Saturday night was especially meaningful for the Garzas. Rene, the family patriarch, was there to enjoy it with them.

The 39-year-old coach, who suffered a heart attack during a game five weeks ago, and his son, Mario, were recognized with the rest of the ORWALL National Big League team that is headed to the World Series in Easley, South Carolina, for the second straight year.

Rene had complained of heartburn in the dugout during a June 15 game here at the ORWALL fields. The last thing he remembers is Mario, the team’s center fielder, asking, “What’s wrong, coach?” Rene collapsed to the ground, “and the next thing I woke up in the ambulance,” he said. In the meantime, a few quick-thinking ORWALL coaches and an off-duty Conroe Police officer administered CPR and used an AED until paramedics arrived.

This will be Rene’s last year coaching his son, who recently graduated from Oak Ridge High School and is headed to Tyler Junior College in the fall. He will pitch and play outfield for the Apaches. Click here for complete story