BY NATE KOTISSO | STAFF WRITER
SAN JUAN — PSJA North was riding high.
The Raiders rose up four spots from No. 10 to No. 6 in last week’s RGVSports.com top 10 poll with good reason. They won all eight of their district matchups entering Tuesday. If they were able to complete a season sweep of Tri-City rival PSJA High, the Raiders would have been in the driver’s seat for a district crown.
The Bears were a game behind the Raiders, but they weren’t playing their best softball of late. PSJA High won another close contest against La Joya High last Friday, but it needed to tighten up if it wanted to knock off PSJA North from the ranks of the unbeaten.
“We had to make fewer errors tonight. No errors, to tell you the truth,” PSJA High coach Eric Madera said. “Even if we made an error, we still had play tough and keep on fighting.”
The Bears and Raiders flashed plenty of leather Tuesday, but neither played error-free softball. PSJA High, however, took better advantage of PSJA North’s mistakes in a 5-1 Bears victory at Josefina S. Ayala Softball Field.
PSJA High shortstop Vivika Villarreal had the most success off PSJA North pitcher Heaven Lozano. Villarreal, the Bears’ No. 2 hitter, went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.
Villarreal’s RBI came on a single that brought home Korrie Cantu from second base to score the game’s first run in the Bears’ first at-bat.
“We stayed confident and we didn’t let our past affect us,” Villarreal said. “We lost to them in the first round of districts, but we stayed positive, kept fighting and communicated well on the field.
PSJA High scored two runs in the first and added three more in the fifth inning. Bears pitcher Elaine Madera reached on an error that helped score a run. Madelyn Singleterry and Kaylah Hernandez chipped in with run-scoring hits later in the frame.
“We took this game very seriously,” Elaine Madera said. “Bear-Raider games are always hyped no matter what sport it is. We know our schools have that history. We also know when we’re both facing off with our rivals, more from us is going to come out. That’s what it comes down to in these games: who wants it more.”
PSJA North (17-11, 8-1) couldn’t solve Elaine Madera in the batter’s box. The normally-potent Raider lineup didn’t get their first hit of the game until she allowed a double with two outs in the third.
The Raiders’ lone run of the game came on an inside-the-park home run off the bat of Katelyn Luera in the fourth.
“As for us, we were ready, but it came down to who wanted it more in this case,” PSJA North coach Stephanie Lugo said. “Sometimes you have to get knocked down from the top to realize who you are and where you are. We have to respond and get better from this. This is a learning experience for all of us. We’re ready to work hard tomorrow.”
PSJA High (20-6, 8-1) are now tied with PSJA North atop District 30-6A with five district games remaining.
“This fight’s not over,” Eric Madera said. “Every team is fighting for a playoff spot and we’ve still got five games to go. They’re not just going to let us win. We have to go out and get it.”