FREDDY GONZALEZ | Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — With a 3-2 loss still fresh in their minds from their first meeting, Harlingen South came out swinging and scored three early runs to beat Los Fresnos 3-2 on Friday night at Lady Hawks field.
However, it almost didn’t finish that way.
“We’re still learning how to finish,” said Harlingen South head coach Elias Martinez. “It’s a work in progress, but the girls never quit and I’m very proud of my girls.”
Lady Hawks fans will remember that in their first encounter earlier this season with Los Fresnos, the Lady Falcons rallied from two runs down to pull out a victory. And on Friday night, that almost happened again.
Up 3-0 to start the top of the sixth, the Lady Falcons needed to put the ball in play and after an infield pop-out by leadoff hitter Maya Guevara, it was starting to seem like it might not happen. However, Vivikah Pesina got the momentum going after earning a walk.
With Pesina on first, Sam Padilla hit a stand up double to left field, moving Pesina to third.
With pressure beginning to build on South, Los Fresnos capitalized as Stephanie Perez earned a base hit to load the bases, putting the Lady Falcons in prime position to strike.
However, Harlingen South’s ace pitcher Daisy Gallegos stood her ground and forced a pop-out to give Los Fresnos its second out of the sixth inning.
With the pressure still on Gallegos, she walked the next batter to see Los Fresnos put its first run on the board. But Gallegos got the next batter to ground out to end the inning and keep the Lady Hawks on top.
After not being able to extend the lead in the top of the sixth, Martinez gathered his team and said, “If you want to make the playoffs, these are the type of games you’re going to have to win.”
After the game Martinez admitted that the game oddly resembled their first game.
“Oh, heck yeah, it crossed my mind,” said Martinez. “But the important thing is that we’re getting better every game and we’re learning to finish and its progress. But my girls never quit and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”