ADVERTISEMENT 2
ADVERTISEMENT 3
Error: No articles to display
ADVERTISEMENT 1
ADVERTISEMENT 4
STARTING THE SEASON WITH A BANG
The victorious Lady Eagles slam and pitch their way to a fantastic, nail-biting season-opening comeback triumph over the Lady Dragons
Eagle Pass 10, Southwest San Antonio 9
By MARK and BECKY OCHS
News Gram Sportswriters
Melanie Mendoza smashed a 250-foot grand-slam homer, knotting the score at 5 in the fourth inning and paving the way for the triumphant Lady Eagles to come from behind at the end of the game, pleasing their cheering crowd of adoring fans by winning 10-9 over the San Antonio Southwest High School Lady Dragons on Tuesday.night, February 18, at the Student Activity Center softball stadium. Sitting in the stands and cheering from behind home plate, Melanie's Nana, Sandra Moreno, said proudly: "That's my granddaughter! She is so great, and her sister Sandra is too. They are such awesome girls. Melanie is a sophomore and Sandra is a senior. They always come through when the going gets tough and the chips are down. That's when they shine -- when you really need them." This Eagles softball team never gives up. Trailing by a score of 9-7 to the Dragons in the bottom of the seventh and final inning, the Eagles staged a furious three-run rally and won the game 10-9 on a bases-loaded walk issued to Crystal Perez that clinched the glorious, scintillating, come-from-behind, season-opening, walk-off win. The mastermind of all this -- the beaming Eagles Head Coach Oscar Ruiz -- was thrilled by the amazing, against-all-odds victory. "This team just doesn't quit," he said proudly, smiling contentedly while savoring the magic of the moment. "We play a complete seven innings, and we win, no matter what. All of us hate to lose. No matter what happens, we just keep on fighting until we win." Superstar winning pitcher Krystal "Kat" De La Cruz (1-0) just kept on firing rising heaters throughout the night, mixed in with her magical, sinking sliders. The stylish, fire-balling, left-handed Kat was absolutely fabulous, She showed yet again why the big-time college scouts from Texas and Oklahoma are drooling over the prospect of recruiting her to pitch for them. Kat is a gem of a softball player -- a tall, silky-smooth, reliable ace who also is a quiet, calm, determined team leader. Kat simply refuses to fold, hanging in there until she finally notches the win. It was a great team victory for the quietly celebrating Eagles. Catcher Claudia "C.C." Cruz, and every outfielder and infielder all played crucial roles in the amazingly miraculous outcome of this Game For The Ages. The willowy, confident Kat De La Cruz appeared every bit the spitting image of her look-alike role model -- Cat Osterman, the University of Texas Longhorns' World Series ace and 2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist. "They played great," the cool Kat said of her hard-charging Eagles teammates after the intensely fought, neck-and-neck contest was over at last. "They always had my back. They played as a team, right down to the happy ending." Crystal Perez, the steady left fielder who drove in the winning run by drawing a free pass, was exhilarated by the Eagles walk-off heroics. "We were patient and we took the game, one hit at a time," she said, smiling with relief at the favorable outcome. "This is the perfect way to start the season," she added. "We want to do great things and go really far." Another pair of sisters also played crucial parts in sparking the Eagles' win. Rangy centerfielder Monica Flores expertly patrolled the outfield, displaying her senior leadership while also swatting an RBI double in the first inning. Monica's sister, Nina Flores, a budding sophomore star, anchored the hot corner at third base. Right fielder Vivian Ramirez ripped an RBI double in the fourth. Things looked grim for the home team at the opening of the seventh and final inning. The Eagles were down 9-7, but Daniela Velasquez led off the inning with a walk. Kat followed with another walk. Melanie Mendoza slammed an RBI double off the right-centerfield fence, trimming the Dragons' lead to 9-8. She went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder's choice, tying the score at 9 and eliciting roars from the frenzied throng of Eagles fanatics. Sandra Mendoza also walked, loading the bases with two out. The tense, awestruck, boisterous Eagles fans held their breath, crossed their fingers, made the Sign of the Cross and sat on the edge of their seats as the dangerous Crystal Perez came to the plate with the game on the line. Perez's patience ultimately paid off as she walked on five pitches, setting off thunderous applause and shouts of triumph from the enraptured, victorious onlookers, reveling in the rarefied air of their bodacious success. Those Eagles fans will never forget THIS victory, which just very well might portend the promising potential of very big things to come in this spring softball season of 2014.
