BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Richard Tressler has devoted his entire career in education to Edinburg North. His first year was also North’s first as the then-newest high school in Edinburg CISD back in 1991.
Naturally, as the Cougars’ head softball coach, Tressler experienced the gamut of emotions and scenarios that a head coach can go through: major injuries, first round playoff exits, deep tournament runs, two softball programs opening within the school district, realignment reshuffling after realignment reshuffling after realignment reshuffling.
The continued success of Edinburg High and resurgence of Edinburg Vela seemed to have diverted some attention away from North (17-7, 3-3). But Tressler, who is now in his 23rd season at the helm, remains the dean of the district.
“We have had some great kids come through here who, up to now, are a part of 18 consecutive playoff appearances,” Tressler said. “We hope we can get to 19 this year.”
When a coach has been around as long as Tressler has, patterns in roster construction can be drawn from year-to-year. One such source of constancy over the years has been ENHS’ pitching staff.
Dating back to 2010, the Cougars have put together team earned run averages as high as 2.61 and as microscopic as 1.25. In 2017, Edinburg North allowed only 32 earned runs in 32 games.
Through the years, opponents’ offenses continued their mostly futile attempts to rough up Cougars pitching. ENHS’ worst opposing batting average over the timeframe was .251 in 2013.
After Edinburg North dropped its bi-district opener to eventual Sweet 16 participant Harlingen South last season, the Cougars said goodbye to Jackie Longoria, their workhorse in the circle. Longoria went 14-7 with a 1.25 ERA last season while also throwing seven shutouts and striking out 123 batters in 123 innings.
Tressler tabbed junior Natalie Rodriguez, last year’s second starter, to replace Longoria as the Cougars’ No. 1 this season. Sophomore Secilia Lopez assumed Rodriguez’s role as the No. 2.
This season, Rodriguez is 10-5 with a 2.16 ERA and 52 strikeouts to 16 walks in 81 innings.
“Jackie left big shoes, and I’ve had to fill them,” Rodriguez said. “It’s been tough, because I haven’t been an ace pitcher before. Any of us can be a leader, but it’s harder to actually be the leader. It’s a big responsibility, and I’m thankful to have taken up the role with (catcher) Hope and (infielder) Vanessa Garces. We can all lead this team in one way or another.”
Lopez, who made one appearance as a freshman in 2017, is 7-2 with a 2.20 ERA in 35 innings.
“It’s hard to take that in — the fact that there’s almost no margin for error,” Lopez said. “But I know that’s how we’re going to be tested, because we know that that is what has kept us going throughout the years. Pitching is a big part of what we do at Edinburg North, and we’ve done a good job of it so far.”
Tressler said his pitchers are only as good as his catchers behind the plate.
“They’ve helped us tremendously, but what makes them so dominant is the work ethic,” Tressler said. “They work hard, they want to do well, and they know how important it is to give our team a chance to win. That’s what I preach to them. Let your defense behind you work to your advantage.”
Tressler’s team is considerably younger than last season’s group, as three of his starting nine are freshmen. Participating in out-of-town tournaments like the Laredo Border Olympics and the Bayfront Bash in Corpus Christi were golden opportunities for team building.
“Laredo and Corpus were so much fun, because we’re inseparable,” Rodriguez said. “That’s what makes this program different from others. We do everything together. We eat together, we braid each other’s hair, we hung out in each other’s rooms. We’d stay up late until the coaches took our phones away and told us to go to bed. I’m so grateful to be a part of this program, because I hadn’t experienced anything like that before.”
“Coming into my freshman year, I wasn’t really close to anyone, but the tournaments brought me closer to the girls,” Lopez said. “I know as freshmen, they feel like they’re more a part of the team now.”
The youthful Cougars compete in arguably the toughest softball district in the Valley, but they’re not tempering their goals for the rest of this season.
“I know my girls are young and capable of winning the district and making it to the Sweet 16 or deeper,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not impossible, but we are going to have outwork everybody else to get there. Everyone doubts us, because we’re young, but we have the time, energy and chemistry to be great.”