BY STEVEN RAY HERNANDEZ | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR
MISSION — There was no scoreboard at the 21st Annual Mission Fastpitch Festival, but with the pitching matchup on display during Saturday afternoon’s championship game, one wasn’t needed.
It was a gridlocked game that featured 26 strikeouts, with Mercedes pitcher Dalilah Barrera and San Benito’s Crystal Castillo coming away with 13 apiece. But in the end, Mercedes’ defense proved too much for the Lady Hounds, winning a 1-0 nail-biter in extra innings.
“They are one of the best teams in the Valley and always have a lot of bat,” Barrera said. “But we have one of the best defenses in the Valley, and I knew they would back me up, and that’s exactly what they did tonight.”
Both pitchers received all-tournament honors for their performances.
The defining moment came with one out in the bottom of the eighth as the Lady Tigers’ Kassidy Argulles (2-for-4) nailed a line drive into left field, bringing in Victoria Anciso (1-for-3) for the game-winning run.
“(Kassidy) was a clutch player for us last year and again for us tonight,” Mercedes assistant David Gonzales said. “We’ve always played San Benito a very good game and consider them as a stepping stone for us.”
San Benito’s usually effective bunt-game was virtually non-existent Saturday as they finished with just two hits, while Mercedes totaled five.
“They went to the Sweet 16 last year and so did we. So any time you have that kind of matchup, it’s going to be an exciting game,” San Benito coach Elias Martinez said. “It was a pitching duel tonight and it’s still early in the season so we know what we need to work on.”
For Mercedes, the win helped avenge a loss in the championship game of the same tournament three years ago, when the Lady Greyhounds beat Mercedes to take the trophy.
Both teams will head to La Joya on Thursday for more tournament action before district play begins March 3.