The Laredo Broncos used a five-run ninth inning to take a late lead on Wednesday night against San Angelo, but it would not be enough.
The Colts tied it in the ninth before prevailing with a 8-7 win in the 10th inning.
San Angelo, in first place in United League Baseball, improved to 18-9. Laredo fell to 9-18.
The Broncos’ offense, the second best in ULB, struggled against the Colts’ Drew Coffey for the first five innings, being held scoreless.
But that would change in the sixth, as, trailing 1-0, Mario Mendez’s two-run home run, his fifth of the season, gave the Broncos a 2-1 lead.
Broncos starter Gregorio Martinez, who pitched a fine first six innings, ran into trouble in the seventh as he loaded the bases with none out and allowed the Colts to tie the game.
In the eighth, San Angelo came through to take the lead, scoring three runs on Josh Callazo’s three-run double to force Martinez out of the game.
Martinez ended up going 7.1 innings, surrendering five runs on 10 hits and walking three.
He struck out one.
But the Broncos put together an inspiring ninth inning, scoring five runs to take a 7-2 lead.
Anthony Bennett walked with the bases loaded before Luis Ugueto drilled a two-run single.
Miguel Ortiz followed with a RBI single before Mendez added a RBI double.
The Colts, eventually, tied the game off reliever Edgar Soto, getting a pair of runs on Bradley Goldsmith’s two-run single.
That set up another heroic stage for Goldsmith in the ninth, as his walkoff RBI single handed the Broncos another heartbreaking loss.
Laredo scored seven runs on 10 hits to San Angelo’s eight runs on 15 hits.
The Colts totaled five errors to the Broncos’ one.
The finale of the four-game series is tonight in San Angelo. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Update on new stadium
Here's the latest on the new voter-approved baseball stadium that is slated to be built next to the Laredo Entertainment Center.
The bolded text provides news of particular interest.
==============================
By ZACH LINDSEY
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Three nationally based companies have responded to the city’s request for proposals for the construction of a voter-approved baseball stadium next to the Laredo Entertainment Center.
The three companies presented their qualifications, without specific plans for a stadium, to City Council during a Monday workshop. The three companies interested in the stadium are Kansas City-based HOK Sport, Dallas-based HKS and Crafton Tull Sparks of Tulsa, Okla.
All three have experience in the stadium construction business, such as Crafton Tull Sparks, which built the QuikTrip Park in Grand Prairie, ranked 2008’s best new ballpark by Ballpark Digest.
HSK was involved in the construction of the Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, a 350,000-square-foot stadium with 6,500 seats, and HOK Sports was involved in the construction of the Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla., which has nearly 8,000 regular seats.
“We just need to find out exactly how much we really want to invest,” said Councilman Johnny Rendon. The ballpark will be in his council district.
Rendon has long been a proponent of the new baseball stadium.
“I really believe the City of Laredo is a baseball town, and if we can just bring those types of amenities to Laredo, the quality of life for our citizens will be improving,” Rendon said.
At least one council member considered local cooperation with the project to be one of the most important aspects of picking a firm.
“Two groups (had) very strong local presentation,” said Councilman Gene Belmares. “One was kind of weak on (what) they had locally in terms of who they were involving upfront on those projects.”
HKS recommends Humphries and Sanchez Architects as its associate architect. Juan Homero Sanchez of Humphries and Sanchez has worked with the Texas Department of Transportation to construct its Laredo District Headquarters, and also helped design the Webb County Justice Center and the Lamar Bruni Vergara Inner City Park.
The engineering team HKS envisions is Puig Engineering, also a local company.
Crafton Tull Sparks also recommends Humphries and Sanchez in an architectural role and Puig Engineering as civil engineering consultants.
HOK Sport worked in the past on a study for the possible convention center, and did tour the site, but has not completed any projects in the Laredo area. HOK proposes the locally based Architects Plus as subconsultant, but the rest of the team consists of out-of-towners.
The baseball stadium will likely be funded by revenue from the sports venue tax, created to pay for the LEC.
The larger the amount of money the City Council is willing to spend on a baseball stadium, the less money will be available for future projects that can also be financed with the sports venue tax money, such as a planned downtown convention center.
“It’s how much money I can spend on one without affecting the other one,” said City Manager Carlos Villarreal.
Villarreal said he will draft a few scenarios after meeting with the city’s financial advisers. He expects to have a plan by either the July 20 council meeting or the following one.
The convention center is still a long way off. It must go before voters, in either a special election in November 2009 or the regular November 2010 election. Voters could say no to the referendum.
“We might just put up half of (the money) and finance the rest,” Villarreal said. “I need to take a look at all the variables and come back to council.”
Also, the sports venue tax money is used for the maintenance of the LEC.
“I want to make sure that council is aware of a possible dilemma if we spend it all at one time for a baseball stadium,” Villarreal said.
The city spends about $750,000 a year on maintenance for the LEC, according to Villarreal.
“The challenge is going to be, now, making that selection and coming back with the programming which is what is going to tell us the size of the facility and an estimated budget for that type of facility based on inputs of council, the community and an operator of the baseball team,” Belmares said. “Staff’s got a pretty hard task on their hands.”
Other unknowns in the baseball stadium equation are who will be the operator of the stadium and what team the stadium will host. At first, the Laredo Broncos seemed like the shoo-ins for the stadium, but Ventura Sports Group, owner of the El Paso Diablos and the Grand Prairie AirHogs, also has put forth a proposal for the operation of the stadium.
Staff still needs to make a formal recommendation to council regarding which would better serve the interests of Laredo.
“That’s a decision council will make, and that will complete the package,” Belmares said.
The bolded text provides news of particular interest.
==============================
By ZACH LINDSEY
LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Three nationally based companies have responded to the city’s request for proposals for the construction of a voter-approved baseball stadium next to the Laredo Entertainment Center.
The three companies presented their qualifications, without specific plans for a stadium, to City Council during a Monday workshop. The three companies interested in the stadium are Kansas City-based HOK Sport, Dallas-based HKS and Crafton Tull Sparks of Tulsa, Okla.
All three have experience in the stadium construction business, such as Crafton Tull Sparks, which built the QuikTrip Park in Grand Prairie, ranked 2008’s best new ballpark by Ballpark Digest.
HSK was involved in the construction of the Whataburger Field in Corpus Christi, a 350,000-square-foot stadium with 6,500 seats, and HOK Sports was involved in the construction of the Bright House Field in Clearwater, Fla., which has nearly 8,000 regular seats.
“We just need to find out exactly how much we really want to invest,” said Councilman Johnny Rendon. The ballpark will be in his council district.
Rendon has long been a proponent of the new baseball stadium.
“I really believe the City of Laredo is a baseball town, and if we can just bring those types of amenities to Laredo, the quality of life for our citizens will be improving,” Rendon said.
At least one council member considered local cooperation with the project to be one of the most important aspects of picking a firm.
“Two groups (had) very strong local presentation,” said Councilman Gene Belmares. “One was kind of weak on (what) they had locally in terms of who they were involving upfront on those projects.”
HKS recommends Humphries and Sanchez Architects as its associate architect. Juan Homero Sanchez of Humphries and Sanchez has worked with the Texas Department of Transportation to construct its Laredo District Headquarters, and also helped design the Webb County Justice Center and the Lamar Bruni Vergara Inner City Park.
The engineering team HKS envisions is Puig Engineering, also a local company.
Crafton Tull Sparks also recommends Humphries and Sanchez in an architectural role and Puig Engineering as civil engineering consultants.
HOK Sport worked in the past on a study for the possible convention center, and did tour the site, but has not completed any projects in the Laredo area. HOK proposes the locally based Architects Plus as subconsultant, but the rest of the team consists of out-of-towners.
The baseball stadium will likely be funded by revenue from the sports venue tax, created to pay for the LEC.
The larger the amount of money the City Council is willing to spend on a baseball stadium, the less money will be available for future projects that can also be financed with the sports venue tax money, such as a planned downtown convention center.
“It’s how much money I can spend on one without affecting the other one,” said City Manager Carlos Villarreal.
Villarreal said he will draft a few scenarios after meeting with the city’s financial advisers. He expects to have a plan by either the July 20 council meeting or the following one.
The convention center is still a long way off. It must go before voters, in either a special election in November 2009 or the regular November 2010 election. Voters could say no to the referendum.
“We might just put up half of (the money) and finance the rest,” Villarreal said. “I need to take a look at all the variables and come back to council.”
Also, the sports venue tax money is used for the maintenance of the LEC.
