By KEVIN NARRO | Staff Writer
BROWNSVILLE — It took 11 innings for either starting pitcher to surrender a run.
Calallen’s Kat Flores broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single and one batter later Lauren Mata provided some insurance as Calallen squeezed past Brownsville Veterans Memorial 2-0 in 11 innings in Game 1 of a best-of-three series Thursday night in the Class 5A area round.
“ The way we lost the lead in that last inning, we gave up those two runs and after battling for so long the fact the way these girls never quit,” said Lady Chargers coach Rayner Cardenas. “We were able to load the bases in the last inning and we battled till the end and we showed a lot of character.”
The Lady Wildcats will host Brownsville Vets today at 4:30 p.m. with an opportunity to complete the series sweep. If needed, Game 3 will be played 30 minutes after Game 2.
In the circle both Veteran’s Mia Anzaldua and Calallen’s junior Lizette Del Angel were sharp and dominated in the circle. Anzaldua finished the night with 21 strikeouts, five hits, four walks and two runs, while Del Angel finished with 13 strikeouts on nine hits in the complete game shutout win.
Both Del Angel and Anzaldua went the complete 11 innings.
Anzaldua began the night by striking out the first six batters she faced and also managed to strikeout the side five different times.
Heading into today’s Game 2, the question will be if Anzaldua will be able to take the circle after an 11-inning game and her pitch count also high.
“ We had discussions on how far we go with Mia,” Cardenas said. “But we had to win this game and we will see what happens tomorrow. We will talk with her and talk with the parents and we will see what we need to do. It is a part of the managing of the pitching, but no one expected to go 11 innings tonight.”
Despite the questions heading into today’s Game 2, Cardenas is fully confident in Anzaldua if she is available.
“ If anyone can do it, it is her. To come back tomorrow and get us two wins — it is going to be her.” Cardenas said.
The Lady Chargers missed out on multiple scoring opportunities and left 13 runners on base. BVM left runners on second and third in the sixth and were able to rally late in the 11th inning by loading the bases.
“ I like the fact that we didn’t quit and it says a lot about the girls,” Cardenas said. “When you play tough teams like this and you are in the playoffs every mistake gets magnified. They become critical especially when you have two really good teams playing against each other.”