moved the Roadrunners up to second from fourth to second, with the Dillas, who had won five in a row, hot behind. The leading hitter for the Roadrunners is Robert Matlock, who is hitting at a .336 pace.

The Dillas have been moving along at a hot pace too, bolstered by the faithful home crowd. Rox Spradlin was the 100,000th person to pass through the gates and received four season passes for the 2010 season. The defending league champions have had more than 500,000 fans attend the games the past four years.

The Dillas won seven consecutive games before losing to San Angelo Sunday (Aug. 16). The WhiteWings, who won 7-3 in a season high 16 innings over the Laredo Broncos, on a grand slam home run by Jose Torres, then defeated the Broncos by 4-1 Monday, hold down the fourth place spot, but barely, at 31-35. The Thunder are 30-35. The Broncos, who have lost 12 consecutive games, are 21-45. Although they have cooled down a bit, the first place San Angelo Colts (43-23) are six and a half games ahead of the Dillas and seven ahead of the Roadrunners (36-30).

Bryan Frichter leads the league in hitting percentage, but for the first time he has dropped below .400, at. 396. He leads in stolen bases with 29. Frichter has been one of three Colts whose hitting was among the top 10. Jason Landreth is at .325, but Butch Ballez has dropped from the top 10.

The Colts all season have had some of the best hurlers in the ULB in Brian Henschel (10-3), who is first in ERAs at 1.89, Chandler Barnard (9-2) and Ezequiel Anastacio (7-2). Tim Haines of Edinburg is7-4.

Landreth leads in home runs with 15, Trent Lockwood of Amarillo has 12, Laredo's Argelis Nunez has 13 and Rio Grande Valley's Brian Nichols and Reymund Cruz each have 10. Landreth leads in RBIs with 61, Nunez has 58 and Lockwood has 56. The Colts, in team batting, have moved back into first at .288. Amarillo is close behind at .285. They are followed by Rio Grande Valley, at .277. Laredo, at 275, Edinburg at 272 and Coastal Bend, .270.

The Dillas have three players among the top 10 in hitting. They are Stanzel Smith, third at .355, Keanon Simon, fourth at .347, and Terrance McClain, fifth at .339. Nunez is second with a .356 average. Other top hitters include Brian Nichols, Rio Grande Valley, .338, Luis Ugueta, Laredo, .332, Lewis Christopher, Coastal Bend, and Landreth, tied at .325. Frichter leads in stolen bases, with 29, followed by Stanzel Smith with 28, Simon, 26 and Dustin Smith, Coastal Bend, 26. Matlock leads in total hits with 89 and Agustin Septimo, Rio Grande Valley, has 88. Amadeo Zazueta, Coastal Bend, has 85. WhiteWings closer Julio Santana has the most saves, 16, followed by Chase Vacek with 12.

Upcoming games: Through August 19 - Amarillo at San Angelo, Edinburg at Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Valley at Laredo. August 20-23 - San Angelo at Amarillo, Coastal Bend at Rio Grande Valley and Laredo at Edinburg, August 24-27 -- Rio Grande Valley at Amarillo, Laredo at Coastal Bend and San Angelo at Edinburg, August 28-31 - Amarillo at Edinburg, Coastal Bend at Laredo and Rio Grande Valley at San Angelo. The playoffs begin on Sept. 1, with the first place club playing at the third place club's location and the second place team playing at the fourth place team's location. On Sept. 2 and 3 (if necessary) the third place team will play at the first place club's location and the fourth place team will play at the second team's location. The finals will follow.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United League Baseball Stories from August 18, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central