“I want to make sure that council is aware of a possible dilemma if we spend it all at one time for a baseball stadium,” Villarreal said.
The city spends about $750,000 a year on maintenance for the LEC, according to Villarreal.
“The challenge is going to be, now, making that selection and coming back with the programming which is what is going to tell us the size of the facility and an estimated budget for that type of facility based on inputs of council, the community and an operator of the baseball team,” Belmares said. “Staff’s got a pretty hard task on their hands.”
Other unknowns in the baseball stadium equation are who will be the operator of the stadium and what team the stadium will host. At first, the Laredo Broncos seemed like the shoo-ins for the stadium, but Ventura Sports Group, owner of the El Paso Diablos and the Grand Prairie AirHogs, also has put forth a proposal for the operation of the stadium.
Staff still needs to make a formal recommendation to council regarding which would better serve the interests of Laredo.
“That’s a decision council will make, and that will complete the package,” Belmares said.
Broncos win
After a devastating, 10th-inning loss on Monday, the Broncos’ offense responded in full force on Tuesday, belting 13 hits en route to a 7-1 win over the San Angelo Colts at Foster Field.
The Broncos improved to 9-17 on the season as the Colts fell to 17-9.
The win was the Broncos’ sixth in their last 10 games. They boast the second-best offense in United League Baseball.
The first-place Colts lost for the third time in their last six contests.
Laredo wasted no time in jumping on San Angelo, scoring five runs in the third inning.
Miguel Ortiz ignited things with a solo home run, his first of the season.
David Cardona followed with a RBI single before Anthony Bennett capitalized with a RBI double.
Cardona then scored on an error, and Jaime Morales reached base on a fielder’s choice that enabled Bennett to score.
San Angelo’s lone run came in the third inning on Ronnie Gaines’ two-out RBI single.
The Broncos boosted their lead to 6-1 in the fourth on Luany Sanchez’s RBI single before putting the finishing touches on the win on Morales’ RBI single in the seventh.
Broncos ace Ryan Harris (2-3) pitched brilliantly, throwing the team’s first complete game all season.
He gave up one run on six hits, striking out six and walking three.
The Colts’ Brian Henschel (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season.
Overall, the Broncos had seven runs on 13 hits with no errors.
The Colts mustered one run on six hits and committed four miscues.
The teams play their third game of the four-game set tonight in San Angelo.
The Broncos will play again in San Angelo on Thursday before heading to Amarillo for a four-game set against the second-place Dillas.
Laredo will return to the Gateway City for an eight-game homestand beginning Tuesday.
All Bronco road games can be listened to through the team Web site - www.laredobroncos.com — through ww.sportsjuice.com.
The Broncos improved to 9-17 on the season as the Colts fell to 17-9.
The win was the Broncos’ sixth in their last 10 games. They boast the second-best offense in United League Baseball.
The first-place Colts lost for the third time in their last six contests.
Laredo wasted no time in jumping on San Angelo, scoring five runs in the third inning.
Miguel Ortiz ignited things with a solo home run, his first of the season.
David Cardona followed with a RBI single before Anthony Bennett capitalized with a RBI double.
Cardona then scored on an error, and Jaime Morales reached base on a fielder’s choice that enabled Bennett to score.
San Angelo’s lone run came in the third inning on Ronnie Gaines’ two-out RBI single.
The Broncos boosted their lead to 6-1 in the fourth on Luany Sanchez’s RBI single before putting the finishing touches on the win on Morales’ RBI single in the seventh.
Broncos ace Ryan Harris (2-3) pitched brilliantly, throwing the team’s first complete game all season.
He gave up one run on six hits, striking out six and walking three.
The Colts’ Brian Henschel (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season.
Overall, the Broncos had seven runs on 13 hits with no errors.
The Colts mustered one run on six hits and committed four miscues.
The teams play their third game of the four-game set tonight in San Angelo.
The Broncos will play again in San Angelo on Thursday before heading to Amarillo for a four-game set against the second-place Dillas.
Laredo will return to the Gateway City for an eight-game homestand beginning Tuesday.
All Bronco road games can be listened to through the team Web site - www.laredobroncos.com — through ww.sportsjuice.com.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Broncos fall to Colts in 10
MONDAY -- After having just finished a four-game set in Laredo, the Broncos and San Angelo Colts started another four-game series in West Texas on Monday.
