ROY HESS | Staff Writer
ELSA — The Santa Gertrudis Academy Lady Lions showed why they are defending state champions in Class 3A softball.
They rallied from a 3-2 deficit to capture a 6-3 victory against Lyford on Friday thanks to a four-run outburst during the top of the sixth inning.
It was a matchup between the District 32-3A champion Lady Bulldogs and the District 31-3A champion Lady Lions.
The win in Game 1 of a best-of-three Class 3A regional quarterfinal series at Edcouch-Elsa’s Joey Torres Field improved the Lady Lions to 30-5 on the season. Lyford slipped to 34-1.
Game 2 will be played at 1 p.m. today in Freer. Game 3, if needed, will follow 30 minutes after Game 2.
Lyford coach Joey Rios said Santa Gertrudis is a difficult team to beat.
“Credit to them, they’re a great ballclub,” Rios said of the Lady Lions. “They’re coming out strong as defending state champions. They had their chances and so did we, so give credit to them.”
Lyford trailed 2-0 early but came from behind to take a 3-2 lead by scoring three runs during the bottom of the fourth. A sacrifice play on a throw from shortstop to first base allowed a run to score from third for Lyford to make it 2-1.
With two outs, an RBI single to left field later during the inning by Lyford’s Alyssa Garcia tied the score at 2. Garcia went from second to third on a steal, and the throw to third from the catcher sailed into left field. It allowed Garcia to come home on the play to give the Lady Bulldogs a 3-2 advantage.
Santa Gertrudis rallied for four runs on three hits during the top of the sixth to win the game.
Back-to-back walks opened the door for the Lady Lions during the sixth inning. A two-run double to deep center field by Yadira Lopez put Santa Gertrudis ahead for good, 4-3. Then two more runs scored, one on an infield hit by Kayla Ramirez followed by a single to shallow center field by Alana Benitez for another tally. Those plays made the score 6-3.
Lyford couldn’t muster anything during the bottom of the sixth nor the bottom of the seventh, enabling Santa Gertrudis to take the Game 1 win.
The Lady Lions’ Carissa De Los Santos went the distance for the mound victory. She allowed only three hits, struck out seven batters and walked three.
Lyford’s Jerrica Rojas went the distance in taking the loss. She gave up five hits, struck out five batters and walked three.
“We took a loss, but I’m not going to call it a loss, I’m going to call it a learning experience,” Rios said. “Our girls are human. We’re not perfect. We’re far from it, and we knew that coming into this series.
“I told our girls, ‘Hey, the pressure’s not on us, it’s on them. They’re the defending state champs, not us,’” Rios added. “We’re staying positive as much as we can.
“I’m definitely curious to see what Santa Gertrudis does pitching-wise in Game 2. I know they only have one pitcher. We have two, and we’re going to battle. Let’s see what happens.”