Hondo Anvil Herald
Published in Hondo, Texas
Online
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May 7, 2026
Hondo third baseman Anthony Garza takes a throw from pitcher Derek Elizondo, who had snared a Poteet line drive for an out, to double off an Aggie baserunner. The double play got the Owls out of a middle-inning jam in the 4-1 bi-district playoff opener last Thursday at Tejeda Sports Complex. The Owls brought out the big bats in the nightcap, collecting 11 hits in a 15-1, five-inning second game. The evening’s second lightning delay, couple with heavy rains, forced the conclusion of the game until Friday. It took 16 minutes to play the game’s final inning in Natalia.
PHOTOS / JEFF BERGER
Hondo first baseman Rudy Alvarado hops out of the way of a Poteet baserunner to avoid a collision in Thursday’s doubleheader at Tejeda Sports Complex. Even with a pair of lightning delays, one of which lasted until the next day, the Owls swept the bi-district series, 4-1 and 15-1.
Owls outlast weather delays, knock out Poteet at bi-district
San Antonio & Natalia -- The weather played around with Hondo’s baseball playoff series last weekend.
With the Owls one inning away from finishing off a Thursday night, April 30, doubleheader sweep of Poteet at Tejeda Sports Complex, the evening’s second lightning delay set in.
The extended light show and heavy rains forced the continuation of the game – with Hondo already ahead 12-1 after four complete innings of the nightcap – the following evening in Natalia. The Owls scored three more in the top of the fifth for good measure, then closed out the Aggies 15-1 in five innings, to go with the 4-1 win the night before, to earn a bi-district championship.
This week, the Owls (22-7-2) will face Goliad (23-8) in the area playoffs. The best-of-three series will be played in Freer, with single games on Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8, at 6 p.m. If a third game is needed, it will be Saturday, May 9, at 2 p.m. All weather permitting, of course.
Goliad swept a playoff series from Yoakum, 15-1 and 14-4.
In Thursday’s doubleheader opener, senior pitcher Derek Elizondo went the distance, scattering four hits, striking out six and surrendering only an unearned run in the second inning.
The Owls tied the game in the bottom of the third, then went ahead with two in the fourth, before a 55-minute lightning delay brought things to a halt. Hondo added one more run in the bottom of the sixth. Mason Barr and Layton Pope both had two hits, with Barr driving in a pair of runs.
Hondo broke open the second game with two runs in the second inning, then batted around in the third, scoring seven times to take a 9-0 lead. The Owls put up three in the fourth before the rainstorm hit.
Joby Pimentel pitched the four innings on Thursday, allowing four hits and an unearned run, fanning five Poteet batters. Rudy Alvarado pitched the fifth inning the next day as the series moved to Natalia.
Kolten Alvarez was 3-for-3, scoring four runs and driving in two. Elizondo was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. Alvarado was 2-for-3, driving in two, but the hit that opened the flood gates was a bases-loaded triple for Pope in the third inning.
In other bi-district action for teams from District 28-3A, Lytle swept its series with Great Hearts-Northern Oaks.
Crystal City was swept by Marion, and Natalia lost two to Jourdanton. In both of those series, the Javelinas and Mustangs lost close ones in the opener, then were run-ruled in the second game.
Layton Pope puts down an RBI bunt single, which scored Kolten Alvarez from third base.