San Benito defeats Los Fresnos
By ADAM KUJAWSKI, Staff Writer
SAN BENITO — Playing their second game in less than 24 hours didn’t seem to have an effect on the San Benito Lady Greyhounds.
San Benito pitcher Crystal Castillo allowed one run on five hits and struck out 12 as the Lady Greyhounds handed the Los Fresnos Lady Falcons a 4-1 loss Saturday in San Benito.
Maya Guevara led off the game with a hit for Los Fresnos, but Castillo — who pitched the night before — retired the next three batters in order, the latter two via strikeout.
“It’s tough playing back-to-back,” San Benito coach Elias Martinez said. “We played two quality teams in the Cardinals and Los Fresnos, and being off for almost a week and a half, it was tough, but our girls stepped to the plate. We played very well, I was very pleased.
“I was worried about Crystal because she pitched last night, but she hung tough and we did what we had to get some runs.”
It didn’t take long for the Lady Greyhounds to provide their pitcher with the lead she needed to earn the victory.
During the bottom of the second inning, Ali Huerta led off with a single to center field, and Mel Gonzalez and Castillo each hit infield singles to load the bases.
Kimberly Harper stepped to the plate one batter later and hit a line-drive double down the left-field line to score Huerta and Gonzalez. Stephanie Contreras then drove in Castillo, and the Lady Greyhounds had a 3-0 lead after two.
Los Fresnos failed to answer in the third when Marisela Gaytan led off with a walk and Vivikah Pesina hit a single. The Lady Falcons didn’t put a player in scoring position the remainder of the game.
“I’m not disappointed in our effort,” Los Fresnos coach Traci Blackman said. “There was a couple little things that didn’t go our way. They strung some hits together and scored some runs. We got some people on, we just couldn’t get them in. It was a very good pitcher.”
During the sixth inning, Los Fresnos notched its only run when Karina Gonzalez sent a 1-2 pitch over the left-field wall for a home run. Dori Alcalde reached base on a single to follow the homer, but Castillo struck out the final two batters of the inning.
She then retired the Lady Falcons in order in the seventh to seal the win for the Lady Greyhounds.
Adam Kujawski covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6663 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @adamkujo1.