By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
Edinburg North’s Abby Hinojosa and Jackie Longoria have been selected to the Texas Girls Coaches Association all-state softball team.
Longoria also has the distinction of being the only Valley player selected to participate in the TGCA all-star game next month.
A junior pitcher, Longoria (27-8) posted a .163 ERA and recorded eight shutouts in leading the Lady Cougars to the Class 6A regional semifinals. Longoria also batted .527 and finished the year with 52 runs, 68 hits, 19 RBIs, seven doubles and three triples.
Hinojosa, a senior catcher, posted a .991 fielding percentage on 213 total chances. She also had 191 putouts, 20 assists and only two errors through 41 games. A cleanup hitter, Hinojosa batted .430 and totaled 52 hits, 40 RBIs, seven runs, 12 doubles and two home runs.
San Benito’s Kimberly Harper, a senior catcher and second baseman, joined Hinojosa and Longoria as the only Valley players to be selected to the 6A all-state team, which consists of 40 players.
Longoria was one of 28 players picked for the TGCA All-Star game July 13 in Arlington. She will play for the red team in the Class 5A-6A game.
Hinojosa was also selected for the 11th annual RGV All-Star game in La Joya. She was one of four Edinburg North player picked for the showcase, intended for senior softball players.
Teammates Klarissa Lopez, Ayissa Maldonado and Andreah Ruiz also were chosen.
McAllen Rowe also had four players selected with Vanissa Leal, Krystal Ramos, Karolina Rodriguez and Deanna Spear. Edinburg Vela, La Joya High, McAllen Memorial and Mission High each had two players tabbed for the West team, which has 25 players representing 14 schools.
The East has 19 players from 13 schools. Mercedes has the largest contingent with three players (Dalilah Barrera, Kristen Gutierrez and Lexi Peña). Brownsville Veterans Memorial, Donna High, Harlingen South and Rio Hondo have two apiece.
The West has won 7 of 10 meetings.
San Benito coach Kristy Leal, formerly an assistant with Weslaco High, will lead the West.
Sharyland High coach Paul Cruz will oversee the East.
The RGV All-Star game is scheduled for 7 p.m. on June 25 at the La Joya Softball Complex.
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RGV WEST ALL-STARS
Vanissa Leal, McAllen Rowe
Alina Moreno, La Joya High
Ayissa Maldonado, Edinburg North
Deanna Spear, McAllen Rowe
Faye Ramos, Sharyland Pioneer
Klarissa Lopez, Edinburg North
Shayla Abbot, Edinburg Vela
Chelsea Castilleja, Hidalgo
Sarah D. Lopez, Edinburg Vela
Kazzandra Rodriguez, Mission High
Alyssa Olivarez, Mission High
Victoria Flores, Sharyland High
Aileen Rodriguez, McAllen Memorial
Amanda Villegas, PSJA North
Alexandra R. Soliz, La Joya High
Ashley Castillo, PSJA Memorial
Eden Hernandez, McAllen High
Andreah Ruiz, Edinburg North
Alexa Ramirez, McAllen Memorial
Karolina Rodriguez, McAllen Rowe
Krystal Ramos, McAllen Rowe
Ashley Escalante, Edinburg Economedes
Gabrielle Fonseca, PSJA High
Abby Hinojosa, Edinburg North
Nadine Rios, La Joya High
RGV EAST ALL-STARS
Rheana Gomez, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Mia Garza, Harlingen High
Lexi Peña, Mercedes
Ruby Trejo, Donna High
Ann Francis Maldonado, La Feria
Kim Harper, San Benito
Alyssa Garza, Donna High
Julissa Lopez, Rio Hondo
Maya Guevara, Los Fresnos
Sarah Sandoval, Brownsville Veterans Memorial
Marina Wise, Port Isabel
Kristen Gutierrez, Mercedes
Sarah Rodriguez, Edcouch-Elsa
Brissa Rivera, Brownsville Porter
Dalilah Barrera, Mercedes
Ashley Galvan, Harlingen South
Katharyn Gauna, Rio Hondo
Leeanne Ledesma, Harlingen South
Jazzlynn Robles, Santa Rosa