Ysleta High School

It was a crisp Friday evening in the heart of Texas, and under the bright lights, the Ysleta Indians took the field against the mighty Riverside Rangers—defending 1-4A district champions. But this one had a little extra spice, a brotherly chess match unfolding in the dugouts, as skipper Rene Solis led his Indians against his brother Rick and the Rangers. Both teams, unblemished in district play at 3-0, stepped onto the diamond with first place on the line.

And oh, what a performance the ValleyBoys delivered.

It started in the top of the second, when Angel Flores stepped to the plate with a steely resolve, lacing a single that brought home two. Moments later, a run tiptoed across on a balk, and just like that, Ysleta was on the board. The very next inning, Santiago Osorio doubled to extend the lead to 4-0, and you could almost hear the momentum shift.

And then there was the southpaw, Evan Martinez. The senior took the mound, battling through each frame with the grit of a seasoned veteran. Not everything was clicking, but oh, did he compete. Five innings, three hits, zero runs, and six strikeouts—his arm a metronome of determination. And behind him, the defense sparkled like a well-tuned symphony. Catcher Ismael Morales was a maestro behind the dish, not just blocking pitches but cutting down runners with laser-like precision.

The bats stayed hot for Ysleta—12 hits in total. Alexander Rubio? A perfect 3-for-3. Angel Flores? Two-for-two, both shots ringing off the bat for back-to-back triples. Osorio, Martinez, and Duran all collected multiple hits, and by the time the bottom of the fifth rolled around, the Indians had stormed to a commanding 10-0 lead.

But baseball, my friends, is never without its drama.

A leadoff walk put a Riverside runner aboard. A quick mound visit, a deep breath, and Martinez dialed in—freezing the next batter for strike three. The second out came on a fielder’s choice. But then, a passed ball moved the runner into scoring position. The tension built. The next pitch was roped into centerfield for a single. The runner from second rounded third, churning for home. And then—magic.

Charging in, Rubio scooped the ball cleanly and uncorked a throw with the precision of an artist’s brushstroke. A frozen rope, straight to Morales at the plate. The tag. The collision. The call—OUT!

Ballgame over. The Ysleta Indians, victorious. And with that, the ValleyBoys hoisted the Texas 20 Trophy high, taking their place atop the district standings.

Four games, four wins, outscoring their opponents 49-3. A dominant start, but the road marches on. Next stop: Austin High School on Tuesday, where the journey through district play continues.