After splitting their last series, the Colts won the opener of their latest set, 8-7, in 10 innings.
The Colts, who are in first place in United League Baseball, improved to 17-8. The Broncos, who are in last place, fell to 8-17.
The Colts scored six runs in the first inning, highlighted by Josh Collazo’s two-run single and Blake Shaffer’s RBI single.
Broncos stareter Tano Tijerina lasted just two-thirds of the inning, surrendering six runs – four earned – on two hits.
He walked three and struck out one.
Fortunately for the Broncos, that would be the worst of the Colts’ damage.
The Broncos got on the scoreboard in the second inning on O.J. Garza’s sacrifice fly, and then scored two more in the third when Ryan Flynn scored on a throwing error and Luany Sanchez followed with a RBI single.
The Colts tacked on another run in the third before the Broncos struck again, scoring three more runs in the fourth.
Garza scored on another San Angelo error and Miguel Ortiz drilled a two-run single to cut the Broncos’ deficit to one run.
The Broncos, however, came through when it mattered most and tied the game in the ninth inning on Luis Ugueto’s sacrifice fly.
But the strong rally would not last long.
The Broncos threatened in the 10th, putting two on with one out, before failing to capitalize on the opportunity.
San Angelo did, however.
In the Colts’ half of the frame, Shaffer’s game-winning double scored Hank Lanto to end things.
The Broncos scored seven runs on nine hits to the Colts’ eight on 10.
After splitting their last series, the Colts won the opener of their latest set, 8-7, in 10 innings.
The Colts, who are in first place in United League Baseball, improved to 17-8. The Broncos, who are in last place, fell to 8-17.
The Colts scored six runs in the first inning, highlighted by Josh Collazo’s two-run single and Blake Shaffer’s RBI single.
Broncos stareter Tano Tijerina lasted just two-thirds of the inning, surrendering six runs – four earned – on two hits.
He walked three and struck out one.
Fortunately for the Broncos, that would be the worst of the Colts’ damage.
The Broncos got on the scoreboard in the second inning on O.J. Garza’s sacrifice fly, and then scored two more in the third when Ryan Flynn scored on a throwing error and Luany Sanchez followed with a RBI single.
The Colts tacked on another run in the third before the Broncos struck again, scoring three more runs in the fourth.
Garza scored on another San Angelo error and Miguel Ortiz drilled a two-run single to cut the Broncos’ deficit to one run.
The Broncos, however, came through when it mattered most and tied the game in the ninth inning on Luis Ugueto’s sacrifice fly.
But the strong rally would not last long.
The Broncos threatened in the 10th, putting two on with one out, before failing to capitalize on the opportunity.
San Angelo did, however.
In the Colts’ half of the frame, Shaffer’s game-winning double scored Hank Lanto to end things.
The Broncos scored seven runs on nine hits to the Colts’ eight on 10.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Interesting indeed
Here are some interesting tidbits on the Broncos, who are in last place in United League Baseball with an 8-16 overall record, courtesy of some stat digging by ULB Media Relations Director Jerry Deal.
* The Broncos are second in the league in hitting with a .298 mark. That is second to San Angelo at .317 and ahead of Amarillo - .275, Edinburg and Rio Grande Valley, each at .263; and Coastal Bend at .245.
* The Broncos have three hitters in the top 10 -- Dave Cardona at .357; Miguel Ortiz at .354; and Mario Mendez at .340.
* The Broncos are second in the league in hitting with a .298 mark. That is second to San Angelo at .317 and ahead of Amarillo - .275, Edinburg and Rio Grande Valley, each at .263; and Coastal Bend at .245.
* The Broncos have three hitters in the top 10 -- Dave Cardona at .357; Miguel Ortiz at .354; and Mario Mendez at .340.
Mendez is third in stolen bases with 10 and second in number of hits, 32. Ortiz leads in doubles with 10.
* The Broncos are 5-5 in their last 10 outings. That is as good as Coastal Bend and Edinburg, and better than Amarillo and Rio Grande Valley, both at 4-6.
* The Broncos are 5-5 in their last 10 outings. That is as good as Coastal Bend and Edinburg, and better than Amarillo and Rio Grande Valley, both at 4-6.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Broncos win
Broncos win 14-5.
It's their fourth victory in 6 games, and their fifth in the last nine.
It's their fourth victory in 6 games, and their fifth in the last nine.
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