UMC holds Grand Opening of El Indio Hwy. Clinic;
Chavira: 'Never ever dreamed of a clinic like this'
A.D. Ibarra
-UMC
"We've been blessed with a beautiful day," stated Chamber of Commerce emcee Humberto "Beto" Garza as a very large gathering came together to witness the grand opening of UMC's latest venture, the El Indio Highway Clinic which has been a long time in the planning stages, yet with its culmination, will bring much needed healthcare to the people who most need it in the southernmost reaches of Maverick County.
"We would like to welcome you to this proud and exciting day for UMC," said Board President Ruben Carrillo, "This day is truly a culmination of careful planning, hard work and responsible steady growth not only for UMC, but for our community who now have easier access to services we provide on a daily basis."
"In 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was passed," stated George Kypuros, CEO of UMC, "As imperfect as it may be, it did include some funding for projects like this."
Kypuros said they submitted the application in 2011 and they competed nationally and did not receive the funds, however persistence paid off for the new facility when in 2012, funding for this project was granted.
The reason behind the approval was mainly because UMC had purchased the six acre property from Isidro De Los Santos, thus making them what Washington deems a 'Shovel ready' project.
"I want to share my appreciation with Isidro De Los Santos and the De Los Santos Trust who was able to facilitate this construction."
"I want you to know that I'm from Eagle Pass, I was born on Bryan Street with a midwife" stated Dr. Juan Antonio Chavira, keynote speaker of the event who reminded the gathering of the fact that when he was growing up, there was nothing past HEB and the thought of health care for the people of Eagle Pass was nothing short of a fantasy, "Being as old as I am, I'm 29, and those of you who are as old as I am realize the significance of a place like this. In those times we did not have the medical care we have today. And when we had to go to the doctor we would go to Piedras Negras. I will tell you that most of the people who were born on Bryan were delivered by midwives and we were born OK with two legs, two arms, one head and we walk alright. They would come in and say 'Boil water, quick!' I never knew why they would boil water, but they would boil water."
He wanted to reiterate that when he was young, they could not even dream of having a clinic such as this. He said that when he sees these clinics with doctors who are here to care for his people in this pristine clinic, this clean clinic with clean restrooms, first rate equipment to treat and diagnose our people, he feels as proud as a gamecock.
"It gives me great pride that my town has the healthcare it needs," he concluded.
Kypuros took the opportunity to have each and every professional introduce themselves just before they unveiled a plaque commemorating the building and its Board of Directors and cutting the ribbon in what this reporter considers to be the grandest of grand openings I have ever attended.
Eagle Pass CBP Officers Seize Meth, Arrest Mississippi Woman
Suspect in Game Stop Robbery Detained
EAGLE PASS, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Eagle Pass arrested a Mississippi woman Thursday after finding her in possession of more than $200,000 worth of illicit drugs. In an unrelated incident, CBP officers detained a suspect wanted by local authorities in connection with an aggravated robbery.
“Our CBP officers’ training and experience are invaluable in detecting contraband in any form,” said Cynthia O. Rodriguez, CBP Port Director, Eagle Pass. “They are our first line of defense against illicit narcotics entering the country.”
CBP officers, working the pedestrian lane at the Camino Real International Bridge, encountered a 37-year-old woman as she arrived from Mexico, early Thursday morning. During inspection, officers discovered packages inside the linings of two coolers she was carrying. CBP officers recovered a total of 14.65 pounds of a methamphetamine, worth an estimated $219,780, from the packages.
The woman, a resident of Byhalia, Miss., was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for federal prosecution.
In an unrelated incident, Friday morning, CBP officers detained a 21-year-old man after records checks revealed he was wanted in connection with the recent robbery of a Game Stop store in Eagle Pass. The subject was turned over to the Eagle Pass Police Department.
The Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within U.S. Customs and Border Protection tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.