Gone are Head Coach Barton Bickerton and Tres Barrera, but the Rattlers still pack a punch with several names that ring a bell from last season such as P/OF Lance Madden (.402, 33 H, 15 RBI), C Luis Treviño (.371, 26 H, 16 RBI) and SS/P Mario Vela (.321, 25 H, 7 RBI) and some new faces P Alejandro Venegas and SS Rodi Torres (.440, 33 H, 41 RBI).
But the Eagles will be arriving with the four-headed monster of 1-9 Eric Gonzalez (.354, 23 H, 8 RBI), RJ3 (.344. 31 H, 7 RBI), Diego Gaona (.355, 27 H, 5 RBI) and Mando Lopez (.456, 36 H, 23 RBI), who has a good amount of playoff experience and the hitting skills necessary to drive in runs for the Burnt Orange and White as he laced fastballs by both Tres Barrera and O'Connor's Justin Garcia last season.
Garcia should remember Eagle catcher Diego Gaona well as he hit one home run which should have been two as Gaona hit one to the warning track that game with a stiff wind blowing in. Diego is primed and ready to hit any thing the rattler staff can offer as they can only pitch around our hitters so much.
RJ Ruiz is another Eagle hitter who will give Sharyland problems and that's not mentioning his flat out speed on the base paths.
The hitter that new Head Coach Rodolfo Martinez probably has highlighted, underlined, circled and starred is the #21 jersey of 1B Mando Lopez who came through in the clutch last season for Reynol Mendoza's squad time and time again.
Chris Perez, Tony Galvan and Carlos Barrera will be on the hill for the Eagles and will attempt to keep the Sharyland bats at bay.
Kevin Chisum (.316, 18 H, 12 RBI), Jacoup Roiz (Who has missed some playing time due to injury) and Perez were other key players in last year's Regional Final run and with the addition of Olexis Gutierrez (.245, 13 H, 4RBI), Barrera (.325, 25 H, 14 RBI) and Alex Martinez (.212, 14 H, 8 RBI), the Eagles will be ready for their Bi-District showdown tomorrow at 5:00 PM at Laredo Uni-Trade Stadium. Game 2 will be at 2:00 PM on Saturday and Game 3 will be at 5:00 PM on Saturday if necessary.