By Rey Sifuentes Jr. (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

     The Lady Eagles have a few hurdles in front of them as they begin chasing their fifth consecutive District 29-5A title this season.  

     Eagle Pass is coming off of an extraordinary 2012 season in which it went undefeated in conference play, pocketed a fourth straight 29-5A crown, and went three rounds deep during the playoffs.

A.D. Ibarra

-Mission, TX

The CC Winn Lady Mavericks are back on the diamond this season with two early non-district tilts, one with Laredo Nixon who they managed to handle well, coming out on top 18-7.

The Lady Mavs traveled to Mission and Bentsen Palm Community Park on a cold and chilly evening to take on the Brownsville Pace Vikings.

Amberly Garza gave up only three hits, but five walks and five defensive errors made it easier for the Vikings to rack up the runs in the first and second innings.  Garza settled down and so did the Maverick defense who were able to stifle the Pace attack, but were unable to generate enough offense to mount any kind of a comeback.

Pace left six on and the Lady Mavericks left four runners on base.

Rosemary Hernandez and Alyssa Lopez were 1 for 2 for the Silver & Black while Natalie Garcia went 1 for 3.  Garza aided her cause with one hit in two at bats.

The Lady Mavericks scored their lone run in the first inning on the spikes of Rosemary Hernandez.  Ariana Ruiz, who has traded in her basketball shoes and is now a threat on the basepaths to steal bases as opposed to errant passes on the court, is back at her shortstop position as well as Caridad Garcia who is another multiple-sport athlete at Winn.

The Lady Mavericks came away with a convincing 12-0 victory over the Brownsville Rivera Raiders at the Mission Fastpitch Festival on Friday.

Brittany Perez delivered a gem allowing only one hit and one strikeout and the Lady Raiders committed three big errors in the loss.

Natalie Garcia went 1 for 2 with two runs scored.  Sophomore Ari Ruiz went 1 for 4, but scored three and brought in one.  Giselle Cerda also scored three times.  Alyssa Lopez had ones across the board going 1 for 1 with a run scored and one RBI and Karla Lopez went 1 for 1 with one run scored.

The Lady Mavericks also squared off with McAllen Memorial, but results were not available at press time.

The Lady Mavs take on the Kennedy Rockets at the EPISD Sports Complex on Tuesday.

A.D. Ibarra

-Austin, TX

When one goes off to college, people who have been there always say, 'You're mother's not going to be there to wake you up,' or, 'If you don't show up to class, nobody's going to make you go, not even the professor.'  

It's a drastic change that a first year college student goes through when the covers begin to get warmer every morning before that 8 o'clock class.

At the University of Texas, there's someone working out every day at 5:30 in the morning straight through 8:00 A.M. at a time where champions are born.  That someone is CC Winn's very own Frank Lopez.  

Lopez, in an exclusive interview with The Eagle Pass News Gram, let us know just what it takes to walk on to one of the premier college football programs in the nation.

"Everyday I say to my self, I'm going to give it all I have because day after day, I'm one step closer to making the football team at my dream school," he said of having to report to the Longhorns' training facility every morning before going to class.

Lopez is in his first year of a UT mathematics Bachelor's Degree program and he has been working with Coaches Collin Toller and Major Applewhite, "It's mostly conditioning at first," said the 6" 1' 230 Lb. All-District tackle who has been working on his deep snapping skills in hopes of making the traveling squad this season.

"First they see your film and video reels, there are many pre-requisites you need to have before you can even think of walking on."

Lopez said on the first day he was called, there were ten possible walk ons, five of which were cut right there and then for academic reasons.  The five left were addressed by Longhorn Coach Kenneth Rucker who told them, "You're here for a reason, so make it count."

"Only so many make the traveling squad, and walk-ons and red shirts all dress up for home games."

He has been under the direct supervision of former Longhorn Marcus Tubbs ('05).

"If you have an 8:00 A.M. class, they let you leave a little before eight, if you don't, you can stay to lift or workout on your own."

The great Mia Hamm once said, "Champions are made when no one's looking," and in Frank's case, he's making the best of this opportunity and sticking to the program and has been adhering to the work ethic he learned at CC Winn High School in Eagle Pass.

"I want t thank my parents, my teammates and coaches, Coach Ruiz, Coach Varela, Coach Jimenez and all the coaching staff," said the standout who as part of one of the best offensive lines ever at Winn HIgh, one which helped catapult EP's All-Time leading rusher, Luvin De Leon to 1st Team District 29-AAAAA status, "I may not be a starter at first, but I am one step closer.

The News Gram salutes the former Silver & Black Attack star, his family and his parents Maria and Rodolfo Lopez.  Godspeed and God bless, Frank, and keep carrying the name of CC Winn HS to greater heights.  Mavericks Assemble!