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Edcouch-Elsa pulled out a stunning win Friday night, handing Edinburg Vela its second loss of the season with a 4-2 extra-innings victory to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Class 5A bi-district series.
The Lady Yellowjackets were playing in their third game in one week after beating Donna High twice (once in a seeding game) to take the fourth spot in District 32-5A. They were tied at 2 heading into the eighth inning before sophomore Allyson Rodriguez laced a two-run, inside-the-park home run to put E-E (18-9) ahead for good over the 31-5A champion Lady SaberCats (22-2).
“It’s huge,” Lady Yellowjackets coach Joey Palacios said. “We told the kids we needed to take advantage of this opportunity that we’ve earned. It’s been a tough past few days having to beat Donna to get here. But we told the kids let’s keep doing the things that we’ve been doing.
“Right now we’re playing with a lot of confidence and we’re finding ways to win ball games.”
Palacios credited defense for playing “lights out,” including junior pitcher Sarah Rodriguez.
“Everything just fell into place,” Palacios said. “I told them I’m extremely proud of them, but we have to get back to work (in Game 2) and hopefully finish the job.”
E-E hosts Vela at 5:30 tonight.
SHARYLAND PIONEER 7, BROWNSVILLE PORTER 6: At Mission, the Lady Diamondbacks came back after squandering a 4-1 lead to take control late and complete the best-of-three series in Game 2.
Pioneer (14-9) was 4-1 before giving up five runs between the fifth and seventh innings. Lady Diamondbacks coach Orlando Garcia said Porter came up “with big bats at crucial times” to narrow the deficit and take control momentarily, before Pioneer pulled away.
Down 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Lady Diamondbacks sent their No. 3, 4 and 5 batters up to the plate, before a two-run shot tied it. Then, with runners on first and third, the Porter pitcher sent delivered a ball that was lost by the catcher, allowing Pioneer to score the go-ahead run.
MERCEDES 6, RIO GRANDE CITY 2: At Mercedes, the Lady Tigers’ Dalilah Barreras stepped up with a triple to right field to help pull away and sweep RGC in Game 2 of their best-of-three series.
Barreras’ triple scored four runs to help break from a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning as the 32-5A champions advance to the area round.
“We won a tough game,” Mercedes coach Betty Morrell said. “We both battled every inning and left runners in scoring position.”
MISSION VETERANS 6, PSJA HIGH 3: At Pharr, the Lady Patriots pulled out a win in Game 1 of their best-of-three series behind D.D. Ibarra and Leandra Hinojosa, who had two RBI singles in the win.
Alysson Moreno pitched five scoreless innings.
CLASS 6A
McALLEN ROWE 6, LAREDO UNITED SOUTH 4: At Laredo, the Lady Warriors’ Krystal Ramos picked up the win in the circle to help her team close out the one-game series.
Rowe (17-6), the 30-6A champions, will meet Edinburg High (21-6) in the area round. Edinburg finished in a three-way tie for first place in 31-6A, ultimately landing a third seed after coin flips.
EDINBURG NORTH 3, LOS FRESNOS 2: At Edinburg, the Lady Cougars closed out the series in Game 2.
Pitcher Haley Dennett came up big defensively, and the offense did enough for North to pull through. Abby Hinojosa and Klarissa Lopez also stepped up at the plate and came through on defense.
North will play the winner of McAllen High-Eagle Pass in the area round.
LAREDO LBJ 2, MISSION HIGH 0: At Mission, the Lady Eagles lost their one-game playoff series to end the season at 15-9 overall.
Mission High was the runner-up in District 30-6A, finishing with a 10-2 record.
McALLEN MEMORIAL 13, LAREDO UNITED 0 (4 INNINGS): At McAllen, the Lady Mustangs won Game 1 of their best-of-three series.
Daisy Gonzalez finished with eight strikeouts while going 4-for-4 at the plate. She also had four RBIs. Angel Reyna went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Janeiro Ibarra went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
EAGLE PASS 10, McALLEN HIGH 0 (5 INNINGS): At Laredo, the Lady Bulldogs’ season came to a close following a one-game series loss.
SAN BENITO 4, WESLACO EAST 0: At San Benito, the Lady Wildcats’ season came to a close in their one-game showdown against the Lady Greyhounds.
CLASS 4A
INGLESIDE 11, PORT ISABEL 1: At Alice, the Lady Tarpons’ season came to a close in their one-game series.
P.I., the 32-4A champions, finished with an 18-5 record.