KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
LOS FRESNOS— Entering their district matchup against Harlingen High, Los Fresnos was looking for its offense to get out of a recent slump.
While the offense collected timely hits, it was the right arm of sophomore pitcher Aileen Avelar that helped push Los Fresnos to a 4-0 win Tuesday night.
“I felt a little extra tonight,” Avelar said. “Tonight we played some solid softball, and we did much better. I was throwing a bit harder tonight — I know some of the girls on the Harlingen side — so I wanted to bring my best.”
Avelar was sharp in the circle. The righty threw a complete game, surrendered just two hits and two walks, and struck out five.
“I used my drop ball and my screwball was working tonight, and my defense played really well tonight,” Avelar said. “Vicky (Perales), our shortstop, was a stud tonight, and I was so proud of her and the team overall.”
Los Fresnos is 2-1 in district play. Avelar felt the win against Harlingen High could be the game that gives the Lady Falcons the momentum they need going forward.
“I really feel we all came out tonight, and I hope this is the game that gets our confidence going,” Avelar said. “I think this is the game that we look back on and say that it was the one that got us going.”
At the plate, it took three innings for the Lady Falcons to solve the crafty Audrie Sayas. Los Fresnos scored three runs during the third inning, highlighted by back-to-back doubles from Reba Reyes and Vicky Perales.
“One thing we tell the kids is when our offense struggles our defense struggles,” Los Fresnos coach Traci Blackmon said. “We remind them that we can’t let one affect the other. At the plate, we did have some timely hits, which helped, and I felt once we broke the seal we were able to exhale and relax just a bit, and our defense played outstanding tonight.”
Reyes finished the night 2-for-2 with an RBI, run scored, a pair of doubles and one walk. Perales finished 1-for-2 with an RBI double and run scored, and teammate Loren Cantu also collected two hits with a 2-for-3 night and an RBI.
The Lady Falcons next meet Brownsville Hanna, and Harlingen High will still be looking for its first district win when it meets rival Harlingen South. Both games are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday.