LOCAL NEWS

World Series welcomed distraction from Harvey destruction

Alexandria Rodriguez
Corpus Christi

PORT ARANSAS — Andrew Guido had not seen the city where he's spent many vacations since Hurricane Harvey hit. 

But Friday, the 23-year-old drove from San Antonio to the city by the beach to see the clear signs of damage to the town and his family's vacation home.

"We cherish this place," Guido said of Port Aransas. "We hate to see it go down like that. We want to pull together."

That night, Guido and his friends pulled together at the Back Porch Bar in a show of support for both the hurricane-ravaged city and the Houston Astros, a South Texas-favorite, in the World Series.

The bar was a lively spot on West Cotter Avenue, most of which remained in the dark in the wake of Harvey, which damaged many businesses and took down most of the town's light poles.

On Friday, the bar was hosting a benefit concert that began after it televised the Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers playing in Game 3 of the Series.

Mac Claus, 23, from left, Zach Standerfer, 25, Christian Heckel, 25, and Andrew Guido, 23, watch the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers play during Game 3 of the MLB World Series on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at The Back Porch Bar in Port Aransas.

Donations and money to get into the outdoor bar went directly to businesses and homeowners with no insurance to cover storm damage or those without enough coverage, general manager Lee Harper said. 

"We just got cable two days ago," Harper said, adding that he was able to show Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday. "We had a pretty good crowd considering the circumstances."

During Game 2, Harper said those who came out to watch were excited and relaxed. He said the crowd began to look normal and called it "typical Port Aransas." 

Though it was a chilly, windy night in Port Aransas during Game 3, more than 20 people arrived at the bar to watch the game and support their community during the Bri Bagwell country concert sponsored by Texas Home Design. 

Baseball fans sit and watch the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 3 of the MLB World Series on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at The Back Porch Bar in Port Aransas.

The night also gave some residents a chance to forget the stress of rebuilding. 

Jerry and Gloria Montalvo, who are lifelong Astros fans and Port Aransas residents, took Game 3 as an opportunity to have a "date night."

"We got hot water two weeks ago," said Gloria Montalvo, 60. "We had to remove all the sheetrock because of mold." 

But for a moment Friday, the couple forgot about their damaged home to cheer on their favorite team and make a $20 donation to help support the rebuilding of their beloved city. 

Mac Claus, 23, from left, Zach Standerfer, 25, Christian Heckel, 25, and Andrew Guido, 23, watch the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers play in Game 3 of the MLB World Series on Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at The Back Porch Bar in Port Aransas.

Jerry Montalvo, 60, said he also hopes to receive photos from their son, who will be attending Game 4 in Houston on Sunday.

And although he is a little disappointed in the way the series has gone so far, Jerry Montalvo is still rooting for the Astros to take home the title. 

"It's a way to think about something else," he said. "And I like baseball."