BY MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
McALLEN — Finishing third in district last year, McAllen Memorial knew it had a tough road ahead in the playoffs.
By the second round, the Lady Mustangs crossed paths with San Benito, an eventual state-qualifying team, before losing 2-0 in the series. Memorial coach Audra Benavidez used that opportunity to remind her players the importance of seeding, and challenged them to better the following season.
Nearly a year later, the Lady Mustangs find themselves with at least a share of their first district title in program history, with only two games remaining in the regular season.
“Our motivation, from the moment we stepped off the field last year for the last time, was to be district champions,” Benavidez said. “One thing they take a lot of pride in is, they don’t want to share it. They want to win out. So every time we broke in practice or in games, even in tournaments, it’s always been, ‘District champs!’”
Memorial (18-6, 9-1) has games remaining against La Joya Palmview and Mission High, and wins there would solidify their district title outright.
Asked about the difference in the team from a year ago, pitcher Daisy Gonzalez credits the team’s hitting, from top to bottom, and their ever-evolving defense. A three-year starter, Gonzalez has played a vital role in that transformation, posting a .680 slugging percentage to go with 14 RBIs as the cleanup hitter. She’s also recorded 51 strikeouts on her way to a 5-1 district record in the circle heading into last Friday’s game.
Alexa Ramirez, a senior catcher affectionately known as “Clutch,” has also made her contributions felt, slugging .667 with 18 RBIs out of a three hole, along with Aileen Rodriguez (.680, 9 RBIs) and Jalene Rodriguez (.636, 10 RBIs).
Together, they’ve led Memorial’s bid for a third straight playoff berth with this core unit.
“It’s big for us,” Gonzalez said. “I think that’ll help set the tone for the playoffs (claiming the district title), getting us in the right mentality.”
As determined as they are to earn the 30-6A trophy, the Lady Mustangs also have their eye on the benefits that come with it by way of seeding and matchups.
“They know the higher they are, the better route they’re going to have,” Benavidez said. “We set that in their minds, and we’ve been fortunate enough to have the girls working hard since August.”
With more velocity behind her pitches, Gonzalez has enjoyed arguably her best season to date. Coaches have lauded her poise in the circle, and her trust in teammates.
Initially, Benavidez said, Gonzalez “came out with the mentality to strike out every batter. It took a lot to change that perspective, because she was a freshman and it was a brandnew game to her, playing against 18, and sometimes 19-year-olds.
“Realizing that her job isn’t so much to strike out someone, but to put the ball some place where her teammates could make a play has made a big difference.”
Ramirez’s development and versatility have also been on display. With an injury at third base, Ramirez stepped into that role, from her catcher slot, until the third district game of the year. What Benavidez has been impressed with through it all has been Ramirez’s chemistry with Gonzalez, despite the brief layoff together.
“Daisy’s a difficult pitcher to catch for,” Benavidez said. “Her ball has a lot of movement, but Alexa does a good job of blocking everything. She knows what has to anticipate everything. Her rise balls, her curve balls. She’s able to take a charge also, and everybody trusts her to make plays behind the plate.”
Following Friday’s win over McAllen High, the Lady Mustangs assured themselves a first-place standing district and at least a share of the district title. They can claim it outright by week’s end.
“I think they can all pretty much taste it,” Benavidez said. “They know it’s there, but they know they have a job to do.
“Some of these players have been with me for four years now, so for it to be within our reach, they’re totally hyped at a different level.”